Lately, the Letters' section in malaysiakini has become more and more insensitive to other people's faith and religion. Try to find a letter from a Muslim, condemning other religions' rules or laws, will you find one?
But Islamic laws and practices have been criticised by non-Muslims, some of whom don't even know the exact rules regarding certain things in Islam. Apostasy is one issue, followed by the non-halal food issue in schools and then the Majlis Mufti Malaysia's decision on TV3's Karnival Sure Heboh.
In the issue of apostasy, David King simply do not know that as a Muslim, defending Islam is a must, and the responsibility of every Muslim. It is the effort that counts for Muslims, though the result is in God's hand.
If there is any law in any other religion regarding leaving one's religion, then let's hear it. I guess every religion believes that everything stated in their holy books is from God. But for non- Muslims to comment on Islamic laws is ridiculous, the same as it is for any Muslim to comment on the laws of other religions'.
On another issue, Concerned Malaysian's letter suggesting the school's canteen utensils be washed with soap using rubber gloves simply shows how deep the knowledge of a non-Muslim is when it comes to Islamic rules.
In other religions, do you have anything that you can't eat and can't touch either directly or indirectly? If you have any, then again say so, so that the Muslim community will help you to avoid it.
My friends who are studying in France once told me how they (Muslim students there) fought for a prayer room since the number of Muslim students was increasing in the university. Other students of other religions started opposing the suggestion saying they wanted their own prayer rooms too.
But one of the lecturers (who was not a Muslim) then asked a pertinent question: Do any of the other religions require prayers five times daily? So the matter was solved once and for all.
In the issue of Karnival Sure Heboh , let me remind you that a majority (more than 90 percent as reported in several newspapers) of the people attending the carnival are Muslims be they artistes, TV3 presenters or youngsters.
The muftis are responsible to the Muslim community, and that's what they are there for - to issue rulings and guidelines. This matter again involves Islamic rules and regulations, which I seriously hope will not be discussed uncontrollably by non-Muslims.
There are some fundamental rules and regulations in Islam which should not be discussed even by Muslim without deep Islamic knowledge, let alone by the non-Muslims. So please respect the religion of others if you want people to respect yours.
