Discouraging Sin Is A Moral Duty As A Muslim

I refer to the article titled "SIS: Don’t play moral police" written by Sira Habibu and Winnie Yeoh dated 10th April 2011 at page 13 in The Star Newspaper.

Sisters in Islam (SIS) has responded to PAS Youth plan to ‘check’ sinful activities on Valentine Day and contended that it violates personal dignity and privacy which is forbidden in Quran and Sunnah.

For me, their statement is groundless and baseless. Islam is the way of life. Every individual on this earth play their important role in maintaining peace and to ensure each Muslim practice Islam accordingly. As Allah s.w.t mentioned in Surah Al-Imran, Verse 104, “Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong. They are the ones who attain felicity”.

It is a duty to each of Muslim to discourage sinful activities. We do not have to be ‘somebody’ or have a title for instance to have such duty. It is a moral duty as a Muslim.

The big question mark in my mind is that what does it mean by SIS in its statement that discouraging activities on the Valentine Night are against the fundamental liberties and violates the dignity of individual? Isn’t the act of protecting dignity by discouraging any sinful activity which will lead to immoral on that night? Every year, we keep hearing about baby dumping around the nation in Malaysia and statistics in January 2011 reported by Statistic Federal CID Comm Bakri Zinin indicated 19 cases of baby dumping. So, don’t we need to do something to prevent this problem? Or do we just need to wait and see?

Later, their allegation that the budget used for this purpose is a waste and supposedly be utilized for other urgent matters such as settling backlog cases in Syariah Court. I believe that SIS is wrong in pointing their fingers. With regards to the issue of backlog cases in Syariah Court, we should refer to our Federal Constitution by virtue of Article 121(1A) which provided that the jurisdiction of Syariah Court is a State Matter and under the Federal Territory if it pertains to a Federal Matter. 

SIS is against the PAS Youth plan. I hope it does not involve any political issue here. I believe the Religious Enforcement Officers in each state have also been alerted on this issue of crackdown on Valentine's night. Other NGOs such as IKRAM, Jamaah Islah Malaysia (JIM), KARISMA, ABIM and many more will be there too to discourage these activities.

The plan to distribute flyers promoting a sin-free lifestyle at lovers' spot and it is not a big deal. It does not mean that they are preaching to the couples or will arrest them. I believe it will not be to that extent since they have not duty bound by law to do so.

In conclusion, we as Muslims have a moral duty to discourage and forbid others from doing evil and encourage people to do good. As the hadith of Prophet s.a.w “Whoever sees something wrong should change it with his hands. If he is unable to do so, then he should do so with his tongue. If he is unable to do so, then he should do so in his heart, and that is the weakest of faith." [Sahîh Muslim].

The PAS Youth’s plan should be supported, be praised and not be banned by the society. Their action shows a moral duty as a Muslim. I am sure that PAS Youth’s action will not overrule the power of the Religious Enforcement Officer during that night.

Raihan Mustafa Kamal (Kelab Rakan Siswa Islah Malaysia (KARISMA) Gombak)

0710950
LLB_S Hons.,
Ahmad Ibrahim Kuliyyah of Laws,
International Islamic University Malaysia,
Gombak, Selangor Darul Ehsan.

source: http://www.malaysianmirror.com

p.s: congratulations to sister Raihan in succesfully addressing her concerns on VD matter ^^)