Vous êtes sur la page 1sur 4

8/13/2017 Allah in the office: The limits of religious tolerance | The Malaysian Insight

Allah in the office: The limits of religious


tolerance

Fa Abdul
Updated 3 days ago · Published on 10 Aug 2017 7:00AM ·

79
One way direct Hot
Outsmart the locals.

Bali
Fare
Outshop the travellers.
Because you can.
All-in BOOK NOW
from $ Roll over for more details

A FRIEND of mine, Randy, was completely irritated by an incident which took


place in his office recently. His colleague, a Muslim woman blasted a sermon
session from her phone while everyone was busy doing their work at the office.

The sermon continued for at least an hour or so without any scrutiny from
Randy’s officemates. According to Randy, everyone tolerated the sermon,
Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

“I just don’t get it,” said Randy.

“Why are Muslims so self-centred and ignorant of others?

“Why do they have to bring religion into the


office? What if I blasted some Buddhist
chants?”

Randy’s annoyance reminded me of an


incident which I had experienced myself a
few months earlier.

Once, in the middle of a training session, a


fellow participant’s phone started blasting
the azan. Immediately, the non-Muslim
trainer stopped the session.

“What is that sound?” he asked.


https://www.themalaysianinsight.com/s/10159/ 1/4
8/13/2017 Allah in the office: The limits of religious tolerance | The Malaysian Insight

“Sorry, that is the call for prayer coming from my phone. It reminds me that it’s
time for prayers,” she explained, still not switching off the application installed
on her phone.

“Ah, does that mean you have to excuse yourself to go perform your prayers?”

“No. It’s okay, I can perform my prayers later.”

The trainer was surely dumbfounded by her answer like the rest of us. Why on
earth would anyone disturb a training session with the sound of azan if they
are not planning to perform prayers upon hearing the call to do so?

On second thought, why does any Muslim who is dedicated to perform daily
prayers need any reminders? Shouldn’t the time for prayers be imprinted in
their minds already?

Equally dumbfounding is a prayer recital conducted over the speakers at 8am


and 4.45pm every day in an industrial plant in a northern state of Peninsula.

Anyway, I ended up sharing Randy’s story with my brother a few nights ago,
only to have him share his own experience.

He was once called by his department head to discuss an ‘urgent matter’ – it


turned out to be about a few of his staffs who have miniature deities on their
office desks.

“Please inform your staffs to remove their miniature Gods and Goddesses
statues from their cubicle. This is an office, not a temple,” lamented the Muslim
head.

My brother obliged but before carrying out the orders, he pointed at the framed
Quranic verses hanging on the wall in his department head’s office and asked,
“Does that include the holy scriptures in your office? I could ask Samy to help
me take them down.”

The head of department was clearly annoyed.

“You are too much. This is an Islamic country, let me remind you!” she said
after a few moments of being gobsmacked.
https://www.themalaysianinsight.com/s/10159/ 2/4
8/13/2017 Allah in the office: The limits of religious tolerance | The Malaysian Insight

“This could be an Islamic country, but this is an office. As you mentioned


earlier, people should leave their religious matters at home,” said my brother in
a cynical manner.

The head of department went silent and adjourned the brief meeting.

I was quite pleased with my brother’s story and am planning to share it with
Randy – I think it is important for him to know that not all Muslims are ignorant
and self-centred.

However, I believe it is not wrong to bring our faith into our workplace. After all,
our faith is within us and goes where we go. However, no religion promotes
ignorance and self-centredness. In fact, all religion emphasises the importance
of mutual respect to everyone.

If a person is truly an individual of faith, they would not be blasting religious


audio and disrupting an office environment in the first place.

Equally important, in my honest opinion, is to understand that tolerance is not


all positive as we have been brainwashed to accept since childhood. Putting
up with things we do not approve of is never a sign of strength; instead it is a
sign of weakness.

It is high time we stop tolerating people who do not practise mutual respect.
Whatever the consequences are, is it not better to be honest and upfront with
the people we work with instead of grumbling behind their back? – August 10,
2017.

* Fa Abdul is a passionate storyteller and a resident agitator of the idiots in


society. Well-known for her straight-talking sarcasm and occasional foul mouth,
she juggles between her work as a writer, producer and director.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily
represent the views of The Malaysian Insight.

https://www.themalaysianinsight.com/s/10159/ 3/4
8/13/2017 Allah in the office: The limits of religious tolerance | The Malaysian Insight

Sign up or sign in here to comment.

https://www.themalaysianinsight.com/s/10159/ 4/4

Vous aimerez peut-être aussi