Malaysian Muslims seem to have very weak faith
By Zan Azlee
I have been fasting in full every Ramadan for many years now and I admit, I do feel hungry and thirsty during the day and it isn’t totally comfortable all of the time.
But of course, like anything you do, if you put your mind to it and persevere, it eventually stops being a problem.
You get used to fasting and it actually makes your body feel good. But I won’t be talking here about the benefits of fasting on your health and well being.
What I do want to talk about is the fact that there are so many weak Muslims in Malaysia who can’t take fasting. I’m usually not one to judge, but well, this time I am going to!
We have a teacher in a school who asks his non-Muslim students to go to the toilet to drink during Ramadan, just so Muslim students won’t see them drinking.
It is ridiculous how some school canteens are instructed to close during the fasting month because it would mean non-Muslim students eating in view of Muslim students.
This issue of non-Muslims having to go out of their way, in the name of being respectful to those who are fasting, crops up every time Ramadan comes around.
I don’t understand how this is respect. All I can conclude from this is that some Malaysian Muslims are just too weak, and when they see someone drink water, their will to fast disappears.
I have many non-Muslim friends and I accompany them for lunch or even just for a drink at the mamak, even when I’m fasting, just so we can hang out and have a chat.
I see them eat and drink but I don’t get tempted. Sometimes, they tease me too and pretend to order for me a glass of teh ais and we all have a good laugh. But I still fast. No problems.
This fasting month, although only a week has gone by, I’ve even been accompanying my wife for lunch at restaurants whenever we are out and about.
She is in the final trimester of her second pregnancy and she needs the food and nutrition. So she doesn’t fast. We sit and chat as she has her meal and I still fast. No problems.
I’m not trying to say that I’m a perfect Muslim here. No way. I am far from that. What I am trying to say is that some Malaysian Muslims need to take a step back and look at their faith.
Fasting is an‘ibadah’and it is suppose to be challenging (although not torture!). And aren’t challenges suppose to make your faith and fast count for even more?
So technically, Malaysian Muslims should welcome people to eat and drink in front of them, and then resist, so they can collect more‘pahala’, right? Funny, isn’t it?
But no. Malaysian Muslims are just too weak. They fast but they can’t take it when they catch a glimpse of someone eating or drinking. Their faith starts to waver.
They can’t even take it when when non-Muslims use the word ‘Allah’ because they start getting confused and all with their own faith. Malaysian Muslims. What a weak bunch they are.
[This article originally appeared on English.AstroAwani.Com]
FATBIDIN.COM 
during my fasting time for 10 days before thaipusam…with vegetarian food…I was tempted by my friends to eat meat and dairy products, but i not get tempted by them….
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regarding the fasting, ask some of our hindu friends in india who go even to the extremes…not eating for 10 days for navarahtri…even my relatives done that…its all about willpower…
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I find it interesting that people still believe in religious based diets.
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Your article is limited to your own experience which is not totally certain. Therefore I personally think your generalisation of MALAYSIAN MUSLIMS is unfair. But still, I got your points. No worries, no hard feelingzzz.
My humble (marhaen) advice:
1) Pls improve the terminology In your article.
2) Pls improve your writing style making it more positive and encouraging, making it easier to be accepted so that the morale value will be more easily instilled in your audience. I believe your points are far more than just critics.
Thanks. Keep it up!
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You are spot on about fasting is meant to be challenging, and how a fasting person should be steadfast against temptations.
However the the issue of “Allah” usage by non-muslims is different. “Allah” is a specific terminology for the concept of Oneness of God in Islam, in Malaysia. Among the Malays, it’s what makes Islam different to other religions. Among Malays, there’s a certain possessiveness and sentimentality attached with the word “Allah” that you can’t just dismiss it like that. I would say that the more a muslim understands the concept of tauhid, the more he would be against a non muslim using the word Allah. In fact, those who are weak in faith, are the ones who don’t care.
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I am drawn to term “its a challenge and not torture”. And the fact that be it any religion – one shouldn’t politicize an issue. We must learn and respect one another. Then automatically one would know what and when and how to be correct at a juncture. That is known as mutual respect. If we start to understand each other – we will see that no one religion is superior and the world is BIG enough for everyone.
One is always afraid of what they don’t understand. So read. Ask questions. Make an effort to learn from each other. You would make these attempts during a courtship – why not do the same for friendship?
The more liberal minded you are – the more colourful your life would be. And less stressful – more joyful.
What is the first thing that one would do here in Malaysia, when one enters a friend’s house? Yes – one would remove one’s foot wear. Be it in anyone’s house in this part of the world. And why is that? – Mutual understanding hence respect. If we can do this – we can work on everything else. I know many have read this but just a gentle reminder – When one is in dire need – one don’t ask for a Chinese blood or a Malay blood or an Indian blood or an Ibanese blood do you? Just like air and water – you just need blood.
These 3 elements are God’s way of saying – these are the basics that He built us on – everything else is Man’s doing. I can go on and on and on about this. So I shall stop here but before I do – I wish all my Muslim friends – a blessed Ramadan (kuddos to you coz I dont even understand diet) 🙂 And a Happy Hari Raya.
May God bless us all
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Well, as far as I can see, Malaysian Muslims, especially the Malays embraced Islam as an ideology rather than a religion. That’s why they revere the local ulama’ almost to the point of worship, even though they’re full of hot air.
Before you say anything, I’m Malay myself.
And I don’t understand what’s the deal with the local ulama’. The only things they talk about are common Islamic knowledge and practices, probably uncommon to part-time Muslims. They should consider themselves as reminders or stick-it notes instead of ulama’s.
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