Attacks on Zaid's past show UMNO's ignorance of Islamic history
by Silicon Muslim, Cyberjaya
And so the personal attacks on PKR candidate Zaid Ibrahim are finally underway. But this time, they not only exposed the crude schoolboy way of UMNO and Barisan Nasional, but also exposed UMNO as a party which does not have any semblance of a Muslim-led party.
The argument that Zaid was consuming alcohol only exposed a long-drawn conclusion arrived at by thinking Muslims about UMNO: that it is a party which continously makes statements that expose its utter ignorance about Islam.
Zaid has been brave to admit that he had indeed consumed alcohol, but the fact that he had now stopped such unIslamic acts and turned a new leaf as far as his personal morality is concerned only goes on to show that UMNO is bankrupt of ideas.
Similar claims have been levelled against Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim. The cliched argument goes that he had spent sixteen years in government but had done nothing to act on the things he fights for presently. Well, again, those making such arguments are actually pointing the finger at UMNO, which had tolerated such a "useless" leader for sixteen years, but threw him out the moment he started talking sense.
A person should be judged based on what he stands for at the present time, especially when that person has changed for the better. As Muslims, if we were to judge someone on his or her past, especially if one has turned a new leaf, we only expose our ignorance of early Islamic history.
The Prophet's companions like Umar al-Khattab and Khalid al-Walid were once sworn enemies of Islam, but their conversion had brought immense benefit to Muslims and changed the course of Islamic history. If we were to dig their past, they would long be condemned by Muslims in their history books.
Obviously, UMNO is ill-equipped to understand this simple fact.
And so the personal attacks on PKR candidate Zaid Ibrahim are finally underway. But this time, they not only exposed the crude schoolboy way of UMNO and Barisan Nasional, but also exposed UMNO as a party which does not have any semblance of a Muslim-led party.
The argument that Zaid was consuming alcohol only exposed a long-drawn conclusion arrived at by thinking Muslims about UMNO: that it is a party which continously makes statements that expose its utter ignorance about Islam.
Zaid has been brave to admit that he had indeed consumed alcohol, but the fact that he had now stopped such unIslamic acts and turned a new leaf as far as his personal morality is concerned only goes on to show that UMNO is bankrupt of ideas.
Similar claims have been levelled against Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim. The cliched argument goes that he had spent sixteen years in government but had done nothing to act on the things he fights for presently. Well, again, those making such arguments are actually pointing the finger at UMNO, which had tolerated such a "useless" leader for sixteen years, but threw him out the moment he started talking sense.
A person should be judged based on what he stands for at the present time, especially when that person has changed for the better. As Muslims, if we were to judge someone on his or her past, especially if one has turned a new leaf, we only expose our ignorance of early Islamic history.
The Prophet's companions like Umar al-Khattab and Khalid al-Walid were once sworn enemies of Islam, but their conversion had brought immense benefit to Muslims and changed the course of Islamic history. If we were to dig their past, they would long be condemned by Muslims in their history books.
Obviously, UMNO is ill-equipped to understand this simple fact.
Comments