Religion 101: When Some Raiders Screws Up For Islam

(Don’t be surprised to see these guys in the future religious raids on Islam and when it happens, you can throw sensibility and intelligence out the window? Image source: DW)

Unfortunately, this is something that was expected from some lunatics bend on defending Islam from danger.

A Muslim buddy of mine at work once told me the Quran was given by God not to be used to judge others but to judge yourself. He is a very religious guy (in practice and dressing as well) but he never once imposed his beliefs on others.

Probably it explains why he has no trouble joining us for drinking sessions but limit himself to drinking Coke whilst having fun with the rest of the gang. For him, there is nothing “haram” here because he is not drinking beer, he is not encouraging others to drink beer, it was a simple get together function and he is quite aware that the rest of the guys are not Muslims.

We need more Muslims like him in this country because it seems to be a growing number of people who are running loose and tarnishing the religion in the process. I think it will be better for everyone if God starts to strike hot lighting on these people whenever they get itchy and start tarnishing the religion in the wrong way – the world would be a better place to live in.

The case in point is the story in theStar today titled “Singer held for dressing” and you have to read twice to believe it.

The Perak Religious Department (JAIP) has ordered a singer to appear before the Syariah Court for “exposing her body” during a performance and “encouraging immoral activities”. However, an indignant Siti Noor Idayu Abd Moin, 22, said she was wearing sleeveless top and long pants when JAIP officers raided an entertainment outlet in Sunway City where she was performing on Tuesday.

“Our band had just finished and it was a little past midnight when they came in and rounded up all the Muslims. “They asked to see our MyKad but one officer refused to touch the cards, referring to them as najis (shit),” she said.

Siti Noor Idayu said the JAIP officers later detained seven people, including four employees of the outlet, and brought them to the department office. “They put us in a tiny room and turned up the air-conditioner.

I heard one officer tell the other: Bekulah dia orang (Let them freeze),” she said. Siti Noor Idayu also said the male officers kept taking photographs of her, adding that she was made to stay overnight in that room until 10am.

She said the officer who finally came to record her statement at 8am, accused her of consuming alcohol and drugs, being involved in immoral activities, and that her MyKad was a fake. “I took the breathalyser test twice and when the reading remained at zero, the officers looked frustrated. “I heard one tell the other: Tapi dia tak minum lah (But she did not drink),” she said.

Siti Noor Idayu said an officer even told her that the money she earned working in the outlet was duit haram (illicit money) and that her parents, children and future generations would all be tainted for using such money. “They finally wrote me a notice accusing me of dressing sexily and encouraging immorality just because I sang there,” she said. The notice ordered her to appear before the Syariah Court here on Aug 6.

I don’t know what’s wrong with these raiders from JAIP – did they left their rules and regulations in the office and decided to be Wild West cowboys?

It’s fine if they want to do raids on the entertainment outlet – that is their job, go in – do your job – got out but to humiliate the people in the process, how Islamic you can get? Unless there is strong evidence, don’t start accusing people of anything and just because you have religious authority to fall back, that does not mean that it is the right thing to do. But the bastards being who they are will not realize this, I am sure.

And you know what the best part of the whole incident is?

When contacted, JAIP director Datuk Jamry Sury said he was confident that his officers had not acted outside of their jurisdiction in issuing the notice.

“According to Islamic laws, a Muslim woman is not allowed to serve or entertain a man who is not her husband in a place where immoral activities usually take place,” he said.

Well, going by the “head of the raiders”, this only means one thing – Muslim woman is may be barred from earning an honest living but why stop there? Why not lock away the Muslim women in their house? Big thanks to the local Taliban, sigh.

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