Call to let Chinese Muslims build own mosques

[sirgalahad2010]

Kudos to the Perlis State Mufti Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin. His views come as a welcome breath of fresh air.

A New Straits Times report, re-published in the Spore Straits Times today, said he expressed the view that Msia should allow Chinese Muslims to build their and run their own mosques, and that it was unfair of state govts to deny Chinese Muslims this right based on the misunderstood concept that Islam could only mean Malay language, customs and traditions.

What he said, as reported by the NST, and re-printed in the ST, is really thought-provoking. I hope that Mr Chang will allow me to quote his remarks, as reported:

"The idea that Islam in Msia must be Malay in all forms is wrong...Chinese from China have been Muslims hundreds of years before the Malays accepted Islam. I believe the state authorities should give permission for Chinese Muslims to build their mosques...We can no longer pretend that Islam means Malay. The Chinese and the Indians who accepted Islam are equally Muslim and must have the full rights as Muslims[/COLOR]...If a mosque or a surau for the Chinese is allowed to be built, [COLOR=Red]their non-Muslim community will still accept them as they are still considered Chinese by continuing to practise their language and traditional customs, which are not at odds with Islam...For example, if there are enough Chinese Muslims in Perlis wanting to build a mosque, I will gladly advise the state govt to issue the permit. But I hope state govts in Penang, Perak, Selangor, Malacca and Johor would approve applications to build Chinese mosques. I am sure when permission is granted, the wealthier Chinese community would be able to contribute to the building of mosques on their own. To deny this is racism, discrimination and against Islam."

Brave words. Now, let's wait for the reaction from the govt and the more conservative Islamic elements in the country. The Perlis State Mufti seems to be championing the "modern face of Islam".

[denver]

Err, I didn't realised that this is an issue. I thought all this while, Muslims from non-Malay background are free to build their own Mosques. I have seen a few Indian-Muslim Mosques, especially in nothern region. The most famous Indian-Muslim Mosque is of course Masjid India in KL, where even the Friday prayers is conducted in Urdu language. No problems there. In fact many Malays still go to that Mosque even though they couldn't understand the language. I don't see why it should be different with Chinese-Muslims. :confused:

[uchangeng]

It is the same everywhere.

Kuan Yin became a Chinese after a thousand years in China.

Jesus became a white Caucasian, even protrayed to have blond hair with complete whiteman feature as painted by the many great renaissance painters in Europe. 100 years from now, he would probably become Spanish!

If you teach a hourse to draw and ask that he draws God, guess what God would look like to a horse?

[blues]

[QUOTE=denver]Err, I didn't realised that this is an issue.QUOTE]

it is an issue idea of galahad ? furthermore re published in the spore straits times ? whats a joke ...!!!

[sirgalahad2010]

[QUOTE=denver]Err, I didn't realised that this is an issue.QUOTE]

it is an issue idea of galahad ? furthermore re published in the spore straits times ? whats a joke ...!!!

The Spore Straits Times, in re-publishing the NST report (which it must have done with permission) is focussing the attention of it's readers (which include a fair number of foreigners living in Spore) on a current and relevant issue in Malaysia.

Hopefully, these foreigners (who include bankers, lawyers, businesspeople and key MNC executives) will realise that there is a debate going on in Msia about the role of Islam in the country and how non-Muslim Malaysians are affected. Whether this influences their decision whether to do business in Malaysia or not remains to be seen.

And do you see a problem with that?

[AllUrban]

Err, I didn't realised that this is an issue. I thought all this while, Muslims from non-Malay background are free to build their own Mosques. I have seen a few Indian-Muslim Mosques, especially in nothern region. The most famous Indian-Muslim Mosque is of course Masjid India in KL, where even the Friday prayers is conducted in Urdu language. No problems there. In fact many Malays still go to that Mosque even though they couldn't understand the language. I don't see why it should be different with Chinese-Muslims. :confused:The difference in school of thought is the general reason why there are separate mosques for the Malay and Indian community...

but this was never meant to make one mosque exclusively for one race......

I would definitely support this idea...in fact, can I have my own mosque, for Canadian muslim expats....

It would be great to hold onto my mooselim (http://mooselim.ca) (get it...Muslim + Canadian) identity

Cheers, m

[saml]

In my opinion all places of worship should not be racially biased. All worshippers are equal before their gods.

[firefox]

If Mecca is for all Muslims of the world why the segeration of Mosques..but then its no issue if the Chinese want to bulid their own mosques and maintain their own culture

[AllUrban]

like I said, it's not meant to be segregation...its just cultural similarity....common language...things like that.

In the case of the Malay and Indian mosques, there are different ideas for the different schools of thought....different rulings on things like prayer times, what is halal (permitted), makrooh (not forbidden but not recommended) and haraam (forbidden) etc etc etc...

never meant to be divisive tho....No room for segregation in the mosque...

Cheers, m

[Rocky19]

Err, I didn't realised that this is an issue. I thought all this while, Muslims from non-Malay background are free to build their own Mosques. I have seen a few Indian-Muslim Mosques, especially in nothern region. The most famous Indian-Muslim Mosque is of course Masjid India in KL, where even the Friday prayers is conducted in Urdu language. No problems there. In fact many Malays still go to that Mosque even though they couldn't understand the language. I don't see why it should be different with Chinese-Muslims. :confused:
Guess who brought Islam to Msia?

Indian muslims mosques have been around for a long time before the racist policies were put in place. And to tear down a mosque is not like tearing down a hundred year old hindu temple.

[orchipalar]

Err buddies...inspired by the Hui...in China. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hui_people)...a Chinese Masjid or Mosque...may look like this... (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Chinese-style_minaret_of_the_Great_Mosque.jpg#file) one of the Oldest Mosques in China(amongst 28,000 Mosques in China)...where Islam has influence since the 7th century(year 650 AD)...n Islam is today embraced by over 20 millions of Chinese populations in China.

or it may also look like this... (http://www2.seasite.niu.edu/PicDB/Mala/01071.jpg)which could accommodate 15,000 worshippers...n boast to have the world's tallest minaret at 116 metres.

Oh btw...speaking of Chinese Muslims...many Malaysians may wish to learn that...the current most powerful man in this country...has his roots n blood trace back to the Hui Chinese in China...

"Present Prime Minister of Malaysia, Yang Berhormat Encik Abdullah Badawi, can trace part of his ancestry back to Hui as his maternal grandfather is of Hui minority (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hui_people) migrated from Hainan Island in China to Peninsular Malaya."

[mykern]

orchi ... someone said recently that AAB is like a soprano who sings solo to an audience made up of ......
anyway, it is politically suicidal to amend the constitution to bring all state religious councils under one roof ... too much power in one hand is also bad for the country .. :(

[pepsi]

Err, I didn't realised that this is an issue. I thought all this while, Muslims from non-Malay background are free to build their own Mosques. I have seen a few Indian-Muslim Mosques, especially in nothern region. The most famous Indian-Muslim Mosque is of course Masjid India in KL, where even the Friday prayers is conducted in Urdu language. No problems there. In fact many Malays still go to that Mosque even though they couldn't understand the language. I don't see why it should be different with Chinese-Muslims. :confused:
Other religions also conduct their prayers in Bahasa Melayu and other languages for the benefit of those who don't understand English, so why are the chinese or the indian muslim deprived of this basic considerateness in a mosque ?
It is not an exclusive religion to the malays only.But it would be a waste of resources to build so many different mosques , which would lead to segregation of race again. Just allot different timings for the prayers ????

[pepsi]

Err buddies...inspired by the Hui...in China. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hui_people)...a Chinese Masjid or Mosque...may look like this... (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Chinese-style_minaret_of_the_Great_Mosque.jpg#file) one of the Oldest Mosques in China(amongst 28,000 Mosques in China)...where Islam has influence since the 7th century(year 650 AD)...n Islam is today embraced by over 20 millions of Chinese populations in China.

or it may also look like this... (http://www2.seasite.niu.edu/PicDB/Mala/01071.jpg)which could accommodate 15,000 worshippers...n boast to have the world's tallest minaret at 116 metres.

Oh btw...speaking of Chinese Muslims...many Malaysians may wish to learn that...the current most powerful man in this country...has his roots n blood trace back to the Hui Chinese in China...

"Present Prime Minister of Malaysia, Yang Berhormat Encik Abdullah Badawi, can trace part of his ancestry back to Hui as his maternal grandfather is of Hui minority (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hui_people) migrated from Hainan Island in China to Peninsular Malaya."
:eek:meaning ...he is not ..... ?

[denver]

In my opinion all places of worship should not be racially biased. All worshippers are equal before their gods.

Yes, I definitely agree to this. But I believe the point that the first poster is trying to make is having a mosque built and run by a particular group of people. But I believe this is not an issue because every mosque is open to all Muslims, regardless of who built/run them. Going back to Masjid India in KL example, even if the mosque is run by different race, different language, even different variation of islamic teaching, yet other Muslims (e.g. malays) still go there to pray. That's why I don't see this as an issue in Malaysia. If the chinese-muslims (or the Arabs PR residents, or any other group) wants to build their own mosque, then by all means, do so. The mosque will be open to all muslims anyway.

[steelydan]

What is the big deal about a chinese muslim mosque? Just go pray in any of the mosque available. Mind you, the christians have to pray in a shop lot. The sikhs can't get to build their temple in penang and a chinese temple was demolish by the local authorities with relish. Tell me about it.

[tupai]

any chinaapek bin abdullah here? otherwise, why comment on sumthin that has not friggin' concern to yr well being and if i may add, a good life in this bolehland?

Yang Amat Banyak grateful status quo lato tupai

[tupai]

p/s I know of a number of apek Bin abdullahs who converted to the religion for business reasons...and still indulge in their weekly bakuteh, betaagonis notwithstanding!

yANG aMAT BERagama lato tupai

[AllUrban]

What is the big deal about a chinese muslim mosque? Just go pray in any of the mosque available. Mind you, the christians have to pray in a shop lot. The sikhs can't get to build their temple in penang and a chinese temple was demolish by the local authorities with relish. Tell me about it.It certainly seems unfair that the authorities are promoting only Islam, and limiting Islam to the Malay version only...even if they arent doing it intentionally, the perception is certainly damaging...

what is the point of the Chinese muslim mosque...it's about being able to connect to God...printing the bible in English, or printing the Qur'an in English, french, Chinese, or BM, makes a difference...it helps you understand the faith and really feel connected to it.

So that is why I support a mosque for the Chinese muslim community...and I'll be the first to pray there..because I support the right of the Chinese muslim community to feel fully connected to their faith and community.

In my own example...for the past two years I have prayed every friday at a mosque and the sermons are done in Bahasa Malaysia (which I dont understand)...and I feel disconnected and left out. It's not deliberate but it exists. My three friday prayers in Canada just this past month made me feel more connected to my faith than all the others I have done in 2 years. That's a reality.

As for the church in a shop lot...in Canada mosques are built in shop lots, converted warehouses, even converted churches.

Cheers, m

[USJ27Resident]

...as always, it is like playing with fire - talking about religion and race, be it being in the forum or in public....

...for politicians of a certain race... heck! I'll say it - from the malay community, openly saying anything in support of non-malays with regards to religion and for allowing other faiths to build their own places of worship will invite certain censure/loss of support from their own community.

...as it is, most of the newer christian and catholic (churches) prayer houses are only allowed to exist in industrial/factory areas... eg. Shah Alam, SubangJaya and Puchong... :(

my only wish is that the politicians would have the guts to allow the same treatment/freedom for religious houses to be built for every faith without fuss and crap from the authorities... and that means changes to perception from the communities too.

[firefox]

QUOTE=USJ27Resident]

...as it is, most of the newer christian and catholic (churches) prayer houses are only allowed to exist in industrial/factory areas... eg. Shah Alam, SubangJaya and Puchong... :(
[/QUOTE]


Frankly as I Christian myself i am unperturbed by the unsavoury locations for new Christian centers. If the state governments are afraid of allow us to erect churches/centers at vantage locations , we will pray that one day they will change and soften their heart for the better exposure for all other religions

But i do find solace and happiness that lots of new centers have sprung up all over the country and the congregation is getting bigger by the day and are seeking for the truth.

As long as the government propagates freedom of worship and allows peacefull co existence with all other religions there is nothing to complain and shout, as far as i see it.

[silver_bird]

Spotlight: Why the discrimination?

They are not asking the government for money or land; they are merely hoping for approval to build a mosque for the Chinese Muslim community. Yet certain state leaders’ lukewarm response is baffling.

There is also a question: Why do Chinese Muslims have to come up with their own money and land to build a mosque when it is the duty of state governments to provide places of worship for Muslims?

Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Mohd Ali Rustam, insisting that the state was not interested in allowing a Chinese mosque, had argued that it would segregate Muslims.

Refuting his claims, religious scholar Maszlee Malik said: "If segregation is an issue, why do all mosques in Malaysia only cater for the Malays and provide sermons and lectures in Malay? Isn’t that segregation?"

More :-
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/nst/Saturday/National/20070203094818/Article/local1_html

[silver_bird]

Mosque with Chinese design coming up ( in Kelantan )

KOTA BARU: While some government leaders are still uneasy about the idea of having a Chinese mosque in their state, Kelantan is already leading the way in proving the universality of Islam.

Not only has the Chinese Muslim community’s request for an activity centre here been approved, the state government is in the midst of completing a multi-lingual mosque that bears some form of Chinese design.

"Politics aside, our situation in Kelantan is one step ahead of the rest of the country.

"We have not had any problems getting co-operation from the state government concerning our plans or programmes," said Malaysian Chinese Muslim Association (MCMA) Kelantan branch secretary Johari Yap.

The philosophy behind it is to show visitors to Kelantan that Islam is universal and not a privilege of any one culture, said Kelantan Deputy Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob,

"There is no such thing as Islam equals Malay. It does not matter what language you worship in or what traditions you practise but it is the substance of your faith and devotion that counts," he added.

More :-
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/nst/Saturday/National/20070203094614/Article/local1_html

Ironically, it's the PAS Government who is more liberal & tolerant (in religion matter) than UMNO (BN).

[AllUrban]

Ironically, it's the PAS Government who is more liberal & tolerant (in religion matter) than UMNO (BN).PAS is practical...they imposed their limited and restrictive spiritual, political, and social viewpoints at first but now they feel comfortable loosening the restrictions....at the same time there is a new generation of PAS leaders about to take over....

As I have heard a scholar point out...Sisters in Islam appeared to be a very conservative organization at first...but they evolved into a progressive and effective organization championing women's rights (and not just for Muslim women either)....so PAS could do the same...if they want to...

Or, then there is the more practical explanation...they smell blood and they also know they have to appeal to Chinese voters...to carry many important districts...

Cheers, m

[simpology]

We Have Indian Mosque...Arab Mosque.... Now I can't wait to have Chinese Mosques??...If some people felt uneasy bout this idea... then no point hearing Badawi's word.. Malaysia have to think out of the box & Malaysia Boleh!!