Freedom of Belief and Lina Joy - the sequel

Reading the comments on my previous posting regarding this issue, I shall try to explain further my views. Absolutely, comments on Malaysiakini is getting hot and sometimes missing the point. Some letters in Malaysiakini blew things out of proportion, when the real issue is about changing religion on NRIC card.

Let me write a disclaimer first:
" Anything I write here, if it is wrong according to Islamic tenets, principles, would be my own fault for I am an ignorant idiot. As in idiomatic expression; I am just a blind man trying to explain what an elephant look like, feeling it with my hand and telling everyone what I think it look like, when I could not see. Anything good is from Allah the Most Knowledgeable and anything bad, is from me."

Does NRD has the power to erase the religion part in your IC card? Well NRD is just a Govt Dept, it only do its jobs, it doesnt have the authority to do that. So NRD is right in advising Lina Joy to go to Shariah Court to get the certificate that certify she has renounce Islam.
You see, all Muslim in this world is like a community. If one Muslim died, it would be the responsibility of Muslim community to accord him or her Muslim rites of burial, washing and last prayer. If Lina Joy has renounce Islam, (this has to be done and witnessed by the ruler of the Muslims) then the Muslim community washed their hand on her, her actions, her last rites, her burial is of no concern of the Muslim community.
Muslim community 'tidak berdosa' if Lina Joy die tomorrow and she be cremated or buried without being accorded last rites - prayer, body washing, burial etc. Her body could be fed to the carrions like the Parsees for all we care. It would be none of our responsibility.
And who represent the ruler in Malay States? The Shariah Courts of course. So all Lina Joy has to do is go to Shariah court and renounce Islam. So we Muslims can wash our hand...er.. our responsility to her.
By the same argument, if someone in Malaysia found a dead body, no matter what it look like (white, black, blue(smurf?) or yellow) and if there is an IC which says he/she professes Islam, then it would be our responsibility to accord the dead person the last rites.
Let me give another example. Have any of you been buying alcoholic drink at the supermarket where some of their workers at the checkout Muslims? What happen if a Muslim try to buy alcoholic beer? (There are some brand of beer that doesnt contain alcohol) The Muslim would first ask, "Are you Muslim?". And if affirmative, he or she would refuse to sell the beer right? Why?
Is Muslim person allowed to enter the casino at Genting? Why?
I am not going to answer those for you, you would have to research yourself.

As for question about polygamy, I would rather not go into this sensitive subject. In Islam, our LOVE, the first and foremost is for Allah and His Prophet Muhammad s.a.w then our mother, then our mother, then our mother (3X) then our father.
The Prophet exhort us to get married, and have many, many children and bring up our children in 'iman' Islamic faith. When we die, the children will 'doakan' us, and help lessen our 'siksa kubur'.
So there, the encouragement to have many children, and up to four wives at one time. Of course, most bumbling idiot like me, cant even manage one. The Prophet gave us a good example. He had nine wives, Khadijah r.a and Aisha r.a are the most well known.
Perhaps someone else can explain better than me on the above issues, please 'silakan'.
I found this explanation by Nathaniel Tan in Malaysiakini helpful.
Lina Joy: Let’s not leap to polemics
Nathaniel Tan
May 31, 07 2:58pm Adjust font size:

I refer to the malaysiakini report No joy for Lina. We can expect a lot of emotional responses to the recent ruling involving Lina Joy. In navigating the understandable amount of passion surrounding this issue, it is perhaps worth ensuring that the details of this judgement are properly understood for what they are.

Many are likely to say that this is the death of freedom in religion in Malaysia, because Lina Joy was denied of her right to convert. A closer look reveals a slightly more textured landscape. By way of brief chronology:


Lina was a Muslim who renounced Islam.


She went to the National Registration Department (NRD) to have the religion on her MyKad and on record changed.


The NRD said: ‘For us to change the religion on your MyKad, we need a certificate from the Syariah Court stating that you have indeed renounced Islam’.


Yesterday, the Federal Court upheld the ruling of the NRD.
It is important to realise that technically and theoretically (if nothing else), the road is still open for Lina to go to the Syariah courts, apply for recognition of her decision to renounce Islam, obtain it and live happily ever after.

Some make the argument, clearly not entirely without merit, that since Lina has renounced Islam, she should not in any way, shape or form have to submit herself to the jurisdiction of the Syariah under any circumstances as this would be subjecting a non-Muslim to Muslim laws.

Others yet (again, perhaps understandably) are extremely cynical about the chances of the Syariah courts actually granting such a controversial recognition of apostasy. The hardcore religious, after all, are likely to fear the ripple effect this may cause – a wave of mass apostasy being the biggest fear (founded or unfounded) of all.

Some might even see a political angle to this – where the ruling powers refuse to take any steps that would cost them Malay votes in a time where the non-Malay votes are swinging strongly against the government.

A 'miracle' decision by the Syariah court – should Lina decide to apply there – to allow her renunciation might be a relatively successful compromise. It would appease some of the more religious parties who hold the Syariah in such high esteem, and espouse its ability to dispense justice fairly to non-Muslims (as in their much touted case of Nyonya Tahir), while essentially granting Lina the fundamental right to convert.

In any case, it would be extremely mature of us to see the judgement for what it is and not be too quick to condemn it for what it is not (or what it isn't yet). If we are to criticise it, which is our inherent right, let us be clear on what we are debating, rather than leap to polemics.