Shockingly missing the points!?...

This is Amde Sidik's reply to Samad's email on 22 January 2008 ( his instantaneous reply that very day), see also below, responses from friends.

Amdee has written a few articles related to this already, e.g., can be seen in Kadayan Universe (kadayanuniverse.com) while others in printed media.

See also what others have to say below...

Asslamlkm

who is replying this? You Sdr Samad

I think you really is missing the point; this is not the only articles I wrote about Islam if only you care to know how I view Islam...

I made the point at the very beginning -I did not even argue or mind or did I mention something wrong about sms? No! You surely don't understand what I wrote unless you intentionally to want to argue as you may find lacuna in some phrases I used- creative writing I called it. I have written something on Wahhabism may be that would help you to understand my mind.

There is no need to highlight those verses to support your argument I do read, not least than five translations of Quran on my shelves as my reference every now and then (that bit natty gritty). The only slack perhaps all are in English, non Malay, and because I don't understand Arabic. A couple of months ago I was at Prince Songkhla University giving a talk on Islam in connection to its Globe Image. No one views me as you did. I really want to sit down with you. I shall be in KL on the 25th, I may be giving a talk organised by MPH bookstore Mid Valley, the talk is not about Islam though- I shall let you know

The article I wrote has connection with the forthcoming article and series of articles, I also mention that lots more qualification to be done if you dare to bear with me. I am a writer not even a reporter let alone a journalist. I am not oversensitive but it is just my duty as a writer to highlight if there is anything new that we people need to know. I am sure plenty of things that we ought to know not just should know about our religion beside reading the Quran and listening to Friday Khutbahs, especially in Malaysia. I rounded Middle East couple of years ago, to seek more knowledge on Islam and a few days ago I was in Saudi Arabia-I am just as concerned as you are, if you understand what I mean.

This is what happen to most of us, when looking at pin hole any subject for that matter, but it would be worse on subject like religion, taking a few phrases as if a cul de sac.

The sms I was referring to was from my relative and cum friend (he might be reading this), between him and I, we talk about religion and how we view it. We are as concerned as anyone else though lacking of formal religious education unlike you. Because the way our religious education is imparted to our younger generation in years to come it can either turn them Taliban or something totally opposite- we have seen the manifestation in the recent years, if you dare to guess what I referring to, by all means do it. I can simply say, they shouldn't be just asked to swallow but to understand it-religion and Islam in particular, i.e., if we want to have quality ummah.

For those who have been following my writing the parrot theory-may be you should comment on this to make me a better person, also perhaps other people can see between you and I. May be you have no opportunity to follow my work, but stain of the idea can be seen in my three books I wrote. May be they would provide an inkling if we are far apart on how we view Islam. I repeat Islam not religion.

If any one wants to have a debate with me on the subject person to person I am most willing, unless of course some want to make this as public consumption and I am also prepared to write given ample time I shall continue.

Wassalm, amde sidik

Waalaikumsalam wbt,

Yes, its me Abdul Samat bin Kasah, I think my e-mail is familiar to you. Firstly I just would like to mention to your goodself that I did not dispute the SMS you received which I stated that clearly in my statement. My comments were directed to your views about Islam and al-Quran as stated in your e-mail. Before I wrote a reply to your e-mail, I contacted 3 persons whom I think are the authority to speak on Islam. Surprisingly, all the three of them shared a common view on what you have stated in your e-mail. We could be wrong!

May be my English is so POOR, which made my interpretation went so WRONG as you've rightly said "I think you really is missing the point". I read your e-mail more than 10 times to really understand words by words, sentance by sentance to understand what you have said, and still not satisfied I contacted 3 other person for verification. We might be wrong and if we have interpreted your view points wrongly, please accept my appologies.

I have to produce the verses from al-quran and al-hadith as dalils to support my arguement because those are the only credible sources to be used when we want to discuss about Islam, BUT if you said those are "(that bit natty gritty)", THEN I REST MY CASE.

Semoga Tuan Haji sentiasa diberi rahmat dan hidayah serta petunjuk dari Allah SWT. Amin.

Wasslam.

abdul samat bin kasah

subang jaya

On 15/01/2008, Lahat Bin Ahok <lahat@tm.com.my> wrote:

Bah…jaan tah kamu batangkaa. Baik tah kamu duduk sama2 minum kopi. Bincang2 pasal majuakan bangsa kadayan kita. Soal pemahaman tentang ugama tu hantap subjective nya bah. Inda ku baani ngomen. Yang aku pasti ISLAM IALAH UGAMA KU.

Aslkm Sdr Lahat
TQ, I am on my way to give lecture, but can't resist of not saying hi! to you after the hohahoha I called it (I am typing this on the corridor) Samad's construing that I am disputing what’s in the Quran. He knows my religious education, why couldn't he just picked a phone and called me before he even wasted his time looking for religious experts. By this way, is called friend, by this way is called saudara, by this way is called Islamic virtue - a way of defending the sanctity of our religion, rather than making it as public domain. I am 100% sure those religious experts he turned to wouldn't know who Amde Sidik is. Or he should have asked you, you people are in constant watch on me, i.e., if I am turning.....360 degree. I shall be refining that article some time in the future, because as I mentioned there a layman way of looking, wouldn’t suitable for technical persons. But I still like physic as a subject when compounded with logic.

Your proposal duduk minum kopi I have no difficulty, it is my ritual. I have asked Samad many times on this, I asked for his phone number recently before I went to overseas. I asked him if there are Kadayan who wish to hear about little anecdotes of Kadayan or meet we must in KL warong, I long to see how he looks like. I shall speak Kadayan when I meet. My Kadayan is better than my Malay when come to serious talk. I have mentioned I shall be in KL soon surely I am happy to see my saudara even if has to bring a few ustazs.

Salam to all saudara, seek for knowledge wherever you are, we are nearing sunset don't waste time unnecessarily but improvise each other that is an Islamic gesture.

salam, amde sidik

Since 1999, this is the first time two learned kadayans, both of
them are from my internet circle, and both of them are very
supportive to my work ever since, openly expressing disagreement
in public.

What is happening?

Coincidently [ its really coincidence, I don't even know about
this email till just now] today I wrote something in my blog


http://arimi.ath.cx

I have my own opinions about many things, the Islamic faith included. It is good that we discuss this openly. However, I am too busy with grassroots politics to bother with this at the moment.

By the way, the sender of the SMS in question was me.

Rgds to all.

Hj Ramlee Dua


On 24/01/2008, Hj Ramlee Dua wrote:

In your honest opinion,

(1) what percentage of the Malay/Muslim community in Malaysia spend their time studying/thinking/worrying about whether the sound of a donkey is awful, or whether Yunus, Yusuf or Ya'kub existed at all, or whether some camel was created out of stone?,

(2) do Malays/Muslims think that the complete conversion of every person on planet earth to Islam (as the article hopes to intend) mean a better world, if so how do they percieve the world to be in such a situation?

(3) why do Malays/Muslims seem so attached to myths and mysticisms? Are they reaching out to a different path of the Islamic faith? Why have they failed to apply themselves to Islam and be above others in the world today?

(4) do Malays/Muslims think that by "accepting" Islam (including the utterances of the Dua Kalimah Syahadat) give them some form of an "overdraft" that will see them into heaven regardless of all else?

Rgds, Hj Ramlee

Each of us should have views on our own with regards to items put forward. It can be enlightened by positioning our mind into the real world as seen today, if it were to make real sense. But, all too often, as I observed people are conditioning themselves, if not barricading themselves to a point that others views are irrelevant, especially in religion. I wonder how many would read when they see, how many would see when they read, and how many would think intelligently other than just making a passing remarks- I called it cutting corners, I am not dwarfing this circle of ours but merely saying I don't think some are up to the mark to discussing (real discussion) with the exception of very-very few. Because such limited scope they are exposed to they are vulnerable not only to others' interpretations but his own interpretations- that university degree one has wouldn't mean much when one can't even lift one eyes to see what above the eye brows (referring to my experience here)
- amde sidik

Saidin Gandul gsaidin@gmail.com

Islam tidak melarang adanya perbedzaan pendapat, lihat ini:

Islam membenarkan berlakunya khilaf di kalangan para mujtahid dalam perkara-perkara furu' yang tidak berkait dengan usul. Apabila berlaku khilaf tidak semestinya yang satu benar dan yang satu lagi salah, yang satu hak dan yang satu batil.

Oleh demikian, setiap orang Islam hendaklah berlapang dada dan menerima kepelbagaian pandangan dalam Islam yang dikeluarkan oleh para ulamak mujtahid. Tidak menjadi kesalahan jika ia hendak mengkaji di antara semua pandangan ulamak dalam suatu masalah, mana yang paling tepat...

Keratan artikal ini diperoleh dari:

Akhukum,
Us. Ahmad Adnan Fadzil,
Pusat Bimbingan Wawasan Ummah,
Changlun, Kedah.

___________________________________

Kadayan: too small to mention?

See a letter to Forum Daily Express recently (27th January 2008) who decides what to be in statistics. We would like to hear what the former President of Sabah Kadayan Association-Amde Sidik has to say on this subject in the very near future- meanwhile what ifs others have to say.

It's shocking article or is it?

My article titled Happy Maal Hijrah 1429 & Happy New Year 2008 posted in AS Journal, on 13the January 2008, (See below) found to be controversial by one blogger, a person whom I knew in the past but he knew least of me these days. His response to my article circulated among gmail subscribers. Let see what the rest can make out of the accusation level against me is fair, or constructively in Islamic way, if not in Malaysia Boleh way, my reply will come only later_ Amde

14 /01/2008, Subang Jaya

askasah@gmail.com> wrote:

Assalamualaikum wbt,

I was shocked to receive this e-mail from a learned person like Sdr Amde Sidik. As a professional, I have to be very frank that I beg to differ of his opinion about Islam. There is nothing wrong with the SMS he received from his friend which sounded like this: -

"Seribu empat ratus dua puluh sembilan tahun sudah berlalu… sejauhmana lagi perjalanan kita sebagai umat Islam…? Mempukah kita maju kehadapan seribu tahun lagi…? Selamat menyambut Awal Muharam & Salam Maal Hijrah 1429."

The SMS clearly mentioned "kita sebagai umat Islam" AND NOT Islam. Let me stress again NOT Islam. There is distinctive difference between UMAT ISLAM and ISLAM. The sender of the SMS was questioning the ability of the Islam ummah to survive in the next 1,000 year ahead. Islam is a religion and Islam Umah is its professors.

Islam as a religion had been guaranteed by Allah SWT through His firman,

"Truly, the religion with Allah is Islam" – Surah Ali Imran Ayat 19.

["Sesungguhnya agama di sisi Allah hanya Islam"] – Surah Ali Imran: Ayat 19

Firstly - When a question is asked "Has Islam changed over the period of 1429?" To me, we should be asking "What changes has Islam brought to my life in the past 50 years or so?"

There is no need to change Islam and Islam does not require any changes. Islam is a complete religion, a religion of "Deen-Al-Touhid" and "Deen-Al-Fitrah". "Deen-Al-Touhid means the religion of the belief in the Oneness of God, and "Deen-Al-Fitrah" means the religion of the nature or the religion which is in accordance with human nature.

Islam is called the religion of One God because its main theme is the unity of God. The doctrine of One God is the most emphasized and repeated principle in the Holy Qur'an.

Islam is called the religion of nature because its teaching is acceptable to the human mind when the human mind is freed from illogical thinking and superstition.

Secondly when Sdr Amde Sidik mentioned that "God does not change anything what He has given, an example and the proof is the Quran" The statement is totally ABSURD. Na'auzubillah.

I'm not sure what Sdr Amde meant by "God does not change anything what He has given", is it ISLAM as a Way of Life or is it our way of life which does not conform to the principles as set in the Quran and Sunnah Rasullullah SAW. If it is the later, yes I do agree 100% but NOT the former.

This is the dalil,

"Verily! Allah will not change the (good) condition of a people as long as they do not change their state (of goodness) themselves (by committing sins and by being ungrateful and disobedient to Allah)". Surah Al-Rad Ayat 11

["Sesungguhnya Allah tidak mengubah nasib sesuatu kaum sebelum kaum itu mengubah apa yang ada pada dirinya sendiri."] Surah Al-Rad Ayat 11.

Let me say this, Allah SWT, being Perfect, in His Wisdom and Knowledge, perfected a complete way of life for us. He has set His limitations and rules, all of which are beneficial to mankind, and therefore, Islam as way of life DO NOT NEED CHANGING.

The dalils,

"These are the limits (set) by Allah, so do not approach them"
(Surah al-Baqarah 2:187)

"These are the limits set by Allah, so do not transgress them"
(Surah al-Baqarah 2:229)

Let me emphasised that Islam encourages its Ummah to be creative, innovative and to acquire as much knowledge as possible as soon as we DO NOT GO BEYOND the limits set by Allah SWT and the Prophet Muhammad SAW. For example, Islam forbids its ummah to consume pork, so please do not conduct any research to prove that pork is HALAL. What you can do is to conduct research why pork is HARAM.

Thirdly – I do not understand the question asked by Sdr Amde "Do you think religion is fixed? Or do you think what have been written down in the Quran remains to be understood today as it was 1429 years?

Let me ask Sdr Amde, "What would you like Islam and al-Quran to be?" Do you want Islam and al-quran to be like our legislation where changes and amendments can be effected when and where we like to suit our requirements? Na'auzubillah.

"Truly, the religion with Allah is Islam" – Surah Ali Imran Ayat 19.

"And this Qur'an is not such as could ever be produced by other than Allah (Lord of the heavens and the earth), but it is a confirmation of (the revelation) which was before it [ i.e. the Taurat (Torah), and the Injeel (Gospel)], and a full explanation of the Book (i.e. laws decreed for mankind) - wherein there is no doubt from the the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinn,and all that exists)." Surah Yunus Ayat 37

We have to admit that we as humans lack perfect knowledge as well as perfect wisdom. No matter how hard we try, we will never attain the perfect way of life by our own thinking and interpretation. This is the reason why Allah SWT being the Most Wise, sent us the Qur'an and the Prophet Muhammad SAW to show us this practical and organised way of life.

Saya akhiri e-mail ini dengan Firman Allah SWT di dalam Surah Ali Imran Ayat 85 yang bermaksud,

"Sesiapa mencari agama selain daripada Islam, ia tidak akan diterima daripadanya, dan di akhirat dia adalah antara orang-orang yang rugi." – Surah Ali Imran Ayat 85

Wallahu'alam bisawab. Forgive me for being so blunt, I'm just executing my responsibility a Muslim.

Seeing Is Believing

Thats the hill on the top, Zalla was seen descending in the middle of the road, second pix from the top. Cooking and lamb meat on the mat pix below and the video





By Amde Sidik

I told Zalla* that I have been fascinated looking at those people who could walk like lizards on the hill. From distance they also look like mountain goats-kambing gurun (in Malay). They jump from rock to rock, and sometimes they touch on the sand, zoom! leaving the dust behind.

My question, is this an easy task? Most of the time they are wearing taliban kind of outfit, with white robes, baggy trousers, bulky hats or heavy turbans, only with sandals or even bare footed,

They are mostly Pakistanis, Afghans and other ethnics that have similar background living in close neighborhood with Pakistan and Afghanistan.

One day Zalla and I went for this maddening trail. No, no, it wasn’t like what it was seen or at least like what I imagined. Those rocks sometimes are loose rocks, unless one can identify which ones are permanent which ones are not, with one wrong step one surely rolls down like round marbles. It is dangerous. Don’t simply step on the sand; it isn’t really sand but something like grained rocks with sharp edges mixed up with other things else. It’s as porous as mud which could burry one foot up to an ankle deep.

Now I know for sure kambing gurun is kambing gurun or lizard is lizard, this is not an overnight affair for me to learn to jump from rock to rock.

Nevertheless this was an experience; we did it out of curiosity. I got some bruises on my right elbow and my foot while trying to hang up to avoid from rolling down. Zalla said we can easily be mistaken about the sand, the moment one steps on it everything would fall down with haasssh sound and bang later.

It was on Hari Raya Idil Adha or in Malay Hari Raya Korban, where slaughtering of animals was taken place in 2007, just behind the jamarat where casting of pebbles are taking place-hilly part of Mina.

We were so lucky during our adventure. We were served by those people camping on the hill side with barbecue of lamb –korban meat and soup, but we opted only for barbecue. Very kind of them!

Many would be asking why were these people cooking here or basically living here. Well, you see, not all pilgrims are fortunate to come to this place. Many thousands come here have no place to stay, so this picnic version is not really picnic but another way of approaching God; in our eyes these are hard ones. Some live in open space, some use tents for shelters, while some simply lay down next to the main roads.

As we reached somewhere in the middle of the hill we bumped into Saudi youths, six of them. This was my first encounter with the local since the last three weeks of my arrival, and the only Saudi that could speak English. They were there just observing the people, I would say. One is by the name of Khaleel- seen at the extreme left in the video. This guy speaks perfect English I have the feeling he must have been living in English speaking country. He has sent me a few emails since my arrival home in Malaysia

This video taking was not my expertise; I am totally hopeless unlike still photographing which I have been trained as photojournalist.

All of them refused to be photographed initially. Their reason was, they said, its haram to be taken in the form of photograph but video is alright! That prompted me to ask them if they watch TV at home .Their reply was yes, and TV is ok. I found it’s very strange! I explained to them the concept of photography is exactly the same as video! The nearest example I cited to them is how slides presentation works, which is originally from still photographs. But realizing this affair was not my objective of coming to this country I therefore wouldn’t bother to prolong the debate. Instead I showed them how I turned my still camera into video camera. I won the day, and this is how this little clip was born.

* A friend of mine who has always been supportive to me in my adventure

Happy Maal Hijrah 1429 & New Year 2008

It must have been about 50 days that I did not touch my blog. I was away. I was restless wherever I went, it could not be helped. Talk about the blog, we are fortunate enough in Malaysia compare with some places that I have been to, many still do not even have a clue what an email address is. Meanwhile, I just I want to say I am back, nice to have a home. I’ve almost forgotten my password when checking my blog and emails, what a dilapidated mind I now have.

Before I begin, I just want to say Selamat Berhijarah-Maal Hijrah for Muslim. One Thousand Four Hundred and Twenty Nine years (1429) ago Islam was born.

Earlier there was celebration of New Year of 2008. I wish every one of us to have a happier time a head, always in the state of good health, always be blessed by God, and be protected by Him only.

I know they are those who would be asking question; where the hell have I been to? I am not telling. Because I am doing a travelogue for this seclusive journey, I am hoping that in a couple of months the book shall be found in our local book stores. Insyallah.

While I was just figuring out of that many thousand years since the born of our religion-Islam, I received sms from my friend also my relative whom we have been in constant contact these days, nothing significant why we behave as we have, may be now it is time think more coherently, slowly but steadily. This is his sms:

“Seribu empat ratus dua puluh sembilan tahun sudah berlalu… sejauhmana lagi perjalanan kita sebagai umat Islam…? Mempukah kita maju kehadapan seribu tahun lagi…? Selamat menyambut Awal Muharam & Salam Maal Hijrah 1429.

I received a couple of dozens of ucapan –sms greeting like this. I thank to those who sent me, most of them I did not reply, a country where I was in transit for a while had problem with their service provider at that time. My hand phones became hopeless; it isn’t nice feeling in situation like this. A professor contacted me about my students’ results; luckily I have had a back up plan in order not to disappoint him.

Now, two things why I pick the above topic, this guy seldom sent me greeting in Bahasa Melayu he did this time. Second, by coincidence we were thinking of the same subject almost at the same time in distant places. I was not sure if he picked this greeting from that many hundreds flying around, but, by looking at the construction of the sentences it must have been his original. Nowadays, in time like this, everybody can be a poet or philosopher, and it really is a matter of choice.

I do not intend to show off that I have studied this subject, no; I am just treating it as a layman does, the so called, the crudest sense of the words without giving further qualification. Also due to space, but I promise to myself given time I would dwell little further in the future.

Has Islam changed over the period of 1429? Most would say no, God does not change anything what He has given, an example and the proof is the Quran. So thus the argument goes no one can change the words of God. Fair enough.

Depending one what kind of change we are talking about, because what in the Quran could be understood in so many ways. God made it that way. Do you think religion is fixed? Or do you think what have been written down in the Quran remains to be understood today as it was 1429 years?

Observing Islam around the globe or to be more general and polite observing any religion around the globe today. I doubt it if it can be said that country A is more religiously right than country B or vice versa. Do we have anything standard like what we know about television encoding system? Even that has variation from PAL, for example, the one we use, to NTSC and SECAM alike?

I am saying any belief; a doctrine or a school, to have it any meaning at all it must be alive and dynamic. Anything static are history, you and I aren’t living by history alone, the most history can give is outline. Islam as I see it now, especially from the way our religious experts emphasize, day in day out in their preaching of Islamic concept, little do they have a clue if they can connect to what they say in real life situation. I take it like comparing a camel with Boeing 707; you are now in Timbuktu thinking of going to New York, which one is more real? I was just with my friends a few hours ago talking about the mystic of Islamic religion; much of it if, I were to look it from a helicopter point of view is made out like an entertainment a part from very few lived to tell the truth. If you believe so much you either using Pal system or if not may be Scam or etc. It isn’t about making it interesting but it about our intellectual appropriately applied. Where are those Islamic scholars?

I pause just here by asking more questions than giving answers, coincide with two New Years. I shall continue the topic elsewhere. God Bless Us