One of the ways to stop bickering was to avoid using the label “Islam” as it created misunderstanding among Muslims, he added.
“As soon as the term ‘Islam’ is added, Muslims start questioning who is more Islamic than the other. The main agenda of the country’s development is forgotten,” he said.
He was addressing a small crowd of people who attended a book launch titled “Second Generation of Political Islam”.
The book is meant to be an eye opener on values of Political Islam. It is written by Wan Ji, Amanah member and former Kuala Selangor MP Dzulkefly Ahmad, Zulkifli Hasan, a senior lecturer of Shariah and Law, and Political Islam expert Maszlee Malik.
Wan Ji elaborated that the jeans worn by a Muslim need not be branded as Islamic jeans.
“Instead, look at the value of life or the role of the government and how they can lead the nation towards greater heights. Talk on corruption, transparency or GST (Goods and Services Tax).
“When we bring in the label ‘Islam’, people start judging who is more Islamic than the other. The issue is lost.”
He said Malaysia needed to look at Tunisia, where the clerics had their own unproven Islamic theories of the religion.
“We can do good without mentioning Islam. How many Islamic followers have used the term ‘Islam’ and failed to live up to the term?”.
He added that the different interpretations had caused Muslims of different sects to feel uncomfortable, such as in Iran the Sunni sect feared discrimination, while in Malaysia, the Shias were uncomfortable.
“That is also a form of discrimination. Islam says to be just but where is the justice,” he added.
Wan Ji also questioned on Malaysian Muslims’ quest to follow the Middle East way of living when some of their models have failed.
“Why is there so much hatred for the West. Why can’t we take the good from the Middle East and the West.”
For instance, he said there was no Muslim country which was corruption-free while Western countries have proven to have less corruption, and practised transparency.
Wan Ji said Malaysian Muslims should not be wearing jubah just because the prophet wore it.
“In Medinah, the Prophet wore jubah. It does not mean we have to wear as the Prophet. What we should understand is that we should cover up as needed in Islam.”
He added that Muslims should also celebrate the good in the followers of other faiths.
For instance, he said when an Muslim does something good, a Hindu will not say the person did good according to the Hindu faith.
“Then why when a Hindu does something good, a Muslim will say he did good according to Islam. Why can’t they (Muslims) accept the good of others.”