“Does this mean that the real enemies of Muslims are Muslims themselves?”
Zainuddin Maidin was urging that Malays look at Europe in a positive light as a stronghold for learning, civilization and humanitarianism. “The worry is that Malays, at the same time, are becoming more and more Arab in their thinking and lifestyle.”
The Sultan of Perak, Raja Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, raised the same issue at a recent public forum, said Zainuddin, based on testimony from Syrian refugees fleeing to Europe rather than making for Muslim communities in Arab lands which were much nearer. “One Syrian refugee likened German Chancellor Angela Merkel to King Negus of Habsah who offered shelter and protection to Muslims during Prophet Mohamad’s flight to Medina.”
“Raja Nazrin was touched by this testimony and feels the issue of Syrian refugees should be analysed by Muslims in a positive light.”
Zainuddin reminded that he did raise the plight of the Syrian refugees before, and at that time, a pro-Saudi critic claimed that Saudi Arabia did offer protection to many Syrians but the issue was not highlighted. “Instead, he claimed, that the western media and Iran slandered Saudi Arabia.”
It cannot be ignored, added the former Information Minister that the Arab lands are no longer in the position they once were when they passed the torch of learning, which came to them from lands further east, onwards to Europe. “The Muslim communities in Arab lands are only into religious learning unlike Europe,” said Zainuddin. “So, it’s better for the Syrian refugees and others to head towards Europe where learning, jobs and prosperity awaits them.”
“Malaysians too prefer to head for Europe.”
The jury is still out on whether Europeans would take an interest in Islam with the coming of Syrian Muslim refugees to their continent. “But the fact remains that we should not continue to consider Europe as a place of sin and the gates to hell.”
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