Moderation according to Islamic teachings

I REFER to Tan Sri Mohd Sheriff Mohd Kassim’s letter, “Reject extremism, embrace moderation” (NST, June 23).

I would like to make it clear that I am neither an ustaz nor a religious bigot representing any religious department for expressing my opinion on the subject.

I must come in defence of the Islamic Development Department’s announcement that it would come up with guidelines on what Muslim women should wear when participating in sports.

It is timely that it should also set up a dress code for the public visiting government departments, hospitals, schools and other institutions and facilities. And, it should be strictly enforced without fear or favour.

The dress code should be a guideline for tourists visiting this country to dress decently and not to strip naked at places of worship, beaches or places marked sacred by the locals. They must be made aware that Asian culture does not tolerate indecency, especially in Malaysia, where more than 68 per cent of the population are Muslims.

Moderation is the process of eliminating or lessening extremes. The word is being used by people for many things without really understanding the concept of moderation, especially in Islamic religious matters. Islam is in favour of moderation. It does not only accept but also encourages its followers to adopt the moderate path, and discourages, and at times prohibits, extremism in words, thoughts, and actions.

What does it mean to be “moderate”? Does it mean that one can go against the teaching of the Holy Quran and the Holy Prophet, and when one finds it difficult one will reduce fasting to 15 days instead of 30, and reduce the daily prayers from five to one, and say that one can drink alcohol but mustn’t get drunk, or you don’t have to cover the aurat so long as you are not naked, in the name of moderation? Moderation does not mean to go against the teachings of Islam. It also does not mean to give a new interpretation to the law of Islam in order to satisfy one’s desire. It also does not mean to practise Islam conveniently and leave it out when one thinks that it does not suit his taste, time and place.

Instead, moderation in Islam means to follow all the teachings of Islam and to practise them in accordance, the way it was given, without going beyond the limits (extreme), which have been set by Allah and His Messenger. Each Muslim is required to accept this teachings wholeheartedly without any reservation. Are we aware that for many years now, Muslim sportswomen from the Middle East, Iran, Afghanistan, the United States, England, Europe, Africa, and Russia have been wearing the Muslim sports hijab when representing their country at international games without any protest or boycott from the organisers and the spectators? So, why are Malaysians clamouring for our Muslim sportswomen to be scantily clad instead of covering their aurat, which is a religious obligation for sporting activities?

The perception that we will not get the chance to host the Sea Games or other international games and sporting activities or receive a greater number of tourists and investors if we are religiously strict towards our sports girls does not hold water.

We should not be unduly worried to uphold Allah’s Law.

Nor Shahid Mohd Nor, Petaling Jaya, Selangor

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