Politics, Allah willing
What is it about religion that has Maldivians wide-eyed and foaming at the mouth from time to time? I'll tell you later. We're always on the lookout for people "using" and exploiting religion as a political tool these days and only one name seems to surface. You know, if there's anyone who is using religion as a political tool it is Gayoom, we say. I'm so displeased with that evil man I think I'm going to have split hair-ends. How could he use religion like that? Yes, Gayoom is a real bastard for using our "maai" Islam to win votes.
On a radio talk show tonight, MDP's Zaki said Gayoom was using religion for political gains. On almost every party rally Gasim and his Fellowship of Adaalath allies reach into the bottom of our hearts and asks us "so who's using religion for political gain?". Our answer, a unanimous "Gayooooom!" Then both Zaki, Gasim and that bearded fellow (pick anyone) from the Fellowship will promise you that they will uphold Islam and they will make their own promises powered by the full willingness of Allah.
Top on everyone's list of promises is the protection of Islam and they always talk about Allah willing, doing this, and doing that. Religion is important to the vast majority of us Maldivians because we live and have lived a life bordering on poverty, a life of bare subsistence and destitution. Poverty and religion lives happily ever after, everywhere on earth. If anything, God is and has been our only hope. We're used to not winning a lot of favours from our rulers. So, don't you dare take Allah and Islam away form us.
So everyone's got their party manifestos and harebrained ideas insured by Allah's willingness. Allah willing they will ensure no other religion in Maldives. Allah willing they will build a bridge to heaven. No, make that two, one each for the Fellowship members and the rest. Allah willing they will say Allah willing, Allah willing. Isn't this exploiting religion too? It is and it is more than that. This is also exploiting deeply held feelings of Maldivians about God and religion. We like to say Allah willing we'll have food on the table. Simple prayers for simple needs. Now, we needn't have you people mocking that prayer.
So anyway, at the very least, Gayoom ascribed all his failures to Allah's unwillingness. How can one possibly argue with that? I'm grateful he did not say that Allah was on a 30 year vacation. Now, there's an idea for Gasim. Allah willing, the Fellowship of Adaalath and Gasim will not use religion to condemn people on dubious religious grounds and accuse Gayoom of exploiting religion. That's something only a low-life, morally bankrupt, blaspheming Gayoom can do, ain't it?
Then there was that incident when Gayoom said something in Arabic and lo and behold, the average Maldivian, utterly ignorant of Arabic, thought he was quoting some verse from the Quran when in reality, according to the learned Jedi's of the Fellowship, it was just an Arabic sentence. Cunning chap, him. Allah willing this gets me cracking. The Fellowship of Adaalath pounced at this and made statements and jumped for joy and made merry in tents that night for here was absolute proof Gayoom was exploiting religion for political gain.
So I'd like to point out to the Fellowship of Adaalath that we, Ali and Anthu Average of the Maldives, we wouldn't have a damned clue even if you cussed in Arabic in your own speeches. That's right! We'll clap and cheer you on and give standing invasions because, Allah willing, you're not using religion for politics. Right!
M | September 22, 2008 9:51 AM | Reply
So true, it should have been "Maumoon willing". Praised be Maumoon, jazeera thakuge veri Zaeem.
And I dunno how Adhaalath can tout their religiosity when they have been bought by the owner of Paradise.
And why are you complaining about politics mixing with religion for it's benefits? Throughout history they have used each other to propagate themselves. So what you see are just what has also been in the past.
Viva la hypocrisy!
Mohamed | September 22, 2008 10:16 AM | Reply
just curious
who r u voting for?
Politics, Allah willing | September 22, 2008 12:45 PM | Reply
[..]at the very least, Gayoom ascribed all his failures to Allah's unwillingness. How can one possibly argue[..]
xero | September 22, 2008 7:22 PM | Reply
adhaalath thought paradise is with qasim so they joined him. they dont need to die to get paradise. its a certain coup de eta. u see.
Jesus c | September 22, 2008 10:26 PM | Reply
Maumoon is very right what he said was he was god willing waiting for the dhivehi translation to brought down by the angles. Like the jews of the Old Maldivians will be the chosen people.
Maybe Umar Naseer the "Spartan" is right after all we should adopt the old values of ancient Sparta, and follow a strict eugenics policy. We will raise an army of 300 soon enough will be able to hold off an eventual allied Persian/Arab army.
Athena | September 23, 2008 5:23 AM | Reply
Hahahahha Hehehehhe. Sorry I can't stop laughing, 'Allah on vacation for 30 years!" maybe someone should ask him if he thought so. Or whether he was so out with Allah ,that his prayers were not answered. Makes me wonder why we should vote for a bloke who has been cast aside by Allah?
Allah willing - I will find the right candidate to vote
Inxs | September 23, 2008 12:31 PM | Reply
Clearly as an unbeliever you don't (and won't) understand why that phrase is used. Believers believe that everything happens by Allah's will, and so use that phrase when referring to things that are going to happen in the future.
Even your mighty science cannot predict, for example, when you're going to die and how.
So saying "Allah willing, I will do this and that if elected" does not fall under exploiting religion. Please stop creating all this confusion and doubts in the minds of naiive young minds who read this blog.
Inxs,
So if you blame Gayoom for failures then you should stop it immediately because that's Allah's will and he didn't do anything wrong. Gayoom was spot on and I support him on that.
Inxs | September 23, 2008 10:54 PM | Reply
Dear Simon,
You probably don't know about the Arabic term "Galaa Gadhar"
http://www.ahya.org/amm/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=26
Hussain | September 24, 2008 2:57 PM | Reply
I think you are just trolling now, Simon. Even on your own blog. You grasp at strands to try and bring down anything about Islam that is in the Maldives. Clearly you despise the fact that religion is part of our country. I think you would be able to live a much happier life, without hating Islam, in another country.
Hussain,
What are you talking about?
Ali | September 25, 2008 12:29 AM | Reply
great article as usual simon..lol some ppl really don't get what you saying heheh..who cares anyway
M | September 26, 2008 1:15 PM | Reply
@Simon: What Hussain means is that, since you do not conform to his opinion of Islam, by generalisation, you should immediately be labelled as a faith-bashing non-believer. Duh!
monds | September 27, 2008 3:46 AM | Reply
Allah Willing, Let me share my opinion on this issue. I feel
Egad! Allah wasn't willing to let monds share his opinion!
abhura | September 30, 2008 7:22 PM | Reply
salam 2 ol. i wish 2 comment on da article. if Allah wills it, then when i write this comment and press 'post' it will be posted... otherwise it will not b posted. whether or not it is posted i wished 4 it and tried 2 post it... the rest is up to Allah, and i pray 2 Allah dat it does get posted. but sayin dat im gonna b da best this semstr, then after not studyin 4 it and failin, i hav no rite 2 say dat it was cos Allah hadnt willed it... dats wat qadaa qadar is ol abt. hope u understud... if not, i wish n pray 2 Allah dat u do sumday. im really saddened n frustrated 2 know dat such thinkin exists in our beloved Maldives :'( ... only yesterday was i listenin 2 da seerah n rejoicin. 2 b frank i wonder how much u guys were payin attention durin da islam periods durin o'levels... ol this was there in da text buks... i think da ones responsible 4 da state our country is in r da parents, more so than even maumoon's neglects. Eid Mubarak!!!
Lucem Ferre | October 1, 2008 5:56 PM | Reply
I think youre just scared to admit that you dont believe in god, because part of you still fears him, and part of you still wants to believe in religion... If you want to be an atheist then dont be a coward, say it out loud, and hope to god that there is no afterlife... I personally dont like anybody that takes stuff like that too seriously... If you dont like religion just stop talking about it...
Lucem Ferre,
As in Lucifer? The Morning Star himself? Good one, mate!
abhura | October 2, 2008 8:37 PM | Reply
lucem ferre,
sorry 2 disappoint u... but i am no atheist... whether u like me or not... i believe in god
'If you want to be an atheist then dont be a coward, say it out loud, and hope to god that there is no afterlife...'
gr8... so atheist hope 2 GOD dat there is no afterlife... n pls do let me no wat u plan on doing once u find out there really is sumthin called afterlife???
n4mia | October 4, 2008 2:35 PM | Reply
abhura,
I don't know about Simon. But here I go:
I AM AN ATHEIST, I AM AN ATHEIST, I AM AN ATHEIST,I AM AN ATHEIST, I AM AN ATHEIST, I AM AN ATHEIST!!! [any closeted cases, come now don't be shy, say it out loud, and get it off your chest!]
I don't give a rat's ass about how passionate maldivians are about Islam. Perhaps they're allowed to be. What 'simon says' basically boils down to the fact that when that passion goes to your head, and you can't tell your arse from elbow or sunna'h/farudh/qiyaas from an agenda to misappropriate and abuse power, our society with the atheists and god-fearing in it, collectively, has a big problem.
Its obvious simon is frustrated with Islam and the arrested development its causing in our country on different frontiers- perhaps it takes one atheist to understand another.
We just want to live our lives without the religious folk shoving islam down our throats, goddamn it (ironic choice of words, I know). We don't want to turn Islam against Maldivians or try to sell apostasy.
Just let us be, for crying out loud, let us freaking be.
nass | October 10, 2008 2:12 AM | Reply
Insha Allah we'll get rid of Maumoon soon :p