The Islamic Ministry and the Adhaalath party have expressed concern over certain amendments proposed in the religious unity act by Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) MP Dr Afrasheem Ali.
The Islamic Ministry on its website said that while the amendment bill was useful, it was concerned about an article stating that the Shafi sect should be enshrined as the basis of Islam in the Maldives.
The Islamic Ministry described the article as “unIslamic”, and that it was against the constitution of the Maldives.
Furthermore, the ministry called on parliament to gather more information and to cite that information when amending the proposed bill during the committee stage.
The ministry said that “many scholars” were concerned over the amendment proposed to make the Shafi sect the main basis of Islam in the Maldives.
Sheikh Hussein Rasheed, President of the Adhaalath Party, refuted the article which making the Shafi sect the official sect of the Maldives.
”People should have the freedom to pray according to any sect [of Islam] they wish,” said Sheikh Hussein. ”There are many people in the Maldives who follows different sects when worshiping.”
Sheikh Hussein said that although the bill was passed, ”nobody will follow it.”
”Until 1997, on the island where Dr Afrasheem comes from, they did not perform the Friday prayers because according to the Shafi sect there should be a minimum of 40 people in order to conduct them,” he said. ”So if it becomes a law to follow the Shafi sect, again we are going back to those days.”
He said that Dr Afrasheem’s comment in parliament that in Malaysia people followed the Shafi sect was “a big lie.”
”In Malaysia people perform prayers according other sects as well,” Sheikh Hussein said.
He said that in many other Islamic countries there were no laws that specified which sect to follow.
”Laws can’t force people to follow a specific sect – people should be rather trained to follow a specific sect,” he said. ”I strongly refuse that part of the amendment bill.”
On May 21, Dr Afrasheem Ali presented a bill to amend the religious unity act.
Dr Afrasheem said that social unity among Maldivians was weaker than it had been in the past.
”One reason for this [disruption] is issues of religion, particularly disputes over worship and [scholars] criticising each other,” said Dr Afrasheem.
He proposed that the Shafi sect be chosen as the basis of Islam in the Maldives.
”I selected the Shafi sect because it is the sect most friendly, most accepted and most widely followed sect in Islam,” he said.
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If laws cannot be "force people to follow a specific sect" then why are most of the religious scholars in Maldives trying to force our nation and our citizenry to follow Neo-Salafi ideologies which originate from the Hanbali School of Islamic Jurisprudence?!
I agree that all Islamic values should be accepted in the Maldives, however this is not what both the Adhaalath Party, the Islamic Ministry, and NGOs like Jamiyathul Salaf have been advocating. They advocate Neo-Salafi ideologies which represent a complete regression in our cultural values and norms. These conservative values must be countered to protect the integrity of our nation. To protect our women from abuse. To protect our children and their futures.
Enough is enough.
Exactly ...Well said "The the so called religious scholars".....
”Laws can’t force people to follow a specific sect – people should be rather trained to follow a specific sect,” he said. ”I strongly refuse that part of the amendment bill.”
So why do you want to have a law to force just one religion on the entire population... You just don't get it unless someone pokes your butt right?...
"”I selected the Shafi sect because it is the sect most friendly, most accepted and most widely followed sect in Islam,” he [Dr Afrasheem] said."
Why do people want to shake things up?
Why can't we be what we are?
Why do people want to impose something new on us?
This will only help break any religious unity we have!
Dr Afrasheem should stay where he like to stay but please, do not try to impose your views on everyone else.
I guess Sheikh Hussain has forgotten about the sectarian clashes in Irag & other muslim countries...do we want such a situation?
Maldivians had been following the Shafi sect until the "newly enlightened" conservatives started preaching their beliefs which made a lot of people confused & scared...hence some adhered to these beliefs...now we have oppression of women in the name of islam, multiple marriages, kids getting home-schooled & no vaccinations, lack of personal hygiene & so on...basically beliefs that only benefit men.
The conservative beliefs clashes a lot with how we have been practicing islam, so as a woman, i am very much in fear that if we officially allow these extremist sects to practice their beliefs, we might soon become another Afghanistan.
No, we must pray like 3/4 pants with beard and no moustache do.
No, we must bathe like 3/4 pants with beard and no moustache do.
No, we have 4 wives like 3/4 pants with beard and no moustache do.
No, we must keep our daughters at home without education like 3/4 pants with beard and no moustache do.
Yes, then we shall have religious unity.
How about the Maldives becomes a little more open and allows all religions? If Islam is perfect no one would ever leave so no harm done.
Oh Robin! Oh Adhaalath! There is just no polite way of saying this, so here goes. YOU ARE HYPOCRITES!
You know what. No particular sect should be imposed on anyone and by that same logic no religion should be imposed on anyone either!
Maldives should follow Adhaalaath sect, MDP sect, DRP sect so to speak. Adherence to religion must come from the ideology of specific political parties. It is already interesting to live in a society that is branching out into various religious sects. Understandably more sects will be introduced in the future. Various sects will be in conflict each other. It is fun to see the religious game being played out, isn't it?
Dear citizens of Maldives I totally agree with Adaalath party. If their sayings aren't hypocritical. The problem is that the question of religious disunity & agitation stated with the people who studied religion in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia & Eygpt respectively started preaching religion according to the opinions & jurisprudence of their respective centers of learning. The "Wahhabi/Salafi" madhab which is an innovated school from the 8th century of Hejra. This school has been responsible for a lot of strife & tribulation within Islam since its extreme obscure beginings in the 8th century. Its happened throughout the Islamic world as well in Maldives. The other important matter is all those classified as being Muslims should be allowed to follow any school of Islam. This means those who aren't the so called "Sunni Muslim" must also be able to worship as long as they are accepted as Muslims.
I would rather think that if Dr. Afrasheem is thinking of doing any good to the people he rather forget about this sect thing!
If at all he want to do anything for the people; he better start passing bills that will enable people to get on with daily lives. He has been paid for this!
To my belief, Islam has been completed as ordained! Neither a Dr. Afrasheem or any 3/4th nitwit can make it more complete!
If imposing selection of sectarianism was at all necessary, Prophet Muhammad (peace be unto him) to whom the task of preaching Islam was bestowed; in his life time or in the sermon (a speech that surpass any speech) he delivered on Mount Arafaath, where he made both people and Allah bear witness to him completing the task bestowed upon him would have not missed it. This is a clear manifest to this!
I very much would doubt what Dr. Afrasheem is getting at!
If people should be free to pray according to any sect , should they not also be free to pray according to any set of doctrines?
Oh wait, why am I expecting logic and consistency from the Adhaalath?
This talk of upholding religious unity in the Maldives is really starting to get on my nerves. Am I the only one who realizes how stupid that sounds? Zakir Naik likened choosing one's religion to choosing one's food. Why not author Dining Unity Regulations next?
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