Been wanting to write about this for the longest time to be honest, I believe that there is a necessary need for at least someone to address this issue and at least give an opinion on this matter. I'm sure a lot of people are aware of this issue and a lot have their own opinions on this matter, including myself.
[ Support of a Club or a Devil? ]
[courtesy of redarmyfc.com]
Before anyone was to assume anything on my thoughts on this matter, this writing has no intention of challenging the authority of anyone, neither is this article was made to insult any party whatsoever. The idea of this post would be of my own thoughts as well as a discussion that I made with several other Manchester United fans.
As most of us already know, there has been a recent write up on how Muslims in Malaysia are warned not to wear jerseys that has connotations to the "devil" or even suggestions on any other religious symbols as it may be deemed to erode Muslim's belief in Islam. Quoting on an article by Malaysia Today that stated several top Islamic clerics of many states have mentioned their concerns on Muslims donning such garments that may suggest the glorification of the devil. Similar to what people in the past calls it "devil worship".
There is a reason why I waited this long before I wrote any of my opinion, due to the fact that I wanted to wait for all the necessary responses has been taken by the authority before making my own opinion. I believe that is the responsible thing to do.
[ Would this now be a wrong picture? ]
I have been supporting the club for 15 years and the passion that I have for my support has always been for the game and for the club, which I am certain that this would be similar to all the supporters either in Malaysia or even outside. By us donning the jerseys, there has never been and there will never will be any intention, especially Muslim supporters of the club to either glorify the "devil" or even to the extend worshiping it.
As I discussed this with my fellow supporters, one thing for sure we agree on one thing. Us as Muslims have at least the understanding, maturity as well as the common sense to know that our intention of buying the jerseys and wearing it is solely on supporting the club rather than anything else and for one thing we know, the teachings of Islam highlights dearly on the "intention" or nawaitu of a certain action. The question here is simple, if a man has no intention to actually portray the "devil" in that manner and has no direct act of doing so, how is he in anyway wrong in this manner?
[ Theater of Dreams ]
With statements such as this, I fear that there will be a very conservative picture painted on us Muslims in Malaysia, as if we cannot differentiate between supporting a club and glorifying something that we shouldn't. Fact of the matter is that this story has been picked up by the media from almost every corner of the world and they are not painting a pretty picture about our mentality here. To the eyes of the world, we look as if we don't even have the common sense to tell the difference between the two actions.
The most recent article that mentioned on this would be that there is a public statement that there will be no ban to the wearing of the jersey despite heavy criticisms by the clerics on Muslims wearing them. Article on The Star mentioned that despite the no go on the ban, there is still a large condemnation on the jersey to the similar notion.
Muslims in the past have proven to be one of the most intellectual and greatest thinkers in the history of humanity and it is a shame that today, we can't even show the same level of maturity and thinking as how our predecessor has done in the past. As a Muslim United supporter, my thoughts are simple. Us Muslims do have enough common sense to know the difference of merely supporting a sports team and challenging the word of god. We are not as backward as one would think we would be and a large majority of us have at least the common sense and logic to know that an issue such as this is such a menial issue to begin with. Us Muslims have thrived on the teachings of common sense and the reliance of logic ( hukum akal ) on our everyday lives and would at least know the difference of right and wrong, at least on this matter.
Please do share your opinions on this. Especially you Manchester United readers.
