Labels such as Sufi, Sunni etc

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7 popularity votes

Assidique
View ProfileAssidique

rookie
0
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17/12/2007 10:25:00 AM

I label myself as "Muslim" and try not put anything on top of it. These categorization seems to be product of not only academic discourses but also gegraphical and political differeces of particular time of the history which may not be relevant to our present time context.

We are slave of Allah (SWT) but not of Imam Shafii or Iman Hambali or anybody else.

It may be contraversial to say this but even people who works for Mosque, leading prayer and knowledgeble in Quran etc., are all just same as other laymen. Some people are specialized in engineering, some in accounting some in finance and these people happened to be specialized in Quranic study or Fiqh or any other related sciences. Therefore their understanding in Fiqh is as limited as limitation in understanding in whatever the area you are specialized in. In terms of religious knowledge, I try to fit myself in whatever the opinion best suit to me.

On the other hand, Islam as a functioning law may not work in this way as it is subject to the court decision. When things are brought to Syaria court here, judges here are supposed to follow Shafii mudhahab (that is what the law says). However, intertesteingly, even Administration of Muslim Law Act itself does not strictly follow Shafii school and it borrows many ideas from Maliki and other schools of thought for matter of benefit to the people rather than product of strict theological discussions.

Fortunately, the eonvironment in Singapore is liberal enough to allow people to seek ideas from whatever the sources, which may not be true to some countries. I believe we should enjoy this freedom.

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49 popularity votes

Fariz
View ProfileFariz

brainy
0
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17/12/2007 4:06:16 PM

I wish it would be eaiser to be called muslim for every believer. However, it proved difficult as time goes, with all the division of muslims getting wider .

Every single person seeks to pursue the uniqueness among themselves, whether being muslims or as person. The only factor that seperates a person to another is his faith and his deeds in his real life. Hence, its difficult to know a person's sincerity and purpose in life by his decision or speeches, except the fruits of his actions. This is my opnion, the reason why God sent and appoint his messengers among every people or nation when the time comes. I guess it was through their actions and practices which were transgressed beyond acceptable, no matter how sincere and innocent they felt it is for them.

It guess some would feel by saying that God is unfair, but then are we ? How fair are we, after what after all the humans done to the state of Earth today, plus the creatures and life which we take granted for? It's ironic by seeing humans who were proud at their development of science and technology around, yet these are all hopeless to save the state of Earth and problems we are in today <sigh>