|
Tuesday 25/7/2005 
Click here to download Anas Altikriti's visit schedule New article entitled Bandung 50 Years After by Dr. Mazeni Alwi Thursday 14/7/2005 Two talks by Dr. Jamal Badawi will be held on Tuesday, 19th July, 2005 at Kelab Golf Perkhidmatan Awam (KGPA), Bukit Kiara, don't miss it! "GENDER EQUITY IN ISLAM" Time : 12.00 p.m. - 2 p.m. Evening Talk "Does Islam teach hatred and violence against non - Muslims? Reflections on commonly misunderstood Quranic texts." Time : 8.15 p.m. - 10.30 p.m. Scroll down for more info on the respective talks. Pictures from the Dr. Ang Swee Chai have been uploaded in the Gallery. Click here to view it. Tuesday 5/7/2005 Does Islam teach hatred and violence against non - Muslims? Reflections on commonly misunderstood Quranic texts. by Dr. Jamal Badawi “Without doubt the best known Muslim speaker in the west for the last 2 decades.” 
The bombing blasts in London inevitably accentuates & perpetuates a culture of Islamophobia. This pervasive paradigm is undoubtedly detrimental to all attempts at civilisational dialogues. How does one begin to grapple with these ominous issues and fast track to a culture of illa li taarafu. “O mankind! We have created you male and female, and have made you nations and tribes that you may illa li taarafu – know one another.” The Muslim Professionals Forum is honoured to host Dr. Jamal Badawi, a world-renowned scholar, to address these controversial issues. This highly sought after lecturer was born and raised in Egypt. Upon receiving his bachelors from Ain Shams University (Cairo, Egypt); he headed for Indiana, America, where he received both his Masters and Doctorate in Business Administration. A professor at Saint Mary's University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, Dr. Badawi is currently a cross-appointed faculty member in the Departments of Religious Studies and Management. He also sits on the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) Jurisprudence Council. An excellent orator on various pertinent topics, especially Islam and Christianity, he is also very active in journalism and broadcasting. He has researched, designed, and presented a 350 1/2 hour segment television series on Islam, which was shown on many TV stations in Canada, the US, and other countries, as well. Some titles of his published works are: Selected prayers, Gender Equity in Islam, Muhammad in the Bible, Status of Women in Islam, Polygamy in Islamic Law, Islam: A Brief Look, Muslim Woman’s Dress According to the Qur’an and the Sunnah and Islamic Ethics. His papers and lectures are available on various Internet sites some of which are www.islamonline.net, www.islamicity.com and www.soundvision.com. Dr. Badawi is father of five children and grandfather of 15 (so far!). Date : Tuesday, 19th July, 2005 Place : Kelab Golf Perkhidmatan Awam (KGPA), Bukit Kiara Time : 8.15 – 10.30 pm Enquiries : Siti Jamilah 012 371 8518 Asnah Ahmad 012 210 0577 Azra Banu 019 282 4500 Friday 8/7/2005 Following his Martin Lings article, Dr Mazeni Alwi's next article is about The Legacy of Titus Burckhardt Tuesday 5/7/2005 GENDER EQUITY IN ISLAM by Dr. Jamal Badawi
Since time immemorial, the status of women has been a greatly discussed topic. In Islam, very often this issue is clouded by the diverse cultural practices of Muslims and often does not reflect the true teachings of Islam. One major source of misconceptions on Islam, a discussion on the status, role, rights, responsibilities of women in Islam is almost certainly guaranteed a keen audience and very often intense and passionate moments. Are we equal partners or are we lesser beings? Muslim Professionals Forum is honoured to host Dr. Jamal Badawi, a world-renowned scholar, who will be addressing these matters so close to our hearts. Dr. Jamal Badawi : “Without doubt the best known Muslim speaker in the west for the last 2 decades.” A much-acclaimed scholar, one doesn’t know where to begin when writing about him. This highly sought after lecturer was born and raised in Egypt, and it was in Cairo that Dr. Badawi started his career as a student. He received his bachelors from Ain Shams University (Cairo, Egypt). Upon receiving the degree, he headed for America, and enrolled in Indiana University (Bloomington, IN) where he received both his Masters and doctorate in the department of Business Administration. A professor at Saint Mary's University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, Dr. Badawi is currently a cross-appointed faculty member in the Departments of Religious Studies and Management and also sits on the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) Fiqh Council. An excellent orator on various pertinent topics, especially Islam and Christianity, he is also very active in journalism and broadcasting. He has researched, designed, and presented a 350 1/2 hour segment television series on Islam, which was shown on many TV stations in Canada, the US, and other countries, as well. Some titles of his published works are: Selected prayers, Gender Equity in Islam, Muhammad in the Bible, Status of Women in Islam, Polygamy in Islamic Law, Islam: A Brief Look, Muslim Woman’s Dress According to the Qur’an and the Sunnah and Islamic Ethics. His papers and lectures are available on various Internet sites some of which are www.islamonline.net, www.islamicity.com and www.soundvision.com. Dr. Badawi is father of five children and grandfather of 15 (so far!). Date : Tuesday, 19th July, 2005 Place : Kelab Golf Perkhidmatan Awam (KGPA), Bukit Kiara Time : 12.00 p.m. to 2 p.m. Enquiries : Siti Jamilah 012 371 8518 Asnah Ahmad 012 210 0577 Azra Banu 019 282 4500 *Entrance is by a minimum contribution of RM 20. Sunday 29/5/2005 Gallery : Added pictures from a previous event held at Crowne Plaza Mutiara Kuala Lumpur on the 24th of April this year : Fund Raising Tea Talk with Brother Moez Masoud. New Article : Martin Lings in memory by Dr. Mazeni Alwi Thursday 26/5/2005 presents Dr. Ang Swee Chai Dr. Ang Swee Chai was shocked when she heard the following; “To make an omelette, one first has to crack eggs.” Spoken by an Israeli leader, when asked by the press to comment on civilian casualties during Israel’s invasion of Lebanon in 1982, these very words propelled Dr. Ang to volunteer her orthopaedic services to treat war victims in Beirut, a decision that would prove to be of enormous impact in her life. Dr. Ang Swee Chai was born in Penang, grew up and studied in Singapore, and since 1977, has been residing in Britain. It was in 1982, enroute to Beirut, that she met her fist Palestinian, and her immediate reaction was one of fear, for as a Christian fundamentalist, she had been a supporter of Israel and thought all Palestinians to be terrorists. In fact she didn’t even know Palestinian refugees existed. And yet, two years later, together with her husband and friends, she formed Medical Aid for Palestinians, a charitable organization providing medical aid to Palestinians under occupation, and exiles. This diminutive woman is by no means to be taken lightly. During a five month long siege of two Palestinian camps in Beirut, she managed to bring in food and medical supplies where everyone else had failed, by writing to the late President Hafez Al Assad of Syria and securing his intervention. In 1987, Yasser Arafat awarded her ‘The Star of Palestine’, the highest award for service to the Palestinian people, for her relentless work and courage in speaking up for them. Her book ‘From Beirut to Jerusalem’, a testimony of her experiences, won rave reviews as she recounts her time spent in Beirut, and her account of the Shabra and Shatila massacres has reduced many readers to tears. Dr. Ang will be sharing with us her priceless moments and insights and we urge you to not miss this opportunity to listen to this tower of a woman. Date : Tuesday, 21st June, 2005 Place : Kelab Golf Perkhidmatan Awam (KGPA), Bukit Kiara Time : 8.30 p.m. – 10.30 p.m. Speaker : Dr. Ang Swee Chai Enquiries : Siti Jamilah 012 371 8518 Asnah Ahmad 012 210 0577 Azra Banu 019 282 4500 *Entrance is by a minimum contribution of RM 20.00 *STUDENTS ONLY RM 10.00 Monday 23/5/2005 Two new articles by Dr. Mazeni Alwi added :- Use and abuse of the human rights discourse and The wellspring of law and morality Wednesday 18/5/2005 
MPF members seen amongst participants of A Discussion Panel and Dialogue Enforcing Public Morality held at Hotel Le Meridien last 27th April. Tuesday 10/5/2005 Senior Minister Contemptuous of Muslim Sensitivity The Muslim Professionals Forum (MPF) regrets Datuk Seri Dr. Lim Keng Yaik's recommendation that religious matters be kept out of national schools if this means abolishing religious instruction to Muslim students. The assertion that the teaching of Islam in national schools deters non-Muslims from enrolling their children into national schools may have its substance, however we think much of that has to do with ingrained prejudice and problems inherent within the national schools system. Some degree of religious instruction has always been an element of our educational system, whether they are schools established by Christian missions or national ones. It fulfils the holistic educational needs of our children as we parents perceive them. Children of other faiths receive instruction in moral education when Muslim students have their religious classes. .The recent initiative to introduce the teaching of Mandarin and Tamil in national schools is indicative of the Ministry's concern for further improving national integration. While it is true that the family plays an important role in imparting religious values to impressionable children, instruction in the basic fundamentals of Islam, rituals of worship, study of the sacred texts, religious morality and Islamic history has to be done by qualified teachers. The national schools have admirably fulfilled this need without altering their character into religious schools. Muslim parents accept this compromise and send their children for extra religious lessons outside the normal school hours. It is utterly insensitive to demand that religious instruction for Muslims be scrapped from national schools if that is the intent of Dr. Lim's recommendations. By virtue of demography and history, Islam has been very much part of the nation's social and cultural fabric. Our colourful history bears testimony to the religious tolerance, harmony and mutual respect which has stood the test of time and which Malaysians have continued to guard jealously. It is somewhat baffling that Islam is suddenly demonized as an obstacle to national integration. The call to keep religion out of the national schools is contemptuous of Muslim sensitvity and flies in the face of our tradition of respect and understanding among the religions. it is an idea unmistakably borrowed from a particular brand of secularism that has its roots in a conflict between religion and the state which has a very specific historical context. It is by no means the universal experience of all modern states, least of all Malaysia. Instead of purportedly promoting national integration, such brazen insensitivity is potentially disruptive of our hardwon religious harmony. That such a proposal had come from a senior member of the cabinet is all the more regrettable. There are probably more valid reasons why non-Malay parents are reluctant to send their children to national schools especially those outside the affluent middle-class areas. And this has more to do with the school's academic performance, class size, facilities, quality of the teaching faculty, morale of teachers and standards of discipline rather than religious studies. These are equally the concerns of many Muslim parents, some of whom are willing to pay for private education or send their children to Chinese schools. While we urge that the government take immediate measures to remedy these pressing problems, various aspects of religious instruction for Muslims need to be tailored to mould young Muslims with Islamic spirituality (iman), examplary behaviour (soleh wa musleh) and intellectual strength (ilm) to prepare them as citizens of a modern, pluralistic Malaysia. Puan Elya Lim Abdullah Founding Member Muslim Professionals Forum Suite 1810, 18th Floor, Plaza Permata (IGB Plaza) Jalan Kampar, off Jalan Tun Razak 50400 Kuala Lumpur Tel : 03-40426102 Website : http://mpf.org.my Wednesday 13/4/2005 MPF PRESS RELEASE SHARIAH ENACTMENTS TRAMPLES CIVIL LIBERTIES WITH IMPUNITY? The Muslim Professionals Forum (MPF) views it preposterous the accusation that the Shariah enactment "tramples civil liberties with impunity", which was also the title in a regular column in an English broadsheet recently. The writer cited specifically articles 5 and 10 of the Federal Constitution as being violated by the Shariah enactments. However, the use of heavy jargon borrowed from the human rights discourse could hardly hide the writer's fundamental ignorance of the limited scope of the Shariah enactment as provided for in the Federal Constitution. The substance of article 5 in the Federal Constitution is about the unlawfulness of detention without trial and the right to a legal counsel, that no person shall be deprived of his life and liberty save in accordance with the law. With reference to the Shariah, "... in the case of an arrest for an offence which is triable by a Shariah court, references in this clause to magistrate shall be construed as including references to a judge of a Shariah court." Article 10 refers to the right of every citizen to freedom of speech and expression, the right of assemble peacably and without arms, and the right to form associations, while the parliament may by law impose restrictions in these areas in the interest of security. In neither of these areas of fundamental human rights which have been universally recognized and accepted worldwide, do the state religious bodies empowered to formulate the Shariah enactments have any jurisdiction. We are equally concerned that some aspects of Shariah enforcement do infringe on the privacy of citizens or may not have been conducted in a professional manner, and we accept that these enactments should be subject to review. But in no way should this be a justification for a blanket attack on the Shariah under the false premise of trampling of fundamental liberties as stipulated in articles 5 and 10. The Shariah is the epitome of the Islamic spirit, the very manifestation of the Islamic way of life based on an unqualified submission to the will of God. “For each We have appointed a divine law and a traced out way. Had Allah willed He could have made you one community. But that He may try you by that which He as given you” ( Al-Quran; V:48 ). Muslims have a right to be governed by the Shariah and we reiterate that this concerns only Muslims. In practice, our co-religionists have always been able to exercise the right to opt for the westernised lifestyle without regard for Shariah "with impunity". We have always respected the lifestyle choices of our fellow Muslims. The least we ask of them is to reciprocate this respect and not to denigrate Islam and the Shariah. Dr. Sarah Haniza bte Dato Abdul Ghani Board Member Muslim Professionals Forum Suite 1810, 18th Floor, Plaza Permata (IGB Plaza) Jalan Kampar, off Jalan Tun Razak 50400 Kuala Lumpur Tel : 03-40426102 Website : http://mpf.org.my MPF PRESS RELEASE Enactment 2005 Malacca - show goodness and mercy We at the Muslim Professionals Forum ( MPF ) read with great concern the debate on the Muslim wills enactment 2005 in the Malacca state assembly as reported in the Star last week ( 1 April 2005 ). During the debate, the plight of the late Abdul Wahid Lim Abdullah's family came to light. The deceased had converted to Islam in July 1992 without the knowledge of his family, and died 5 months later in a car accident. As Abdul Wahid had died without leaving a will, his estate was automatically placed under the administration of the Malacca Islamic Religious Council. His wife and 3 children being non-Muslims, lost their right to be the beneficiaries of the deceased's estate. While this is substantively correct, the Wakaf management committee could perhaps exercise their discretionary powers to return the estate to the deceased's dependents in the form of a gift. It is important that the administration of Islamic affairs be seen to be sensitive, just and compassionate to all. In a multi-religious society like ours, such situations and entanglements that involve Muslim and non-Muslim parties are not uncommon, and this calls for greater wisdom and sensitivity on the part of those entrusted with religious authority. It is callous insensitivity to ask the deceased's family to pursue their claims in the civil court and subject themselves to the indignity of a drawn-out legal process. The other alternative suggested by the Chief Minister of Malacca, to return it as a gift, is more just to all parties and it is indeed long overdue. All laws whether Shariah or civil implemented in the name of justice must always be tempered with ihsan (goodness) and rahmah (mercy). We need to show compassion and mercy on his family and not be afraid of creating a precedent. This gesture would echo the Quranic exhortations: “Lo! Allah commands you that you restore deposits to their owners, and if you judge between mankind that you judge justly. Lo! Comely is this which Allah admonish you. Lo! Allah is ever Hearer, Seer.” ( Al-Quran; An-Nisaa’ : Verse 58 ) S.L. Pang @ Farah Abdullah Board Member Muslim Professionals Forum Suite 1810, 18th Floor, Plaza Permata (IGB Plaza) Jalan Kampar, off Jalan Tun Razak 50400 Kuala Lumpur Tel : 03-40426102 Website : http://mpf.org.my Tuesday 5/4/2005 
Friday 1/4/2005 New Article entitled Islam and Human Rights by Dr. Azzam Tamimi added. Tuesday 30/3/2005 MPF Press Release : Policing Morality The Muslim Professionals Forum ( MPF ) regrets the use of the jargon “moral policing” in the present campaign to seek a repeal of the Sharia enactment deemed in contradiction to international norms of human rights. We view this as an underhanded attempt to cast those who support the present administration of Islamic affairs based on the constitutional provisions in a very negative light even before fair debate begins. We acknowledge that recent incidents that highlighted the unprofessional conduct on the part of enforcement officers such as the JAWI raid on a discotheque deserves public scrutiny. It has to be admitted that some parties have been denied justice because of the human weaknesses either in the formulation or the implementation of some aspects of the Sharia enactment. However, instead of calling for a review or fine-tuning of the substance of the individual enactment concerned and rectifying the weaknesses of its enforcement, such incidents have been opportunistically and grossly manipulated to force-feed a totalising secularisation onto the Muslim community. It is correct for HAKAM secretary-general Ms Elizabeth Wong to say, “let people decide what they want to wear and when, until they break the penal code”( The Sun; March 26-27 ) insofar as non-Muslims are concerned, and we would strongly defend that right. But many Muslims, probably the great majority, should similarly enjoy the inalienable right to be governed by the Sharia as part of their religious obligations. Is this too much to ask by modern standards of fairplay and justice ? The Quranic verse puts it most plainly “unto you your deen (way of life) and unto me my deen” ( Al-Quran; Al-Kafirun : Verse 6 ). It is most unfortunate that the human rights language has been notoriously abused by a few individuals and groups who are pushing for Malaysian Muslims to jettison their religious traditions and adopt wholly the west's post modern materialism and secular ideologies. The phrase “policing morality” is well calculated to heap abuse and scorn on proponents of moral legislation. But like it or not, any so called civilised society cannot do without some degree of legislation that touches on moral issues, such as the age limit when consensual sex is considered rape even when there are supposedly no victims. The signatories of the “anti moral policing” document needs to recognise that the very foundation of the penal code itself is the preservation of morality. Decency laws exist even in the most liberal of societies. The campaign to repeal state and municipal bylaws ( which for Muslims is the Sharia enactments ) on the argument that it overlaps with the penal code, is misguided. From London and New York to Manila and Tokyo, decency laws under the purview of municipal authorities exist alongside the penal code. In Malaysia, just because it happens to be based on Islamic teachings, it is seen as unfashionable and anti-modern. But this concerns only Muslims and it is improper and insensitive for non-Muslims to interfere. Islam, in her outward manifestations, has definite rulings on such matters as alcohol consumption, gambling, sexuality and marriage, decency and morality, wealth inheritance and tithe collection and distribution. In Malaysia, statutory bodies under the aegis of the Malay rulers as provided for by the constitution, formulate, implement and administer these Sharia rulings. Understandably, there would be sections within the Muslim community who may find the Sharia rulings too restrictive or embarrassing to their western, secular sensibilities. But this is strictly an internal problem normal to any religious community, and best resolved intra-faithfully. We regret that a few Muslims, anxious to be decorated as champions of progressive, liberal Islam have turned these normal internal differences into national issues by seeking the support of those outside the faith who share the common desire for complete secularisation of society, to force religion and spirituality into the private domain. This is truly a morbid trend as far as religious harmony is concerned. In the spirit of mutual respect, Muslims have never interfered nor commented on the affairs of other religions. The Babas and Nyonyas,and to a certain extent the Chinese of Kelantan and Terengganu have peacefully lived among the Muslim Malays for centuries, even assimilating Malay culture and language, but the host community have never interfered in their religion. Hence, despite their cool and tolerant cultural predisposition, the mainstream Muslim Malays feel hurt, nay flabbergasted and outraged by this brazen interference in the affairs of their faith. We would urge our Muslim co-signatories of the “repeal Sharia laws” document to resolve these intra-faith matters through discussions and consultations with mainstream Muslim groups and the relevant authorities. In any case, these are relatively minor issues in comparison to the daunting problems which are afflicting our society notably, a culture of permissiveness and promiscuity, endemic corruption, poverty, the widening income gap, unbalanced development, rape of the environment, the urban-rural divide, alarming escalation in heinous crime and the perpetual drugs menace. In our joint pursuit of truth, justice and fair-play, we should not allow parochial and careless sentiments from jeopardising our time tested national religious harmony, tolerance and mutual respect. We should embrace the spirit of togetherness and synergy as exhorted by the verse “but help ye one another unto righteousness and pious duty; help not one another unto sin and transgression” ( Al-Quran; Al-Maidah: Verse 2 ) Signed Dr. Sheik Johari Bux bin Sheik Yaacob Bux sjbong3454@hotmail.com Board Member Muslim Professionals Forum Suite 1810, 18th Floor, Plaza Permata (IGB Plaza) Jalan Kampar, off Jalan Tun Razak 50400 Kuala Lumpur Tel : 603-40426102 Website : http://mpf.org.my Tuesday 22/3/2005 KHALIFAH INSTITUTE - JOURNEY TO ISLAM Event : Fund-Raising Dinner & Talk Date : 9th April, 2005 Place : Ballroom, Sheraton Subang Hotel, Subang Jaya Time : 7:30pm - 12 midnight Talks by: 1. Professor Muhammad Al'Mahdi (Founder of Khalifah Institute) Title: "From Atheism to Faith" 2. Brother Yahya Adel Ibrahim (Guest Speaker) Title: "The Threat to Islam in the World Today" Guest of Honour : YB Dato' Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil Minister of Women, Family & Community Development Enquiries : Sarah - 03 4256 6810 Dr Alini Marzuki - 019 226 8411 Nor Aishah Osman - 012 223 1961 Khalifah Institute - 03 4256 6810 Email - khalifahproject@yahoo.com Website - www.islamic-world.net Khalifah Institute Lot 298, Jalan 3 Taman Ampang Utama 68000 Ampang Selangor |