The former Law Minister said this had led many Muslims to face difficulties in adapting to the modern world, believing that they are victims of a worldwide conspiracy.
This had led them to be critical of values and practices of other nations and people, as defined by “religious businessmen”, he said.
“Of course, Islam is a way of life, but in Malaysia it appears that individual Muslims are never allowed to think for themselves or find the way of life by themselves.
“Instead, the way of life must be taught by designated individuals from the religious departments who can speak some Arabic and who dress ‘appropriately’,” Zaid said today on his latest blog posting entitled, “Islam is a way of life — your way”.
Zaid said these officials tell Muslims that Islam is “not easy”, as they had spent their lives studying it.
He further claimed that these officials also claimed that Islam can only be discovered through them.
“The way of life is in fact their way, and only by following exactly in their footsteps can Islam be a rewarding way of life for believers.
“This is total nonsense — though it is also a good business idea.”
Slamming preachers who make good money by selling religious books and recordings of their lectures, Zaid said Islam has also been dictated by politicians striving for power and jobless Middle East graduates.
Slamming the “joker fundamentalists”, Zaid said from young, Malaysian Muslims had been instilled with fear leading them to not be able to stand and believe in themselves.
“They have to get instructions from these mullahs even about the correct way to have sex: they keep asking what is right and prohibited in sex, and all their lives they will always depend on mullahs for everything, which of course suits the mullahs very well.”
He said some “evil mullahs” also justify the killings of innocents.
“In my view, the path away from extremism and towards living the truly Islamic way of life is simple — find that way of life on your own.
“That’s what Islam asks us to do,” said Zaid, who is also formerly of PKR.
However, he reminded that the key principles of Islam, as professed by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) — humanity, charity, kindness, compassion, honesty — should act as a guide.
He explained that the rejection of false and violent teachings in Islam can only happen when Muslims are willing to take some risks in believing in themselves and for themselves.
Zaid also cautioned Muslims against listening to “religious businessmen”.
“There is no need to join the mad crowd of religious businessmen selling extremist ideas.
“These fellows have brought nothing but misery to the Muslim world.”
Zaid’s posting comes just after human rights lawyer Eric Paulsen’s controversial tweet claiming that the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) promotes extremism.
Paulsen’s tweet also came amid the K-pop fiasco where three girls are set to be investigated by the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department (Jawi), after videos of them being hugged by Korean artistes on stage surfaced.
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