I always like to see my own family as a microcosm of the country’s larger society because we have members of many races and ethnicities as well as many faiths.
Everyone respects everyone else. All the major Malaysian religious festivals are celebrated by us together and with much joy and happiness.
Not only do we celebrate the festivals together, we also pay our respects and mourn together when one of us passes away no matter what religion he or she was.
And because of this, we understand each other very well, including each others’ faith. Not once has there been any fight, disagreement or argument because of religion in our family.
I cannot for the life of me think in good conscience that if I am a Muslim, I need to defend my religion by proclaiming publicly that my religion is the best in the world.
Having faith in a belief personally is fine and I have no problems with that. Because if that wasn’t the case, then I wouldn’t even be a Muslim.
The fact of the matter is that I don’t understand how there can be a double standard when it comes to people of different faiths in this country.
I cannot understand how a Muslim who calls for the burning of the Christian Bible can be allowed to do so because he is thought to be defending Islam.
What is the logic and rationale of defending Islam by burning another holy book? A holy book that even Muslims are required to believe in according to Islamic rule.
Or is this something where logic cannot be applied to (an argument that many extremists tend to dish out to other Muslims who try to rationalise things out)?
Here a wild thought. Maybe Muslims can better defend Islam by providing better and stronger education and intellectualising amongst Muslims so they understand their faith deeper?
Here’s another wild thought. Maybe Muslims can better defend Islam by trying to living a life that is as exemplary as Prophet Muhammad who promoted peace with the Christians?
And yet another wild thought! Maybe Muslims can better defend Islam by actually practicing Islam then just accusing everybody else of being infidels and apostates.
How do you expect people of other religions to be convinced that Islam is a good religion if Muslims are allowed to make threats towards those of other religions?
How can you expect the rest of the non-Muslim society to respect Islam if Muslims themselves do not show any respect to other religions?
Sometimes, not going on the offensive to be defensive is the right thing to do. Mutual respect, empathy and sympathy can bring much understanding and appreciation.
Maybe I’m lucky because I was born into a a multi-faith family and maybe many in Malaysia are unlucky to not have been born into a family like this.
And I’m sure many among my fellow Malaysians might throw accusations of liberalism and pluralism my way as if it carried negative connotations.
But if being able to live in perfect harmony with a family that I love dearly means being accused of all sorts of things, then it’s okay. I’m proud to be that way.
And as many Malaysians who disagree with me, I believe that there are many more who understands what I’m saying. And in them, I have faith that Malaysia will turn out alright.
Zan Azlee
Thu Oct 30 2014
![My multi-faith family My multi-faith family](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2014-01/41389834620_295x200.jpg)
Respect is needed to live harmoniously.
![Kerajaan lihat semula perjanjian penjualan air kepada Singapura - Fadillah Kerajaan lihat semula perjanjian penjualan air kepada Singapura - Fadillah](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81720085306_FadillahYusof.jpg)
Kerajaan lihat semula perjanjian penjualan air kepada Singapura - Fadillah
Fadillah berkata perkara itu sudah berlaku ketika zaman pentadbiran bekas Perdana Menteri Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad lagi.
![Pelancong asing ditahan disyaki cabul pekerja spa di Pulau Perhentian Pelancong asing ditahan disyaki cabul pekerja spa di Pulau Perhentian](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-07/51658407048_Cabul.jpg)
Pelancong asing ditahan disyaki cabul pekerja spa di Pulau Perhentian
Polis menahan seorang pelancong lelaki warga Maghribi kerana disyaki mencabul seorang juruterapi wanita rakyat tempatan di Pulau Perhentian.
Warga Thailand seludup diesel dihadapkan mahkamah
Seorang pemandu lori warga Thailand dihadapkan ke mahkamah atas menyeleweng 322 liter minyak diesel minggu lalu.
ADUN Rembia sertai Pas: YB Kampar minta buka riben putih
Susulan pengumuman ADUN Rembia sertai Pas dalam sidang media, YB Kampar, Chong Zhemin kemuka Peraturan Mesyuarat dan menyifatkan satu penghinaan besar buat Parlimen.
#SisiTVParlimen
#AWANInews
#SisiTVParlimen
#AWANInews
![Malaysia, Brunei dalam proses rundingan muktamad sempadan darat negara - Mohamad Malaysia, Brunei dalam proses rundingan muktamad sempadan darat negara - Mohamad](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41720590984_DatukSeriMohamadH.jpg)
Malaysia, Brunei dalam proses rundingan muktamad sempadan darat negara - Mohamad
Mohamad Hasan berkata buat masa ini, kerja-kerja penandaan dan pengukuran di lapangan telah meliputi 175.96 km atau 33.3 peratus daripada keseluruhan jarak sempadan.
Kim Pan Gon undur diri kesan kepada Harimau Malaya
Apa reaksi peminat Harimau Malaya dan penganalisis sukan mengenai peletakan jawatan Kim Pan-Gon?
Masuk Pas untuk sama-sama susah dengan rakyat - ADUN Rembia
Muhamad Jailani berkata, sebelum ini beliau pernah menghantar surat kepada Lembaga Disiplin UMNO memohon untuk memecat keahliannya daripada parti Melayu itu.
![Perang berlarutan antara punca kelewatan penghantaran Black Hawk Perang berlarutan antara punca kelewatan penghantaran Black Hawk](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/51712121864_TBADLYZAHARIjp.jpg)
Perang berlarutan antara punca kelewatan penghantaran Black Hawk
Perkara itu dimaklumkan pihak Aerotree Defence and Services Sdn Bhd iaitu syarikat yang dipertanggungjawabkan dalam kontrak perolehan perkhidmatan sewaan helikopter berkenaan.
Keghairahan final Euro 2024 dibawakan ke restoran mamak
Kemeriahan dan keghairahan perlawanan final UEFA EURO 2024 antara Sepanyol dengan England di Berlin, Jerman dirasai di Malaysia, dibawakan oleh 'Astro BizOne Watch Party' di Restoran Hakim, Seksyen 7, Shah Alam.
![Polis kesan remaja lelaki hilang sejak enam hari lepas Polis kesan remaja lelaki hilang sejak enam hari lepas](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61721115027_MuhammadAdiLagik.jpg)
Polis kesan remaja lelaki hilang sejak enam hari lepas
Polis sedang berusaha mengesan seorang remaja lelaki yang dilaporkan hilang oleh keluarganya di Kuala Pilah sejak enam hari lepas.