Muslims shouldn’t wish misfortune upon others – renowned lyricist
By Abdullahi Yusuf
Renowned lyricist Habsah Hassan has bemoaned the incident where the opposition recited the qunut nazilah prayer in reply to the suspension of Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Kamal from Parliament earlier this month in Malaysia.
Shaking her head in disbelief, the 74-year-old said Muslims, including politicians, should emulate the Prophet Muhammad in being courteous to foes who insulted him daily.
“Where’s our consciousness? I’m not that pious nor smart, but not a fool either.
“As angry as we are toward our political foes, as a Muslim, no one should knowingly hurt a fellow Muslim.
“How dare we pray for misfortune to fall upon a fellow Muslim? What if the repercussions of the prayer come back to us?” she said.
The qunut nazulah reciting incident happened on July 18, when Wan Fayhsal was suspended from Parliament for six months for citing an anonymous letter during parliamentary debates on July 1, that purportedly maligns civil servants using unverified information.
Following this, opposition MPs led by Jasin MP Zulkifli Ismail recited the qunut nazilah, which is a supplication made during times of war for Allah’s help against calamities and oppression.
Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail condemned the act as being “un-Islamic”.
Elaborating, Habsah said all quarters should realise that should misfortune hit a government, its impact would be felt by all of its citizens.
“Our economy is just recovering. Of course, we can’t expect drastic changes overnight.”
She acknowledged that the government of the day faces an uphill battle in convincing its supporters that their votes are worthwhile.
“The government has another three years before the next general election. It has to go all out to convince the rakyat that it can be trusted to represent them again in the future.”
It starts at home
Habsah said the depravity in today’s politics stems from parents knowingly or unknowingly sowing the seeds of hatred and racism at home.
“We are losing consideration because we follow our hearts and sentiments.
“Whose fault is this? It is the fault of some mothers and fathers who sow the seeds of racial hatred at home,” she lamented.
The rakyat has also become less bothered about issues concerning the country, religion, and politics, she said.
“Everyone is only thinking about issues that happen around them, or their inner circle.
“Everyone is becoming selfish… this is saddening,” rued Habsah.
Yesterday, Habsah lamented the “extreme” approach practised by certain politicians and their followers, which she said tarnishes the image of the Malay community and Islam.
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