The Holy Quran Is Not a Fruit So Don’t Cherry Pick It
By Sairana Mohd Saad
June 21, 2014
A few weeks ago, I asked a Cabinet Member, “Why hasn’t anyone told her off yet? And how is it that she gets away with ridiculous statements? Tell me.
Is it because her Daddy is bigger than our Daddy?
He quipped “I guess, no one has check mated her yet?”
I was dumbstruck at his answer. But no, this cannot continue. NO! It’s just too much now. I cannot sit still anymore. The core issue here is about lashing back at her with an intelligent come back. That’s easy. No hard feelings, but yeah, her rantings are a far cry from supreme knowledge. More importantly, the base issue here is, I would be doing a major injustice to my religion if I’d just remain silent while reading her derogatory remarks on Islam, letting her lead the community to the opposite path, ignore them and move on like the rest of the populace. While that happens, the non-Muslims cheer on at her rather “clever” ramblings yet again!
To me, that would be an absolute act of cowardice — the highest order of its genre, man. The little voice in me finally erupted and screamed, “No, I cannot be like the rest. And No, I am not afraid. I don’t really care who her father is. I really don’t.”
Muslims are taught to command the proper and forbid the improper (Amr Bi Alma ‘Ruf Wa Nahi ‘An Alnunkar) and it is one of the most important Islamic principles, stressed again and again in the Qur’an and Hadith. Indeed, from one point of view this principle can be seen as the most important Islamic principle; for, if this principle is duly practiced in the Ummah, then, as a result, all other teachings of Islam will also be practiced, while if this one principle is ignored then the rest of Islam will also gradually come to be ignored.
Get it?
Commanding what is right and forbidding what is wrong provides a mechanism whereby the Muslim Community can fight off various social, moral and spiritual ills and maintain a healthy life. For an individual, too, the practice of this principle provides both a source and an indication of spiritual and moral health. If we ignore this principle and we are in the face of wrong, and we choose to not react in any way, then this means that in a spiritual and moral sense we are dead.
Get it?
`Abd Allah Ibn Mas’ud was once asked, “Who are the living dead?” and he replied, “Those who never command something good and never forbid something bad”.
A similar point is made in that well known Hadith in which the Prophet (May Peace be Upon Him) is reported to have said:
“If one of you sees something wrong, let him change it with his hand; if he cannot, then with his tongue; if he cannot, then with his heart and this is the weakest faith.”
I wasn’t really bothered when I first came across the silly giggling of Tony Pua on the statement made by Datuk Daud Che Ngah on how women might be aroused by the sight of athletic women wearing shorts. Simply because we Muslims cannot expect the non-believers or the “Jahiliyyas” , (unlearned) to understand our Islamic way of life. It would be totally absurd. I thought it was normal for an uneducated person to laugh at such a subtle warning. I have written enough articles to know which type of people will rubbish Hudud and which type would be the first to ridicule the limits set by the Creator. Besides, it was normal for the Opposition to naysay everything that is related to Islam, on top of what the government does or says. It’s in their DNA, and that’s their raison d’etre. So be it. Everybody else is wrong and everything else is wrong. Only they seem to be perfect at everything they do?
But then, my heart skipped a beat when I saw a similar reaction from both Marina Mahathir and Sisters in Islam FB pages both making a mockery of the same statement. I became not only annoyed, but a bitter taste started to sprout and stir within my system. It’s been awhile since I have been stumbling upon their comments, articles, etc. and I have not been reacting violently. (Note the usage of the word stumble, please). Worry not, as my violence is only felt by my keyboard.
This time their mockery of the religion is not only misplaced and uncalled for, but it has also gone a bit overboard. So if everybody else is just gonna sit pretty and say nothing, I will say my peace.
That reminds me of a private conversation I had with my friend who asked me if Marina is an atheist. My response was “I have no idea”. The thing about her is that she seems to adore cherry picking verses here and there from the Holy Quran, wherever and whenever it suits her best. Whatever that is easy and whatever that is convenient. For example, she would cite verse Taha 43-44, as this is a general command of good behaviour when faced with an aggressive person/ruler. Rather simple to use, eh?
43. “Go, both of you, to Fir’aun (Pharaoh), verily, he has transgressed (all bounds in disbelief and disobedience and behaved as an arrogant and as a tyrant).
44. “And speak to him mildly, perhaps he may accept admonition or fear Allah.”
But the sad part is Marina is not alone in having the attitude of cherry picking the Quran.
The Holy Quran is not a fruit that you harvest. It is a guide for all Muslims. It is Our Way of Life. Do you get it?
So, if you choose not to use the veil, please suit yourself. But please don’t preach unto others that it is Right. Because it isn’t.
So, if Daud Che Ngah mentioned about Zina of the Eyes, and he forewarns women of the possibility of Zina of the Eyes, you should just keep quiet, ponder and take heed. Try and listen for once, will you? He said it gently, didn’t he? Just like your favourite verse in Surah Taha. Didn’t Islam teach you to remain silent unless you had something good to say?
Plus, lowering your gaze is a commandment in Verse 24:30-31. Should you choose to ignore this too, it’s your prerogative.
But if you choose to ridicule it encore, it then becomes our duty to correct you and lead you and your followers to the straight path.
Not because we want to be heroic, but because it’s been tasked upon us Muslims, to Command Good and Forbid Evil because we don’t want to be called the Living Dead. Get it?
If you’ve understood this simple concept, then the rest of the current complexities on the Malaysian soil (Bible, Marriage in Temple, etc.) will become easier to comprehend.
Source: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/what-you-think/article/the-holy-quran-is-not-a-fruit.-so-dont-cherry-pick-it-sairana-mohd-saad#sthash.VrwAI0XY.dpuf
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-society/the-holy-quran-fruit-so/d/97685