Scholars, lawyer pan Tuan Ibrahim over ‘fake’ hadith
PUCHONG: Scholars from various fields and a lawyer panned PAS deputy president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man’s Islamic justification in rejecting the motion that compels all federal lawmakers to declare assets.
“Whatever precedence there is that suggests one to be against asset declaration, it is not universal and not valid for all times,” said National University of Singapore based sociologist, Dr Syed Farid Alatas.
“If we live in a period of corruption and kleptocracy, and asset declaration is deemed to fight corruption, then it will be seen as a desirable law.”
In objecting to the motion that compelled federal lawmakers to declare their assets, Tuan Ibrahim who is also Kubang Kerian MP cited a Hadith to justify his objections.
He cited from the Hadith, claiming that Prophet Muhammad had said that when God has given one wealth, it should not be declared in the public as people may get envious.
“Do not declare it to the public as they would be envious. The question of safety of the assets and individuals when we declare (assets) must be taken into account,” said Tuan Ibrahim to reporters in Dewan Rakyat.
The motion was subsequently passed successfully.
Islamic Renaissance Front’s Dr Ahmad Farouk Musa pointed out that asset declaration is a worldly matter.
“While Hadith must be verified to be authentic in the realms of worship since the Prophet was sent to teach us how to worship God, he was not sent to teach us medicine, architecture, engineering or even how to govern a country.
“Hence in one authentic Hadith he mentioned to the people of Medina, “Antum a’lamu bi-umuuri dunyakum” meaning “you know better of your worldly matters”; when he was confronted for giving a wrong advise about cross pollination. And this issue is within the realm of worldly matters.”
He told The Leaders Online that hadith has also been used by free market advocates.
“Similarly advocates of free markets have used the Hadith that the Prophet prohibits any intervention to limit the price of goods for them to propagate the capitalist agenda. Now I would say this is a wrong approach towards understanding Hadith related to worldly matters which evolve according to time and space.”
He added that Tuan Ibrahim’s tactics highlights an unethical attitude of religious men.
“In modern time, assets declarations serve as a tool for detecting and preventing illicit enrichment and conflicts of interests among public officials which include parliamentarians. Studies have shown that asset declaration regimes do not pose a significant risk to the independence and security of even judges, what more public officials or parliamentarians.
“On the contrary, anti-corruption benefits provide strong reasons to require public officials to file asset declarations in order to prevent corruption. To use a Hadith to propagate a hidden agenda rather than being honest and transparent was an unethical attitude what more when it came from a religious person.”
Saudara Research Centre director Wan Ji Wan Hussin who is also an independent preacher in a Facebook posting said that the Hadith quoted by Tuan Ibrahim was not authentic.
“It is a fake Hadith based on what was stated by al-Imam ibn al-Jawzi, considered poor by al-Imam al-Sayuti and vice by al-Imam ibn Abi Hatim.”
Wan Ji also said that the hadith contradicted the Quran in Chapter 93:11 that reads: “But as for the favour of your Lord, report it.”
“Islam is a faith that emphasizes on integrity. PAS’ attitude does not represent Islamic teaching,” he added.
Human rights lawyer Siti Kasim meanwhile also took to Facebook in rebuking PAS and Tuan Ibrahim. She listed ten messages from the Quran that demonstrated that PAS was not acting in accordance to Islam.
“Always give honest testimony, even against your parents and close ones (4:135).
“Speak the truth (33:24)
“Do not prohibit what God did not prohibit (16:116, 66:1)
“Do not cause corruption in the land (7:56)
“Do not give false witness (25:72)
“Do not accept or follow any hadith other than the Quran (45:6)
“Do not corrupt God’s words (2:79, 3:78)
“Do not conceal God’s words knowingly (2:159)
“Do not claim purity for yourself (53:32)
“Do not confuse the truth from falsehood (2:42)”
Tuan Ibrahim meanwhile maintained that he quoted an authentic hadith that it is un-Islamic to declare assets.
“I have checked the authenticity of the hadith and although there are differing views among the ulama, they accept it as an authentic hadith,” he told reporters at Parliament lobby today.
By: K Pragalath
