Multiple voices in Malaysia

A comprehensive, and bleak report on Islamic authority in Malaysia approaching a complete lack of diversity ie. dictatorial despotism, following the arrest of a progressive . The author focuses on education, which forms the heart of the matter with long-term implications.

When is someone teaching Islam and when is he not? Who has the authority to decide on that? What are the criteria that constitute teaching of Islam? On what basis are some certified to teach Islam, some are not, some are prosecuted while many more others can freely preach hatred, racial ill-will, and miso­gyny in the name of Islam?

As an aside, I’m tracking number of references to scholars of Islamic law. So far Khaled Abou El-Fadl seems to be rather popular.

Haj & “foreign cultures”

The Malaysian government urges Malaysian Haj pilgrims not to be influenced by “foreign cultures” ie. other madhhabs while in Saudi Arabia.