POSITION PAPER 2

“POSITION PAPER NO.2” NUR ATIFAH BT AWANG (O813250)
Of course religion is important. But I am a Malay first before I become a Muslim. Discuss.

Religion is a fundamental belief or fundamental faith of an individual. Of course religion is an important creed in a person’s life as there is nothing can be denied about this. Religion also can be as guidance for individuals towards better life in this world. Some people believe that race as the part of religion’s description as such it clarify the identity of a particular religion. The reason why I am a Malay first before I become a Muslim because it is might be inherited from great-grandfathers. Later on, it is depend on my parents how to mould or nurture me with Islamic teachings or Islamic values as the way of life. As our beloved Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) said in hadith,” Every child was born under the fitrah, so his parents are responsible to mould him either to be as Jew, Majusi or Christianity”. As we know, religion is quite sensitive issue all over the world including in Malaysia. In addition, Malaysia is a country by which it consists of various types of races in terms of Malay as the majorities, Chinese, Indian and other races. Of course, these different types of races have their own belief as they represent different kind of religions. As a matter of fact, most of Malays will be automatically known as Muslims because the majority of them are Muslims. But then, Islam never emphasized specifically Malays will be automatically as Muslims. Because of another person from other different races also can be known as Muslim if he convert to Islam or born in Islam despite he comes from another countries such as Chinese Muslim, Indian Muslim, Siamese, Turkish and so on. Allah has stated in Holy Qur’an in surah Al-Baqarah verse 256, as there is no compulsion in religion. So, everyone from various types of races also can be as Muslims. In surah Ar-Rum verse 22 also explained that Allah has signed His creation from different languages, colors of skin, background and so on. Means, Allah never looked at these kinds of different races but their performance of good deeds as servants of Allah.
I believe that everyone has different kind of own perspectives regarding why he or she is Malay first before become a Muslim. For me, Muslim people tend to prioritize their races compared to religion or just hiding the religion status in this globalization era especially after 11th September 2001, whereby other races more likely to describe and interpret Muslims cynically as terrorists. As one saying,” when a member of society was corrupted, the whole society will be corrupted”. It means people who are born as Malay Muslim or any other races as Muslim play an important role to view or introduce good values of Islam in order to avoid any misunderstanding and misinterpretation regarding on Islam as well as to avoid negative perceptions about Islam by other religions. Once in a blue moon, I think Malay people more likely to prioritize their culture rather than religion just because of wanting to allow or give permission to what has been prohibited by religion. For instance, shaking hands between males and females is allowed as they may assume this kind of behavior is acceptable just because do not want to hurting others’ feelings. Otherwise, in Islam, shaking hands between males and females especially who have no legal relationship is strictly prohibited. But then, for me, any aim or reason is never permitting the prohibited manners or things. As Allah has already stated His laws and orders which are good and comprehensive in every aspects of life to all human beings.
In a nutshell, I believe it is nothing wrong for people to become as Malay first before Muslim as long as they are still practice the Islamic teachings and values in accordance with requirements of Islam in their daily life as well as their lifestyles or Malay cultures are not against Islamic practices. Nevertheless Malay people automatically known as Muslim by Chinese, Indian or other races, it is not enough for particular individuals if they are not practice Islamic lifestyles or follow the Islamic teaching and values as their way of life. For me, I am proud to be Muslim even though I am also Malay. I have to do all Islamic practices as Muslim; even I need to practice Malay cultures at the same time as long as it is not against Islamic values.