IT’S Valentine’s Day and the shopping malls are packed with people in search of a Valentine’s Day present. Rather last-minute I would think but it just goes to show that we all love celebrating love, unlike some crazy enforcement parties who just love creating hatred among us loving people.
By the time I write this post I am almost 150% sure the entire universe already got wind of Malaysia’s mind-boggling interpretation of what’s religious practice and what’s not.
It’s annoying to hear all these squeaky voices from the so-called experts announcing their determination to nab the over-zealous celebrating what the “learned” summarised as a celebration of the Christians.
These people even went on to comment about hotels around town offering overnight stays during the celebration and that this move is seen as encouraging Muslims into vice.
Flyers discouraging Muslims from celebrating were heavily distributed to stress on the negative impact Valentine’s Day brings.
The ones up in arms over Muslims in Malaysia celebrating Valentine’s Day are of course those from the National Fatwa Council and the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (JAKIM).
According to the National Fatwa Council it has been decreed in 2005 that Muslims should refrain from celebrating Valentine’s Day as it is not part of Islamic practice. The Christian Federation of Malaysia then reacted by saying Valentine’s Day has nothing to do with the Christian faith.
Before you know it tons of comments came from various authorities. One party said “don’t celebrate”, another party said “not true” a third party said “go ahead and celebrate”.
WHY can’t you guys – the so-called learned in the field that you are, the “smart” ones, the “know-all” just STOP blowing things out of proportion and make everyone’s life miserable?
 |
| Happy Valentine's Day to all, whether you are lovers or haters! |
Cliparts: WingLoveHeart-AUNGKARNS/Pierced Heart-ANONYMOUS
All those who are celebrating Valentine’s Day just want to have one special day to call their own to express their love – through giving presents, reading out their favourite poem to their wide-eyed love (fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, fiancées, girlfriends, boyfriends, daughters, sons, best-friends, cousins, grannies, grand-dads, pets, plants…).
Leave them be. Let them do what they want. If while celebrating Valentine’s Day the unmarried Muslims got carried away, lost their virginity (as I take it that’s what the Islamic authorities meant when they said “vice”), the married betrayed their husbands or wives it is THEIR sin, not yours!
People commit “vice” every day – in the parks, in the clubs, in private karaoke rooms, in toilets, when they are sad, when they are happy, when they are lonely, when they are bored. So what makes anyone think “vice” happens only on Valentine’s Day?
If I were from these bodies, I would be more triggered and excited about distributing flyers to warn society about the disgrace of committing child abuse, rapes and molestations on the defenceless.
However, the most hilarious statement was the one made by a politician, stating that the campaign against this celebration will continue as they do not want to abandon their mission to save the younger generation from committing sins.
Take it from me, love. If committing sins among Muslims are what you’re concerned about, then it’s not just Muslim youngsters you need to check and keep an eye on. A majority of youngsters have been forced to become adults because adults forget they are no more children and with responsibilities. So keep your opinion about our “easily-swayed” youngsters to yourself. They are doing fine. It’s the adults you need to fix your eyes on.
And you definitely have to work harder with those eyes and look behind “closed doors” because vice happens any day and everywhere; not just on this one day in a year where we actually take the time to express love, with or without “vice” as the additional potent.
Let’s not go anymore into details. Suffice to say if you’re a Muslim and you celebrate Valentine’s Day than you might find the “fingers” of the law moving like car wipers at you.
To the authorities I have this to say. Educating society to change their mindset is a long and tedious process. You must have either patience or know-how or both. But if you are planning on getting your message through by instilling fear then it is high time you wake up and realise that this tactic isn’t society’s cup of tea.
Maybe when the “powers-that-be” go to bed tonight they should ponder on these questions:
If I’m a Muslim - do I come out of my Chinese friends’ house after celebrating Chinese New Year eating pork?
Do I step out of my Hindu friends’ home during Deepavali with putu on my forehead and I stop eating beef?
And do I leave my Christian friends’ house after celebrating Christmas bearing a cross on my chest?
Religion and faith are sacred things. Every one of us knows where we stand in the eyes of God.
Wow! I love this article - it expresses exactly how I feel about the issue too.
ReplyDeleteI shared this with my friends & they loved it as much as I did.
Good job on a well written piece!