POSITION PAPER 2

PREPARED BY :
SHUHAIDA BT MOHAMAD AZAN (0816494)

The population of Malaysia is dominated by Malay, who held majority group in Malaysia. Most Malay in our country is Muslim. Most others tribe think that, to be Muslim, you have to be Malay. The questions are come up, are we Muslim by nature or inherited from our parents? In any condition, religion is so important. However, we are Malay first before became a Muslim. Other tribes than Malay might think Muslim and Malay are equal. Means that Muslim is Malay and Malay is Muslim.
Actually, there is not wrong if you want to be a Muslim while you belong to another group than Malay. The problems that become barriers in our society are because their typical mindset already buried in theirs with the statement that Malay and Muslim are equal. I also cannot deny it because some of them judge through their observation and experience. There is a norm in our society that Malays are Muslim, Chinese are Buddhist, and Indian is Hindu. However, there is also Indian and Chinese are Muslim but there is so rare to be found.
Most of the custom in Malay culture are following Islamic way in any field such as politic, marriage, ethic with friends, parents, teachers and etc. the beauty of Islamic ethics can be shown by attitude of Muslim itself, who are majority of them are Malay. Even they are Malay and have been grown up as Muslim, are taught by their parents and the society, but, sometimes their attitude still not represent the beauty of Islam. It can be proved by so many social cases that are happening within our society and most of the involver is Malay. So, we cannot blame the Islam for their mischief. Islam already teaches them with the proper manner but they are not following it or not truly learn it.
As a Muslim, we are lucky to be born as a Muslim. It means, our parents inherit their belief and souls towards us and we become Muslim by born. The process of learning around us and also the environment around makes us easily get access because we already get exposed to Islam since we born up to present. We are lucky enough compared to who are still looking for the truth and true religion in the world, Islam. They will get confrontation from their family, society and so on.
Most of daily routine in Malay was taken from Islamic way of life. Therefore, we were familiar with this custom and indirectly, apply it and use it as a part of our culture such as the adab with the teachers, peers, parents and others. Islam encourages us to treat others nicely and Allah loves the person who has good intention with others because in Islam, all Muslim are brothers and sisters.
As we grow up, we will become more concern towards our religion. We are taught to wear the scarf since we were small by our parents and we used to follow it blindly without any argument and took it as a part of our culture that Malay women are wearing the hijab. As we older, we learn and discovered so many things and this particular time, we will more realize the important of wearing the hijab, not because of the parents ask to do that, but because we feel it is our own responsibility as a Muslimah.
As a conclusion, it is okay to be Malay first and then become a Muslim. As long as we behave nicely according to Islamic way, the race is not important. The beauty of Islam is not located at the attitude of the ethnic, but in the Al-Quran and Sunah. So, do not ever blame the religion on any misbehave that we commit. Islam already gives us guidance so that we follow it and hold that for the whole of our life. Once we split out of the way, we will be lost, but, there is always a mercy so that we can repent it. Ask the forgiveness from Allah, The Almighty.