Please Don't Call Me Muallaf?

This article is continue my unfinished part from the
previos post : Muallaf? Saudara Baru? Reverted Muslim?

"Kalao bukan dipanggil muallaf, kena panggil apa pulak?"
One of the chinese muslim friend asked.

That is a good question. In a matter of fact, there is no specific name in calling chinese muslim no matter just reverted or already many years. We couldn't being called as Baba Nyonya also because that's more to Melaka unique cultural and yet they are not muslim. I am thinking about it all over and over again...

Calling reverted as "saudara baru" is not wrong, because reverted muslim are being welcome as "Saudara" just like what have been stated in Surah Al-Hujurat Ayat 10 :

Sebenarnya orang-orang yang beriman itu adalah bersaudara, maka damaikanlah di antara dua saudara kamu (yang bertelingkah) itu; dan bertaqwalah kepada Allah supaya kamu beroleh rahmat.

Also, "Muallaf" also is not a mistaken appellation to call as. Because it means "Orang yang cenderung atau lembut hatinya kepada (menerima) Islam." What's the different between me and my friends who still not embrace Islam? It's more to my heart have been soften to accept Islam is the righteous Religion, however my friends is not and hold firm to their own religion. Yup, it is true anyway.

How about "Reverted Muslim"?
Some muslim reject the word of "Convert" because it means change into another religion, but "Revert" is means we all born as Muslim... Yet we lost then found the way back to Islam, so we are "Reverted" to Islam.

From how these appellation being used, I feel that each of them is no problem to be call as. I don't condemn the different between born muslim and reverted muslim in knowledge part but in Islam, but we all must be live as the same Umat no matter what background we come from.

"Don't ask for respect, go earn it instead."
We can't force people to respect us although if someone have the power to do so. That is only cheating ourselves by doing so and yet we lose more and more respect. Yes, can't be deny everyone need the feeling of being respected. Asking someone to call us in more beautiful appellation like Dato', YB, Tuan Haji or else is a very normal phenomena in society... But if someone win the impressing appellation but act differently, what is the point of being called as "such name"? Normally we call this as "Cakap tak serupa bikin" hehe..

Earning respect is different but better way.
We don't ask for any appellation, also not trying to show off how great is our "Islamic Look". But as Muslim we keep improve our knowledge in Islam and practice it in daily life. Being patient to face every difficulty instead of blaming on others, never discuss about others ashamed gossip but more to positive speech and praise to others ability. The most interesting thing is while I was reading the book  "7 Habits of Highly Effective People" also mention that we shouldn't criticize others although the person we mentioned is not realize about it. Because it is lower our "Reputation" in front of others and lost respect, how could someone can be trusted if he/she is someone who love to criticize others? Who knows one day that someone go to gossip all of the bad things about us with others?

It seems simple but Islam already told us the "Natural Law" of live as well respected person. Earn respect, because earning is let those respect come on their own. We can't force people to respect us especially while someone dare to call us in unpleasant appellation no matter we realize or not.

Janganlah kita bersikap prasangka terhadap orang lain, walaupun kita tak mampu mengawal orang lain supaya bersangka baik kepada kita.


Wahai orang-orang yang beriman! Jauhilah kebanyakan dari sangkaan (supaya kamu tidak menyangka sangkaan yang dilarang) kerana sesungguhnya sebahagian dari sangkaan itu adalah dosa; dan janganlah kamu mengintip atau mencari-cari kesalahan dan keaiban orang; dan janganlah setengah kamu mengumpat setengahnya yang lain. Adakah seseorang dari kamu suka memakan daging saudaranya yang telah mati? (Jika demikian keadaan mengumpat) maka sudah tentu kamu jijik kepadanya. (Oleh itu, patuhilah larangan-larangan yang tersebut) dan bertaqwalah kamu kepada Allah; sesungguhnya Allah Penerima taubat, lagi Maha mengasihani.

(Al-Hujurat : 12)

Sometime being called as "Saudara Baru" is not a bad thing, depends on how the people interpret the word only. Also one day colleagues from other states asked me "Saudara Baru ke?" I just nodded.

"Saya betul2 menghormati saudara baru yang memeluk Islam, mereka sangat rajin beribadah dan belajar Islam. Kadang kala saya yang dilahirkan sebagai Islam pun rasa malu dengan saudara baru."

I smiled... I am not a tip top religious muslimin, but from the way he talked I realized that "Saudara Baru" sometime is just a symbolic name to call those not-born-muslim who embrace Islam. It's no harm at all if someone is sincere to use that appellation.

"Name", "Pangkat", "Salary" is always what society putting effort in, but how many of us still digging out the importance of Taqwa?

“Hai anak Adam, sesungguhnya Kami telah menurunkan kepadamu pakaian untuk menutupi auratmu dan pakaian indah untuk perhiasan. Dan pakaian taqwa itulah yang paling baik. Yang demikian itu adalah sebahagian dari tanda-tanda kekuasaan Allah, mudah-mudahan mereka selalu ingat.

( Al-A’raf : 26)


Not just about what kind of Kopiah or Tudung to pick, or about the controversy between Saudara "Baru" or "Lama"... But Allah SWT already urge us to wear the more suitable wearing, that is Taqwa.

Orang bertaqwa akan sentiasa memelihara dirinya daripada semua batas dan hukum-hukum agama. Segala yang wajib dan sunat akan dilaksanakannya. Manakala segala yang haram dan makruh akan ditinggalkannya. Bukan itu sahaja malah, mereka sangat berpada-pada dengan segala yang halal kerana takut dihisab (diperhitungkan di akhirat kelak). Ini selaras dengan kata-kata Sayidina Ali: “Aku sangat berhati-hati dengan dunia kerana haramnya diazab, halalnya dihisab.”


-Genta Rasa - Pahrol Mohamad Juoi




Earning Respect instead of getting respect, and what most important is we should focus more on Pakaian Taqwa. 



Recommended Article : 

Pesan Takwa - Pahrol Mohamad Juoi
http://genta-rasa.com/2011/01/03/pesan-taqwa/