Religious issues in Malaysia are seasonal. Not because they are seldom seen, it is far from that but because of the topic at play. As far as demeaning Malays and Muslims is concerned the issues are seen on almost a daily basis. The topic for the issue is a different story. The topic now is about unilateral conversions. Interesting topic on paper I must say, but not so interesting in real life.
Regardless of your faith, everyone who is sane will agree that there can only be two parents. So a child that comes from a marriage follows the religion of the parent and not parents. As mentioned in Article 12(4) of the Federal Constitution, For the purposes of Clause (3) the religion of a person under the age of eighteen years shall be decided by his parent or guardian.
So according to the Federal Constitution a parent decides the religion of the child. So when the constitution is clear regarding this issue, what’s the problem? The problem is that not everyone agrees to this article in the Federal Constitution. And they especially don’t agree when a parent decides that the child’s or children’s religion is Islam.
But it is okay when a mother vows for her child to be brought up as a Hindu. The same people who fight against the so-called “unilateral” conversions will not bat any eye. So the issue is only when Islam is in the picture, but it is okay if a child grows up with any other religion.
Unilateral refers to an action of one person without the consent of another. Basically any religion determined or chosen for the child by either parent would be considered unilateral regardless of the religion of choice. So, the parties that are against unilateral conversions should do so without a preference in religion for the child in question.
In reality however that is not so much the case, the people opposing unilateral conversions want the option for the child to choose another religion. Is that not hypocrisy? Unilateral conversion to Islam is a no go but anything else is fine. Either we need to redefine the word “unilateral” or stop being hypocrites.
Let’s assume that unilateral conversions were to be abolished, on paper at least. A child less than 18 years of age would not be able to choose his/her religion. Then what would the child adhere to? That means, officially that child would have no religion, however it does not guarantee the absence of an unofficial religion.
A child might attend church, go to temples, gurdwaras and elsewhere but not have an official religion, that is fine for anyone else but a Muslim. Indirectly this is unilateral conversion, its just that the child is not a Muslim. How would this settle with the majority of the population?
Many want democracy, but are not willing to accept democracy when it is not in their favour. So what do they want? An autocratic system that rules based on the loudest voice? Loudest voice does not mean it is the representation of everyone’s voice. Liberals have a loud voice because they control the media, but that does not mean those who are silent are with them.
Just because the majority cannot voice out their opinions, that does not mean there is no opinion to be given. Just because someone is mute, or has been muted doesn’t he/she has no opinion.
And Allah knows best
Rehan Ahmad Bin Jamaluddin Ahmad
President, Intellectual Wisodm Society
But you must understand why unilateral, if it involves conversion of child to islam, can be damaging. because if they remain nonmuslim they can still embrace islam when they come of age and sampai seruan/hidayah. But if they are converted to islam against their will, they will never b allowed to leave islam bcos in msia islam is administrative/legislated, n it is not allowed.
It also leaves nonmuslim spouse, male or female, at disadvantage: for custody arrangement, they will b accused of trying to convert their child out of islam when they as parent have every rright to raise them in the nonislam faith n teach them nonislam faith.
According to the so-called ‘Farha’, it’s okay for a child to become a non-believer but it isn’t okay if the child become a Muslim. So ‘Farha’ believes that Muslim parent has no right to decide the religion of his or her children because Farha believes that only non-Muslim parents can decide about it ! So Farha must be a insane dictator !
Farha’s extreme hypocrisy, bigotry and prejudice are fully exposed when Farha claims falsely that if it involves conversion of child to islam, can be damaging which means conversion of child to hinduism etc cannot be damaging ! How come conversion to Islam can be damaging while to conversion to other religions is okay? Any concrete evidence? Farha does not show us any concrete evidence to support Farha’s ridiculous fairy tale. It seems to us that Farha is a non-believer for degrading and defaming Islam while favoring non-believers’ religions.
Farha claims falsely that if they remain nonmuslim they can still embrace islam when they come of age and sampai seruan/hidayah. Farha means let all the children concerned to be brainwashed by non-believers, priests, missionaries and when they come of age, they are ready to hate and reject Islam. Can Farha guarantee that if the children remain nonmuslim, they will all embrace Islam when they come of age etc? Farha must be an idiotic joker!
Farha also claims nonsensically and ridiculously But if they are converted to islam against their will which means that it is okay for them to be converted to hinduism, christianity, buddhism, judaism etc against their will ! How could an ignorant child himself or herself decide which religion is best for her or him? If non-Muslim parents think they have the right to decide the religion of their children, so do Muslim parents ! Why the hell should we respect the right of non-Muslim parents while they are denying the right of Muslim parents?
Would non-Muslim parents give freedom to their children to revert to Islam if they desire conversion to Islam? We seriously doubt it! As far as we know some non-Muslim parents resort to deceit, blackmail, coerce, boycott, mental and physical torture, intimidation or even terror to force their Muslim children to leave Islam for good ! So once again, Farha has proven that Farha is a disgusting hypocrite !
Then Farha exposes Farha’s own bigotry by writing they as parent have every rright to raise them in the nonislam faith n teach them nonislam faith while denying the right of Muslim parents to raise their children in the Islamic faith and teach them Islam.
It seems to us that Farha’s real intention is to ensure that all of the children concerned to become non-believers. ‘Farha’ is highly hypocritical and biased by favoring the interest of non-Muslim parent over Muslim parent’s and denying the right of the children concerned to become Muslims. Farha’s comment is really baseless, ridiculous, nonsensical and disgusting. To hell with Farha’s fairy tales !
By denying the right of Muslim parents and favoring the right of non-Muslim parents, Farha’s comment simply reflects the hypocrisy, prejudice and bigotry of non-Muslims against Islam and Muslims.
NOTE:
The so-called ‘Farha’ should use non-Muslim name based on Farha’s own anti-Islam comments. If Farha has the guts, Farha should tells us about Farha’s religion but I am sure Farha is like other non-Muslims who attack Islam by using Muslim ID etc because they are yellow belly bigots ! Why are they so scared to reveal their own beliefs? They know that their beliefs are so fragile ! No wonder they had tried so hard to prevent Dr Zakir from propagating Islam in this country !
Ibnu:
Yes, iis right for us muslims to ensure that if the child of dual-religion parents exist here, the child must b brainwashed, as u say, to b muslims so that they remain muslim by name. At least, even if they found they were duped, theres nothing they can do bcos if dey eat pork n dont do salat also the ICwill state dey r muslim n dey cannot do amything abt it till dey die. Some few lucky ones who go to ask to become nonmuslim again got to be nons lah, but only after proving how much of a nonmuslim they are by practice. Yay, syariah court is supreme over civil one!
And yes, force in conversion at young age is also needed. Why, syariah court can be armtwisted into believing that nonmuslim spouse will never allow conversion of their son or daughter to islam even after they are adults like ridhuan tee.
You dont believe that ADULT, FREE-WILLED nonmuslims will ever convert to islam from seeing n experiencing the sheer beauty of islam? That they r so brainwashed that when hidayah comes, it cannot overcome some hate/brainwash from nonmuslims?
Answer this: If a muslim convert to another religion and unilaterally convert his/her kid to that same religion, will you still defend it? Oh, i forgot! Born muslims cant do that, the constitution ensures it.
You can accuse me of anything. But i will not move goalposts.
farha,
So you claim that [Quote}But i will not move goalposts [Unquote]. The problem is you are trying so hard to hijack the goalposts to offer non-Muslim parents an intentional advantage over Muslim parents thus exposing your highly biased, hypocritical and bigoted personality.
You are robbing Muslim parents who are the majority in this country of their right to raise their children as Muslims. By denying the right of the majority , you are defying, trampling and opposing democracy !
I have read your contradictory and ridiculous comments above and found that your are a shameless and disgusting hypocrite who speaks with a forked tongue. And based on your own comments , it seems to me that you are so desperate that you resort to invalid baseless assumptions to twist my comment IN VAIN. Wise readers will not be fooled by your ridiculous and nonsensical comments and invalid baseless assumptions!
The undeniable fact is Islam respect religious freedom of non-Muslims but Islam will never allows any Muslim to commit apostasy! And it is the duty of Muslim parents to raise their children as good Muslims who practice Islam as their way of life .
Allah (SWT) states in the Quran about the need to raise families in the light of their end destination, which may be translated in the following words:
“O you who believe! Ward off yourselves and your families against a Fire (Hell) whose fuel is men and stones, over which are (appointed) angels stern (and) severe, who disobey not, (from executing) the commands they receive from Allah, but do that which they are commanded” (Tahrim 66:6).
Translation:
Wahai orang-orang yang beriman! Peliharalah diri kamu dan keluarga kamu dari neraka yang bahan-bahan bakarannya: manusia dan batu (berhala); neraka itu dijaga dan dikawal oleh malaikat-malaikat yang keras kasar (layanannya); mereka tidak menderhaka kepada Allah dalam segala yang diperintahkanNya kepada mereka, dan mereka pula tetap melakukan segala yang diperintahkan. (At-Tahriim 66:6)
Children have the right, therefore, to be raised as responsible Muslim adults and parents must ensure that right appropriately. Parents must be conscious and take an active role in guiding their children and families on the path of truth.
The Prophet Muhammad (s) said: “Every one of your (people) is responsible, and everyone is responsible for whatever falls under his responsibility. A man is like a shepherd of his own family, and he is responsible for them” (Bukhari and Muslim).