A young lady e-mailed me about two weeks ago and asked, amongst other things :
‘How did you come to this point of your life? Doing what you’re doing, writing what you’re writing?’
I had responded and expressed a reluctance to reply directly to the question.
I woke up this morning to the realisation that I was wrong in declining to answer her.
To that young lady, here is my answer to your question.
On 5/11/2000, 4 individuals who were being tried in the Kota Bharu Syariah High Court threw proceedings into complete disarray when they produced statutory declarations signed by all 4 in August 1998 to the effect that they had all renounced Islam.
At the request of the prosecutor, the 4 were ordered to be remanded for a week to facilitate investigations. The lawyer appearing for them immediately asked and was allowed to be discharged from continuing to act for them.
This is the case of the 4 apostates, Kamariah Ali and her late husband Mohamad bin Ya, Daud Mamat and Mad Yaacob bin Ismail, that finally went all the way up to the Federal Court, where they all lost.
I picked up news of their case from the papers and followed it closely.
On 12/11/2000, they were produced again before the Syariah Court and were ordered to be remanded again and to be produced before the court on 19/11/2000.
This, too, I picked up from the newspapers.
What I picked up from the non-media sources was that attempts to get a new lawyer to represent them was proving to be impossible.
Nobody wanted to handle a hot, controversial potato.
On 19/11/2000, 2 friends and I drove up to Kota Bharu to attend the Syariah Court proceedings and to see if we could offer any help.
We would, however, be useless in the Syariah Court as none of us were Syariah lawyers.
What I witnessed first hand brought home to me a stark truth.
Justice, love, kindness and compassion that is enjoined by all faiths never sees the light of day when men arrogate to themselves the role of sanitizers of those perceived as ‘believers’ having fallen by the wayside.
These are the ‘do as I say, say as I say’ that you find amongst practitioners in every faith, without exception.
Without any legal representation, and before a court which, ostensibly, had no jurisdiction over them, the 4 having produced evidence that they no longer pofessed Islam, Kamariah, Daud, Mohamad Ya and Mad Yaacob were sentenced to 3 years jail each and were slapped with new charges of attempting to leave Islam.
As the 4 were led away to prison, I watched them bid their goodbyes to their relatives and fellow-villagers.
I will shamelessly tell you that I cried.
I then approached those relatives and fellow-villagers, introduced myself and offered to help.
I saw distrust in their eyes. ‘Who was this stranger? What does he want?’.
There was a flurry of phone calls, after which I was asked if I was prepared to go to their village to meet the headman. I later found out that this was Ayah Pin.
I agreed.
Enroute to the village, which subsquently came to be called the ‘Sky Kingdom’, one of the villagers who accompanied us in our car, a young man named Kamarul, asked a most pertinent question. Let me reproduce the conversation that ensued, as best as I can recall.
Kamarul : Tuan loyar sanggup datang daripada jauh nak tolong orang kampung, kenapa?
Me : Tuhan perintahkan saya.
Kamarul : Wah, bukan main. Tuhan kontek tuan loyar?
Me : Ya, melalui Qur’an.
Kamarul : Ya, ke? Ayat mana? ( Please try to imagine the most cynical ‘ya,ke’ possible. That was how it was )
Me : Surah An’ Nisa Ayat 75.
Kamarul : Mmm, ya lah ( just as cynically as the ‘ya,ke’ ).
I met Ayah Pin that morning for the first time.
I could not understand his dialect.
Through an interpreter, I offered to take the case of the 4 to the civil courts. I said I could not guarantee any success but I would dare to promise that the lawyers involved would do their best.
Ayah Pin asked about legal fees.
I told him that as I was there by the Command of God, my fees would be paid by God.
He conferred with some of the other villagers, then turned to me and said (as interpreted) that as they could not get anyone else and I had offered to help, they would accept the offer.
I want to pause here and observe that my first appointment to represent the 4 was borne out of a sense of hopelessness on the part of those who were appointing me, and not hope. An appointment not built on trust, but desperation.
No-one else would act for them, so they had to take whatever there was.
For the 4 apostates, the team of lawyers took out proceedings and lost in the Kota Bharu civil High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Federal Court.
Mohd Ya has since passed on.
Kamariah and Daud have been charged again in the Syariah High Court in Kuala Terengganu. Proceedings have been commenced on their behalf again in the KL High Court. We lost and have appealed to the Court of Appeal.
On behalf of Ayah Pin’s wife, proceedings in the Kuala Terengganu High Court were commenced in 2001 to challenge a land office move to demolish buildings on the land. This is the only court proceeding that was won.
In 2005, a second move to demolish was started by the land office. Challenges were again filed in the Kuala Terengganu High Court. A stay order was obtained. The land office nonetheless moved to and did demolish on 31/7/2005. Contempt proceedings were commenced and dismissed in the High Court. An appeal is pending in the Court of Appeal.
6 1/2 years through the courts and just one lousy victory! It would seem that their sense of hopelessness with which I was first appointed was well justified.
But, hey, guess what? There no longer is distrust in their eyes when we meet and, yes, the fees that I have received from God for this work, no amount of money could ever buy.
I have received friendship and love from some of the gentlest people I have ever met.
I first took the case because I love God and felt that this is what He would have me do.
They, the villagers, accepted me into their lives out of desperation.
Today, notwithstanding the differences between these villagers and myself in our respective understanding of God and His great scheme, yet there is immense love, respect and tenderness that we give each other.
This love, respect and tenderness is God-Planted.
I have since then taken on many such cases where there has been no fees, out of love for God and a sense of duty owed to Him and in every such case, the same thing has happened.
God has Planted love, respect and tenderness.
To that young lady, this is my answer.
I do what I do because I am addicted to the love, respect and tenderness that God Plants in great abundance.
This is my hope of what may emerge from the impending Bangsa Malaysia Merdeka get-together.
That between those who come to partake, God will Plant love, respect and tenderness.
Farida
August 11, 2007
Thank you, Haris. I am deeply moved at what you have chosen to reveal – the deep recesses of your heart. We all have that moment in our lives when momentous change takes place and we are never the same again because God has taken hold of us.
May God continue to use you to touch lives. I hope that young lady will come for the get-together.
Can I propose that because there has been so much hurt down the years because of racial misunderstandings, bad-mouthing, even abuse, we come together at the event to share a moment where each community representative ( the only time I am asking for recognition of race / origin) takes turns to ask forgiveness of the other representatives and then expresses love, respect and tenderness in a show of unity.
I don’t know how this is to be done but I think there is a need to forgive one another if there is to be a birth of something new and the forging of a new identity.
Think about it.
thegodfather
August 11, 2007
Haris,
You’re the man. Love is the most powerful force in the universe. The power of love will move mountains. I know, because I try my best to be the very personification of love in all my endeavours. And, believe me, it works wonders. I see its power again and again. I have instilled the power of love in all the people I come into contact with. And they reciprocate accordingly. It may take some time with certain people but it will ultimately take effect. For example, my neighbourhood nasi lemak makcik is so concerned about my health (I’m a diabetic) that she makes sure I don’t eat her nasi lemak although I’m prepared to die for it. She advises me to eat her mee instead.
No, godfather, u the man. You must come for the Bangsa Malaysia get-together and instil the power of love for us.
You the man.
Ben
August 11, 2007
Will all Malaysian “man” (does not mean gender) please attend this. If not for any of the reason above, because you are the leader of your household.
You know how to manage your family with love, discipline and knowledge. As far as race and religion is concerned, you are colour-blind but remain faithful to your God. You not only know how to feed, clothe and accomodate them. You also know how to unify your family. You are decisive, honest and trustworthy. You care for their future.
You will allow argument and intense discussion so that all will come to a meeting of minds for the good of all. But you will restrain fist fights and anything of the vile nature including name calling without fear or favour. For violence and intimidation stirs contempt.
We need you to attend, we need you to be the pillars of the country. Bangsa Malaysia awaits you. May God continue to use all of us, willing vessels, to do His will.
bayi
August 11, 2007
Encik Haris Ibrahim
You have my trust. Thank God for Malaysians like you.
Bangsa Malaysia it is!
Bayi,
The Merdeka get-together notice is up.
Come join us.
Let us build on that trust
yh
August 11, 2007
this is true love. may you continue this long and winding journey and god protect and bless you all the way. Muslims, like you, truly shows what Islam is all about. Once agin, god bless you.
skthew
August 11, 2007
Haris,
No worry, I’ll get bayi into this!
Cheers.
Sher-How
August 11, 2007
Dear Sir,
two years more before graduating from law school.
but i am ready now to join you and your friends to make a change and a better country.
thanks
Paul Warren
August 11, 2007
You sound like a Christian to me. To those to whom you are such an inconvenience, I am sure they suspect you must be one. But then, that quality you espose here is not like as if it cannot be of followers of Islam too. But the fact remains you stand out as an exception to everything some of these guys have stood for and have known and will know all of their lives. But then we all know, love conquers all and you shall prevail.
God bless you in that work he has appointed for you to do.
After years of working with righteous Hindus, Christians and Buddhists on the Bar Council Human Rights Sub-Committee, it would be an honour if I was thought to be an adherent of one of these great faiths.
Thanks for this comment, Paul. Its given me the inspiration for a forthcoming post. I’ll just call it “Ini-mini-maini-mo”, so you’ll know which one it is.
Kavi
August 12, 2007
Truly beautiful, yet still powerful and commanding at the same time. Allow me to extend my warmest wishes to you, Mr. Harism.
No matter which God each of us prays to, the common things is that we believe that a higher, supreme being is guiding our lives; thus we should act in good faith upon all humanity.
My support is yours.
Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia
Er, Kavi, could it just be that what you intended to say was that no matter how we each pray, it is still to the one same God?
No big deal. Just wondering…
svllee
August 12, 2007
Dear Haris and all the organising committee for the get-together. Shucks, I only touch down on the 26th evening..perhaps another opportunity beckons.
And that, my friend, is the significance, for me at least, of this event not being held on the 31st. Once the date is not important, there is nothing to stop us holding this every month in a different state.
But only if we want to.
ewoon
August 12, 2007
May God continue to use you mightily for His glory, brother.
There’s wisdom to Farida’s proposition. Do give the matter serious consideration. Perhaps this can lead to the administration making this the main event for the country’s 50th Merdeka celebration.
I really like the idea. Syabas to Farida for this fine thought.
Paul Warren
August 12, 2007
Farida
I can understand your suggestion to have one from each racial group or something to seek forgiveness from another for our transgressions or whatever.
Somehow, that is just not necessary. Just being there says it all does it not? My being there says that I seek your forgiveness. I honour you and respect your faith, believes and culture. Indeed I want to celebrate all about you with you. I shall not place myself in a position so that you will need to seek my tolerance as that will only mean that there is something detestful you have to do that I should need to tolerate. (We all tolerate our neighbour’s noisy barking dogs already and that is enough). Instead it is my duty to at the least understand and give you the respect you deserve for being honest and faithful to your believes. It is respect and appreciation that you need of me, if not total indifference. To require my tolerance would unnecessarily place you in a subordinated position which is totally not called for.
As for the past, let the past take care of itself, just as one man once said, let the dead bury the dead!
Hope to meet you at the do!
alliedmartster
August 12, 2007
God works in mysterious ways. We as mere mortals will have to acknowledge this.
Your deeds are best known to him and him alone.
Anyone else that judges are merely the act of satan and his disciples.
I know. I am a recipient of that act of faith, and I thank him everyday for it. I only hope that I can pass it on.
theboinq
August 12, 2007
That was a moving story. Thank you Haris.
Farida
August 12, 2007
Dear Paul,
I understand what you are saying but, you know, many times we choose to remain silent, thinking the other person should know and understand since we are present. Actually, they don’t and they go away feeling bereft of something when all we had to do was say the words that would heal their hearts.
Forgiveness isn’t tolerance for me. It’s an act of love, Paul. It sets each other free. Asking for forgiveness or forgiving is not subordinating but elevating.
There is something so clean and liberating in forgiving and being forgiven. So let me say it now, Paul, even though you say I don’t have to. I guess it’s because I need to.
Paul, I speak now on behalf of all those Malaysians who, down the years made you feel that this was not your country, not your homeland, who made you feel like a second-class citizen, who used words that diminished you and yours, who wounded your heart and left you resentful, hurt, disappointed and perhaps without hope.
I ask your forgiveness for what they have done because they are my brothers and sisters and they had no right to do this to you because you too are my brother.
I ask your forgiveness because it is something I want to do so that your heart will heal and you will have that peace that takes you to a higher place.
I ask your forgiveness so that you will reciprocate and forgive them through me, your sister and your friend.
And if, in saying all this, I hurt you instead, I ask your forgiveness for this too,my brother.
You will see me at the do.
bayi
August 12, 2007
Encik Haris Ibrahim
Insyallah I will be at the gathering with someone I love. It will be an honour to meet you and the others. You know, SK has been “bugging” me.
Look forward to seeing you. Please do not forget to send in an e-mail.
SK, bagus lah you.
Sivin
August 12, 2007
This was much better than the sermon I preached this morning
Deacon A.P. Thomas PJK
August 13, 2007
Brother Haris Ibrahim,
We are created in the image and likeness of God. Since God is love, we human beings are destined to love one another. All of worship the same God, but call him by different names. The same God loves us all alike. So, let the love from that god pass from one to the other!. God bless us all.
aimi
August 13, 2007
Uncle Haris,
..terharuu..
yea, “we ask nothing in return, as our rewards depend on God alone.”
salam!
Salam Aimi.
Whilst Papa is still paying, make sure you get optimum exposure in the US.
Hope Papa is not reading this!
Paul Warren
August 13, 2007
Farida
I am humbled! But I will not burden you to have to seek forgiveness on behalf of your bretheren who might have caused so much hurt so much so you feel you must. I know I don’t impose on my Malay friends any sense of remorse for the words and deeds of UMNOputras who have nothing but empty space between their ears. Its not their fault. Its not your fault either. I do beleve that without a word said about all this we shall both get on famously as we both know where the fault lies. For me to receive your forgiveness might suggest an one upmanship I just don’t deserve.
Fact is you are as much a victim, indeed a greater victim of UMNOputraism than I can ever be. You need to remain a maligned society, a degraded society and limp society in order for UMNO’s thrust and “relevance” to be sustained. I have put “relevance” in inverted commas only because it refers to UMNO’s semblance for justification of their position and their “leadership”!
UMNO’s leadership and thrust becomes irrelevant in an emancipated Malay society not hung up on threats to its existence by challenges posed by non-Malays, opposing cultures, views and religion.
It is UMNO which seems to need these non-existent threats on its culture, language, race and religion. It over exagerates its contribution to the preservation of the Malay race in the face of the non-Malay presence and influence in Malaysia. That it has not contributed anything to the preservation of the race, language, culture and religion of the Malay migrant in South Africa, Sri Lanka and other parts of the world is carefully avoided lest the Malaysian Malay loses its need for UMNO.
It is UMNO that needs the presence of a greater proportion of the less educated and less well off among the Malays as it provides for them the statistical numbers that justifies their rationale for being! So the rest of you suffer from your knowledge!
So why do you find it necessary to seek my forgiveness? Maybe I should be seeking yours as I am the one providing the fodder for UMNO’s hold on the rest of you and putting on you a definition that just mystifies you as surely it falls way short in your rekoning.
So, Farida, lets not humble ourselves before each other to the point of suffocation. Let us be proud of one another as individuals and let us take pride that we do know one another and hope become good friends.
Farida
August 13, 2007
Thank you, Paul. So let it be. Looking forward to Saturday. You take care.
farida
malaysianminxinlondon
August 14, 2007
i’m glad that there are still people like you around, it gives others hope that love and faith still exist in this world. its a rare occasion to find someone who doesn’t hesitate to help others..i’m truly touched by the story, harap2 tuhan panjangkan umur u, insya Allah!
trashed
August 14, 2007
The teachers at our alma mater would have been proud of you, my friend.
Goh KP
August 14, 2007
Thank you, Haris. May His goodness and mercy follow you all the days of your life. Many times, what God proposes goes far beyond the thinking of us human beings. I am glad that it was for the Sky Kingdom that you had started on this path. They were not the so-called “four major religions” with the resources to fend for themselves. Religious freedom is not the exclusive right of only the “big four” as it were but all human beings. When Ayah Pin and his community did not have the help of any other lawyer, they could turn to you. Through the efforts of people like your good self, there is hope that our society will become more and more inclusive and caring for our neighbours.
I heartily agree with Farida. There is much need for forgiveness and a new start. For this, there needs to be readiness to forgive and freedom to seek forgiveness.
Warmest regards, Goh KP
dbctan
August 15, 2007
Thank you for helping us to see beyond our blinkers. We all have them I suppose, and you’ve reminded us that it’s time to drop them. Heartfelt thanks.
delara
August 15, 2007
dear haris,
i confessed my eyes were teary after reading your piece…i guess because it hit home, thank you for shedding some lights into blasphemous, deepest abyss of my soul… now, i know i won’t be lost forever, nor am I alone…that hope is just a love away…
sharon
August 17, 2007
thank you thank you thank you. it is one of the most beautiful piece that i have read in a long time. if only there are more malaysians like regardless of race and creed.
allah’s love and compassion shines through you.
Michelle
October 19, 2007
It is indeed a very touching story and I wish that there were more Malaysians such as yourself, regardless of race or religion.
I think it is not fair to say that you sound like a Christian. There are misguided bigots in every religion and though I understand why is it that people tend to connect bigots with Muslims, that is not also to say it is confined solely to Islam.
I have no problems with people talking with me about religion, it is when they insist that their’s is the one true religion that it offends me. Perhaps to them it is so and that is something that I respect, but I feel it is not the right to say as such to one who is a free-thinker or of a different religion.
To have faith is a great thing, and there are times I wish I had such faith.
I am a Catholic but I do not agree with some of the views (which are of the hardcore-followers), and so I struggle at times with myself.
In the end, I came to the conclusion, I believe, but in moderation. And I do not think that makes me a bad person. To some I may be a bad Christian, but its better to be a good person in all aspects, – Instead of being overtly religious but retarded in other aspects of being a decent human being.
Nur
February 6, 2008
A friend of mine posted this link in a forum and truth be told, i dont think that anyone who read the posting will leave unmoved. My eyes are full of tears and my heart swell with profound, nameless emotion. May Allah bless you, Mr. Harris.
Nur,
May God bless us all and give each of us the strength and the conviction to do what is right
The Shrimp Warrior
April 27, 2008
I salute you, a towering humanist!
“All the world is my country and all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion.” ~ Thomas Paine
ApOgEE
September 6, 2008
You are so kind and helpful. May god bless you always. I sometimes follow their story and for me, they are really good innocent people. Thank you very much for helping them.
ApOgEE,
May we all continue to count His Blessings
su
September 20, 2008
Thanks so much for this. Reminds me a little about an email I sent to Malik Imtiaz not too long ago, asking him questions that are eerily similar to the ones asked here. I asked him how it is that he continues doing what he does, despite what’s being thrown at him.
His reply was inspiring. He mentioned that he is truly blessed to have friends like you. I can see why. I too feel blessed to have come across this blog, seemingly out of nowhere, and coming into contact with so many selfless people like yourself.
I really look forward to meeting you in person someday. And at that time, which should be a couple of years from now, I’ll most probably be taking you up on your offer of mentoring me in law. Consider this a heads-up.
God bless you Haris.
su,
Don’t know if I’ll still be in practice then as I’m fast beginning to think that selling fish in the market may well be more honourable.
If I am still practicing law, it will be my honour to have you read in chambers.
God be with you always.