21 Aug, 2008
Trust not these religious people. Many are fakes and phoneys. The Quran says these people will sell their religion for money. This is not what I say. This is what the Quran says. And would the Quran lie?
NO HOLDS BARRED
Raja Petra Kamarudin
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is upset that some Blogggers are showing ‘disrespect’ by flying the Malaysian flag upside down. Actually, flying the flag upside down is internationally accepted as a sign of distress, not a mark of disrespect.
What the Prime Minister does not know is that Malaysia has been showing disrespect to our flag for more than 50 years. Amongst some of these displays of disrespect are:
1. The flag should never be used for any advertising purposes.
2. The flag should not be used as a drapery, or for covering a speaker’s desk, draping a platform, or for any decoration in general.
3. It should not be embroidered, printed or otherwise impressed on such articles as cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins, boxes, or anything intended to be discarded after temporary use.
4. The flag should not be used as part of a costume or athletic uniform, except that a flag patch may be used on the uniform of military personnel, fireman, policeman and members of patriotic organisations.
5. The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.
There are of course much more but these five above already demonstrates in what way Malaysia has been disrespectful to the Jalur Gemilang. So what’s with this anger towards flying the flag upside down, which is allowed, when Malaysia, in fact, has acted disrespectfully to the flag since the time of Merdeka.
On the matter of whether swearing on the Quran is allowed by Islam or, in fact, violates Islamic teachings, since the so-called religious scholars appear divided on what is right and what is wrong, allow me to refer to the Quran, which is supposed to be the main guiding light for all Muslims.
In an earlier article (Inventing new religious rituals ), I already explained that even the Prophet’s wife, Aisha, was not asked to swear on the Quran that she is innocent of the allegation of adultery. If the Prophet himself did not condone the act of swearing on the Quran, where then did this deviant practice come from?
What did happen is that the Prophet received a revelation from God about what to do to either confirm or dispel allegations of sexual misconduct. You can read this in Surah 24 (An-Nur) of the Quran.
And as to what to do in the event of a dispute when two people say opposite things, which means one of them is lying, you can refer to Surah 3 (Al ‘Imran) Verse 16 of the Quran which explains it very clearly.
The trouble with these so-called religious people is that they are trying to gain political mileage with the sodomy issue in the hope that Anwar Ibrahim may see a much-reduced majority in the 26 August 2008 Permatang Puah by-election, or, better still, lose the election. They are therefore twisting what Islam says in the hope that the simple-minded Malay voters in Permatang Pauh can be fooled.
The Quran has warned us about such people. ‘Religious people’ since time immemorial have been exploiting and distorting religion for monetary gain as well as to attain power. Religious people are very dangerous. They know they have the confidence of the majority of the people who are not only simple-minded but place great trust on people perceived as ‘men of God’.
This is not only a problem in Islam but in all religions as well. Trust not these religious people. Many are fakes and phoneys. The Quran says these people will sell their religion for money. This is not what I say. This is what the Quran says. And would the Quran lie when the Quran is regarded by Muslims as the word of God?
(Bernama, 20 August 2008) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has described the action of a blogger in calling on his blogsite followers to fly the national flag upside down as a sign of protest, as evil. He said flying the Jalur Gemilang upside down could not be regarded as an act of mischief alone but a despicable one, what more with Malaysia about to celebrate its 51st independence anniversary.
"This is uncouth behaviour, showing no respect at all for the national flag. What is there to be angry with the Malaysian flag?" he said after officiating at the Third Scouts International Peace Jamboree, here Wednesday. "If there are Malaysians who want to take up the idea that came from the pro-opposition blogger, they are insulting this important national symbol (flag)," he said.
Abdullah said the blogger came up with the idea to fly the national flag upside down hoping that others would follow suit, without thinking of the implications. "It's all in the blog...only he can do a good job. He's simply creating trouble by coming up with dubious stories," he said.
It was reported in cyberspace that Kelantanese blogger Sheih (Kickdefella) had on Aug 3 launched a campaign to fly the Jalur Gemilang upside down as a symbol of the people's frustrations and as a signal of a nation in distress. He also wrote in his blog that "it is internationally accepted that raising the flag upside down is a mark of a state in distress. It is never a mark of disrespect."
Some bloggers and commentators quickly declared their support for the idea but many, including from the opposition, were against it as they felt the national flag deserved the utmost respect. A blog visitor wrote that in India, flying the national flag upside down as an international symbol of distress was unacceptable, and in fact an insult to the nation.
Abdullah, meanwhile, hoped the police would act on the matter.
Techniques in flag display
* Hoist – the act or function of raising a flag, as on a rope.
* Lower – the act or function of taking down a flag, as on a rope.
* Half Staff or Half Mast – a style of flag display in which the flag is flown at half of the potential height of the available flagpole. Usually this is done by first hoisting the flag to the top, then lowering it to halfway. (Equally valid 'half-masting' is flying the flag at two-thirds of its normal height. This is especially applicable where the full height of the pole is not visible to most observers; for instance, where the pole is mounted on the roof of a building and the lower portion of the pole is not visible from street level.) This usually denotes distress or a show of grief, such as mourning a death. The use of 'mast' suggests naval use but typically the two terms are interchangeable.
* Distress – flying the flag upside-down, or tying it into a wheft (wheft: used to indicate wind direction or, with a knot tied in the centre, as a signal).
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Upside down flag is distress signal
MARGA KELLOGG
North Country Times
(OCEANSIDE, 28 September 2001) ---- In the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C., Vietnam veteran Dana Rickard began flying his flag upside down, a move which he said caused him to be harassed by some people.
Rickard said flying the flag upside down is a standard military distress signal and was never intended to be disrespectful. "It means we need some help here. That's American heritage, it has nothing to do with saying anything bad about the flag," said Rickard, an Oceanside resident.
The United States Flag Code supports Richard's statement. The code formalises and unifies the traditional ways in which we give respect to the flag and includes the following:
• The flag should never be dipped to any person or thing. It is flown upside down only as a distress signal.
• The flag should not be used as a drapery, or for covering a speaker’s desk, draping a platform, or for any decoration in general. Bunting of blue, white and red stripes is available for these purposes. The blue stripe of the bunting should be on the top.
• The flag should never be used for any advertising purpose. It should not be embroidered, printed or otherwise impressed on such articles as cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins, boxes, or anything intended to be discarded after temporary use. Advertising signs should not be attached to the staff or halyard.
• The flag should not be used as part of a costume or athletic uniform, except that a flag patch may be used on the uniform of military personnel, fireman, policeman and members of patriotic organisations.
• The flag should never have placed on it, or attached to it, any mark, insignia, letter, word, number, figure, or drawing of any kind.
• The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.
Swearing On Quran: Mohd Saiful Not Imitating Christian Way, Says FT Mufti
(Bernama, 19 August 2008) -- Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan's holding of the Quran in his right hand when swearing that he was telling the truth, at a mosque recently, was not against Islamic 'syariat' (law) and should not be seen as imitating the Christian practice of swearing on the Bible.
Federal Territory Mufti Datuk Wan Zahidi Wan Teh who said this Tuesday, added that having similar religious gestures or rites should not be deemed as copying those practised by the Christians.
"For example, the Christian priests say 'Amen' at the end of their prayers, while Muslims say 'Amin' at the end of theirs.
He said Mohd Saiful's swearing was also valid as one made outside a court trial or "alyamin qhairul qadhaiyah" and not as "mubahalah" (swearing on the Quran) as reported by the media.
"This is because 'mubahalah' requires the agreement of the two parties involved as stated in verse 61 of the Aal Imran chapter in the Quran," he explained.
With regards to the ruling on holding the Quran when taking an oath, Wan Zahidi quoted passages from a religious book, "Fatwa Syarriah" by former Egypt Mufti Al-Sheikh Hasanin Muhammad Makhluf and the "Fatwa al-Sheikh Muhammad Abu Zuhrah" by Sheikh Muhammad Abu Zuhrah.
He said Al-Sheikh Hasanin also took the view of Al-Imam Al-Ain that "if an individual swears by mushaf (the Holy Book), or places his hand on it or said: 'On this Quran.....', then his oath is valid".
Wan Zahidi said this was also the view of Imam Shafie, Hanafi and Hambali.
He said Sheikh Muhammad Abu Zuhrah, in his book, said that "swearing in the name of Allah by placing one's hand on the Holy Book is valid."
"From these examples, it can be deduced that the oath taken by Mohd Saiful was appropriate and not against Islamic 'syariat'," Wan Zahidi said.
Mohd Saiful, 23, a former aide of Parti Keadilan Rakyat advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, had on Aug 15 took the "sumpah laknat" (swearing in the face of divine retribution) at the Federal Territory Mosque here that he was sodomised by Anwar at a condominium on June 26.
If any one disputes in this matter with thee, now after (full) knowledge Hath come to thee, say: "Come! let us gather together,- our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves: Then let us earnestly pray, and invoke the curse of Allah on those who lie!" - THE HOLY QURAN, Surah 3. Al ‘Imran, Verse 16
1. A sura which We have sent down and which We have ordained in it have We sent down Clear Signs, in order that ye may receive admonition.
2. The woman and the man guilty of adultery or fornication,- flog each of them with a hundred stripes: Let not compassion move you in their case, in a matter prescribed by Allah, if ye believe in Allah and the Last Day: and let a party of the Believers witness their punishment.
3. Let no man guilty of adultery or fornication marry and but a woman similarly guilty, or an Unbeliever: nor let any but such a man or an Unbeliever marry such a woman: to the Believers such a thing is forbidden.
4. And those who launch a charge against chaste women, and produce not four witnesses (to support their allegations),- flog them with eighty stripes; and reject their evidence ever after: for such men are wicked transgressors;-
5. Unless they repent thereafter and mend (their conduct); for Allah is Oft- Forgiving, Most Merciful.
6. And for those who launch a charge against their spouses, and have (in support) no evidence but their own,- their solitary evidence (can be received) if they bear witness four times (with an oath) by Allah that they are solemnly telling the truth;
7. And the fifth (oath) (should be) that they solemnly invoke the curse of Allah on themselves if they tell a lie.
8. But it would avert the punishment from the wife, if she bears witness four times (with an oath) By Allah, that (her husband) is telling a lie;
9. And the fifth (oath) should be that she solemnly invokes the wrath of Allah on herself if (her accuser) is telling the truth.
10. If it were not for Allah's grace and mercy on you, and that Allah is Oft- Returning, full of Wisdom,- (Ye would be ruined indeed).
11. Those who brought forward the lie are a body among yourselves: think it not to be an evil to you; On the contrary it is good for you: to every man among them (will come the punishment) of the sin that he earned, and to him who took on himself the lead among them, will be a penalty grievous.
12. Why did not the believers - men and women - when ye heard of the affair,- put the best construction on it in their own minds and say, "This (charge) is an obvious lie"?
13. Why did they not bring four witnesses to prove it? When they have not brought the witnesses, such men, in the sight of Allah, (stand forth) themselves as liars! - THE HOLY QURAN, Surah 24. An-Nur
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