What benefit does a law that enforces every individual who is a Maldivian citizen also have to be a Muslim have? I see neither a benefit nor an advantage in enforcing people to be Muslims for two main reasons. First of all, Islam it self does not force humans to be Muslims. In fact Islam encourages and advocates the freedom of religion. Islam discourages forcing people to become Muslims. Forcing does not create belief. A believer believes without any pressure. A person who says the ‘Shahadhath’ by force is hardly a Muslim. The Maldivian constitution enforces that every law of it to be with in the realms of Islamic ‘sharia’ and law. Yet enforcing people to be Muslims is nothing but going against the ruling of Islam! Freedom of religion and practicing a religion of choice is granted by Islam. The life of the Prophet is a clear example of this. Some of the very close relatives of the Prophet were disbelievers. The Prophet even gave protection to non-Muslims at Medina! I wonder why the Maldivian constitution is designed in such a way that it deprives many people of their rights granted by Islam! Even on the day of defeating Mecca, the Prophet did not force them to convert to Muslims; rather he left them saying that they were free people!
Secondly, does having this particular clause make Maldives a hundred percent Islamic country? There are in fact many Maldivians who are openly ‘declaring’ that they are non-Muslims. And is the government of Maldives going to seize their citizenship? There is a cloud of confusion around this law. The purpose, the advantage, the reasons are so very unclear! And yet, certain MP’s argue and debate to implement this law! For what? Undoubtedly, it does not make Maldives a hundred percent Muslim country and neither does it support Islam and the freedom and rights granted by Islam!
It would better be if the government tries to ordain the claimed Muslims to practice Islam as taught by the Prophet. As for all I know, Maldives is currently a shit hole, full of different types of criminals. Drugies, looters, rapists, murderers, extremists…name it, you will find them wandering freely on the streets! Bullying and hurting who ever they wish to. And now, what is the purpose of claiming that Maldives is a hundred percent Islamic country?
-thadu-
Yeah. This is all a big joke. The constitution and the assembly of monkeys we have empowered to carry out its reform is ridiculing and insulting the very people they are supposed to protect.
really.. a pathetic bunch of morons they are.
The Prophet you describe also said the following -
Bukhari (52:260) – “…The Prophet said, ‘If somebody (a Muslim) discards his religion, kill him.’ ”
Bukhari (84:57) – “[In the words of] Allah’s Apostle, ‘Whoever changed his Islamic religion, then kill him.’”
Bukhari (84:64-65) – “Allah’s Apostle: ‘During the last days there will appear some young foolish people who will say the best words but their faith will not go beyond their throats (i.e. they will have no faith) and will go out from (leave) their religion as an arrow goes out of the game. So, wherever you find them, kill them, for whoever kills them shall have reward on the Day of Resurrection.’”
And the Koran says -
Sura (4:89) – “They but wish that ye should reject Faith, as they do, and thus be on the same footing (as they): But take not friends from their ranks until they flee in the way of Allah (From what is forbidden). But if they turn renegades, seize them and slay them wherever ye find them”
Next they’ll put a seal on our forehead saying “Muslim”. All those who refuse will have their citizenship revoked.
@ Simon: totally agree, not only in this perspective, but over ’70%’ of what they debate and talk about are baseless, useless and unimportant to the citizens!
@ Maldiveshealth: a brain surgery might help
@ Asma: do not get me wrong Asma, what I have written about is letting people choose what religion they want to follow and not about converting. And i am quite certain that Islam does not contradict in its teaching?
On paper Maldives is 100% Muslim. But in practise who knows what it would be. The so called memebers of the parliament by passing the law only for the sake of their political advantage themselves know that it is not an enforceable law.
People should be given freedom to choose whatever religion they may choose. They may even not believe in any divine existance if they wish so.
May “God” solve all our problem (only if he exists)
does islam contradict in it’s teachings???
Quran 02: 256 There is no Compulsion in religion….
OR
Quran 9: 29 Fight those who do not profess the true faith(Islam) till they pay the polltax (jiziya) with the hand of humility.
the above Quranic statement became handy. Deriving guidance from it, Muslims divided their non-Muslim subjects into three categories. And those were:
1.Dhimmis were non-Muslims subjects who lived in Muslim countries and agreed to pay the Jizya (tribute) in exchange for protection and safety, and to be subject to Islamic law.
2. People of the Hudna (truce) were those who signed a peace of treaty with Muslims after being defeated in war. They agreed to reside in their own land, yet to be subject to the legal jurisprudence of Islam like the Dhimmis, provided they did not wage war against the Muslims.
3. Musta’min (protected one) were the persons who came to an Islamic country as messengers, merchants, visitors, or students wanting to learn about Islam. A Musta’min was not supposed to take part in war against the Muslims and was not required to pay the Jizya, but was urged to embrace Islam. If he did not become a Muslim, he was required to return to his homeland.
Jizya literally means penalty. Its payment protected the non-Muslims who lived under Islamic regimes. It also confirmed their legal status. Those who could not pay this tax were required to convert to Islam. Refusal to convert meant certain death.
religion is for bigots…..
He is absolutely right.. He never talked about the consequences if somebody renounce islam.. he never said we should not kill anybody who renounce islam after becoming muslims. Basically the article was about the right muslims have got under their law ( Shari’ah ). He is right,Islam does have given the freedom of religion. The problem with maldivians is they get emotional really easily in such controversial topics. We cannot promote our religion without being tolerable.. GOOD WORK DUDE…
Oa Salhi, mithothee vaa CHANGE ge dhigu Eidheh aissa aharumenge lobuvethi Dhivehi gaumah!
These so-called Mullahs had no trouble voting in a person who’s ‘partiality’ to alcohol & other substances were well known (plus there was a ALWAYS a question about his personal faith!) as the president of Islamic/Muslim Maldives!!! So, why are they getting so worked up about the “fruits of the badhalu” they helped/are helping to create? This new “Islamic sainthood” may differ on “selected” topics (often ONLY to maintain “appearances” or live up to the image of the beards!), but the fact of the matter is that they can ONLY remain in their coveted positions if they suck up to the present government (as demonstrated by their often fake & weak protests). Using Dr.Naik’s reasoning, WHERE WERE THEIR “PRINCIPLES” BACK THEN WHEN THEY HAD A HIDDEN AGENDA OF THEIR OWN??? How can they expect us to blindly/passively accept “their verdict” now!
THE CRUX OF THE PROBLEM(S) IS OFTEN NOT SO MUCH ABOUT IGNORANCE AS IT’S ABOUT HYPOCRISY!!!
People, when are we EVER going to learn that we just simply CANNOT go on letting the law of the jungle (every man/beast for themselves) apply to human society (if we wish it to remain functional for long!) ???
May God help us ALL NOW!
-Thedhuveri Dhivehi Dhariyeh-
I DECLARE THAT I’M PROUD TO HAVE BEEN BORN A MALDIVIAN, because it was within her womb that I first saw light & had the chance(s) to become the person I am today. She held my hand & guided me when I could neither walk nor talk. She showed me the rewards of belonging. She helped me see that it is WE the individuals & the group who make our destinies. She taught me that “belief & faith” are not empty, dirty words & that it has the potential to change our lives. The rich pages of her history continue to be an inspiration for me. I’m proud to announce my alliance IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE with ALL THAT we’ve stood for & stand for as the larger family of Maldives.
Globalisation is “cool” & all that (especially in the comforts of the technological world), but some of us need something MORE, SOMETHING BIGGER: AN IDENTITY OF OUR OWN. Some of us do not wish to play blind mice dancing & content with just following “Pied Piper. We do not consider ourselves to be inferior to our white, Chritian-dominated “superiors”. Please do try harder to get out of the rut of “colonial mentality”!
You can’t cut off your own limbs just because you are merely ‘disenchanted’ with the way they may seem at a given time (& our moods/whims)!!! Life is no bed of roses, but if everyone were to jump ship at the slightest glimpse of a thorn, that simply would not help the SOCIETY at all. If you don’t accept something/feel the urge experiment & search for something ‘different’, fine, go ahead & do YOUR thing (as an individual AFTER FULLY disassociating yourself from what you do not respect or believe in, NOT behind the cowardly veil of anonymity!). But you have no right to try & impose your beliefs on others. The majority of Maldivian population are youths who are highly susceptible to the powers persuasion & suggestion. It’s NOT fair that you who couldn’t possibly care more about them than their loved ones have any say in shaping their futures too.
People, LEARN to have more FAITH in yourselves as individuals & a nation FIRST. If we manage to work TOGETHER in our struggles, the odd “Tom, Dick & Harry” (as they may prefer to call themselves) that tries to come in our way will have little effect on US!
B-E-L-I-E-V-E & ALWAYS be proud to be who you REALLY are!