of the in and the out (updated)

Update: watch the interview with the lawyer in charge on youtube:

The mother of all question would be: What if someone wants OUT?

Born and raised as a Buddhist, she prayed to deities like Tua Pek Kong, Kuan Yin and Thi Kong. 'Changing' faith is a question she never asked herself but.... she fell in love.
And for some people the sacrifices they do for love is beyond any explanation, any reasons and any doubt.

So she met an Iranian Muslim.
She too became a muslim.
They got married.

But not all love stories end happily ever after.
Deserted by the love of her life, and left without guidance, she was desperate to at least get her faith back.

So she fought for it.
What she needed was a declaration that she no longer a muslim.
She wants to renounce Islam.
(Afterall she stopped practicing when the husband deserted her)

What more can it be done?
The Penang Syariah Court ruled that her husband and Islamic authorities failed to give her proper religious advice.
They let her out.
This sets The Precedent.

I agree if The Precedent could ease religious minorities' worries about their legal rights.
As this is the first time a convert is has been permitted to legally renounce Islam.

(But God knows how many thousands have been secretly renouncing it, by their practice, words or worst, intention)

But thats not the message that the Syariah Court is sending.
Its not as if The Precedent sets out when you want out, you get it just.like.that.
In her case i.e. Tan Ean Hung's case, the court looked at several issues and facts of the case.
It remains that with little guidance, a convert is not expected to be fully conversant of the newly-embraced faith.
Especially when it involves conversion done for the sake of marriage.
But there's so many possible twist of the story, but what more can it be done in this circumstance?
(But this won't stop us from praying, right?)

Afterall this is a country is not an Islamic state.
Be at as it may, there are differences of opinions in handling such a matter.
Khilaf. (I shall leave this issue to the learned scholars)

Honestly I do not see much can be done, as I always believe that legal redress is always the final option. What I believe in is the whole-embracing method of dakwah.
The education itself.

I received several sms saying that the lina joys in Malaysia are rejoicing with the courts's ruling.
Hmm.
Facts of these two cases easily distinguished: Tan was not born Muslim but Lina, was.

I don't know how far could this ruling could open up to possible new issues, but I really hope that so much the court is emphasizing on the need to properly guide and advice the newly converts to Islam, the emphasize is as much needed to the born Muslims. (I still hold the rule that murtad is still haram nevertheless)

You and I know how little the effort of the government to give proper Islamic education.
Islamic subjects remain as one subject, but never integrated in all subjects.
And if you're lucky your parents might send you to the evening religious classes. (Fondly called as "skola gama"). And if you're not, no one makes a big deal about it.
Secularism at its best.

And when you grow up, the fundamental ibadah is deemed as the personal option.
Why do we react as if hearing apostacy is shocking as if it shouldn't happen when the surroundings of our society is never really Islamic?

Contrary to the times of our beloved Prophet (peace be upon him), every member of the society looks after each other, the society was close-knit and hence apostacy (there was none during his time. Munafiq lain cerita) is rather unheard of.

So the Question now is: Do we leave them out, too?

No we don't.
Unite and serve the call for dakwah.

When all of you and me is asked what have you done to your fellow Muslims as a duty as a muslim, I pray, we have the answer. After all, this is The Question asked by our Creator.

May whatever we do is for His pleasure.
And whatever we do, is guided by Him. Amin.

Prevention is something.
Education is everything.
Wake up Muslim, wake up.