The issue of 'Amanat Hadi' which is a speech delivered by the PAS President during a political rally in Banggul Peradung on 7th April 1981 had been haunting the Muslim community for decades. Families were torn apart, communities were severely divided, due to this issue.
To label a Muslim as 'kafir' or unbeliever is against the religion of Islam. The prophet mention in a Hadith that when a Muslim accused a fellow Muslim as being Kafir, the accusation will return back to him. In a Muslim community where there is in existence a proper Syariah legal system, only the court should be given the right to declare someone as no longer being a Muslim.
It is time that we sit together to solve this issue. What we need now is, as brothers and sisters in Islam, is sincerity. This is not a new issue. This is a very old issue. The problem now is, it seems like this issue arises only when the general election is looming. It is ridiculous to think that in a state like Malaysia where Islam is the religion of the Federation, we are not able to solve this issue.
This issue, together with other religious related such as Hudud, should not be politicized by any quarters. We have laws. Section 31 of the Syariah Criminal Offences Act 1997 for example clearly mention about the crime of 'takfir'. If it is proven that he is guilty of the crime of 'takfir', then take action properly as we have enactments beautifully crafted by our assemblymen.
PAS President should be given a chance to explain his so-called 'Amanat Hadi'. This is one of the most basic principles of justice in Islam. An accused person is innocent until proven guilty and he is entitled to a fair hearing.
In another Hadith, the Prophet said, "if people would be given what they claim (without evidence), some persons would claim other people's blood and properties, but it is obligatory on the claimant to produce evident".
If we failed to understand this, who are we to champion the issue of faith?
Wallahua'lam.
Fuad Syazwan Ramli
President, Lawsoc IIUM 2011/2012.
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