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March 30, 2006
You Haven't Got A Prayer
Kena:
Mohamad Taib, from Kedepal here, pleaded guilty to not attending Friday prayers at a mosque in his area three consecutive times, an offence which in Kelantan carries a maximum RM1,000 fine or a six-month jail term.The labourer was caught by Pasir Mas Religious Affairs Department officers after two months of surveillance at the mosque.
Pasir Mas Lower Syariah Court prosecutor Rohani Kadir said the officers and mosque officials found that Mohamad had not attended Friday prayers at the mosque between June and July last year. [New Straits Times]
A two-month stakeout, just to catch one guy not attending Friday prayers.
Never mind. Maybe it's a small place, Kedepal; so small that if you don't turn up for Friday prayers, everyone at the mosque notices.
Maybe.
But I got a bone to pick with the Syariah Court judge.
Mohamad said the reason why he didn't turn up for prayers was because he was constantly ill from asthma.
Rather than ask the dude to provide evidence of his medical condition, the supposedly learned judge dismissed it off-hand.
That is hardly Islamic justice.
MAYBE NST should find out who else has laws against "Friday-prayer absenteeism".
I think it's an offence in Selangor too.
Posted by aisehman at March 30, 2006 10:27 AM
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Comments
an offence in Selangor too? Damn, this high school buddy of mine would probably have to be jailed for 10 years for this! LOL!
Posted by: auyongtc at March 30, 2006 11:02 AM
oh wow
sounds so much like the spanish inquisition
when will there be an islamic reformation? or is there any need for it, since most are reasonably happy with the status quo?
Posted by: Y1 at March 30, 2006 11:48 AM
Does that mean the staker-outer(s) also missed 2 months worth of Friday prayers? Or was it Remote Sensing via the latest satellite surveillance technology?
Institutionalization of Islam = Religious Police State (as if just a Police State weren't bad enough)?
Walski69, for one, does not want to live in an institution...
Posted by: walski69 at March 30, 2006 02:03 PM
All this paints a bad picture of Islam. 2 months stake out, WOW!!! and there are hundreds of muslim ladies who have not received their paymments from their ex-husband but the court can't find the husband.Too busy? Slowly we will head towards the Taliban model as there is a vacuum to be filled since Afghanistan has stopped some of the Taliban laws.
and they say justice in Islam is for all!!!??? Too many man are screwing up a good religion and some are so call learned man.
Posted by: rocky at March 30, 2006 02:12 PM
MAN THIS IS FUCKING DUMB, IT IS ONE'S WILL TO ACCEPT THE BELIEF AND IT'S ONE'S RESPONSIBILTY TO PRACTICE IT, THIS ONLY GIVES NON-MUSLIM A BAD SIDE OF ISLAM, THAT IS THE RELIGION CONTROLS U AND U HAVE NO FREEDOM AT ALL. I'M PISSED WITH THIS AND THAT IS WHY I'M TYPING WITH CAPS ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: THENAMEIS at March 30, 2006 02:48 PM
There should be no place for any form of fundamentalism on Malaysian soil. The so-called Religious Policemen should be outlawed or better still, ring Bush on the hotline & tell him the Taliban is masquerading in Malaysia disguised as the Religious Policemen! Big Brother Bush will solve the problem - that WHACKO will rush in anyway!
get a life u idiotic religious policemen fanatics - stop peeping at couples in the park & harassing people - go wank at home. Let the people of Malaysia enjoy bliss!
Posted by: bnaipal at March 30, 2006 03:33 PM
I bet most people don't even know its an offense to skip prayers on Friday. Frankly Aisehman, I don't buy the line about no compulsion in Islam. Its nothing more than spin-doctoring.
Posted by: Bigjoe99 at March 30, 2006 04:04 PM
How many times have I heard, "there's no compulsion in Islam" and now this! Pretty soon women won't be allowed to drive. The judge also said his asthma is due to him straying away from God! Moronic and utterly stupid.
Posted by: hdin at March 30, 2006 04:07 PM
Hi Aisehman
Aiseh! Man oh man ... you got guts to post this on your blog. I salute your courage and the religious consciousness that you are creating.
Somebody said this, “We must have the courage to die for what we believe in.” Personally, I’m still trying to be brave ... I’m not there yet.
My family respects Islam. We have many god-fearing Muslim friends who help us in our hour of need. We have dedicated Muslim employees who volunteer to work extra hours during peak periods. We even have Muslim employees who eat their lunch in the vans so that they can help the company complete its assignments. We are very blessed.
For my family, human bond transcends race and religion. We are exasperated with the politicians and the people in government.
Whatever they do, I hope they don't break the bond that we have built.
Posted by: dignity2u at March 30, 2006 05:02 PM
i would just like to highlight one thing.. the term "no compulsion in islam" refers to conversion i.e. you cannot force anybody to renounce their faith and become muslims.
once you're a muslim, you do have to practice (praying, paying zakat etc) and urge others to practice, even up to using force (e.g. you are supposed to cane your sons if he refuses to pray once he reached 10 years old).
that being said, i think a better use could be found for the 'enforcement unit'. like going after govt officials on the take or people who sexually abuse their kids.
p/s- my comments are based on my somewhat fuzzy recollection of religious classes when i was a kid. if there are any mistakes, i'd be more than happy to be corrected.
Posted by: desparil at March 30, 2006 05:57 PM
So what's next??? Punch card system to be installed in mosques, preferably on-line, just in case someone decides to pray in another mosque. The on-line feature must also keep a record of attendance per Friday, hence, if you miss one, a warning letter will be computer generated and posted to the offending person. Three consecutive warnings letters will result with the perpetrator being hauled up to local syariah court for punitive action. For premium repeat offenders, the system will allow instant deductions from bank account(s) via Mykad, subject to prior approval from participating mosques, banks and, endorsed by a select/appointed comittee of religious persons duly recognised by the State Religious Department.
There you are! Who says Islam cannot be progressive and forward-looking.
I've just WASTED five minutes preparing and posting this comment. What was the 'muttawas' excuse for WASTING(probably on taxpayers' money) two months of their time staking out one person.
Nuff said.
Posted by: shar at March 30, 2006 08:11 PM
Yes I believe it is an offence in Selangor as well. Incidentally, you should check out the Syariah Offences Enactment Acts (specific to each state).
Among the offences is to propogate an opinion contrary to fatwa.
Big Brother is watching...
Posted by: Open2Questioning at April 4, 2006 01:18 PM