MP SPEAKS | Misplaced rage: Are we fasting just to complete ritual?
Syerleena Abdul Rashid
Published: Mar 17, 2025 3:00 PM
Updated: 6:07 PM
MP SPEAKS | As a Muslim, I am deeply disturbed by the recent incident in Johor Bahru, where a non-Muslim man was assaulted simply for eating during daylight hours in Ramadan.
This act of aggression is not only unlawful but also a blatant misrepresentation of Islamic teachings, which emphasise peace, tolerance, and respect for all individuals, regardless of their faith.
Such behavior reflects a troubling pattern of misplaced anger and a lack of self-restraint - values that Islam upholds, especially during Ramadan.
This disturbing trend is further echoed in another alarming case, where a 17-year-old student in Kajang was brutally attacked by a 39-year-old man (above) following a minor road dispute.
The teenager suffered a fractured nose and required medical attention.
These disproportionate reactions to trivial matters raise serious concerns about the growing prevalence of unchecked anger and intolerance in our society.
If fasting is meant to teach patience and self-discipline, why do we see an increasing number of individuals allowing their tempers to dictate their actions, even in the most mundane situations?
Ramadan is a sacred month that calls upon us to practise patience, self-discipline, and compassion.
Published: Mar 17, 2025 3:00 PM
Updated: 6:07 PM
MP SPEAKS | As a Muslim, I am deeply disturbed by the recent incident in Johor Bahru, where a non-Muslim man was assaulted simply for eating during daylight hours in Ramadan.
This act of aggression is not only unlawful but also a blatant misrepresentation of Islamic teachings, which emphasise peace, tolerance, and respect for all individuals, regardless of their faith.
Such behavior reflects a troubling pattern of misplaced anger and a lack of self-restraint - values that Islam upholds, especially during Ramadan.
This disturbing trend is further echoed in another alarming case, where a 17-year-old student in Kajang was brutally attacked by a 39-year-old man (above) following a minor road dispute.
The teenager suffered a fractured nose and required medical attention.
These disproportionate reactions to trivial matters raise serious concerns about the growing prevalence of unchecked anger and intolerance in our society.
If fasting is meant to teach patience and self-discipline, why do we see an increasing number of individuals allowing their tempers to dictate their actions, even in the most mundane situations?
Ramadan is a sacred month that calls upon us to practise patience, self-discipline, and compassion.
It is a time of spiritual reflection, where we seek to better ourselves and strengthen our connection with our creator.
To see someone react with violence over something so trivial is not only disappointing, it is shameful.
Fasting is meant to be a personal journey of faith, not a justification for anger or aggression toward others. When did we allow our own shortcomings to dictate how we treat those around us?
Self-righteousness disguised as piety
Malaysia is a diverse, multicultural country where respect and understanding should be the foundation of our interactions.
The actions of one individual do not define the Muslim community, but they serve as a harsh reminder that ignorance and short tempers can lead to unnecessary conflict.
If a person cannot control their emotions while fasting, then what exactly are they learning from Ramadan?
The incidents expose a deeper problem within our society: the growing trend of self-righteousness disguised as religious piety.
Too often, we see individuals who claim to defend Islam but do so in ways that contradict the very principles of our faith.
They react with hostility instead of wisdom, aggression instead of patience. This is not just about one man losing his temper - it is about a larger issue of misrepresentation and misplaced anger.
If our faith teaches mercy, why do some among us choose hostility? If our Prophet endured hardship with patience and dignity, why do some of his followers act with intolerance and rage?
Ramadan is not about punishing others for their choices - it is about disciplining ourselves. It is a time to reflect, control our anger, and rise above our instincts.
What example are we setting for our children if we tell them that violence is an acceptable response to seeing someone eat?
What kind of faith are we practising if fasting turns us into bitter, intolerant individuals rather than better, kinder human beings?
Quit misusing religion
To my fellow Muslims, I ask you: Is our faith so fragile that the sight of someone eating can shake it? Are we fasting merely to complete a ritual, or are we truly learning the values of restraint, kindness, and humility?
And most importantly - when will we stop using religion as an excuse for our lack of control?
An elderly man confronting a non-Muslim man for eating in public during Ramadan in this video screen shot of the incident in Johor Bahru recently
Islam does not teach us to force others to follow our obligations. The Quran explicitly states, "There is no compulsion in religion" (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:256), emphasising that faith cannot be imposed upon others.
The Prophet Muhammad exemplified kindness and understanding toward people of all faiths. How, then, can we justify violence against someone exercising their personal freedom?
If seeing someone eat makes you so angry that you resort to violence, perhaps the problem is not them but you.
SYERLEENA ABDUL RASHID is Bukit Bendera MP.
Islam does not teach us to force others to follow our obligations. The Quran explicitly states, "There is no compulsion in religion" (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:256), emphasising that faith cannot be imposed upon others.
The Prophet Muhammad exemplified kindness and understanding toward people of all faiths. How, then, can we justify violence against someone exercising their personal freedom?
If seeing someone eat makes you so angry that you resort to violence, perhaps the problem is not them but you.
SYERLEENA ABDUL RASHID is Bukit Bendera MP.
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