The
present prime minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad
Badawi, announced his vision of promoting Islam Hadhari as a model
for development in Malaysia. His promotion of Islam Hadhari is seen
as a compliment to Malaysia, for acknowledgment as an Islamic state.
What
Is Islam Hadhari?
According
to Badawi, Islam Hadhari, or civilizational and comprehensive Islam,
is not an inclusive concept as it also emphasizes the importance of
progress—with an Islamic perspective—in the economic, social,
and political fields. Islam Hadhari emphasizes the need for balanced
development, which covers both physical and spiritual development.
Hence, Badawi proposes a holistic development approach for Malaysia.
This means a shift in development approach from a “secular
paradigm” to a “tawheed paradigm,” which emphasizes
developing a thinking society, social harmony, and economic
progress.
Badawi
mentioned that Islam Hadhari is not a new religion. It is not a new
teaching, nor is it a new madhhab (school of jurisprudence).
Islam Hadhari is an effort to bring the Ummah back to basics, back
to the fundamentals, as prescribed in the Qur’an and the Hadith,
that form the foundation of Islamic civilization. If Islam Hadhari
is interpreted sincerely and understood clearly, it will not cause
Muslims to deviate from the true path.
Badawi
explains that Islam Hadhari is merely an approach to foster an
Islamic civilization built upon the noble values and ideals of
Islam. It places substance over form. It is practical and pragmatic.
It emphasizes development that is consistent with the tenets of
Islam and that focuses on enhancing the quality of life for every
citizen, regardless of his or her religion. This approach is also
inspired by the Malaysian Muslims’ firm belief that the tide of
radicalism and extremism can be checked and reversed with good
governance, healthy democratic practices, and employment of the
citizenry through education, as well as equitable sharing of the
benefits of economic growth.
Islam
Hadhari, as introduced by Badawi, aims to achieve ten main
principles, which Muslim nations and communities must demonstrate,
namely:
1.
Faith and piety in Allah
2.
A just and trustworthy government
3.
A free and independent people
4.
Mastery of knowledge
5.
Balanced and comprehensive economic development
6.
A good quality of life
7.
Protection of the rights of minority groups and women
8.
Cultural and moral integrity
9.
Protection of the environment
10.
Strong defenses
These
principles have been formulated to ensure that the implementation
and approach does not cause anxiety among any group in this
multiracial and multi-religious country. These principles have been
devised to empower Muslims to face the global challenges of today.
Islam
Hadhari is complete and comprehensive, with an emphasis on the
development of an economy and civilization capable of building the
Muslim Ummah’s competitiveness. For a society to prosper, the
glorious heritage of Islamic civilization in all its aspects must be
used as a reference, and should be the source of inspiration.
Badawi
encourages and guides the Muslim community to work hard towards not
only regaining the glory of Islamic civilization but also move
forward and share the emerging economic prosperity and face the
challenges of the 21st century. With this, he believes that the goal
of developing a Malaysian society of excellence, glory, and
distinction can be achieved.
Is
Moderation a Feature of Islam Hadhari?
Datuk
Prof. Dr. Abdullah Md. Zin, minister of religious affairs, says, “Wasatiyah,
or a balanced life, would be a more precise way to describe Islam
Hadhari. Moderation, on the other hand, could imply caution to the
point of neglecting traditions. Islamic scholars tend to shy away
from using the word ‘moderate’ because it can be manipulated and
exploited by external influences. In the same way, scholars are
cautious about the word ‘modern,’ which they associate with
Western civilization. The word ‘progressive’ could also be used
to define Islam Hadhari but wasatiyah is preferable.”
The
main objectives that Islam Hadhari is trying to achieve in Malaysia
can be summed up in the following eight points:
1.
Restoring moderation and embracing the mainstream, which will help
strengthen both the people and the state.
2.
Valuing good character, which should be central to the society in
order to help it become a role model for both the Ummah and
humanity as a whole.
3.
Adopting seriousness and accountability in dealing with
society’s main undertakings.
4.
Building all social relations upon trust and good morals.
5.
Respecting law and order.
6.
Cherishing unity, cooperation, and solidarity.
7.
Implementing genuine Islamic teachings and realizing the
objectives of the Shari`ah
8.
Empowering the state to be in a leading position, not feeble and
weak-willed.
The
main characteristics of Islam
The
main characteristics of Islam Hadhari are as follows:
-
Universality:
It is based on Islam, a universal message for mankind that is
based on mercy.
-
Godliness:
It is based on divine scripture and works on bringing people
closer to their Lord. Hence, it is a godly end and means, and
has a divine source and reference.
-
Morality:
Its ultimate concern is maintaining a good character and good
human relations.
-
Tolerance:
Tolerance is essential to create a society based on peace,
stability, unity, cooperation, and solidarity among all it
segments and with all its different traditions and beliefs. This
kind of tolerance is based on trying to genuinely understand the
Other and respect cultural and religious convictions.
These
are the characteristic features of Islam Hadhari that distinguish it
from all the other relevant perspectives:
-
Comprehensiveness:
It integrates both scripture-based sciences and modern sciences.
Another feature is its all encompassing program to deal with the
individual, society, and the state.
-
Moderation:
This is the main methodology for the perspective, which is based
on gradualism and easiness in implementation. Through this
implementation, there will be a balance between the interests of
all—the individual and the society, spiritual and worldly
needs, and ideals and reality.
-
Diversity:
The context of Islam Hadhari is wide ranging; it covers a wide
range of interests on different levels; it is open to new
adjustments and to other human experiments and experiences
-
Humanity:
As a call, Islam Hadhari is focused upon people.
What
Is the Difference Between Islam Hadhari and Political Islam?
Prof.
Zin states that Islam Hadhari works from the bottom up, from the
villages, and in a systematic way. Political Islam, which is
practiced by some Islamic parties, works the opposite way, from up
to down. Often it leads nowhere. This was how Ayatollah Khomeini
ruled, and where did it take his country?
According
to the writings of the Malaysian scholars, Islam Hadhari will focus
on improving the quality of life, focusing on four areas as follows:
1.
Knowledge: Islam demands a fully literate tradition. More
knowledge automatically forces moral responsibility upon a man.
“Fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.”
2.
Balanced development: Avoiding extravagance in any
area—including religion.
3.
Wealth (pillar of livelihood): Encouraging earning an honest
living to accumulate wealth.
4.
Health care: Disability and sickness are not qadar (destiny)
and striving to overcome these is on God’s shown path. Avoid
decadence—drugs and other activities that destroy health.
In
the early period of Islam, Muslims followed closely the examples of
the Prophet in leadership and in the acquisition of wealth and
knowledge, while still performing the compulsory `ibadah
(acts of worship). It is clear that the Islam Hadhari concept
contributes towards overall human progress that is balanced between
spiritual and material, between progress and moral values, between
religion and worldly concerns.
In
conclusion, the introduction of Islam Hadhari by Ahmad Badawi, prime
minister of Malaysia, is timely and should be well understood, and
the details applied in daily conduct. Islam Hadhari has the
potential to curb the militant instincts among religious detractors.
It
is important for the Muslim Ummah to be guided in understanding and
practicing Islam as a comprehensive way of life, as a means to build
a civilization. A wholesome way of life will create the balance
between a person’s responsibilities in this world and in the
Hereafter. Islam is not merely a ritual, because ritualism is meant
solely for the Hereafter. The government of Malaysia has never
practiced secularism, which rejects the Hereafter and focuses solely
on worldly matters. Islam must be lived as a system that integrates
the worldly life with preparations for the Day of Judgment.
Datuk
Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in Brief
Abdullah
Ahmad Badawi was born on November 26, 1939, to a prominent family in
Kepala Batas, Penang. He received a bachelor of arts in Islamic
studies from the University of Malaya in 1964. After graduation, he
joined the Malaysian Administrative and Diplomatic Corps. He
resigned in 1978 to become the member of parliament for his
constituency of Kepala Batas, which he still represents today.
Since
coming into power as prime minister, Badawi has clamped down on
corruption, giving more power to anti-corruption agencies and making
it easier for the public to reveal corrupt practices to the
authorities. He has also arrested several Mahathir-era cronies on
charges of corruption, a move that is widely applauded by the
public.
In
the 2004 general election, Badawi’s first election as the
incumbent prime minister, he delivered a stunning victory for his
party’s coalition Barisan Nasional by winning 198 out of 220 seats
in parliament. This wrested control of the Terengganu state
government back from the opposition Islamic Party of Malaysia (PAS),
as well as coming close to capturing the traditional PAS stronghold
of Kelantan. The victory was widely regarded as an approval of his
vision of moderate Islam over religious fundamentalism and support
for his anti-corruption policies.
References:
. Interview with
Minster in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs)
Datuk Prof. Dr. Abdullah Md. Zin, Kuala Lumpur, August 10, 2004.
Speech
by prime minister of Malaysia on occasion of the conferment of the
honorary degree of doctorate of law by the International Islamic
University Islamabad, Pakistan, February 17, 2005.
M.
Periasamy. Islam Hadhari: Prospect from a Non-Muslim
Perspective. (Kuala Lumpur: Ministry of Information, 2004).
Faisal
Haji Othman, Islam Hadhari: Masalah Anjakan Paradigma Pemikiran
Islam. (Kuala Lumpur: Ministry of Information, 2004).
Speech
by Prime Minister of Malaysia, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, UMNO Supreme
Council, Kuala Lumpur, September 23, 2004.
Zainal
Abidin Bin Abdul Kadir, Islam Hadhari in Malaysia, (Kuala
Lumpur: Ministry of Information, 2004).
Office
of the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Web site:
http://www.pmo.gov.my/website/webdb.nsf/
Mohamed
Sharif Bashir, PhD Islamic
University of Malaysia (KUIM), Kuala Lumpur.
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