| Hijrah in heart versus symbolic Hijrah | | | |
| Posted by admin | |
| Monday, 29 December 2008 14:40 |
Yes, it is time to let the healing begin. So long has ‘May 13’ lingered in our hearts, to be resurrected time and again whenever an election or by-election looms over the horizon. Racism is tearing this country apart.
NO HOLDS BARRED
Raja Petra Kamarudin
Kumpulan nasyid UNIC berharap sambutan Maal Hijrah 1430 lebih besar dan konsisten daripada perayaan tahun baru Masihi 2009 yang bakal disambut pada malam 31 Disember ini – Harakah, 29 December 2008
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Yes, Hijrah, the time of the migration of Prophet Muhammad from Mekah to Medina 1,430 years ago and the beginning of the Islamic calendar. But what is Hijrah other than a public holiday when all can sleep late and need not get up at 7.00am or earlier to rush to office? To most, Hijrah is but another day to sleep late. To many, Hijrah is when Prophet Muhammad escaped the long arm of the law to seek refuge in Medina. To some, Hijrah is the commemoration of when the Islamic State of Medina came into being. To a handful, Hijrah is about ‘migrating’ from one ‘spiritual form’ to another.
Celebrating Hijrah in a festival-like atmosphere or with ceremony and events is just like celebrating your birthday with the blowing of candles or celebrating your wedding anniversary or Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, Merdeka Day, and whatnot. It is a hollow event, one full of rituals but absent of substance. The best ‘celebration’ would be a celebration in the heart and nothing can beat the rohani over jasmani.
Rohani comes from the word roh or spirit and jasmani would, of course, be the non-spirit, meaning physical. Physical minus spirit would be just like a prostitute having sex with you because of the money she is earning. She will certainly pretend to be enjoying it, with sighs and moans thrown in, but all she wants is for you to get it over and done with so that you will get out of her room and she can then service the next client.
We will march on the street and sing songs and fly flags and give speeches to celebrate Hijrah. Then we will go home and live our lives as usual with no change in attitude and mindset. Hijrah was nothing but a physical event. It was something we did. It was not something we felt.
Hijrah was about the Prophet’s migration. Today, it is a ritual we perform, symbolic of that migration. But have we been able to transform that symbolism into spirit? Are we acting out the symbolic Hijrah or are we practicing Hijrah in our hearts?
Hijrah is about change. It is about repentance. It is about transformation. It is about reforms. It is about renaissance. Hijrah is more than just about changing your place of abode to a new address.
If we are racist can we stop being racist? If we are corrupted can we stop being corrupted? If we are a wife-beater can we stop beating our wife? If we love sex with prostitutes can we stop visiting prostitutes? If we steal can we stop stealing? If we oppress people can we stop being an oppressor? If we are violent can we stop all the violence? If we _______ can we stop _______ (fill in the blanks with whatever may be your ‘sin’)?
That is the real meaning of Hijrah. It is about ending your old, wayward and evil ways and adopting a better lifestyle, attitude and mindset. It is not about marching on the street and singing songs and flying flags and giving speeches. Hijrah is about change. It is about repentance. It is about transformation. It is about reforms. It is about renaissance.
Muslims are good at talking and celebrating. But Muslims are yet to learn how to live the life of a good Muslim. And ‘good Muslim’ goes beyond praying, fasting, going to Mekah for the Haj, etc., and beyond shunning liquor, pork, gambling, extra-marital sex and whatnot. That merely makes you a ritualistic Muslim. Even prostitutes perform the rituals of sex without any real feeling. ‘Good Muslim’ begins when compassion, consideration, tolerance, sacrifice, and much more replace greed, lust, envy, jealousy, arrogance, pride, ego, and all those other ills that turn our hearts black.
A human being is born with a white heart, says Islam. No one is born with a black heart. But the heart turns black as the years pile up and as we get closer to our graves. Hijrah is about reversing the process and turning the heart back to white so that we can leave this world and return to our Maker with as white a heart as when we first came into this world.
That is the true meaning of Hijrah, Hijrah in heart, as opposed to symbolic Hijrah.
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I've kept it inside much too long
There's no relief
Carry it around just like a stone
Too heavy for me
I had paid the price
Of standing on the outside looking in
It's time to let the healing begin
A boy is strung out he's going through hell
His mother weeps
His spirit is broken and there's nothing left
Just a terrible need
And the days are marked by the heaviness of the heart
It never mends until the healing begin
And the tension prowls the streets like an animal
The people stay behind their locks and chains
It's a shame
When so many are trying their best to live as one
And the smoke from the fires covers the sun
A young girl is lying in the dirt
Her dreams ended there
Caught in the crossfire on somebody's turf
Hatred in the air
It's a voice that never sings
A winter without the spring
It never ends
It's time to let the healing begin
It's time to let the healing begin
Let The Healing Begin by Joe Cocker
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Yes, it is time to let the healing begin. So long has ‘May 13’ lingered in our hearts, to be resurrected time and again whenever an election or by-election looms over the horizon.
Racism is tearing this country apart. Religious bigotry and intolerance is not far behind as the second ‘time bomb’ that is set to go off if care is not taken. Let the healing begin and let us live the life as what the Prophet said: God made us of different peoples so that we may know one another.
So, let Hijrah, today, be about ‘migrating’ to a new Malaysia where persecution, intolerance, injustice and all those other ills are abandoned the way the Prophet migrated from Mekah to Medina, by order of God, to avoid the same persecution, intolerance, injustice that he too faced.
I will close my piece on how to celebrate the proper Hijrah with the item below.
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The Qur'an and the Vedas
Question: I am a Vedic Sanatana Dharmi. I have full faith in the Islamic concept of Paramatma (the Supreme Spirit). I need you to guide me with a good and correct interpretation of the Qur'an. May Paramatma Allah bless all in a Satyanarayan way!
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Salam, Harsha.
Thank you very much for your question.
It is very heartening to welcome a Vedic Sanatana Dharmi like you, who would identify the Hindu concept of Paramatma with the Islamic concept of Allah.
Indeed the Vedas (the four sacred books that form the foundational religious texts of the Hindus) provide a great deal of insight into the Sanatana Dharma (Eternal Law) of Brahman — the Sanskrit word for God as the Ultimate Reality — Who is considered by Hindus the Source of all existence.
The Hindu belief about the Vedas as the sruti (what was heard) bears a close resemblance to the Muslim idea of wahyu (divine revelation). You know that the sruti, according to interpreters, were ‘heard’ by the sages of later generations from their predecessors.
It is also noteworthy that they are considered nitya (eternal, i.e, without beginning or end) and apauruseya sabda (revealed knowledge from a superhuman source) (Srila Jiva Gosvami); and this means that they originated from God. That is to say, the first sages who taught the Vedas may have been prophets to whom God had revealed them originally.
The Qur'anic verses are sruti in the sense of revealed scripture, but with the additional significance that they were written down and preserved intact so that Muslims have been reading them and learning them by heart from the very beginning.
The Qur'an was revealed to the Final of the Prophets, Muhammad (peace be upon him), and it came as a confirmation and fulfilment of the earlier scriptures revealed to all the prophets of old. In other words, one function of the Qur'an is to confirm the truths in the earlier scriptures and to correct any errors that might have crept into them during their transmission from generation to generation.
There are clues in the Vedas, as well as in Hindu religious history, that point to the possibility that the Vedas were corrupted versions of earlier revealed texts, such as the scriptures sent to the Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim). The Oneness of God underscored in the Vedas, as against the common beliefs of the Hindus, is a very important factor, for instance.
There is the verse in the first of the Vedas called the Rig Veda: Ekam sat viprah bahudha vadanti (Rig Veda:1.164.46) “Truth is One; but the sages call Him by many names”. Indeed, this verse is comparable to the following Qur'anic verses:
Say: He is Allah, the One and Only; Allah, the Eternal, Absolute (Al-Ikhlas 112:1-2)
Call upon Allah, or call upon Rahman: by whatever name ye call upon Him, (it is well): for to Him belong the Most Beautiful Names. (Al-Israa' 17:110)
It is to the credit of the religion of Islam (which means submission to God) that it does not limit itself to any particular prophet or to any particular age. Muhammad (peace be on him) was only the final prophet of Islam, and so he never claimed that his religion was a new one, nor do Muslims consider him the founder of Islam.
Hopefully, a close and insightful study of the Qur'an can lead us to a clear understanding of how we can lead a virtuous life in obedience to the One True God.
May He guide us to His Truth!
I hope this answer helps you. Please keep in touch.
Shahul Hameed
Lifted from: http://www.readingislam.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1152715374930&pagename=IslamOnline-English-AAbout_Islam%2FAskAboutIslamE%2FAskAboutIslamE
Or go to: http://tinyurl.com/9ohpxl
Comments (23)Add Comment
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written by EUGTAN, December 29, 2008 15:07:31
There is a Indian saying: For things to change, I must first change
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written by ahmadneil, December 29, 2008 15:14:04
For umno to change,we will have to change them before they change us.
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written by ahmadneil, December 29, 2008 15:16:09
We partied all nite long and still sober till noon today.
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written by JohnQ, December 29, 2008 15:26:07
On Holidays, i still rush ! Rush to hike to nearby hiiltop to set sight on sunrises ! No health club fees to pay, fitness centres not needed , no carbon monoxide exhale......
I pray in heart, o rituals no offerings, save money ang environmentally friendly. 2009 depression has almost no impact to me! Religion is personal things, why need to show people that you are preaching IT !
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written by Admiral Tojo, December 29, 2008 15:57:27
Hijrah is a daily occurence. These words that constantly play in your mind, one asking to do good, the other asking to do bad, requires imploring, reasoning, and the outcome will determine whether you are at peace (muslims - those who are at peace) or in turmoil (iblis - the wretched one). Whether you are in hell or heavenly bliss. The Lord had given each and everyone of us this power to reason and act accordingly.
The advises of these universal values are scattered all over Quran, for those who READ and analyse, these verses. There are those who can blindly recite through memorising the words without understanding (Hafiz). Then there are those who will prevent you from trying to READ by saying that you have to read ONLY through their selected understanding. This gave rise to the blossoming of sects, all over the World.
"Hopefully, a close and insightful study of the Qur'an can lead us to a clear understanding of how we can lead a virtuous life in obedience to the One True God". quote Sahul Hamid.
There are those who oppose the exact above. They will insist that ONLY their intepretation is right and no one else. There are those who analyse the reading closely and discovered numerous corruptions in the reading, put there by so-called earliear men of knowledge. These have given rise to numerous labellings such as liberal Islam, moderate Islam, etc. These groups are now under attack from those who understand the Quran only through the myopic view of their respective Mullahs etc. This debates are going on all around the world as we speak.
Not withstanding the above, ones own action will ultimately decide whether you are at peace or wether you are the wretched one. The least at peace and in hell in this World, are those who are the hypocrites - munafeeqs. They will ultimately succumb to their hell within, it will show in their faces.
Salaam - Peace, Islam - Peacefulness, Muslims - those who are at peace. There is NOTHING to submit to to attain the above except through good deeds. If you had committed wrong, repent by not doing it ever again. To achieve this, is your daily 'HIJRAH'.
Simple is it not? Yes, only to those who are awake and not those under hypnosis, put there by their respective so called representatives of God.
Happy New Year!
Good one Pete.
Salaam
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written by sampalee, December 29, 2008 16:01:20
All religions reveals to us the one Truth that can bring lasting PEACE.On the other hand,politics of any kind[including the so called secular,that does not recognise life after death] distort truth and marring the peace that comes with it.
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written by batsman, December 29, 2008 17:06:17
There is a difference between racial unity promoted by UMNO and real racial unity promoted by bloggers fighting for social justice.
Racial unity promoted by UMNO means everybody regardless of race pays homage to UMNO. As long as UMNO is in control, no one is allowed to fight or quarrel with each other. However, if UMNO's control is threatened, UMNO has no problems provoking racial tension or even racial riots in order to re-establish its control. This is the meaning of UMNO's racial unity.
For healing to take place, real racial unity is a must. People of all races reach out to each other at the grass roots level, if necessary voting out UMNO for manipulating racial tensions and causing all round misery to Malaysians of all races.
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written by batsman, December 29, 2008 17:11:50
No peace for UMNO until it reforms. KT voters - vote out UMNO!
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written by teo siew chin, December 29, 2008 17:31:26
"But Muslims are yet to learn how to live the life of a good Muslim.."
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Mosques, churches, hindu temples, buddhist temples, sikh temples... abound in this country. Every couple of kilometres one sights one place of worship or another. All within one town! So, have the Christians learn how to live the life of a good Christian? Have the Hindus? The Buddhists? Has anyone of "religion"?
So much of religion yet so much of strife, discord, disunity, hate, anger, suspicion... what has gone wrong? smilies/sad.gif
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written by malaysianohope, December 29, 2008 18:31:22
I nearly forgot that today was a holiday until someone reminded me about it but I still don't know what's the true meaning of Awal Muharram although I have been enjoying the holiday year in year out, but then again so is many Malaysian even that of the same faith. This is precisely what Abang is saying..."Too much of jasmani over rohani"
Obama says "Yes we Can" but umno says "Change we Cannot"!
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written by Motherchell, December 29, 2008 18:54:20
UMNO must be got rid at the earliest. They have done enough harm to the young in breeding hatred. Every Institution of learning has only been set up to brainwash all with hatred . The powers love to divide and rule. The damage done in the last 30 years must be corrected fast before be are written into history .
How much has Malaysia worked towards establishing International UNDERSTANDING?? Where is our reputation ?Will the Nations of the world ever help or listen to Malaysia. We are zero with HR , Corruption , Transparency ZERO, Religious Tolerance Zero. The problem is not with the innocent citizens !!! Its the little Napoleons who spread hatred for their own personal agenda. We need to change this set up fast!! I want DSAI in fast! Our only hope !
http://sjsandteam.wordpress.com/
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written by chiongguo, December 29, 2008 20:27:02
Hijrah is not about changing from one supposed perversed state to another supposedly sublime state. This will never happen. It leads to repression and from there - even with our new found supposedly sublime state - will arise all manner of perversed actions and reactions that were far more harmful than the initial perversed state. That's the way of a deluded mind.
The true hijrah, from a mindless idiot like me, is one where one takes the journey inwards. The first step is to let go of mundane concerns and sense gratification. When we start to care for others(apprently going outwards) we have made a vital steps further inwards where our concerns and compassion vibrates within our being. It is not some emotive rationalisation that provoke irrational behaviour. It is filled with acceptance and peace. One is at peace. When we start to care for others regardless of race, culture, religion, profession etc. our world opens up on the outside but this is only possible when we took another vital step further inwards. It is the arising of wisdom where clarity imbues one's spirit. When we care for all of life, all of creation we took another step inwards where gratitude and our sense of oneness with all our brothers and sisters and all of life fill our consciousness. In buddhism this is the final let-go and in theist religion this would be God-realisation.
When Swami Ramakrishna was asked what a person who doesn't believe in God will realise in his spiritual practice he replied "the same as one who believed in a God." Swami Ramakrishna became a muslim and when he finally realised God using islam's spiritual technique of prayers and recitation he proclaimed that islam is indeed a valid spiritual path.
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written by cahaya, December 29, 2008 20:48:42
Thanks for those thoughts about “Hijrah in Heart”. Below are two poems by a poet Francis Duggan (found these on internet) about change (one poem on resisting change, other poem on causing change). Enjoy!
Conservative People
Conservative in their ways and in their thinking they do not embrace change in any way
They fear change as a threat to their existence as conservative through their lives they do stay
They resist change as if change is quite harmful as things were they wish them to remain
Their flawed values of rank and class distinction are things that they do fight hard to retain
No thanks to them that changes are occuring since they want to keep us tied to the past
They cannot accept that time brings with it changes that nothing as it was does seem to last,
Conservative people always in abundance their type never have been known to be rare
They live in villages, towns and in cities you can meet their kind of person anywhere
To them change is something that should be resisted to the old ways with reverence they do cling
They fear change as much as they do fear the reaper as if indeed change were a dangerous thing
Suppose it takes all kinds to make up humanity and conservative people will always fight change
They look on people who to them are different as those who are untrustworthy and strange.
One Cannot Change The World
One cannot change the World so why even bother to try
Since the fundimentalists out there do their best to deny
Others of their beliefs those who to them think differently
Extremists of any sort seem dangerous to me.
One cannot change the World but by good example one can lead
One cannot grow crops if one doesn't plant good seed
If everyone changed themselves for the better then all wars would cease
And there would not be mistrust and hatred and there would be peace.
One cannot change the World for that much help one would need
But where one would fail many might succeed
If millions changed for the better the war men would not have a say
And beautiful peace would be with us to stay.
For to change the World one can play a part
By helping out others out of kindness of heart
Down the pathway to peace you are leading the way
And with help from many the World may change for the better one day.
[ Suggestion: Read above again. Instead of “the world”, read “Malaysia”. ]
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written by panca, December 29, 2008 21:23:46
Dear Pete,
It's like the same for some people every year. Making New Year resolutions for the same problems and never change. Some did it and move on to new resolutions for new challenges whereas some keeps making new resolutions(excuses, actually). We all know this will not go away if we do not start from self and that means transformation start with us as individual.
There is no mass without each individual. Good Luck to Malaysia.
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written by Tompios, December 29, 2008 21:50:01
Cardinal Newman is quoted as saying, "To live is to change; to live well is to have changed often." Jangan saja keep changing isteri tiap hari sudahlah nanti berkat jadi kutuk.
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written by ASK4u, December 29, 2008 21:52:29
There were six men of Hindustan,
to learning much inclined,
Who went to see an elephant,
though all of them were blind,
That each by observation
might satisfy his mind.
The first approached the elephant,
and happening to fall
Against his broad and sturdy side,
at once began to bawl,
“This mystery of an elephant
is very like a wall.”
The second, feeling of the tusk,
cried, “Ho, what have we here,
So very round and smooth and sharp?
To me ’tis mighty clear,
This wonder of an elephant
is very like a spear.”
The third approached the elephant,
and happening to take
The squirming trunk within his hands,
thus boldly up and spake,
“I see,” quoth he,
“the elephant is very like a snake.”
The fourth reached out an eager hand,
and felt above the knee,
“What this most wondrous beast
is like is very plain” said he,
“‘Tis clear enough the elephant
is very like a tree.”
The fifth who chanced to touch the ear
said, “E’en the blindest man
Can tell what this resembles most;
deny the fact who can;
This marvel of an elephant
is very like a fan.”
The sixth no sooner had begun
about the beast to grope,
Than seizing on the swinging tail
that fell within his scope;
“I see,” said he, “the elephant
is very like a rope.”
So six blind men of Hindustan
disputed loud and long,
Each in his own opinion
exceeding stiff and strong.
Compare the six blind man with the religions of the world. They are all right and wrong at the same time. Right in understanding certain attributes of God but wrong in failing to understand God in Toto. I doubt anyone could.
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written by sampalee, December 29, 2008 22:35:06
The six blind men represent ordinary man who are mislead by the six conciouseness.When these prople are awaken to the Truth[8th Conciouseness or christ conciouseness]they see objects as they are.The scripture of All religions serve to awake us and open our wisdom eye.The story is meant as an allegory and is in fact taken from the buddhist scripture.Without the guidance of religions,man will be forever blind to GOD
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written by arnab76, December 29, 2008 22:39:52
Look at what happen in Penang today. If we do not change and if MY will have these tupe of people who spoke from the (AS)....Thailand will sent the next SPACE SHUTTLE to the space first. MALAYSIA BOLEH - TENTU BOLEH KALAH DALAM APA NIDANG PUN dengan PHD punya orang = ie, di PULAu PINANG pagi tadi.
smilies/angry.gif smilies/angry.gif smilies/angry.gif
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written by singam, December 30, 2008 00:54:33
Sampalee wrote "Without the guidance of religions,man will be forever blind to GOD
As Krishna promised Arjuna in the Bhagvad Gita...
For the protection of the righteous, for the destruction of evil
For the preservation of Dharma, I shall incarnate age after age.
Many times in the long history of mankind, God has sent Messengers to renew His message, to bring mankind back to the path of righteousness. But each time, man has fallen away from the path and indulged in wickedness. As he fell away, man brought along with him the latest Message of God, subverting it to his wicked needs. This was why the message became corrupted and had to be renewed age after age.
Man's relationship with God is spirituality. The essence of spirituality, the expectations that God has of mankind, can be found in every Holy Book. Man only has to go back to the basics and he can't go wrong.
Religion is an institution created by the followers of each Messenger. The institution is filled with rites and rituals. Man's behaviour on earth is codified and rules established to enforce such proper behaviour. Much of the time, these rituals take precedence over the essential teachings of the Messenger.
It is the institution of religion that divides mankind. More wars have been fought and more people killed over religion than for any other reason. The sad truth is that religion has taken more people away from God than it has brought towards God.
What we need is less of religion and more of spirituality. Let us set aside our differences and celebrate our similarities. Let us unite as children of the same God, whatever name we choose to call Him.
Only then will we be deserving of His grace.
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written by Davy McChester, December 30, 2008 01:45:01
Nice reading,and need more sincere people like RPK trying their best to agree on a common,natural human process that has been "damaged" by selfish tyrants and cunny charlatans in the name of religion.What better method than divide and control the masses.
There is zero,O,nada,force,no compulsion applied to a Hindu.It is up to the Hindu,to leave his religion,rejoin it anytime,not to believe it.Here is where he changes with time,discards nonsense that at one time appeared meaningful. He is free and knows there is a loving God that already know his destiny from time of birth,creation.No compulsion,therefore he develops gradually and has a better understanding how God operates.The core of democracy:Freedom to believe what you want to believe,even freedom to believe all other beliefs if you so wish. Hindus have big minds,not narrow thinkers,they accept all religions,and do not impose their religion on others.They are free as the birds,as God wanted them to be. They change ,though very slow,they change as humans advance,they throw out the trash that is a hindrance to the progress of civilization. They are not compelled to live by any idiotic dogmas.
Whenever any idiotic religious dogmas,scriptures override common sense,their main aim is to have a world dominated by one so called "true" religion,and wipe out the rest.It is like hating diversity the very creation of God. Hindu civilization has left their peaceful marks throughout South East Asia.They have no desire to invoke the fear of God to proselyte their beliefs.
We need thinkers,not religious bigots who are so afraid of others exposing their outdated beliefs as though God has forced upon them ,about the common utter nonsense bullshit that they are the chosen people. Grow up,Morons! As more people start thinking of the universe we live in is bigger than the pea brains of some religious morons ,all the nonsense,dogmas,edicts that is dividing the human race will become a heap of trash.
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written by A MI, December 30, 2008 08:55:44
Dear RPK
I value your insight and totally admire your courage to speak up.
However in the spirit of Maal Hijrah and also the New Year 2009 let us all, Malaysian Muslims, Hindus, Christians, Buddhists, Taoists, Free thinkers all unite and make a promise to ourselves to be better human beings who only radiate love to fellow Malaysians. Extend help when needed.
Enough of us lamenting, wallowing on self-pity and also spewing hatred.
AMNO, the powers that be are NOT going to change.
WE MT-ers have to be the change. If each one of us can shed all our prejudices/ suspicions and be kind to one another regardless of skin colour, no threat from the constant reminders of 130569 will shake us. Teach your children, nephews, nieces good core universal human values. Teach them to see beyond race.
UNITED WE STAND.let's work to seeing some good changes in GE13. We have to move beyond PR. PAS and DAP are still singing old songs which border on racism.
PKR has to grow to be a truly Malaysian party.
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written by Rozlan, December 30, 2008 08:57:42
Hijrah will not meet its intended purpose as long UMNO is in power.UMNO was put in power by British to suppressed true Islamic teachings..
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written by amoker, December 30, 2008 13:34:55
So, does it mean that Islam is part of Hinduism?
wonder...
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