{"id":23861,"date":"2026-02-02T01:36:03","date_gmt":"2026-02-02T01:36:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mediaislam.net\/berita\/?p=23861"},"modified":"2026-02-02T01:36:06","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T01:36:06","slug":"responding-to-the-confusion-of-phlip-rodrigues-islam-the-sovereignty-of-values-and-the-reality-of-tuan-guru-haji-abdul-hadi-awangs-statements","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mediaislam.net\/berita\/2026\/02\/02\/responding-to-the-confusion-of-phlip-rodrigues-islam-the-sovereignty-of-values-and-the-reality-of-tuan-guru-haji-abdul-hadi-awangs-statements\/","title":{"rendered":"Responding To The Confusion of Phlip Rodrigues: Islam, The Sovereignty Of Values, And The Reality Of Tuan Guru Haji Abdul Hadi Awang\u2019s Statements"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The article by Phlip Rodrigues titled ‘Open Letter to Hadi Awang: Are you implying that my Christian faith isn\u2019t at par with your religion?’<\/em> is not merely an open letter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rather, it reflects a fundamental confusion regarding the concept of Islam, the history of civilisation, the meaning of moral leadership and the framework of religious life within a plural society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More troubling is that this confusion is then translated into accusations that Tuan Guru Haji Abdul Hadi Awang is religiously arrogant, demeaning towards followers of other faiths, and allegedly threatening harmony in Malaysia\u2019s multi-ethnic and multi-religious society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In reality, these accusations arise from a misunderstanding of Islam as ad-din, a comprehensive way of life, rather than merely a \u201cprivate religion\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Islam \u201cAbove\u201d Other Religions: A Matter of Faith, Not Insult<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Phlip Rodrigues takes offence at the statement that Islam must be above all other religions to save humanity, interpreting it as an insult to Christianity and other faiths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This interpretation is theologically and philosophically flawed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In Islam, the belief that Islam is the final and ultimate truth is a core tenet of faith (aqidah), not a political statement nor an attack on other religions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Qur\u2019an clearly states:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u0647\u064f\u0648\u064e \u0671\u0644\u0651\u064e\u0630\u0650\u0649\u0653 \u0623\u064e\u0631\u0652\u0633\u064e\u0644\u064e \u0631\u064e\u0633\u064f\u0648\u0644\u064e\u0647\u064f\u06e5 \u0628\u0650\u0671\u0644\u0652\u0647\u064f\u062f\u064e\u0649\u0670 \u0648\u064e\u062f\u0650\u064a\u0646\u0650 \u0671\u0644\u0652\u062d\u064e\u0642\u0651\u0650 \u0644\u0650\u064a\u064f\u0638\u0652\u0647\u0650\u0631\u064e\u0647\u064f\u06e5 \u0639\u064e\u0644\u064e\u0649 \u0671\u0644\u062f\u0651\u0650\u064a\u0646\u0650 \u0643\u064f\u0644\u0651\u0650\u0647\u0650\u06e6<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cIt is He who has sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to make it prevail over all religions.\u201d<\/em> (Surah at-Tawbah: 33)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This is an internal statement of Islamic belief, just as Christianity holds that salvation is only through Jesus Christ, or Judaism upholds the concept of the \u201cchosen people\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Such beliefs have never meant coercion, oppression, or humiliation of others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Islam itself affirms:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u0644\u064e\u0627\u0653 \u0625\u0650\u0643\u0652\u0631\u064e\u0627\u0647\u064e \u0641\u0650\u0649 \u0671\u0644\u062f\u0651\u0650\u064a\u0646\u0650<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cThere is no compulsion in religion.\u201d<\/em> (Surah al-Baqarah: 256)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Therefore, claims that Tuan Guru intends non-Muslims to \u201cbow down\u201d or submit are narrative fabrications, not the substance of his statements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    2. Islam Is Not Merely a Moral Religion, but a Complete Way of Life<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      Phlip argues that all religions are equal and that all teach moral goodness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      While this may be comforting within a liberal framework, it is inaccurate from a scholarly religious perspective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Islam not only teaches personal morality; it provides:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n
      • A value system<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
          \n
        • A framework of justice<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
            \n
          • Economic principles<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
              \n
            • Ethical governance<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                \n
              • Concepts of international relations<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                When Tuan Guru speaks about saving humanity, he is referring to a global crisis caused by the failure of secular and materialistic systems, not calling for a religious war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                The reality of today\u2019s world demonstrates that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  \n
                • Endless wars<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                    \n
                  • Economic oppression<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                      \n
                    • Family breakdown<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                        \n
                      • Human exploitation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                        occur not because religion is too dominant, but because religion has been removed from the management of human life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                        3. The \u201cMalay World\u201d and the Misreading of History<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

                          <\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                          Phlip also questions references to the Malay World, as if Tuan Guru is attempting to rewrite history and elevate the Malays as the centre of global civilisation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                          This is another misunderstanding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                          Tuan Guru\u2019s remarks refer to demographic reality and potential, not claims of absolute supremacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                          Today, the Malay World:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                            \n
                          • Possesses a large Muslim population<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                              \n
                            • Is relatively stable compared to the Middle East<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                \n
                              • Has space for da\u2018wah and moral leadership<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                                This does not deny the historical contributions of Arabs, Persians, or Andalusia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                Rather, it affirms a historical responsibility: any community endowed with strength bears an obligation to contribute positively to humanity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                4. Allegations of Violence and Taking Up Arms: Fantasy or Slander?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                  <\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                                  Among the most baseless accusations is the portrayal of Tuan Guru as allegedly calling Muslims to rise as \u201cwarriors\u201d and take up arms against the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                  This directly contradicts the consistent stance of PAS and Tuan Guru himself, who has repeatedly emphasised:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                    \n
                                  • Peaceful approaches<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                      \n
                                    • Struggle through democratic means<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                        \n
                                      • Rejection of violence against civilians<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                                        Linking calls for Muslim unity with violence is a well-worn tactic of Islamophobia, not an honest analysis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                        5. Malaysia, PAS, and the Reality of Governance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                          <\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                                          Phlip accuses PAS of being:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                            \n
                                          • Anti-democratic<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                              \n
                                            • Oppressive towards non-Muslims<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                                \n
                                              • A failure in governing Kelantan<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                                                Yet the facts show:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                  \n
                                                • PAS operates fully within the electoral and parliamentary system<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                                    \n
                                                  • Non-Muslims live and practise their faith freely in Kelantan<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                                      \n
                                                    • Kelantan\u2019s poverty issues are closely tied to federal economic structures and historical marginalisation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                                                      Recycling old stereotypes without data is political rhetoric, not a scholarly argument.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                      6. \u201cSave Malaysia First\u201d: A False Dichotomy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                        <\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                                                        Finally, Phlip concludes with the slogan \u201cSave Malaysia first\u201d, implying that advocating Islam and contributing to global humanity contradict national interests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                        In Islam, self-reform, societal reform, and global responsibility are not mutually exclusive; they are sequential and interconnected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                        The Prophet Muhammad \ufdfa built Madinah while simultaneously conveying the message to the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                        Conclusion: Differences in Faith Are Not Grounds for Misrepresentation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                        Tuan Guru Haji Abdul Hadi Awang has never demeaned other religions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                        He speaks from the standpoint of Islamic faith, which naturally affirms Islam as the path of salvation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                        Such differences should be engaged through mature dialogue, not manipulated into manufactured fear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                        Malaysia does not need politics that erases religion, but politics that is ethical, principled, and just to all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                        Criticism is a right, but intellectual honesty is also a moral obligation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                                                        The article by Phlip Rodrigues titled ‘Open Letter to Hadi Awang: Are you implying that my Christian faith<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":23859,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[60],"tags":[61],"class_list":["post-23861","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-english","tag-english"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mediaislam.net\/berita\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23861","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mediaislam.net\/berita\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mediaislam.net\/berita\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mediaislam.net\/berita\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mediaislam.net\/berita\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23861"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/mediaislam.net\/berita\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23861\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23862,"href":"https:\/\/mediaislam.net\/berita\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23861\/revisions\/23862"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mediaislam.net\/berita\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23859"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mediaislam.net\/berita\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23861"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mediaislam.net\/berita\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23861"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mediaislam.net\/berita\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23861"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}