He has a “Jewish agenda to Christianise Muslim-Malaysians”! He “a Christian who wants to spread Shia teachings”! No, fellas, you’re both wrong: he is actually a Buddhist who wants to spread Methodism.
“Once Gabriel promised the Prophet (that he would visit him, but Gabriel did not come) and later on he said, ‘We, angels, do not enter a house which contains a picture or a dog.’” — Bukhari 4.54.50
“Abdullah (b. Umar) (Allah be pleased with them) reported: Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) ordered the killing of dogs and we would send (men) in Medina and its corners and we did not spare any dog that we did not kill, so much so that we killed the dog that accompanied the wet she-camel belonging to the people of the desert.” — Muslim 3811
“Ibn Mughaffal reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) ordered killing of the dogs, and then said: What about them, i. e. about other dogs? and then granted concession (to keep) the dog for hunting and the dog for (the security) of the herd, and said: When the dog licks the utensil, wash it seven times, and rub it with earth the eighth time.” — Muslim 551
“Threats to kill, beat up ‘touch a dog’ organiser surface online,” by Anisah Shukry and Lee Shi-Ian, Malaysia Insider, October 22, 2014
After receiving accolades from many Malaysians over his charity work, Syed Azmi Alhabshi has now become the subject of death threats and accusations of apostasy by countless fellow Muslim-Malays online.
The Malays, furious at his audacity in organising an event to educate the public on Islam’s stance on dogs, have circulated his mobile number online, while on WhatsApp, messages claiming he is a Christian in disguise have spread like wildfire.
Once easily reachable through his phone or Facebook, Syed Azmi has now gone virtually underground, but on Facebook, his friends, family and neighbours in Taman Tun Dr Ismail have been responding to the threats on his behalf.
However, the threats, most of them posted as comments to a Facebook post by Ustaz Mohd Kazim Elias, which condemned the event, are numerous and filled with hate.
“Saya dgn pandangan ustaz dan saya rasa penganjur ni jenis buta hati dan cetek ugama dan suka merosakkan ugama dan patut rejam sampai mati. He he,” said Ghas Ku.
(I agree with the ustaz and believe this organiser cannot differentiate between what is right and wrong, has a shallow understanding of religion and likes to destroy Islam and should be stoned to death.)
“Meh sini aku bagi sedas pelempang baru ada akal sikit penganjur tu,” said Hafizzulnaim Haji Samsuddin.
(Let me give the organiser a beating so that he can gain some reason.)
Another Facebook user, Yusoff Hj Ashaari, said that on top of taking action against Syed Azmi, the public should find the women who posed with the dogs at the event, and pull of [sic] their scarves to see if they wore crucifixes or were concealing tattoos.
“Ustaz, this organiser really is a dog,” said Han Khalief.
In his Facebook post, the ustaz had accused the programme of being a subtle attempt to introduce “liberal” and “pluralistic” ideas among Muslims, adding that it would give way to campaigns on touching and eating pigs.
The event, which was held on Sunday in Bandar Utama, proved to be very popular with about 1,000 people participating, and learning compassion for dogs as well as Islam’s views on the canines.
Many who came took the opportunity to touch and pet the dogs of various breeds, including chow chow, husky, German Shepherd and poodle, brought to the event by their owners.
Volunteers at the event also demonstrated how the cleansing process, called sertu or samak which involves washing the affected area six times with clean water and once with earth, was done.
However, many Malays – clerics and ordinary citizens alike – took offence at photos of Muslims petting and holding the dogs.
On popular Malay blog Sirap Limau, Internet user Salsaparila wrote: “Memang celaka bangsat penganjur sial ni. Yang datang pun bodoh bangang takde otak punya orang. Harap2 nanti mamat sial ni mati la kena gigit anjing.”
(This organiser really is damned, nasty, and accursed. Those who attended are stupid and without any brains. I hope this cursed person dies from dog bite.)
A WhatsApp message purportedly from the Putrajaya Religious Council has also been circulating.
It claims that Syed Azmi was a Christian who wants to spread Shia teachings and has been disguising as an ustaz for a year.
“According to a real source, he has paid off all Malay-Muslim organisations in Malaysia so that his actions or campaign could run smoothly. His purpose is to spread a new religion like the Shia but it is done subtly and he will not appear to be behind it,” it said.
Facebook user Terompah Besi regurgitated the same message on his own wall, but did not attribute it the Putrajaya Religious Council.
He had also added one line saying it was “a Jewish agenda to Christianise Muslim-Malaysians through subtle measures using DAP leaders”.
At least two police reports have been lodged over the event, according to Petaling Jaya police chief Assistant Commissioner Azmi Abu Kassim.
“The reports were lodged at the Petaling Jaya police headquarters with the complainants claiming that their Muslim sensitivities had been offended.
“It was decided that the police reports would be referred to the Selangor Islamic Religious Department for further action.”
Scholars said that while touching a dog was allowed in Islam under certain circumstances, they questioned the need for the campaign and its purpose.
The Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) has promised to conduct a probe into the programme, while the Selangor Religious Council (Mais) said that acts of kissing, hugging the dogs were not in line with the programme’s objectives.
Director-general of Jakim Datuk Othman Mustapha told Bernama that the programme should not have taken place, and that the campaign was conducted openly, including for Muslims, without a good reason.
He feared that the organisers might have a hidden agenda and saw it as trying to create a new culture that could lead to insulting Islam.…