DAR AL ISLAM-MALAYSIA: THE ULAMA & THEIR "CORRUPTED KNOWLEDGE"

Muslims face ‘corruption of knowledge’

KUALA LUMPUR: Misguided ulama, whose teachings create confusion and anxiety, number among the country’s religious experts.

A prominent Islamic religious scholar claimed that the knowledge imparted by these ulama did nothing but bring about uncertainty.

Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (Ikim) director-general Dr Syed Ali Tawfik Al-Attas said reliance on uninformed ulama had resulted in the corruption of knowledge.

"The corruption of knowledge is the most serious problem faced by Muslims today. Solve this problem and you will solve all others," he said.

Syed Ali Tawfik, who holds a doctorate in Islamic Thought and Science, said the problem occurred when those entrusted with explaining the truth and educating were not well-informed.

"When ulama are ignorant of their own ignorance, their false knowledge will create confusion and extremism among the masses. There is danger when those claiming to be repositors of freedom apply deficient reasoning.

"You know knowledge is true when it brings clarification and peace. But when advice is dispensed by those without knowledge of the truth, it confuses and becomes a bitter poison."Syed Ali Tawfik said an honorific title did not make a person noble.

"Find the ones with the true knowledge, appoint them and give them the honour they deserve, don’t push them into a corner and ignore them.

"On khalwat (close proximity), Syed Ali Tawfik agreed with Perlis Mufti Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin, who had criticised religious enforcement officers who were obsessed with looking for couples committing khalwat.

"The Muslim community has far more important problems. By preventing one person from committing sin, you do not prevent the rest of society from doing the same. "It is society you should save. Why are you looking for the black footprint of the black ant in the dark of night when there’s an elephant right in front of you?" he said, referring to the corruption of knowledge as the elephant.

"There is more to Islam than what is halal (lawful) or haram (forbidden). Why do we hear of the lack of human rights and women’s rights? Prohibitions against such injustices are in the Quran. You cannot have a law that is unjust to certain people.

"If there are unjust laws, the cause is not Islam but those who make the laws, from the confusion caused by the corruption of knowledge."

On his earlier suggestion for a Grand Mufti of Malaysia, Syed Ali Tawfik said the corruption of knowledge should first be removed.

"Only then we can start thinking about the proposal and who to appoint."


Ahhh now it becomes clear, it is really not islam that is the problem, but the ulamas fault...


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1) Muslims face ‘corruption of knowledge’