There has been quite a ruckus in the blogosphere about the Article 9, sub “Raa” of the new Maldivian constitution. The claim is that when the new constitution comes into effect, it would render a bunch of Maldivians stateless. That is, those who are non-Muslims.
This is rather conflicting as Maldives is, at present, a 100% Muslim country. Just the way it was a democratic country, until democracy came along sometime around the 2003. As far as I know, we Maldivians are Muslims and we have remained to be so for quite a long time and through many invasions/colonisations.
That is, ever since Maldives was converted to Islaan overnight after Mr. Barbari[an] the Moroccan drag queen scared off Rannamaari the man-o-war like virgin eating sea monster. However the southern atolls (United Suvadeeb) recognise this other guy who introduced Islaan to them, with his tomb (ziyaarath) in the Koaganu cemetery of S.Meedhoo.
So how do Maldivians of present age come to consider themselves as Muslims? What makes us “Muslims” in Maldives? Without practicing that is. Just by giving lip service? Traffic and pedestrians freezing dead in traffic when there is a prayer call (while the correct response to is actually to head to mosque for prayer)? Reciting the Shahaadhath without understanding what is stands for? Missing every salaath except for the Friday prayer? Fasting a whole month without entering a mosque once? Sex but no alcohol? Alcohol but not pork? Quote some “sayings” which benefits your own needs and claim that you think you saw it in the Hadith? Getting an “A” in Islaan at school? Learn to recite Quran melodiously and not have a clue about what you are singing?
This sounds more like saying that Maldivians are of “Islamic heritage” rather than being called Muslims.
So how do we solve this?
To make Maldives a 100% Muslim country, the state may carry out a mass genocide, wiping out the non-muslims (from citizen population and not the expatriate/tourist population) from the face of Maldives. (Do I hear a Salafi chuckling in the corner?) That is, as soon as we find a way to differentiate between the former and the latter.
Alternatively, the non-muslims having being born to Maldives and its religion of Islaan, should be considered as people of “Islamic heritage” even when they leave the religion. This could land them in line with and in similarity with the rest of the [non-practicing] Muslims. After all, non-practicing Muslims don’t deserve Paradise either.
So let’s say that we solved the problem of 100% and made Maldives an Islaanic state. Then what? Which faction? Which sect? Which Mazhab? While the earlier implementation of the consitituion never stated that Maldivians are required to be of Sunni sect following the Shafiee school, those who preferred other forms of Islaan were prosecuted under the pretence of “causing religious disharmony”.
So does the new constitution’s mandate to be a Muslim restrict you from choosing a sect or a Mazhab? Can you choose to follow Hanafi, Hanbali or Wahhabee schools of thought? Can you choose to be Shi’ai or Sufi?
Attempting to sustain peace and harmony through religious unity would be possible when people follow the same sect/mazhab/faction and not just the religion in a broad sense. Take Ireland for example.
And then we have an incompetent Religious Council of pope wannabes who can’t even recognise Satan worship symbolism from 2D geometry that they televised it in religious programmes as decorations. These same people who authenticated the Mars retrograde article which equates to the Doomsday’s sunrise without even checking the validity of facts given in it, just coz the article was “religiously inspiring”? And they go around calling themselves the “Supreme” Council. Might as well give them an Island and build a Vatican for them. The only this supreme about them is their ignorance about contemporary developments in the Islamic world and otherwise too.
The public had limited or no access to independent religions material, religious advice or discussions (besides how much God wants Maldivian citizens to obey its leaders), and re-runs of Fridays khuthubaas (also about how much God wants Maldivian citizens to obey its leaders). This was how much awareness Maldivians had about their religion until the recent past.
When constitutionally labelling a state with a religion, there should be mechanisms in place which would facilitate/enforce the religious mandates. Otherwise it would be a meaningless declaration.
What do you call people who don't practice what they preach? And what do you call a whole country full of them?
The present religion harmony in Maldives is the balance between the state sanctioned Islaan::Sunni::Shafi’ee (Maumoon’s choice) and the foreign imported Islam::Sunni::Salafi (apparently it was the prophet’s choice). So choose wisely. Otherwise you burn in hell. Or worse, get prosecuted by either the State or the Wahhaabees. Simply that.
“Allahu gandhee huvaa kuran. Thilhai magumathin fenunas koshaalaanan.” says a Mu’uminu partey after being prevented from mugging a young girl of her purse.
May God bless Maldives. Aameen. Wassalaamu’alaikum warahmathullahi wabarakath.
This is rather conflicting as Maldives is, at present, a 100% Muslim country. Just the way it was a democratic country, until democracy came along sometime around the 2003. As far as I know, we Maldivians are Muslims and we have remained to be so for quite a long time and through many invasions/colonisations.
That is, ever since Maldives was converted to Islaan overnight after Mr. Barbari[an] the Moroccan drag queen scared off Rannamaari the man-o-war like virgin eating sea monster. However the southern atolls (United Suvadeeb) recognise this other guy who introduced Islaan to them, with his tomb (ziyaarath) in the Koaganu cemetery of S.Meedhoo.
So how do Maldivians of present age come to consider themselves as Muslims? What makes us “Muslims” in Maldives? Without practicing that is. Just by giving lip service? Traffic and pedestrians freezing dead in traffic when there is a prayer call (while the correct response to is actually to head to mosque for prayer)? Reciting the Shahaadhath without understanding what is stands for? Missing every salaath except for the Friday prayer? Fasting a whole month without entering a mosque once? Sex but no alcohol? Alcohol but not pork? Quote some “sayings” which benefits your own needs and claim that you think you saw it in the Hadith? Getting an “A” in Islaan at school? Learn to recite Quran melodiously and not have a clue about what you are singing?
This sounds more like saying that Maldivians are of “Islamic heritage” rather than being called Muslims.
So how do we solve this?
To make Maldives a 100% Muslim country, the state may carry out a mass genocide, wiping out the non-muslims (from citizen population and not the expatriate/tourist population) from the face of Maldives. (Do I hear a Salafi chuckling in the corner?) That is, as soon as we find a way to differentiate between the former and the latter.
Alternatively, the non-muslims having being born to Maldives and its religion of Islaan, should be considered as people of “Islamic heritage” even when they leave the religion. This could land them in line with and in similarity with the rest of the [non-practicing] Muslims. After all, non-practicing Muslims don’t deserve Paradise either.
So let’s say that we solved the problem of 100% and made Maldives an Islaanic state. Then what? Which faction? Which sect? Which Mazhab? While the earlier implementation of the consitituion never stated that Maldivians are required to be of Sunni sect following the Shafiee school, those who preferred other forms of Islaan were prosecuted under the pretence of “causing religious disharmony”.
So does the new constitution’s mandate to be a Muslim restrict you from choosing a sect or a Mazhab? Can you choose to follow Hanafi, Hanbali or Wahhabee schools of thought? Can you choose to be Shi’ai or Sufi?
Attempting to sustain peace and harmony through religious unity would be possible when people follow the same sect/mazhab/faction and not just the religion in a broad sense. Take Ireland for example.
And then we have an incompetent Religious Council of pope wannabes who can’t even recognise Satan worship symbolism from 2D geometry that they televised it in religious programmes as decorations. These same people who authenticated the Mars retrograde article which equates to the Doomsday’s sunrise without even checking the validity of facts given in it, just coz the article was “religiously inspiring”? And they go around calling themselves the “Supreme” Council. Might as well give them an Island and build a Vatican for them. The only this supreme about them is their ignorance about contemporary developments in the Islamic world and otherwise too.
The public had limited or no access to independent religions material, religious advice or discussions (besides how much God wants Maldivian citizens to obey its leaders), and re-runs of Fridays khuthubaas (also about how much God wants Maldivian citizens to obey its leaders). This was how much awareness Maldivians had about their religion until the recent past.
When constitutionally labelling a state with a religion, there should be mechanisms in place which would facilitate/enforce the religious mandates. Otherwise it would be a meaningless declaration.
What do you call people who don't practice what they preach? And what do you call a whole country full of them?
The present religion harmony in Maldives is the balance between the state sanctioned Islaan::Sunni::Shafi’ee (Maumoon’s choice) and the foreign imported Islam::Sunni::Salafi (apparently it was the prophet’s choice). So choose wisely. Otherwise you burn in hell. Or worse, get prosecuted by either the State or the Wahhaabees. Simply that.
“Allahu gandhee huvaa kuran. Thilhai magumathin fenunas koshaalaanan.” says a Mu’uminu partey after being prevented from mugging a young girl of her purse.
May God bless Maldives. Aameen. Wassalaamu’alaikum warahmathullahi wabarakath.
8 comments:
Islam, in Maldives is nothing more than a political tool to manipulate the population.
salam brother.
the thing is, I guess, so far so good, still muslims exist there in Maldives. Actuallay we need to deal with Mr patience, wisdom and without forgetting Mr motivation for conviction / to be convicted.
islam in maldives or wherever you go is same to all parts of this world. the social life, stereotype and people's belief makes it's strength either powerful or WEACK. it will take a loooooooooong time for maldives people to wake up and to awake there knowledge about islam, the TRULY way drawn by rassoulou allah Mohamed salla allahu alayhi wassalama. give time to us, give time to people, allah knows better when and how to show up his mercy. Al hamdoulillah rabbi el alamine.
hocine, u cud start by writing a muslim version of the pilgrim's progress.
that image with its inverted flag colors and inverted star looks like the anti-Islamic, anti-Maldivian symbol. Probably the flag of the Maldivian Dajjal.
Wonderful article!
I've been longing to hear sth like this from a Maldivian.
Why is there so little discussion about Islam (Islaan!) and so much argument over it?
Maldives is by no stretch of imagination a 100% Muslim country.. and yet we have politicians and self proclaimed religious leaders screaming from their pedestals that we are!
Nice play on the word 'Islaan' hehe. You might have overlooked 'Alloahu'!
Jakathullah khair. Hamdhulillah. Salaam to you brother.
Good post. I share similar thoughts as you've expressed...
wow. perfect and balanced.
more and more people are converting to islaam. islaan had a better chance of evolving in to a more tolerant and moderate form. but islam will eventually get out of control and become ...kaboom! or did it happen already. faster than i thought.
as you knw i m quite young and all....i am from primary schoool.....could u decipher what u r saying in ur article to a more idiot proof version....
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