Sometimes, I cannot help but wonder, have we the Muslims become the very people we use to despise when we were minorities and oppressed, as we slowly gain power via majority count.
First there was that Head Cow affair in protest of the building of a Hindu Temple in Shah Alam. Although it is obvious to some (smart ones) that it's just another political foreplay in part of the "divide and rule" continuation of British policy that our auta-rities have managed to learn it's trick AND treats (talk about a "give and take" relationship, that is : we give and they take), still, the reaction to this matter was appalling. It is rather disturbing to discover how many Muslims think that such outrageous act is justified by Islam. It just goes to show how many Muslims don't even comprehend what they are professing, and actually think that such act is condoned or even encouraged by Allah. I have written about it
HERE.
Speaking of "Allah", or simply called the "A" word for the non Muslim, then there was that matter of which only Muslims are allowed to utter the word "Allah", well, the Muslims and the Christians of East Malaysia, since BN would be in trouble if they piss the voters that had helped them win the last GE. If it was not for the Sabah and Sarawak votes, BN would have been the opposition party today. Again, I feel that this matter was politically motivated. I have also addressed this matter
HERE.
So was the burning of the churches that followed suit. My advice then and even today, is that we as the rakyat, should not fall into the trap of this "divide and rule" game these political goons on both sides are playing. Political ideologies, racism and religion remain the top most effective tool for dividing and ruling hitherto. The Americans, via CIA for instance, had effectively displaced via the 1953 Iranian coup de tat, Mossadegh, the people elected Prime Minister of Iran, replacing him with their puppet, the Shah Pahlavi, who then became the dictator for 25 years. So much for democracy eh? Democracy was forgotten when Mosaddegh tried to nationalize the British-owned Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (AIOC), the counterpart being the British Petroleum. One may wonder, why CIA doing the job of the British Empire? (oh yes, they are still very much an empire). Well, that you may have to indulge in a long history that involves The New World Order (NWO)...Please do not confuse this NWO with Malaysia's very own NWO - New Woman Order (actually it's ONE Woman's Order). Oh but I digress.
And now, the latest issue that had woken the nation's awareness is the canning of a 10 year old boy in Sarawak school, for bringing non-halal food, you can read it
HERE .
I will address the non halal food matter, later as I need to point out a more important matter vis a vis this halal-non halal matters. The assistant head master, in his over zealousness of practicing Islam, had forgotten that we live in a multiracial society and the world is not just about Muslim's needs and sensitivities. What about the sensitivities of the non Muslims? Are they not human with needs and sensitivities too? Who are the Muslims to decide that our needs and sensitivities surpasses the needs and sensitivities of others?
What have we, as Muslims, become if we fail to see that the centuries of fighting then overcoming injustice and oppression against us, that had made us strong but unfortunately arrogant, so much so that we tend to abuse our power, the moment we have the power to do so.
Yes, we have become the very people we despised and went to war for. Is there a point to this?
Would the Muslim not cry foul if a Hindu headmaster canes a Muslim student for bringing meat to school? Would a fundamentalist Muslim headmaster be allowed to cane a moderate Muslim student for bringing
tapai to school? Oh wait..the latter is
certified halal by Jakim, which I never cease to find humour in it since clearly tapai is swimming in alcohol. Would a vegetarian headmaster be allowed to cane a non vegetarian student who bring non vegetarian food to school? I wonder if that headmaster wears some kind of constricting head attire at work. That may have explained the knee jerk reaction of punishment to the student, that he tied his head attire too tight one fine morning and it impinged on his middle meningeal arteries on both sides of his temple hence the transient amnesia that such actions are going against the rights of the non Malays as stated in the constitution.
Furthermore, the people in favor of Sekolah Kebangsaan criticizes the people of vernacular school for refusing to merge with them for the sake of unity do not realize, that these are part of the things that had gone unchecked, that makes parents restless about sending their kids to Sekolah Kebangsaan in the first place. Or could it be that the offers are just "ajak ajak ayam"? I digress. I for one am for the erection of ONE school and the banishment of vernacular schools. Take note, when I say vernacular, the Sekolah Kebangsaan is considered as vernacular. But to be able to come up with one good school for all Malaysians, as a basis of a true one Malaysia in the future, these are the issues that needs to be looked into and tackled justly and firmly.
The second part of this article is more suited for the readings of Muslims or those interested in knowing about Islam...(the non conventional Islam anyway...the type that risks ISA detention anyway...you know....the one that requires actual mental utilization..)....
Click on the Rabbit hole then and get into something ass intriguing ass...oops, I mean "as" Saifool's hole...
Now, for the second part of the bit about halal-non halal food concerning Islam. Is flesh of swine really forbidden to us? Let's take a look...a closer look...
In the Quran, for example:
"Forbidden to you (for food) are: dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which hath been invoked the name of other than God; that which hath been killed by strangling, or by a violent blow, or by a headlong fall, or by being gored to death; that which hath been (partly) eaten by a wild animal; unless ye are able to slaughter it (in due form); that which is sacrificed on stone (altars); (forbidden) also is the division (of meat) by raffling with arrows: that is impiety. This day have those who reject faith given up all hope of your religion: yet fear them not but fear Me. This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion. But if any is forced by hunger, with no inclination to transgression, God is indeed Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful. " [5:3]
This is reiterated and some with addition, in the surahs : 2:173, 6:145 and 16:115. Otherwise, there are about 113 references that God had encourage us to "Eat and drink"...that is more than God saying "forbidden".
One of the many example being [7:31]:
"O Children of Adam! wear your beautiful apparel at every time and place of prayer: eat and drink: But waste not by excess, for God loveth not the wasters. "
Back to the flesh of swine, while no one would be surprised that the Jewish
Scripture contains the same prohibition towards flesh of swine consumption, interestingly, the prohibition is also found in the Bible; a fact that not many are aware of, if if they do, disregard this practice.
" The pig also because it is a splitter of the hoof but there is no cud. It is unclean for you. None of their flesh must you eat and carcass you must not touch. "
Deuteronomy 14:8 ( Bible)
" Let him find out which is the best food ( to be had ) ... Eat of the best foods We have provided for you . "
So in the major religions, pork is basically a no no. The Muslims, Christians and Jews tirelessly come up with many articles explaining why "the flesh of swine" is prohibited. However, the arguments are created based on an already predetermined result - that flesh of swine is detrimental to health.
I agree and disagree to these facts. I think that the Muslims should revise the translation of the Quran. After all, when God avows that "No one can change the word of Allah" (10:64, 6:34,6:115,18:27), He was referring to the His words, which is the original Quran text, not the translation into other languages. Here is my argument.
Yes, flesh of swine has Trichinella Spiralis that is capable of staying dormant for a long period of time in the body until they cause Trichinosis, a deadly disease that if not detected quick enough, may result in mortality. The swine also contain the highest total of bad cholesterol as compared to other red meat, they are at the top of the list. But what the religionists had failed to deduce is that, Trichinella Spiralis also inhabits rats and wild game, (bears and walrus included) and as both the wild game and rats are technically not forbidden, it makes us wonder, is this nematode the reason why pork is forbidden in the first place?
As a matter of fact, with technology, the vaccination of rats and pigs with T. Spiralis nativa, a subspecies of T. Spiralis, have given full immunity of these creatures against the latter. So, would pork still be considered dangerous if armed with sound scientific knowledge,ergo proper precaution taken in handling this meat before human consumption? For instance, deep freezing at -15 degree Celsius for 20 days or -30 degrees Celsius for 6 days or cooking thoroughly at 75 degree Celsius kills the larvae in the pork, albeit smoking the meat does not guarantee the same outcome. Can we then, take this as a green light to nullify the forbidden directive clearly stated in the Quran? After all, just like cooking alcohol, ethanol, the content responsible for the intoxication effect evaporates, leaving an aftertaste, minus the reason why it was discouraged. Take note of the word "discouraged" or "avoid", "eschew", "abstain" but never "forbidden". No where in the Quran will one find the word "forbidden to consume intoxicants". For example:
In 5:90
"
O ye who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, (dedication of) stones, and (divination by) arrows, are an abomination, - of Satan's handwork: eschew such (abomination), that ye may prosper. "
I'm sure it is also a known fact, but failed to be mentioned in any of those arguments by religious preachers that cooking pork with care will cause death to these nematodes. As for high cholesterol levels, of course prevention is better than cure, but still, with the latest cholesterol lowering agents, what's the big deal? Maybe it is because knowledge may kill power perhaps? It's no fun when the power to tell many to "DON'T or else...." is taken away from you, no?
Then there is this argument that said that pork meat causes colorectal cancer. But they have failed to mention that this is also true with red meat consumption, not just pork. HERE and HERE are other research on that. HERE is an article that suggests that red meat may link to bladder cancer. The result is non conclusive for breast cancer though. . A study in Singapore, have shown that with different method of preparing the red meat, the risk of cancer is not the conclusion of the study unlike the conclusion derived from red meat consumption by the Western countries. Is it because the Asians consumes more vegetables and prepare the dishes differently to that of the West that had shown the risk of colorectal cancer with red meat consumption? Furthermore, these arguments also fail to mention that red meat have an association with colorectal cancer too.
My question is, why just mention pork? If this is true, how come God, the All Knowing, had left out meat as prohibition if the same cancer risk applies to red meat? Why did the translation not comprise of red meat altogether?
There are many queries that need to be answer ergo more studies needed before anyone can claim that red meat (of course pork included) may cause of colorectal cancer. After all, medicine is a progressive area that warrants ongoing researches. One day Vit E is good for health, and the next, it increases the risk for certain stroke, for example.
Again, let me reiterate my question : Why are the religionists too fast to disregard the truth behind the matter and quickly jump the gun to pin point specifically why it is bad to eat pork, conveniently omitting the fact this is true for red meat in general. Take THIS article for example.
And I'm sure many are unaware, or not made to be aware, (definitely not by the same religionists who are interested not so much in the truth, but instead, toy around with facts in order to suit the result - the result being "the flesh of swine" is bad) that trichinella spiralis, the worm found in flesh of swine has anti cancerous properties as what research have suggested. Surprise? You can read it HERE, and HERE , and evaluate the facts for yourself. It's amazing how this type of research have escaped being mentioned by religionists when they talk about pork.
Nothing irritates me more than when I hear people saying that everything about a pig is haram, even though clearly in the Quran it is only mention that "the flesh" of swine is forbidden. The skin, because it pig, the heparin because it is derived 75 % of porcine (pig) intestinal mucosa. But here's the thing; The cyst of the nematode, elongated in shape, measures 0.3-0.6 by 0.2-0.3 mm. Below is a pic of heparin, used to thin blood in cases such cardiovascular diseases. I don't know about you, but I doubt this fluid can get through the needle should it be infested with pork cysts, even though it is derived from pig intestines.
Below: Not a bottle of Pinot Jour, but a bottle of Heparin used to thin blood in cases of heart attacks. See any floating teloq cacing anywhere folks?
[
16:116]
But say not - for any false thing that your tongues may put forth,- "This is lawful, and this is forbidden," so as to ascribe false things to Allah. For those who ascribe false things to Allah, will never prosper."
(Also check out 5:87 , 5:88)
Imagine the advantage missed out by heart patients who refuses heparin for instance, just because it is derived from pig even though it is only the flesh of swine that is prohibited.
Then some people may start saying that there are two types of "cleanliness", the soul's and the body's. Well, the soul is not consuming the pork, so do get on with life and spare us all the unnecessary preach of what I categorize as "embarking into a journey so far up the arse, that no one can see your point of view".
These are the type of people who in their zealous quests to save as many souls as possible, had failed to portray the beauty of truth, the very essence of a religion. These are also the group of people, with good intentions, and probably without realising, breeds atheists and agnostics.
So why did God tenaciously forbid the flesh of swine if human can somehow come up with ways to overcome these mishaps. Yes, perhaps there are other facts vis a vis the flesh of swine, yet to be discovered. In this case, then I suppose, perhaps it is only prudent to practice faith, whilst waiting for future discoveries to be made in regards to pork. Now, this is the kind of faith that is worth having, a kind of faith-on-hold, till one gets something figured out - not the kind that is the result of lazy-to-think-and-falling-back-on-faith-to-cover-that-laziness, kind of faith.. Fair enough. (actually it's like buying insurance laaa....most of the time nothing happens, but if something happens, well, there's the insurance). After all, it's just one type of food only to not eat...
But take a look at the translation closely.
[002:173] " He hath only forbidden you dead meat, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that on which any other name hath been invoked besides that of God. But if one is forced by necessity, without wilful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits, - then is he guiltless. For God is Oft-forgiving Most Merciful. "
[005:003] "Forbidden to you (for food) are: dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which hath been invoked the name of other than God; that which hath been killed by strangling, or by a violent blow, or by a headlong fall, or by being gored to death; that which hath been (partly) eaten by a wild animal; unless ye are able to slaughter it (in due form); that which is sacrificed on stone (altars); (forbidden) also is the division (of meat) by raffling with arrows: that is impiety. This day have those who reject faith given up all hope of your religion: yet fear them not but fear Me. This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion. But if any is forced by hunger, with no inclination to transgression, God is indeed Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful."
[006:145] Say: "I find not in the message received by me by inspiration any (meat) forbidden to be eaten by one who wishes to eat it, unless it be dead meat, or blood poured forth, or the flesh of swine, - for it is an abomination - or, what is impious, (meat) on which a name has been invoked, other than God's". But (even so), if a person is forced by necessity, without wilful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits, - thy Lord is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful."
[016:115] "He has only forbidden you dead meat, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and any (food) over which the name of other than God has been invoked. But if one is forced by necessity, without wilful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits, - then God is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
Notice that apart from other description of animal that takes form of general groups/ certain categories of animals, only "flesh of swine" is mentioned with specificity.
Could there be any possibility where a mistake of assumption was made in the translation that surmounted to l-khinzīri being translated to "the flesh of swine"? There are people who had translated "l-khinziri" as "meet that has gone foul". After all, for instance, the word "zakat" as explained to me by my ustazah in school, actually means "mensucikan" or "to cleanse", but the autarities translates this to "alms". "Giving money to the poor is soul cleansing". Okay, charity does that too, assuming that the zakat money is not being swindled by a group of people. After all, it happened to Lembaga Tabung Haji at one time, how sure are we the zakat money we pay reaches to whom it is told to us, to be reached? With the NEP biased on the Bumiputeras as the sole ownership to poorness, plus the zakat money that is in million now, we still get sad stories from programs like "Bersamamu" in TV3. What is that all about?. But in my attempt to portray the possibility of assumption during translation of the quran, I have digressed, although I do not apologize for that.
I wonder sometimes, should zakat be taken for granted as "alms giving" after my eyes were feasted upon this Surah;
[36:21] "Follow those who ask of you no fee, and who are rightly guided."
Maybe I should tell this to my mom to tell this to my auntie who is a "Pendakwah Bertauliah" who told my mom (when my mom requested her to come and give a group of housewife a ceramah) that "My rate is RM500 per session of about 1 hour". I immediately realize that I have picked the wrong profession...
إِنَّمَا الصَّدَقَاتُ لِلْفُقَرَاءِ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَالْعَامِلِينَ عَلَيْهَا وَالْمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَفِي الرِّقَابِ وَالْغَارِمِينَ وَفِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ ۖ فَرِيضَةً مِنَ اللَّهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ
[YusufAli 9:60]" Alms are for the poor and the needy, and those employed to administer the (funds); for those whose hearts have been (recently) reconciled (to Truth); for those in bondage and in debt; in the cause of Allah; and for the wayfarer: (thus is it) ordained by Allah, and Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom. "
"Alms" is "الصَّدَقَاتُ " = sedekah in BM = charity.
What can we conclude from this argument then? Well;
1. Perhaps the Muslims should urge the autarities for a revision in the translation of the Quran. To be able to do that, we must read the Quran ourselves to know what else needs reviewing. If God's words will never be changed as guaranteed by He Himself, then if things don't make sense, we should take a good look at the translation, that's human's job and I don't recall God guaranteeing for that of human's words. Humans have agendas, as proven by how Islam was spread in blood via history of Islam.
2. Perhaps i-khinziri is pork in translation after all, despite the odd one out in the way the verse was constructed. But as we can see, we should stop trying to justify a derivative from god by coming up with arguments that are tailored to prove God's words is right, and instead, have an actual argument based on facts and truth that may logically prove God's rulings, while leaving our ego behind because in searching for the truth, the egoistic part of the human being normally tend to blind our judgement. If we cannot come up with solid, agenda-less arguments, then lets just stick to blind faith to get us by, until one day perhaps, the actual reason behind the forbidence of pork will somehow be uncovered...or not...
3. Perhaps the religious autarities, need to equipt themselves with knowledge other than just religion, in order to handle day to day challenges of matters that involve scientific progression because the system of which these religionists are purged from, are that of a specifically of religion only. And hence tapai becomes halal and perfume becomes haram, and you cannot cook using alcohol even though ethanol evaporates at 78.3 degree Celsius. Of course one needs to be careful when cooking alcohol in higher altitude whereby boiling does not mean it had reached it's boiling point :->...
abyss of perhaps..perhaps..perhaps..how now?..siapa betui? Babi betui....
As for me, it's like the case of palm oil, where both opposing party comes up with opposing results. Since I don't trust my own government as experience have made them lost credibility, nor do i trust the west with matching humanly agenda,i guess I'll just stay away from it..after all, there are so many other food to consume, why stay obsess with just this one?
Besides, mental block regarding the meat of swine have already set in my mind, brainwashed from small, that's how things operate anyway right? I'm not so much into red meat in general anyway, well, except in foreplay I guess and I can bet you my bottom dollar, if not my bottom, that there will be some hadith somewhere that forbids playing with one's food if the food is meat during foreplay. What a kill joy, it's no wonder the Muslims and Christians are a grumpy lot - low protein diet.
Below is a picture I took in, get this, Bangsar Village Cold Storage !! You know times are really bad when you get such idiosyncrasy reaching the shores of posh and hypermetropolitan areas such as Bangsar......
We should demand other counters for :
1. Non Meat counter to cater for the respect for Hindus
2. Non Meat Red or White counter to respect the Vegans
And on top of that, split the all of the above lines to that of male, female , and transvestites, to avoid immaculate intercourse and sodomizations leading to non halal conceptions.
[Shakir 10:100] And it is not for a soul to believe except by Allah's permission; and He casts uncleanness on those who will not understand.
[Pickthal 10:100] It is not for any soul to believe save by the permission of Allah. He hath set uncleanness upon those who have no sense.
[Yusufali 10:100] No soul can believe, except by the will of Allah, and He will place doubt (or obscurity) on those who will not understand.
Take a closer look at all three translation and then read this word by word translation HERE.
You will notice that word by word translation gives the meaning of "on those who do not use reason". Clearly, "use reason" gives a slightly more accurate meaning than the three translations, which gives one the impression that God do not like those who are stupid. The former shows that God do not like those who choose to be stupid...see the difference and why I said that the Quran needs to be relooked into? I rest my case.
Erm..due to technical deficiency on my part, I cannot and not have the time to get rid of this last rabbit hole. It's my way of saying that this post end here :->
...Click here to find out how deep the rabbit hole goes.....
When the world turn their back on you, you show your butt to them...
