Introduction
[1]
I recently came
across something known as the Amman Message and the Three Points (here),
and was pleasantly surprised by it.
[2]
The Amman Message
was endorsed by Tun Abdullah Badawi when he was the PM. It was also signed by
current Opposition Leader, Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, and other prominent leaders,
including one Khayri Jamal Al-Din, Deputy Chairman, UMNO youth (yes, I believe that would be KJ, his name fancily spelt).
[3]
Upon reading the
Amman Message, it made me wonder why
isn’t its beautiful message, reminder, principles, and commands being utilised
in Malaysia?
[4]
In this article, I’ll
be looking at the Amman Message and the current crisis engulfing Malaysia and
how the reminders of the Amman Message are vital. It’s also a ‘corrective
position’ concerning a controversial article I wrote about Shias not too long
ago (link here).
Point 1: The
Amman Message & its Three Points
[5]
The Amman Message
is a unique and wonderful document,
yet oddly and unfortunately, many Malaysians (and Muslims generally) do not
know of it.
[6]
The Amman Message
started as statement released on the eve of the 27th of Ramadan 1425ah /
9th November 2004 by H.M. King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein in Amman,
Jordan. It sought to declare what Islam
is and what it is not, and what
actions represent it and what
actions do not.
[7]
“Its goal was to clarify to the modern world the true nature of Islam and the nature of true Islam”.
[8]
In order to give this statement more religious
authority, H.M. King Abdullah II then sent the following three questions to 24
of the most senior religious scholars from all around the world representing
all the branches and schools of Islam:
(1)Who is a Muslim?
(2)Is it
permissible to declare someone an apostate (takfir)?
(3)Who has the
right to undertake issuing fatwas (legal rulings)?
[9]
These 24 senior
scholars (including Shaykh Al-Azhar, Ayatollah Sistani, and Sheikh Qaradawi)
provided fatwas to the questions above. In July 2005, an international Islamic
conference of 200 of the world’s leading Islamic scholars (Ulama) from 50
countreis convened in Amman, and unanimously issued a ruling on three
fundamental issues (which became known as the “Three Points of the Amman Message”).
 |
| (L-R: Sheikh Qardawi, Shaykh Tantawi, Ayatollah Sistani-Ali) |
[10]
The Three Points
are:
(1)
Recognition of the validity
of all 8 Mazhabs (legal schools) of Sunni, Shia and Ibadhi Islam; of
traditional Islamic Theology (Ash’arism); of Islamic Mysticism (Sufism), and of
true Salafi thought, and came to a precise definition of who is a Muslim;
(2)
They forbade takfir (declaration of apostasy)
between Muslims; and
(3)
Based on the
Mazhabs, they set subjective and
objective preconditions for the issuance of fatwas, thereby exposing
ignorant and illegitimate edicts in the name of Islam.
[11]
To date, over 500
leading Muslim scholars have unanimously endorsed the Amman Message and its
Three Points - Sunni and Shia political leaders included.
[12]
The significance of the Amman
Message and Three Points is that it is
the first time in over 1000 years that the Ummah has formally and specifically
come to such a pluralistic mutual inter-recognition, and for those familiar
with sources of Islamic Law, “ijma” (aka
consensus) is the 3rd most important source after
the Quran and Sunnah.
[13]
1000 years? Ijma
reached by Muslims? That’s huge! So, why isn’t it a bigger deal in Malaysia?
Point
2: Lessons from the Amman Message and Malaysia’s Religio-Racial Relations Today
[14]
Why the Amman
Message and Three Points doesn’t play a more prominent role in our policy,
religious teachings and race-relation efforts, etc. is anyone’s guess.
[15]
Regardless, the
Amman Message contains many reminders relevant to Malaysia today.
[16]
On our belief
system and commonality with Christians and other religions, the Amman Message
reminds us that “the origin of divine religions
is one, and Muslims believe in all Messengers of God and do not differentiate
between any of them. Denying the message of any of them is a deviation from
Islam”. This sets the tone for believers of different faiths to find common
ground, for the service of human society [1].
[17]
Dont wanna wish your neighbour Merry Christmas? You might just be
going against your faith, buddy.
[18]
In relation to
respecting others, the Amman Message states that “Islam honours every human being, regardless of his colour, race or
religion” [2].
Some Malaysians somehow don’t seem to feel that way – both Muslims and
Non-Muslims alike. There’s a perverse
race elitisms from all sides, but more profoundly so by the majority (strength
in numbers and historical origins?). This needs to be undone. Islamic
leadership is about fulfilling the amanah (trust) to Allah – treating
non-Muslims properly is part of that.
[19]
P.S. Good job Marina Mahathir and friends. What
you did just feels right.
[20]
Islam shuns cruelty and violence.
The Amman Message cites the Holy Quran which states ‘It is by some Mercy of God
that you were gentle to them. Were you severe – cruel hearted – they would have
broken away from you. So pardon them and
ask forgiveness for them and consult with them in the conduct of affairs.
And when you are resolved, put your
trust in God; truly God loves those who trust [in Him] (Chapter 3, verse
159).
[21]
Dear JAIS, please
read paragraph 19. Not only have you
shown cruelty to the Christians, you’ve hurt the conscience of many good
Muslims in Malaysia.
[22]
Not saying that JAIS couldn’t have done what it did – but it could have been done so much better.
Some of us get it - JAIS has a job to do. It has laws to uphold, court orders to enforce, and there are Muslims who supported the raid. But do it properly.
[23]
The Amman Message
continues to remind us that Islam confirms the principle of justice in
interacting with others, safeguarding their rights, and confirms that one must
not deny people their possessions (including their bibles?). “And let not hatred of others make you
swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just; that is closer to piety
(5:8)”.
[24]
True Islam means
respect for the rule of law, not ‘forgetting’ to inform the proper authority (seriously, JAIS? This isn't the first time), protecting due process, and not wrongfully denying people
their possessions.
[25]
In the Amman
Message, mention is made that (everyone comes together) ”without encroaching upon creedal distinctions or upon intellectual
freedom”. How I read this is that
regardless of what God is called, that should be secondary. Affirmation of faith has to be the primary
focus, and substance takes precedence over form.
Conclusion
[26]
On a final note,
one of the Three Points declares the following: “Whosoever is an adherent to
one of the four Sunni schools (Mazhabs) of Islamic jurisprudence (Habafi,
Maliki, Hanbali and Shafie – the last being what the majority of Malaysians
are), the two Shia schools of Islamic
Jurisprudence (Ja’fari and Zaydi)... is
a Muslim. Declaring that person an
apostate is impossible and impermissible”.
[27]
Just based on
that, I am willing accept that my article on Shias earlier was wrong. Accepting
the Amman Message, I am guided by those wiser and more qualified than me. This
was an important correction to make, and I am glad that I have.
[28]
Finally, Ghandi once
said, “you can judge a society by how they treat their weakest members”. This
isn’t about how the State treats the non-Muslims, it’s about how the State
treats the Malay-Muslims, whom at the moment are being labelled as ‘weak’
(lemah iman) and ‘easily confused’. It is about time to trust them and their
faith, and build towards a stronger Ummah - one that isn’t insecure, and one
that would make others worried to use the word Allah, for it may confuse them
instead :)
[29]
Here’s to the
Amman Message and the reminders that we should heed from it.
[1]
[2]
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