Islam Tarnished When Used For Worldly Politics, Says Mahathir

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 6 (Bernama) -- Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said Islam in this country has been tarnished and faith in the religion being eroded as Islam has been used to serve worldly political interests. He said the religion had not been able to ward off the onslaught by politicians who created new conditions for Islam in the interest of worldly politics that they were after. "As these conditions and interpretations are not found in the Quran and valid hadith or in religious books written by the reputable ulama of yore, the majority of Muslims reject these conditions. "As a result, the Malay-Muslims are divided into two groups who are enemies with each other," he said in his latest entry titled "Malay Muslims" in his blog, www.chedet.cc. Dr Mahathir said because the Malay Muslims in this country were so divided now, there arose the two-imam at prayer phenomenon, forbidden marriage between members and supporters of opposing Malay Muslim political parties, and having separate cemeteries. "Worse still, the fanaticism of supporters of such political leaders with vested interests has reached a level where they are willing to endorse whatever their leaders say or do. "When their leader said Muslims could use bad words as God also did that, none of his supporters objected or reprimanded him. "Such is the bigotry that when a follower had likened the leader to the Prophet, there was no objection nor correction by the leader concerned and his supporters," he said. Dr Mahathir said Malays who were happy that their race was directly linked to Islam, had lost the joy that came from this connection as a result of the disunity, weaknesses and humiliation faced by the community. "They have become beggars in their own country; begging for support from others. Those who beg will inevitably become the lackeys of those who help them," he said. Dr Mahathir said the Malays should not be having problems among themselves as they were all Muslims and practised Islam through the Sunni teachings of Imam Shafie. Therefore, they should stand united. "In terms of religious knowledge and practices, many Malays may not fully reflect the Islamic character, but they would defend Islam and their faith in the religion," he said. -- BERNAMA Malaysia