Tag: Christmas

Malaysia, Indonesia, Tighten Security Net

KUALA LUMPUR • Malaysia is on high alert for the festive season – with armed soldiers making their presence felt at shopping malls, clubs and hotels – after its neighbour Indonesia foiled a planned Christmas Day bombing.

Meanwhile, Indonesian police will deploy some 155,000 personnel to secure the country during the Christmas and New Year holidays, reported Agence France-Presse.

Neither country is taking the terror threat lightly.

In Malaysia, larger malls have deployed their own security teams, numbering more than 100 men each, to complement auxiliary police, according to The Star.

“Certain malls go further by putting up notices to remind visitors about the steps they can take if they notice someone or something suspicious,” adviser to the Malaysia Shopping Malls Association H.C. Chan told The Star.

The use of closed-circuit television cameras to keep an extra eye on crowded shopping spaces has also been stepped up.

Still, Malaysia’s malls have stopped short of installing scanners and metal detectors at entry points, a common feature in Thailand and Indonesia.

Malaysian police said on Tuesday that they had arrested seven people between Nov 3 and Dec 16 for suspected links to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and for planning attacks in Malaysia and abroad.

Earlier this month, they revealed that they had prevented some 14 ISIS-linked attacks in the country.

So far, the only successful assault by the Islamist group in Malaysia was a grenade attack in June on a bar in Puchong, on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, which left eight people injured.

In Indonesia, national police chief Tito Karnavian said security will be boosted at churches, entertainment venues and public gatherings during the Christmas and New Year celebrations. On Wednesday, the police discovered a cache of bombs on the outskirts of Jakarta and killed three suspected militants to prevent a suicide bombing.

“Police will beef up security after these (raids)”, said national police spokesman Martinus Sitompul. Intelligence-gathering efforts and the monitoring of social media are also being intensified.

While Indonesia routinely deploys security personnel for year-end celebrations, this week’s events have given the exercise an extra edge.

Source: www.straitstimes.com

December 23, 2016
Mufti KL: Tidak Salah Ucapkan ‘Merry Christmas’

Tidak salah untuk orang Islam memberi ucapan Selamat Hari Krismas atau “Merry Christmas” kepada orang Kristian atas dasar memupuk persaudaraan dan muhibah, kata mufti Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur.

Mufti Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri memberi contoh mesyuarat ke-78 Ehwal Islam Majlis Jawatankuasa Nasional Muzakarah pada tahun 2007 yang berakhir dengan pemberian ucapan melalui kad, emel atau kiriman SMS kepada golongan bukan Muslim semasa musim perayaan ini, menurut laporan Malay Mail Online.

“Setelah kami amati dan tekuni isu ini dengan berhemah, di samping membincangkan dengan pakar serta kembali kepada rujukan yang muktabar, maka kami berpendapat hukum mengucapkan Merry Christmas adalah harus,” katanya dalam satu kenyataan yang ditukil laman Free Malaysia Today.

USAH ADA NIAT AGUNGKAN AGAMA LAIN

Beliau menggariskan beberapa panduan umum untuk orang Islam seperti mengucapkan “Merry Christmas” sebagai tanda perpaduan dan hubungan kemasyarakatan.

Beliau juga menegaskan ia tidak boleh disertai niat untuk mengagungkan, memuliakan dan menyetujui agama lain; dan tidak mengandungi perbuatan yang menyalahi syarat.

Menurut laporan Free Malaysia Today Dr Zulkifli ditukil sebagai berkata menghadiri jemputan makan malam, menziarahi golongan bukan Islam dan bertukar hadiah juga dibenarkan, khususnya kepada mereka yang mempunyai ikatan tertentu seperti kaum kerabat, jiran tetangga, teman pengajian dan sekerja.

“Kita perlu sedar bahawa hubungan dan kesatuan antara kita sesama manusia adalah bertaut pada semangat kemanusiaan (insaniyyah) dan bukannya pada faham creedal nation (al-ummah al-‘aqidiyyah).

“Adapun melibatkan diri dalam upacara keagamaan khusus mereka, ia tetap tidak dibenarkan di sisi Islam,” kata Dr Zulkifli.

MASYARAKAT RATA-RATANYA SENANG DENGAN PERKARA ITU

BAYAN LINNAS SIRI KE-81: HUKUM MENGUCAPKAN “MERRY CHRISTMAS” KEPADA MEREKA YANG BERAGAMA KRISTIAN Alhamdulillah, pujian…

Posted by Mufti Wilayah Persekutuan on Sunday, 18 December 2016

Dr Zulkifli yang melakukan kenyataan itu melalui akaun Facebook, rata-ratanya mendapat reaksi yang baik daripada masyarakat.

Seorang pengguna dengan nama Abdul Hadi Ruslan berkata: “Subhanallah… sangat jelas dan lengkap…semoga Allah rahmati Dr dan admin (admin Facebook itu)”.

Bagi seorang lagi pengguna dengan nama Ameirul Anwar Mustadza pula berkata: “Terbaik. Ilmuan yang hebat. Moga Allah merahmati Tuan Dr Mufti.

AKTIVIS, TOKOH AGAMA PADA MASA LALU DINASIHATI SESUAIKAN TEKS

Seorang aktivis dengan kumpulan Muslim konservatif Isma menyatakan pada Disember 2014 bahawa ia tidak sesuai golongan Muslim mengucapkan penganut Kristian “Merry Christmas” sambil memberi contoh bahawa tokoh lama dan tradisional yang menganggap perbuatan itu sebagai “haram”, menurut laporan Malay Mail Online.

“Fitrah kemanusiaan yang menginginkan keamanan, kebersamaan dan keadilan inilah yang boleh memandu kita dalam menghargai fiqh kewujudan bersama dalam kepelbagaian ini.

“Adapun melibatkan diri dalam upacara keagamaan khusus mereka, ia tetap tidak dibenarkan di sisi Islam,” kata Dr Zulkifli.

Mufti Wilayah Persekutuan turut menasihatkan para ulama supaya mentafsirkan teks klasik lama dengan disesuaikan pada kerangka masa kini.

Source: Berita MediaCorp

December 22, 2016
Bruneians Of Different Ethnicities Are Happy With The Country And The Monarch, Others Are Just Jealous

A rich benovelent Muslim patriarch adopted children (some were homeless) of different ethnic backgrounds and faiths into his family and received them into his house- a place to call home, living together with his own children.

He cares and loves all his children. He doesn’t need them to contribute to household expenses (no income tax), instead he provides them free education (up to university level- even abroad!), free medical care (even sending some abroad for treatment) and even subsidised fuel for their cars, earning the envy of everyone in town. He only asks for his adopted children to respect the religion and culture of his family, which have been the hallmark of his ancestral house for generations. He allows his adopted children to practise their different faiths in the house (even guaranteed it in his written pledge- the Constitution), only asking them to keep their religious observances private to themselves (they are free to decorate and celebrate in their private quarters but not everywhere in the house) as he has wished his other children to grow up to be good Muslims like himself and maintain/continue the family’s identity and legacy.

Now, some envy neighbours heard about this and are crying “abuse” in the whole town. Sadly, the others in town who have never been to the house and never know what this benovelent man has done for his children believed this accusation to be true. But all the children of the house who grew up under the care and love of this man remember his kindness know this to be untrue and love him dearly.

We, Bruneians of different ethnicities- Muslim and Non-Muslim, are all happy with all the love and blessings we have in the house “Brunei Darussalam/ Brunei- the Abode of Peace” our home and we all love our patriarch, our Sultan. May God’s blessings and guidance be with you always.

Source: Erik Ng

December 28, 2015
5-Year Jail Time For For Anyone Who Celebrates Christmas In Brunei

Earlier in April, the rest of the world condemned monarch-ruled Brunei after announcing the introduction of the Sharia penal code that would include penalties such as the severing of limbs and death by stoning.

The tiny but prosperous state on the island of Borneo that is ruled by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, has now made international headlines once again after the state announced a ban on Christmas.

The ban was declared on the internationally celebrated Christian holiday because the religious affairs ministry said that publicly marking non-Islamic rituals or festivities could be seen as propagations of religions other than Islam.

Roughly 20 per cent of Brunei’s residents comprise of non-Muslims, including sizeable Buddhist and Christiancommunities.

‘Believers of other religions that live under the rule of an Islamic country – according to Islam – may practice their religion or celebrate their religious festivities among their community, with the condition that the celebrations are not disclosed or displayed publicly to Muslims,‘

‘Muslims should be careful not to follow celebrations such as these that are not in any way related to Islam… and could unknowingly damage the faith of Muslims.‘ Said the government of Brunei in a statement.

The statement also noted that businesses that publicly displayed Christmas decorations would be asked to take them down– to which the businesses had given their ‘full cooperation’ in the matter.

The penalty for celebrating Christmas in Brunei is punishable with a jail term of up to 5-years.

Brunei’s latest decision to ban Christmas officially will no doubt, attract more international criticism- following the harsh Sharia penal code that was announced to be implemented in the state in April by Brunei’s 68-year-old Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.

Source: http://thecoverage.my

December 21, 2015
Hizbut Tahrir Malaysia: Muslims Must Beware Of Christian Proselytisation During Christmas

KUALA LUMPUR ― Muslims nationwide must beware the “dangers” of Christmas next week as it is allegedly a ploy by the Christian community to attract Muslims into accepting Jesus, the local chapter of international hardline Islamist group Hizbut Tahrir alleged today.

According to the group, Christmas celebrations try to condition Muslims into accepting “Western values”, allegedly through festivals of vice, free mingling, illicit sex, and excess that it said pervade the year-end celebrations.

“The momentum of Christmas is made into an important point to spread the Christians’ proselytisation mission. That is why Christians are serious in celebrating Christmas and the new year to attract other races, especially Muslims,” the group claimed in its weekly newsletter which is also distributed at local mosques during Friday prayers.

It alleged that communal Christmas celebrations, either held in homes but open to all or in public, were a way to get non-Christians to believe in Jesus as the saviour, or at least coax them to join the Christians in celebrating their faith towards Jesus.

Hizbut Tahrir also claimed that Christians are using the celebrations to cement their existence and domination in Muslim countries, especially when a country promotes religious tolerance and allows themselves the freedom to publicly celebrate Christmas.

“Any Muslim who refuse to offer a greeting of merry Christmas or celebrate it will be seen as intolerant, and maybe extreme,” it claimed.

“Based on this, some Muslims without shame and guilt, and even proudly and happily, celebrate Christmas just because they don’t want to be seen as intolerant among Christians. Whether they realise it or not, they have sold out their faith!”

Christmas is also seen as a ploy to plant the seeds of “religious pluralism” into the minds of Muslims so Christianity can be considered as a religion equal to Islam, the group said as it warned Muslims of idolatry.

In comparison, Hizbut Tahrir said an Islamic caliphate ― which it aims for ― would never allow Christians to publicly celebrate Christmas as it will be limited only to their homes, community and churches.

“It can never be highlighted in public spaces, and not allowed even in advertisements through electronic and print media that can be publicly accessed. This is because unbelief and any of such activities cannot be advertised and left to its own devices in an Islamic society,” it claimed.

The National Fatwa Council has decreed on 2005 that Muslims are prohibited from attending Christmas celebrations if there are “Christian symbols” on display, such as Christmas trees, Santa Claus-like red attires and Christmas carols.

Two years later in 2007, the same council decreed that Muslims cannot greet non-Muslims during their festivities if the greetings involve issues of faith or recognise that other religions are of equal position with Islam.

Source: www.themalaymailonline.com

December 20, 2014