Zainah Anwar’s Deviance

THIS is a response to an article written by Zainah Anwar, on the 3rd of April^[1]. To keep the response brief and concise we shall look into one particular point in her long article. Here is what she had to say about the Quran,

And the pluralism they celebrate is directly inspired by the Qur’anic verse 49:13: And God has created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes so that you may get to know one another.

So now let’s debunk this idea of hers where Quran celebrates plurality. It is obvious a straw man fallacy to say the least. Let’s just see the actual translation,

O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted.

Quran 49:13

Firstly nowhere in this aayah (verse) exists the notion of pluralism. What the verse intends to say is that, there should not be any discrimination due to race,language, gender, geography, culture, lineage, caste and economics. Everyone in that sense is equal, however the people who are most noble in the sight of God are the most righteous.

READ ALSO: Surat terbuka kepada Zainah Anwar

So clearly there is no mention of pluralism anywhere to be seen. What can be seen is the justice that Islam brings to a society regardless of the background of a person. The Prophet said,

…All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety (taqwa) and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly. Do not, therefore, do injustice to yourselves…

This is perhaps the most concise and best understanding of the aayah(verse). Rightfully it does not mention religious pluralism anywhere. What the sermon does, is to negate and deny any form of racism or superiority of one group of people over another. Again it reiterates that, the superiority is gauged by piety (taqwa).

And in the Quran, The Almighty mentions,

For you is your religion, and for me is my religion.

Quran 109:6

Islam recognises religious plurality but does not encourage, celebrate or recognise religious pluralism. Humans have the right to choose a religion of their choice and can not be forced into Islam. In that sense Islam recognises the right of people to have religions beside Islam.

The Almighty only accepts Islam as the true religion, as mentioned

…This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion…

Quran 5:3

Again, this shows the lack of understand that Zainah has over the verse (49:13). That said, the closest to Allah will be from those who are the pious. In another aayah (verse) Allah S.W.T. commands the believers to be pious,

O you who have believed, fear Allah as He should be feared and do not die except as Muslims [in submission to Him].

Quran 3:102

In this verse Allah S.W.T. clearly mentions that piety or taqwa is only for believers, and for the believers to die as Muslims. This is a clear evidence that piety in the case of the aayah (vere) 49:13 as quoted by Zainah, is only in the case of the believers i.e. for Muslims.

Nowhere in the Quran nor anywhere in the Islamic scholarship has the idea of pluralism been celebrated and/or recognised. Islam ratifies the realities of life and in this case the existence of  plurality but does not say everyone is equal with regards to their belief.

Zainah has clearly deviated and misused the aayah (verse) of the Quran. Twisting and spinning the words of The Almighty Himself is no small of an act. Such a blatant accusation has a profound effect on one’s aqidah (belief) and consequences here and in the hereafter.

Some who deviate have good oration and that allows them to sell their deviations to others and with the attention they get make it seem that they are numerous. As for Zainah here is an advise from the Quran,

…So do not fear the people but fear Me, and do not exchange My verses for a small price. And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed – then it is those who are the disbelievers.

Quran 5:44

And Allah knows best (Wallahu’alam)
[1] Retrieved from http://www.thestar.com.my/opinion/columnists/sharing-the-nation/2016/04/03/its-ok-to-use-our-godgiven-intellect-ok-to-use-godgiven-intellect-what-we-need-is-to-overhaul-the-wa/ 4th April 2016

[2] Retrieved from http://www.quranwebsite.com/text55/049___al_hujurat.html , 4th April 2016

Rehan Ahmad Jamaluddin Ahmad
Felo Penyelidik di Institut Kajian Strategik Malaysia (IKSIM)