Nurul Izzah and Sura Al Baqarah verse 256


The interpretation given by Nurul Izzah recently on the above verse really shocked me.

This coming from a daughter of Anwar Ibrahim well known for his being an Islamic activist in his younger days. He was a key leader of PKPIM (Persatuan Kebangsaan Pelajar2 Islam Malaysia)  ABIM (Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia) was formed through his strong efforts.

His Islamic credentials are so strong that it is no surprise that he will and have many powerful friends in West Asia in particular and the Islamic World in general.

Now to have Anwar's daughter saying that Muslims are free to change to other religions similar to Non Muslims is a real setback to Anwar's image as an Islamist.


Verse 256 of Al Baqarah has always been used by the Christians.  Even the Pope as head of Catholic Church has said that there is no compulsion in Islam on religion based on the verse.  This implies that a Muslim can renounced his Islamic faith and convert to another religion say Evangelism or Catholic.  This is far from the truth.

In Islam a Muslim who is an apostate i.e. one who convert to another religion is punishable by death.There is no two way about it.  But a non Muslim is free to become a Muslim.  This is the gist of Surah Al Baqarah verse 256.

Prophet Muhammad's (PBUB) Last Sermon

After praising, and thanking Allah he said:

"O People, lend me an attentive ear, for I know not whether after this year, I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefore listen to what I am saying to you very carefully and TAKE THESE WORDS TO THOSE WHO COULD NOT BE PRESENT HERE TODAY.
O People, just as you regard this month, this day, this city as Sacred, so regard the life and property of every Muslim as a sacred trust. Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful owners. Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you. Remember that you will indeed meet your Lord, and that He will indeed reckon your deeds. ALLAH has forbidden you to take usury (interest), therefore all interest obligation shall henceforth be waived. Your capital, however, is yours to keep. You will neither inflict nor suffer any inequity. Allah has Judged that there shall be no interest and that all the interest due to Abbas ibn 'Abd'al Muttalib (Prophet's uncle) shall henceforth be waived...
Beware of Satan, for the safety of your religion. He has lost all hope that he will ever be able to lead you astray in big things, so beware of following him in small things.
O People, it is true that you have certain rights with regard to your women, but they also have rights over you. Remember that you have taken them as your wives only under Allah's trust and with His permission. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers. And it is your right that they do not make friends with any one of whom you do not approve, as well as never to be unchaste.
O People, listen to me in earnest, worship Allah, say your five daily prayers (Salah), fast during the month of Ramadan, and give your wealth in Zakat. Perform Hajj if you can afford to.
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 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.
Remember, one day you will appear before Allah and answer your deeds. So beware, do not stray from the path of righteousness after I am gone.
O People, no prophet or apostle will come after me and no new faith will be born. Reason well, therefore, O People, and understand words which I convey to you. I leave behind me two things, the QURAN and my example, the SUNNAH and if you follow these you will never go astray.
All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to others again; and may the last ones understand my words better than those who listen to me directly. Be my witness, O Allah, that I have conveyed your message to your people".

SUKMA: FATIN SWEEPS THREE OF FOUR GOLD MEDALS IN RYTHMIC GYMNASTICS

SUKMA: Fatin Jalany Sweeps Three Of Four Gold Medals At Stake In Rhythmic Gumnastics

KUANTAN, July 16 (Bernama) -- Federal Territories gymnast Fatin Zakirah Jalany Zain Jalany was the darling of the 15th Pahang SUKMA when she ruled supreme in the rhythmic gymnastics events, sweeping five of the six gold medals offered in the women's competition.

In today's individual routines, Fatin Jalany swept three of the four gold medals at stake, winning the ball, clubs and hoop while her team-mate Tan Qing Tong made it a clean sweep for Federal Territories by winning the ribbon gold.

Fatin Jalany who had already won two gold medals through the team event and overall individual, took the silver in the ribbon routine.

"I am extremely delighted with my performance today although my target was to win all four gold medals. But though I did not win the fourth, I am happy to see that another gymnast from my team had won it," she told reporters here.

The 15-year-old Fatin Jalany from the Bukit Jalil Sports School who first competed in the 2010 Melaka SUKMA hopes to improve her performances to stake a serious claim for medals at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Sydney, Australia.

-- BERNAMA

MANDAILING DANCE AND DRUMS TO BECOME NATIONAL HERITAGE - RAIS

Mandailing Dance And Drums To Become National Heritage - Rais

KUALA LUMPUR, June 15 (Bernama) -- The Tor-tor dance and the Gordang Sambilan (Nine Great Drums) of the Mandailing community will be acknowledged as national heritage soon.

Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said these would be registered under Section 67 of the National Heritage Act 2005.

"But (the acknowledgement) is with conditions such as periodic performances must be held, which means that the dance must be presented while various beats of the drums must be played in front of the public," he told reporters after launching a Mandailing community gathering, here, Thursday.

Rais said promoting Mandailing arts and culture was important because it could expose their origins, besides fostering unity with the other communities.

In line with the 1Malaysia concept, the efforts by the Mandailings to highlight their arts and culture have been endorsed by the ministry to be recognised and exposed to the Malaysian public.

-- BERNAMA

PNB, Khazanah to transfer 10 businesses to Bumis

PUTRAJAYA: Permodalan Nasional Berhad and Khazanah Nasional will sell or outsource 10 non-core businesses to suitable bumiputra companies to increase Bumiputra equity, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

He said the bumiputra companies would be selected from among the 80 high-performing companies through an open tender process.

Najib said this, along with other announcements, after chairing the Bumiputera Agenda Action Council meeting at his office.

“We will request PNB and Khazanah to undergo a divestment process on their non-core businesses, which have a potential to be managed by qualified Bumiputra companies,” Najib said.

The number of high-performing companies, known as Teras, were selected based on their field of business.
The Teras companies, said Najib, were given assistance to boost their management, financial, and technological abilities.

He also announced the appointment of Raja Azura Raja Mahayuddin as the chief executive officer of a multi-million dollar education foundation for Bumiputra students to be funded by corporate sponsors.

Broad economic ecosystem to increase number of Bumi vendors

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KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 26, 2011): The government will create a broad economic ecosystem encompassing big Bumiputera companies to help increase the number of Bumiputera vendors, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak.
He said the creation of the ecosystem would help increase the participation of more Bumiputera companies.
Najib, who is also Finance Minister, said to be effective, one important factor which has to be considered was that a contract awarded to a Bumiputera firm has to give a reasonable margin.
"I would like to remind big corporations, whether government- or private-sector owned, not to take lightly this matter," he said at the launch of the 'Bumiputera Economic Transformation: A Roadmap' document here today.
Najib also announced the setting up of a Bumiputera unit in MRT Corp, a company under Minister of Finance Inc.
He said the unit, with the cooperation of Peneraju Agenda Bumiputer (Teraju), would select qualified Bumiputera under myMRT project.
On the Bumiputera Economic Transformation Roadmap, Najib said, it would encompass policies and strategies to correct the current imbalance in income and wealth distribution.
"The aim is to ensure that when Malaysia achieves its Wawasan 2020 target, the participation of Bumiputeras in the economy will be equal, especially in the high-growh sectors, high-income jobs and ownership of big firms.
"The roadmap outlines policy, strategy and special initiatives to strengthen Bumiputera economy," said Najib, who is also Umno president.
He said the country needed to undertake various transformations in line with global developments.
These included Government Transformation Programme, Economic Transformation Programme, Political Transformation Programme and Rural Areas Transformation Programme which were undertaken under 1Malaysia principle of 'People First, Performance Now'.
Najib said although transformation roadmap involved only Bumiputeras the benefits would be enjoyed by all Malaysians.
"The Bumiputeras form the biggest majority of the population and when the Bumiputera economy grows, they would also have strong buying power.
"They would also form joint ventures with non-Bumiputera firms and buy from them," he said.
The prime minister said the 'Bumiputera Economic Transformation: A Roadmap', a dynamic 'living document', would be continuously updated to ensure it was relevant with the changing socio-economic landscape locally and globally.
The roadmap aimed to achieve maximum impact in the shortest time possible, he said.
Najib said the continued implementation of the New Economic Policy (NEP) has helped reduce the poverty rate, raise the equity participation of Bumiputeras in the corporate sector and increase the number of Bumiputera professionals.
"Although the NEP has been a success, imbalances still exist.
"The Bumiputera participation in the economy is still not in accordance their numbers," he said.
Najib said although the Bumiputera households make up 65%, the majority of them was in the low-income group.
Bumiputera equity holding (based on par value) in listed companies was at 21.9% in 2008, he said.
"It has not reached the targetted 30%. Thus a big shift is needed to raise the Bumiputera equity overall," he said.
He said the launch of the roadmap would serve as a starting point to lift the Bumiputera economy and the community to greater heights.
The roadmap has three strategic focus – reform of policy instruments and rationalisation of delivery system; strengthening education and building capabilities; and acquiring, creating or developing businesses with sufficient scale.
It would be guided by six principles namely market-friendly, needs-based, merit-based, transparency, pro-growth and building sustainable competitiveness. – Bernama

WHAT FOSTERS THE SPIRIT OF INNOVATION?

KUALA LUMPUR: What fosters the spirit of innovation? The answers point to an encouraging environment and putting Malaysia into context, there is much to be done at the home, education and corporate levels to create an environment fertile for sowing the seeds of unconventional thinking.
That was the main take-away from the second Merdeka Award Roundtable last week, featuring group chief executive of AirAsia Bhd Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, Malaysian Invention and Design Society president Tan Sri Dr Augustine Ong Soon Hock and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Zaini Ujang.
The award was founded by energy companies Petronas, ExxonMobil and Shell in 2007 where award recipients will receive a certificate and RM500,000 cash award for each of five categories.
“(Innovation) is not something you can teach or programme. It is creating a lot of little ecosystems to make sure (the environment is right) and culture does play a part in this,” Fernandes said, kicking off the discussion on “Cultivating a culture of innovation in challenging times.”

Sharing ideas: (from left) Zaini, Ong and Fernandes at the second Merdeka Award Roundtable. The discussion was hosted by Astro Awani’s Norina Yahya

Of the education system, Fernandes said the focus on books had overwhelmed the development in other areas that build thought leaders.
“When we look at some of the great leaders, they are all rounded. Our schools have lost a lot by focusing on academics only,” he said.
Fernandes believed that while the Government should foster innovation as well as trust the people and allow ideas, education is the key to take Malaysia to the next level. He opined that bringing back arts, culture and sport would change the way the future generation thinks.
“A successful education system should be about bringing out the best in children and giving them the ability to experiment and try all sorts of things and turn that raw diamond into a polished diamond,” he said.
As a parent, he believed that it was important to “expose the children to as many things as possible and allow them to go where they want.”
At the corporate level, he added that there was also a culture of subordination in Malaysia that hampered creative output: “When you go against the norm in Malaysia, you can be whacked. It's sometimes seen as insubordinate or questionable when you challenge the norm.”
“That's the culture. Malaysians are an innovative lot but sometimes we need to praise innovation by creating the environment,” he said, adding that the success stories of Malaysian innovation were not sung often enough.
“We don't hear enough of the success stories. A lot of our technology came from Malaysians and we need to show that the commercialisation of these ideas have come to fruition,” he said.
During the discussion, Fernandes also revealed that the flat structure in AirAsia's management was the “secret weapon” for its success in the industry. He said that communication flow relied on organisation structure.
“If you have a hierarchical organisation, the people who have ideas are sometimes too scared to speak up. (But) it's all right to give ideas, it's all right to talk,” he said of the potentially stifling hierarchical organisation structures in many Malaysian companies.
“I always say I would rather have 9,000 brains working with me than just 10,” he said, adding on that “if you create an environment where everyone feels equal and there's freedom of expression (among all levels of employees), that provides a very powerful machine.”
However, innovating per se should not be the end goal too.
Ong, who is also a former member of the Merdeka Award Health, Science and Technology Committee, said there needed to be market-driven innovations to encourage worthwhile creations.
“When you have innovation for a market that is not ready for it, that becomes a problem,” he said.
“We should also look at what our country has a niche in. We should concentrate on areas where we already have good industries going on where innovation can bring some results,” he added, saying that foreign areas like nuclear energy may not be an ideal area to innovate since the country had yet to develop its know-how and infrastructure.
In terms of getting academicians engaged with market-centric needs, Zaini said UTM had a professorship scheme with Proton Holdings Bhd where professors were positioned at the company to spur on-the-ground projects with the staff.
“We target to have 100 patents under Proton per year from this industrial PhD,” the former Merdeka Award recipient said, highlighting the university's market-relevant endeavours through the reverse flow of ideas from the market into academia.
The roundtable will be broadcast on Astro Awani in early December.

MANDAILING PEOPLES

The Mandailing is a traditional cultural group in Southeast Asia. They are found mainly in the northern section of the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. They came under the influence of the Kaum Padri who ruled the Minangkabau of Tanah Datar. As a result, the Mandailing were influenced by Muslim culture and converted to Islam. Previous to their conversion, they practised Hinduism and Parmalim (Batak native religion). There are also a group of Mandailing in Malaysia, especially in the states of Selangor and Perak. They are closely related to the Angkola, who are mixed between Muslim and Christian adherents.
[edit] Etymology
The etymology of 'Mandailing' is said to be a coupounding of the words mande, meaning 'mother', and hilang, meaning 'lost'. Thus, the name is said to mean "lost mother". Some research has suggested that the Mandailing are the descendants of the Batak, who migrated to the south before the coming of the Portuguese and Dutch colonisation of Sumatra. There they converted to Islam and intermarried with Minangkabau and the Malay peoples. Mandailing society is patriarchal, employing family names, or marga, in the same manner as the Batak, Simalungun, and Karo. The same marga can be found, such as Lubis, Nasution, Siregar, Hasibuan, Harahap, Dalimunthe (originally from Munthe), Matondang, Rangkuti, Parinduri, Pulungan, Rambe, Daulae(y), Pohan, Batubara (not to be confused with the Batu Bara people from the east coast of Sumatra), Barus and Hutajulu.

[edit] Region

Mandailing is the name of region Luat Mandailing, which is now almost in Mandailing Natal Regency in North Sumatra. The first group who came to this region were the Lubis, later followed by the Nasution,  Siregar, Harahap and so forth. These groups migrated from the northern region, which now belongs to North Tapanuli Regency and Toba Samosir Regency. One of these groups, the Harahap, left, which makes their identification to the region difficult. Matondang, Rangkuti and Parinduri are the local groups s of Luat Mandailing. Harahap and Siregar dwell almost in Luat Angkola, which now belongs to South Tapanuli Regency, situated between Regency and North Tapanuli Regency.

[edit] Clarification

Some of Mandailing people refused to be considered as a part of Batak people. Even in 1930 and 2000 national census, the Indonesian government considered the Mandailings as a part of the Batak people.^[1] This may be because their languages are different from the Batak's. Also, it is reported that 98% of the Mandailing ethnic group are Muslim.

ROADMAP TO BOOST BUMIPUTRA ECONIC PARTICIPATION

ROADMAP TO BOOST BUUMIPUTRA ECONOMIC PARTICIPATION

By By Eileen Ng | 

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak launched the Bumiputera Economic Transformation Road map today to increase Bumiptera economic participation in the country.

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He said the strategic roadmap would incorporate a new dimension and approach to tackle the imbalance in income and wealth creation among Bumiputeras.
The roadmap is aimed at enhancing Bumiputera wealth creation and this could be achieved through three inter-related drivers: to earn higher income through better education and employment; to enhance and unlock the value of Bumiputera-owned assets and to enhance Bumiputera corporate ownership and control.
“The survival of the Bumiputeras depends on the success in implementing this transformation,” he said at the launch of the roadmap this morning.
Present at the function include deputy prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, cabinet ministers and corporate leaders.
Najib assured that although the roadmap is aimed at Bumiputeras, Malaysians of all races would be able to enjoy its benefits.
He also assured that the government would continue to look into the needs of the 40 per cent low-income group which encompassed all races.

MEMAHAMI WASATIYYAH

Memahami Wasatiyyah

Oleh DR MOHD. RIDHUAN TEE ABDULLAH


MENURUT Imam Mohamed Baianonie, istilah Arab, wasat, membawa tiga makna, iaitu  to be moderate, to be in the middle, and to be the best. Therefore, when Allah s.w.t describes the Muslim Ummah as a nation that is Wasat, Allah means that we are moderate, we are an Ummah that is in the middle, and that we are the best nation. Atawasoot in an Islamic sense means that the Muslim should try his best to be moderate in all of his affairs, and he should keep away from extreme practices and making extreme statements.

Apabila membaca definisi di atas, berkata hati saya, alangkah hebatnya umat Islam jika mereka dapat menyelami dan memahami serta mempraktikkan konsep wasatiyyah ini. Maka, tidak hairanlah baru-baru ini, kami telah dipanggil oleh Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri untuk memperhalusi konsep ini. Saya amat bersyukur sekali kerana pimpinan negara mengajak rakyat bersama-sama berbincang sesuatu dasar sebelum ia dilaksanakan. Itulah sebenarnya jalan yang terbaik, kerana demokrasi itu adalah daripada rakyat untuk rakyat. Berilah peluang kepada suara keramat ini untuk menyuarakan pendapat. Pendapat mereka adalah pendapat akar umbi kerana mereka merakyat walaupun tidak menjadi wakil rakyat. Kekuatan rakyat yang terdiri daripada pelbagai latar belakang perlu digembleng, barulah kita boleh jadi kuat. Rasulullah s.a.w selalu menilai kekuatan dan meraikan pandangan para sahabat, walaupun Baginda seorang Rasul. Tanpa rakyat siapalah kita.

Pada saya, konsep ‘wasatiyyah’ ini bertepatan dengan gagasan 1Malaysia yang mahu melahirkan masyarakat berimbang (sederhana), berteraskan perlembagaan persekutuan. Seperti gagasan 1Malaysia, konsep ini bukanlah sama rata dan sama rasa atau terletak di tengah-tengah seperti tidak miskin atau tidak kaya, tidak terlalu panas atau terlalu sejuk, persimpangan antara syurga dan neraka, tidak pandai atau tidak bodoh yakni sederhana sahaja. Tuntutan ‘wasatiyyah’ mahukan kita menjadi umat yang terbaik. Boleh menjadi kaya-raya tetapi jangan sampai hilang pedoman sehingga lupa tanggungjawab kepada Maha Pencipta dan makhluk yang dicipta. Boleh membangun, jangan sampai pembangunan itu merosakkan akal budi manusia dan alam sekeliling.

The best way for a Muslim to behave is in moderation. In trying to explain the importance of moderation, Imaam Ibn Al-Atheer said: "Every good manner has two extreme and bad sides. For example, generosity, a good and moderate behavior, comes between two bad behaviors, on one side stinginess and on other side overspending. Braveness, another good and moderate behavior, comes between two bad behaviors on one side cowardness and on other side carelessness. So humans have been ordered to avoid all bad behaviors; by staying away from two bad behaviors, a person will be exactly in the middle which is the farthest point from each extreme." (Imam Mohamed Baianonie, 2010)

Malangnya, tatkala kita sedang memperhalusi konsep ini, belum apa-apa lagi MCA telah membuat tuntutan dua kerusi senator yang telah ditinggalkan oleh dua ahli jawatan kuasa mereka yang telah dilantik sebelum ini.  Pada MCA kerusi senator itu hak mereka, mesti diganti setelah disokongkan atas apa jua alasan. Sabarlah dahulu. Berilah Perdana Menteri untuk memikirkan siapa yang layak dilantik sebagai senator. Saudara baru seperti Cina Muslim pun ramai juga, malah melebihi bilangan artis, tetapi mereka tidak pernah mendesak kerajaan BN untuk memberikan kerusi senator, walaupun minoriti lain yang jauh lebih kecil juga mendapat kerusi senator. Ini kerana, kita menghormati keputusan kerajaan untuk melantik mereka yang benar-benar layak, bukan berasaskan kepada kuota parti semata-mata. Jika berasaskan kuota, ramai lagi yang layak. Jangan terlalu memikirkan bangsa sendiri yang mahukan more power more say, tidakkah lebih baik kita perkasakan dulu kekuatan dalaman dan moral parti, more integrity more say.

Begitu juga dengan MIC, tidak semena-mena parti nyamuk ini mahu mengkaji kedudukan mereka dalam BN gara-gara kumpulan serpihan yang tidak sehaluan dengan pimpinan mereka, Gerakan Anti Samy (GAS). Mereka menuduh UMNO bersubahat dengan GAS untuk menjatuhkan presiden mereka. MIC merasakan diri mereka terlalu kuat. Apakah mereka tidak sedar bahawa selama ini parti nyamuk inilah yang paling bernasib baik? Tidak ada kawasan yang mereka adalah majoriti tetapi wakil mereka tetap ada dalam dewan rakyat dan dewan negara serta berjawatan dalam kabinet. Majoriti Melayu sanggup memejam mata mengundi mereka dengan menafikan calon sendiri, semata-mata untuk menjaga semangat setiakawan. Ini tidak termasuk bilangan rumah ibadat yang begitu banyak berselerak dan penguasaan ekonomi beberapa bandar strategik yang diwakilinya sehingga mengenepikan pribumi. Selain daripada Kelang, cuba tinjau di pasar Hutan Melintang, Bagan Datoh, boleh dikatakan dikuasai mereka sepenuhnya. Maklumlah wakil rakyat mereka terdiri daripada ultra kiasu.

Kita janganlah terlampau ultra kiasu. Parti komponen BN ini tidak wajar bertindak seolah-olah seperti atau mewakili suara parti ultra kiasu. Cubalah bersyukurkan dengan apa yang ada, yang mungkin tidak ada pada orang lain, tetapi ada pada kita. Janganlah terlampau mengada-ngada kerana ia bertentangan dengan konsep wasatiyyah atau berimbang, konsep baru yang akan diperkenalkan dan selalu disebut-sebut oleh Perdana Menteri. Mungkin ada kalangan kita yang tidak memahami istilah Arab ini.

Pada saya, konsep ini juga selari dengan tuntutan semua agama, tidak hanya kepada agama Islam. Lawan kepada wasatiyyah adalah ultra atau ekstrim, termasuk kumpulan ultra kiasu. Kita tidak boleh terlalu mengejar dunia sehingga mengabaikan akhirat. Begitu juga sebaliknya, terlalu mengejar akhirat, terhingga melupakan dunia. Apapun, kena berimbang. Nabi pernah menegurkan beberapa sahabat yang terlalu mementingkan akhirat sehingga melupakan nikmat dunia, misalnya tidak mahu berkahwin kerana ada yang menganggap perkahwinan itu hanyalah mainan dunia sehingga boleh melalaikan tanggungjawabnya kepada pencipta. Tetapi Nabi juga berkahwin, bermakna dunia adalah jambatan ke akhirat. Jadikanlah kehidupan  dunia sebagai yang terbaik untuk mendapat habuan di akhirat.

Kisah berikut sepatutnya menjadi panduan kepada kita semua. Diriwayatkan oleh Imam al-Bukhari, suatu hari Salman al-Farisi menziarahi Abu Darda’, yang dipersaudarakan oleh Nabi dengannya ketika sampai di Madinah. Beliau dapati isteri Abu Darda’ berada dalam keadaan tidak terurus dan kusut masai, lalu Salman pun bertanya: “Mengapa dengan engkau ini?” “Saudaramu tidak lagi menghiraukan kemewahan dunia ini,” jawabnya. Bila Abu Darda’ datang, dia menyambut kedatangan Salman dan menjamunya makanan. Salman menyuruhnya makan tetapi Abu Darda’ berkata: “Aku sedang berpuasa”. Salman berkata: “Aku bersumpah tidak akan makan kecuali engkau juga memakannya.” Salman bermalam di rumah Abu Darda’. Ketika tengah malam, Abu Darda’ bangun, tetapi Salman memegangnya dan menyuruhnya tidur, lalu Abu Darda’ pun tidur semula. Sebelum malam berakhir, Salman mengejutkan Abu Darda’ dan mereka berdua bertahajud. Lalu berkata Salman: “Hai Abu Darda’! Tuhanmu mempunyai hak ke atasmu. Keluargamu mempunyai hak ke atasmu dan dirimu juga mempunyai hak ke atasmu. Maka berikanlah hak kepada masing-masingnya.” Kemudian, mereka keluar menemui Rasulullah s.a.w dan menceritakan kisah yang telah berlaku. Rasulullah s.a.w menyokong perbuatan Salman itu.

Pendek kata, mendapatkan yang terbaik itu dalam kehidupan seharian, dalam apa jua bidang, tanpa melupakan tanggungjawab kita kepada Pencipta dan juga sesama manusia, serta menjaga segala amanahNya di muka bumi ini, bersekali dengan amar makruf nahi mungkar, adalah dalam lingkungan maksud wasatiyyah atau berimbang. Negara maju berteraskan integriti dan moral yang tinggi akan dapat dilahirkan. Barulah kita merealisasikan maksud Baldatun Thayyibatun Wa Rabbun Ghafuur negara makmur yang mendapat keampunan Allah s.w.t (surah Saba’, ayat 15).

Imam Ibnu Al-Qayyim sentiasa menggalakkan manusia supaya mengambil sikap moderat dan fundamental, karena akan menyelamatkan kita dari pelanggaran. Jadi, kita mendapatkan kedudukan tengah antara dua ekstrem yang paling seimbang dan adil, di mana seseorang akan menemui semua manfaat dan kemudahan hidup di dunia dan akhirat. Selain itu, bahkan tubuh manusia tidak boleh hidup normal tanpa manfaat moderasi. Jika seseorang sedang saat tidur, bangun, makan, minum, berolahraga, di tinggal pergi atau pencampuran dengan orang lain, maka tubuh akan berfungsi dengan baik. Namun, jika seseorang pergi kepada ekstrem pada salah satu aspek ini, maka tubuh tidak akan berfungsi dengan baik dan orang tidak akan hidup normal.
Imam Asy-Shaatibee pula berkata: “Semua hal Deen dan kewajipannya datang kepada manusia dalam cara yang paling moderat, sehingga orang boleh melaksanakan kewajipan tanpa kesulitan yang teruk atau terlalu ringan dan mudah. Semua kewajipan tersebut sangat seimbang, yang menghendaki mereka yang melakukannya juga sangat sederhana.”
Allah s.w.t telah menetapkan syarat bahawa untuk menjamin kemakmuran, keamanan dan kesejahteraan yang mapan, sesebuah negara mestilah seperti yang di sebutkan dalam aurah al-A’raaf, ayat 96 yang bermaksud: “Dan (Tuhan berfirman lagi): Sekiranya penduduk negeri itu, beriman serta bertaqwa, tentulah Kami akan membuka kepada mereka (pintu pengurniaan) yang melimpah-limpah berkatnya, dari langit dan bumi. Tetapi mereka mendustakan (Rasul Kami), lalu Kami timpakan mereka dengan azab seksa disebabkan apa yang mereka telah usahakan.”

Justeru, sifat ikhlas harus menjadi tunjang konsep ini. Firman Allah dalam surah al-Bayyinah, ayat 5, yang bermaksud: “Pada hal mereka tidak diperintahkan melainkan supaya menyembah Allah dengan mengikhlaskan ibadat kepadaNya, lagi tetap teguh di atas tauhid, dan supaya mereka mendirikan sembahyang serta memberi zakat. Dan yang demikian itulah agama yang benar.” Hakikatnya ialah perjuangan untuk menegak kebenaran adalah suatu yang sukar. Tiada jalan mudah untuk ditempuh.

Firman-Nya lagi dalam surah at-Taubah, ayat 42, yang bermaksud: “Kalau apa yang engkau serukan kepada mereka (wahai Muhammad) sesuatu yang berfaedah yang sudah didapati, dan satu perjalanan yang sederhana (tidak begitu jauh), nescaya mereka (yang munafik itu) akan mengikutmu, tetapi tempat yang hendak dituju itu jauh bagi mereka.”
Memang menjadi tabiat semulajadi manusia jika membuat sesuatu pekerjaan, dia mahu melihat natijahnya dengan segera. Firman Allah dalam surah al-Anbiya, ayat 37, yang bermaksud: “Jenis manusia dijadikan bertabiat terburu-buru dalam segala halnya.”
Namun, mengikut fitrah perjuangan, sesuatu natijah tidak dapat dilihat atau diperolehi dalam masa yang singkat. Mereka yang mahu menyertai sesuatu perjuangan perlu menerima hakikat ini agar mereka tidak berasa kecundang sekiranya apa yang diperjuangkan itu tidak  membuahkan hasil dalam masa yang singkat. Mereka yang mengharapkan kejayaan dalam masa yang singkat biasanya menjadi mangsa cita-cita dan mudah kecewa. Dasar Ekonomi Baru (DEB) adalah  contoh yang jelas. Kita janganlah terlalu kecewa kerana dasar ini masih belum mencapai matlamatnya walaupun tempoh masanya telah tamat. Dua puluh tahun adalah jangka masa yang singkat. Kekuatan dan kelemahan hendaklah dijadikan panduan untuk menggubal Model Ekonomi Baru (MEB) yang sedang hangat diperkatakan hari ini dan Rancangan Malaysia ke-10 (RMK10).
Saya telah dijemput beberapa kali dalam wacana model ini. Apa yang saya lihat di kalangan pakar-pakar ekonomi kita mahu memperlihatkan dan menunjukkan ‘kehebatan’ mereka sehingga memingkirkan dasar afirmatif yang menjadi tunjang kepada DEB sebelum ini. Apabila mereka membuat sesuatu dasar, mereka mahu dilihat nampak hebat dan dapat diterima semua, sehinggakan perkataan atau roh Islam langsung tidak disebut. Kita seolah-olah takut untuk memasukkan unsur-unsur afirmatif yang berpihak kepada Islam dan Melayu seperti yang termaktub dalam perlembagaan kerana takut mengguris perasaan orang lain. Sedangkan adakah orang lain begitu menjaga perasaan kita? Pada kita, memasukkan kedua-dua unsur ini dianggap sesuatu yang sensitif. Justeru, tidak hairanlah kadangkala agama dan identiti sendiri merempat di bumi sendiri.
Misalnya, program Colours of Malaysia, kenapa tidak gunakan perkataan “Warna-warni Malaysia”? Tidakkah ia nampak lebih gah? Hina sangatkah bahasa kebangsaan ini? Adakah kata-kata “Warna-warni Malaysia” tidak bersifat international? Pernahkah kita bertanya kepada Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka? Tidak ada negara lain di dunia ini yang terlalu mendewa-dewakan bahasa lain selain bahasa kebangsaan mereka, tanpa menolak kepentingan bahasa lain? Kementerian Pelancongan perlu memahami semangat 1Malaysia yang sebenar.

Kepentingan bahasa kebangsaan mesti didahulukan, berbanding bahasa lain, barulah menepati wasatiyyah. Pelik juga kadangkala, adakah kita ingin mengajar para pelancong yang rata-rata memahami bahasa Inggeris? Sampai bilakah kita mahu memperkenalkan budaya sendiri? Saya yakin perkara ini tidak akan berlaku di negara lain seperti Thailand dan Indonesia, kerana mereka amat kuat jatidirinya. Dengan sebab itu, kita lihat semua program dan produk luar dialihbahasakan dalam bahasa mereka sendiri.

Konsep ‘wasatiyyah’ tidak boleh terlalu mendewa-dewakan identiti orang lain. Ilmu dan identiti negara bangsa harus menjadi tunjang. Tanpa ilmu dan identiti, apa jua konsep dan gagasan yang dikemukakan sukar untuk diterima. Lebih-lebih lagi jika ianya dipolitikkan.

Kadangkala sedih juga mendengar bila mana kita sanggup menyediakan sejumlah RM3 juta untuk tabung dana pembelaan artis untuk membantu warga seni. Tertanya-tanya saya, adakah hanya artis layak dibantu? Bagaimana dengan tabung kebajikan akademik, sejarawan, budayawan, karyawan, wartawan, dan sebagainya? Apakah mereka tidak menyumbang kepada kerajaan dan negara?

Kenapa bila disebut sahaja artis kita begitu beriya-iya dengan berbagai pertandingan itu dan ini, serta anugerah yang hebat-hebat? Namun, bila sebut sahaja ilmuan dan agamawan, penuh dengan seribu tanda tanya? Bukan tiada, tetapi masih kurang. Saya amat mengharapkan konsep wasatiyyah akan dapat mengimbangi semua perkara ini agar gagasan 1Malaysia dapat direalisasikan.

Semua perkara yang disampaikan ini membawakan saya teringatkan kepada kata-kata George Carlin dalam dunia yang serba moden ini tatkala manusia mengejar kemewahan dunia sehingga tidak dapat merasai apakah nikmat bahagia sebenarnya. Kata-kata beliau ini patut dijadikan renungan dalam memahami konsep ‘wasatiyyah’: The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

Ingatan Carlin ini patut dijadikan panduan. Apa guna tilam yang mahal dan empuk, jika tidak dapat tidur yang nyenyak? Apa guna mahligai besar, jika suasananya sunyi sepi ibarat kubur? Apa guna wang dan harta jika tidak dapat membeli bahagia? Alangkah indahnya hidup ini, jika kita dapat kesemuanya, pada masa sama kita bahagia, ceria dan dapat tidur dengan nyenyak. Semuanya itu adalah anugerah daripada Allah s.w.t.

Kehidupan terbaik adalah kehidupan yang penuh bermakna di dunia ini, menjadi hamba yang taat kepada segala perintah dan menjauhi laranganNya sertai mendapat mardhatillah yakni keredhaan Allah s.w.t. Kehidupan di dunia jangan sampai melalaikan tanggungjawab kita terhadap-Nya kerana semua itu adalah ibadah. Inilah ‘wasatiyyah’ yang kita idam-idamkan seperti yang telah dibincangkan panjang lebar.