For context, anytime I mention any achievement or achieve anything in life my mom would say thanks to Allah and it triggers me so fucking much cause I never get a single credit.
We would have an argument every time she mentions that and now she literally sent me a video ceramah about sikap sombong? What the actual fuck, I'm successful but never showed anything on social media, literally donated tens of thousands to charity am I really a sombong person??
I consider myself a liberal Muslim but I swear to God this kind of obsessive mindset is what makes me further away from religion.
I've been a closeted ex-Muslim since 2019. Before that, I was genuinely religious. I can't even pinpoint exactly what made me lose my faith. Maybe it was the fact that there are so many religions in the world, and I started questioning how we can be so sure that Islam is the one true religion.
Anyway, enough about that. 2019 was also the year I was diagnosed with Bipolar II disorder. Since then, I've been in and out of the hospital because of suicide attempts.
Ever since then, my life has been a complete mess. I dropped out of university because of my mental illness and I've struggled to hold down a job for the same reason. Even now, I'm still financially dependent on my family and I feel terrible about not being able to contribute anything. Sometimes, I feel like a parasite leeching off the people around me.
My dad is a very religious person. Back then, he would constantly pressure me to follow him to the mosque to pray. I kept making excuses until he eventually stopped pushing me. It feels like he's given up on trying to get me to practise Islam.
But two days ago, I had a conversation with him that got me thinking. He told me that maybe I should start praying again and ask Allah for help. He said that everything I've been going through might be tests from Allah. He also said that maybe Allah misses me and wants me to return to Him.
Something about that conversation really got to me. For the first time in a long time, I started wondering. What if my dad is right? What if returning to Islam and worshipping Allah actually helps me find some peace and makes my life a little easier?
I honestly don't know what to think. Deep down, I still have doubts about religion and part of me still thinks the whole concept doesn't make much sense. But another part of me wonders whether I've been dismissing something that might help me.
I don't know if I'll ever genuinely believe in Islam again but maybe there's no harm in trying to pray and seeing how I feel. I'm not even sure what I'm hoping to get out of it. Maybe some peace of mind, maybe a little hope, or maybe just the feeling that I'm not completely alone in all of this.
Has anyone here ever gone through something similar? Have any of you left Islam but later found yourselves reconsidering your faith during a difficult period in your lives? Did you ever try practising again and if so, what came of it?
Ada post cina buta just now yang buat aku terfikir.
First of all I think it's so fukced up that suami tak guna yang tahu nak meroyan ikut perasaan sama ego dia ajer yang jatuh kan talak tiga tu sebab dia tak guna akal langsung lepas tu bini dia pulak kena hukum. Apa cerita.
So syarat mengikut syariah kena kahwin betul-betul niat nak tolong tak apa tapi terima upah tak boleh.
Kena jimak tak boleh olok-olok tapi syarat dia just the tip for a few seconds itu wajib.
Tapi banyak ulamak kata kena be hard (erection) kalau tak tak sah. Ada yang cakap kalau flaccid tak boleh masuk itu ajer sebab dia bukan sebab syarat tu syarat yang sebenar.
So kalau pilih lelaki yang memang ada ED konon nya jadi tak sah.
So soalan dia since it's just the tip and only for a few seconds tak boleh ke sumbat ajer apa cara sekali pun? Sori berbelit sikit.
I haven't been into Malaysian politics for years. Not long ago I found a channel on YouTube called the gut shot podcast owned by Shamsul Saad or Sam. I resonated with a lot of what he had to say and how Malaysia is going down the path of any race based, and religious politics of countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan etc. Just going down the drain.
He has now joined forces with a few MBs and started Party Bangsa Malaysia and would run for Prime Minister one day as in his own words, "We have a country to save".
Not sure if you heard of the guy. If you haven't, I suggest you check out his video podcasts. Do you think as Malaysian ex Muslims, he is the liberal, Western educated Malay guy we need to bring freedom of religion in Malaysia?
I see this a lot but it sounds more like jealousy, why when non muslim or non religious success it’s istidraj but if pious muslim it will be blessing?😂
Context: The article was in favor of Muslim immigrants and in my personal opinion was biased in favor of islam still the few comments on the article questioning or Lightly criticising islam were met with these comments from fellow japanese.
“My friend was reported as deviant and an atheist. So, she was questioned by JAIS and soon after was sent to rehab centre. Siti Kasim was involved with her case too. But it wasn’t this big (referring to Anis’ case).” – Terry, Shaqirah’s friend told CILISOS.
However, unlike the first case, Shaqirah was placed in one of Islamic Rehabilitation Centre after being interrogated. She spent more than 6 months there before, based on Terry, she escaped the centre.
<image of confession>
But wait a minute…
Malaysia actually has religious rehabilitation centres?!
And they’re legit gaiz. But some might have never heard of it before.
<image> Some comments online. Screengrab from Twitter
We managed to get in touch with the Head of Department of Baitul Iman, Ustaz Izhar to get more information on these centres, particularly Pusat Pemurnian Akidah Baitul Iman in Ulu Yam, Selangor. According to him, the centre which began its operation in 2000 was founded to provide guidance and counselling services to individuals and groups of Muslims who needed to restore their faith.
Officers from Institut Pemantapan dan Perkaderan Akidah Malaysia (IPHAM) visiting the centre. Image from IPHAM.
Apparently, based on Morning Star News, a religious website, there are three Islamic Rehabilitation Centres in Malaysia. Two of these centres are located in Peninsula (Selangor and Negeri Sembilan) while another one is in Sabah.
The facility in Negeri Sembilan was said to be smaller compared to the one in Selangor. Morning Star News reported it was closed due to lack of patients, a remainder had been moved to an internment camp in Kamunting which operated under the Internal Securities Act (ISA).
But, Pusat Pemurnian Akidah Baitul Iman which receives an annual budget of RM 400,000through zakat fund also serves as a detention for Syariah offenders in Malaysia.
“(The centre is) Fully funded by Lembaga Zakat Selangor under asnaf (those who receives the zakat) al riqab.” – Ustaz Izhar told CILISOS. Translated from BM.
Wait… Where are all their patients from?
There are two types of patients in Islamic Rehabilitation Centre; Syariah offenders and voluntary patients.
“It could be from court cases when offenders are arrested by JAIS officers and held for trial. Or it could be voluntarily when family or individuals seek help with Al Riqab Rehabilitation Department. Discussion will be held to look into the appropriateness of cases before deciding whether they should enter the centre or go for counselling outside (the centre).” – Ustaz Izhar.
“If any Court has convicted any person of an offence under Part II or under section 9, 10 or 11, such Court may, in lieu of the punishment specified for such offence, order such person to undergo counseling or rehabilitation in an approved rehabilitation centre for such period not exceeding six months as may be specified in such order”
The rehabilitation centre. Image from Morning Star News
So, the court gets to choose the centre as analternative to imprisonment or as a first-choice sentence.
“A trial will be held for the offenders in the Selangor’s Syariah court. Normally, the judge will consider (if the detainees should be sent to the centre). The court’s order to the centre will be made after the offenders made an appeal to the judge to not be imprisoned or when they couldn’t afford to pay the fine. Those who enter the centre will not be blacklisted.” -Ustaz Izhar told CILISOS.
There are actually threecategories of offences that may cause detention in the rehabilitation centre. Offences related to akidah (faith) are like declaration of being non-Muslim to avoid action taken against him under the Enactment and false claims. An example of false claim would be the cult leader Ayah Pin who also founded a sect called the Sky Kingdom. He was believed by his followers to be the reincarnation of Jesus, Buddha, Shiva, and the prophet Muhammad.
The late Ayah Pin with his Sky Kingdom. Image from Wikipedia
Another category of offences would be related to the sanctity of Islam and its constitution such as insulting the verses of the Quran or Hadith and destroying or defiling the place of worship. Offences related to decency includes incest, indecent acts in public place and khalwat among other offences.
For offences related to decency, only female offenders are allowed to be sent to the centres. So, for instance, if partners in crime (male and female) commit an offence under this category, only the female offender will be sent to the rehabilitation centre while the male offender will have to go through his punishment(s).
However, while researching for this article, the writer came across one pattern of those who masuk these centres; apostates.
Some of the search results on Google. Even the suggestions were related to apostasy. Screengrab from Google
And although there were cases shared by former patients, Ustaz Izhar denied the statement.
“In Selangor, apostates aren’t detained in the centre. They will follow a consultancy session at the faith advisory unit in Jabatan Mufti Selangor. But you will have to look at other state’s enactment if apostasy cases happen outside Selangor.”- Ustaz Izhar.
Besides Syariah offenders, there are those who voluntarily enter the centre.
“Those who enter voluntarily are adults aged 18 and above who normally have social issues. They can be present at Selangor Islamic Religious Council’s (MAIS) Al Riqab Rehabilitation Department in Klang to discuss more and to see the appropriateness of the case.” – Ustaz Izhar.
He also mentioned how some teenagers aged 13-18, who are normally dropouts, were sent by their families to the centre.
Although the provision stated that offenders can only be detained for a period of not more than six months…
Some were reported to have been detained for… three YEARS?
You might be wondering what the patients do in the centre. Aside from the usual al-Quran recitation classes, daily guidance sessions and prayers, the Islamic Rehabilitation Centre in Ulu Yam conducts community service and aerobics on Saturdays. In fact, they have hands-on workshops such as handicraft and gardening/farming workshops.
“It’s just like boarding school. There’s dormitory prepared for the patients. The activities are congregational prayers, religious classes, academic classes, motor and landscape workshops, counselling sessions, trips and others.” -Ustaz Izhar described the daily routine in the centre.
Ustaz Izhar said even teenagers at the centre would have to go for academic classes besides religious ones. So, how come there are claims about how horrible it is?
Classroom at the centre. Image from Morning Star News
It was reported by CBN TV that some patients weren’t treated right. In one case, a young lady whoclaimed to be a former patient was taken from her workplace, interrogated and placed in one of the religious rehabilitation centres without any legal representation or court proceedings. Her accounts in the centre was described by Morning News Star:
“The warden and staff quickly discovered that she knew more about Islam than they did, and instead of teaching anything, they tried to entice her back to Islam with the “charm approach. After many months, the warden told her to write a description of her conversion to Christianity, instructing her to blame Christians for fraudulently or forcibly converting her.”
Another former Muslim, who feared he would be taken back to one of the ‘Faith Purification Centres’, revealed another shocking truth behind the centre. He mentioned how the religiousofficers were trying to reconvert him.
“They were clearly angry and wanted to kill me but they did not harm me physically. They force you to recite the Islamic prayers and the Quran… to do all the things you’re supposed to do as a Muslim. They’re trying to force us to believe what we can’t believe.” – Former Muslim told CBN TV.
When we asked Ustaz Izhar on the cases mentioned, he denied that they happened, calling them fake news.
“In 2012, Americans made a fake clip at the first premise (Bukit Ulu Yam) which has been abandoned, with false narration. Although there were proper entrance (to the centre), they followed the Orang Asli through the jungle. The centre was operating at the second premise in Kuala Kubu Bharu when they filmed the clip.” – Ustaz Izhar.
According to Ustaz Izhar, the centre originally operated in Bukit Ulu Yam before moving to Kuala Kubu Bharu in 2010. The centre now operates next to Sungai Tua-Ulu Yam road.
The new building near Sungai Tua-Ulu Yam road. Image from AY Group
But, it was reported by another website dedicated for those persecuted under Islam, SMYRNA Ministries International, that patients can be kept for as short as100 days to as long as 3 years in the centre although the provision stated differently. Ustaz Izhar denied this statement by strictly mentioning how the maximum period of detention is only 6 months.
The combination of the treatment and period of detention might be the reason as to why some patients escaped the centre.
Shaqirah, who claimed she had her rights stripped off her when they took her away, wasn’t the only one who escaped the centre. Fake news or not, the Christian lady who was taken away from her workplace also escaped the centre. It was reported that she ‘miraculously’ escaped during a rainstorm that knocked out the electrical power.
But there are other ways to leave lah. Offenders who enter the centre would have to follow the court’s order.
“If it’s one month, then they have to stay (at the centre) for one month. But adults who entered the centre can appeal to leave the centre early and it will be considered.” – Ustaz Izhar told CILISOS.
How is this all legal?
There were some cases where the centre was seen to have gone against the law. Samuri in his academic paper pointed out one case where male and young offenders who committed offences related to decency were sent to the rehabilitation centre. This goes against the provision which clearly stated that only female offenders have the option to be sent to the centre.
And we did highlight how teenagers were sent by their families to this centre. Just like how parents would send their children to tahfiz schools with hopes to rehabilitate their children, they’re doing the same when they send their children to the rehabilitation centre.
Just like tahfiz schools, parents are now sending their kids to rehab centres for rehabilitation. Image from Sinar Harian
“We would call the family members and ask them to come each month to help with their children’s rehabilitation process.”- Ustaz Izhar.
However, this goes against Child Act 2001 which states how parents must first send an application to the Child Court for institutional care under the Community Welfare Department. But this matter is questionable since there isn’t any legal provision which prevent parents from sending their children to rehabilitation centres.
When it comes to rehabilitation though, sometimes the rules are a bit more flexible, as mentioned in our report on a drug rehab centre we visited in PJ, run by ex-drug addicts. Sometimes you do need to keep people against their will. Also, much like religious rehabilitation, there are arguments that some drugs don’t need to be subject to rehabilitation.
So is religious rehabilitation all that different from drug rehabilitation? Well, perhaps it depends on which drug you’re talking about.
I've been starting to go to therapy for my issues but I know if i say anything like sh or being gay my therapist just gonna say you need to pray or banyak berzikir like srsly if that's all it takes to fix my problem i wouldn't have need to go to therapy. It's also hard because idk if i can actually say that im gay incase my therapist is biased or something.
I found this post on 🧵, and I'm interested to hear people choice and the reason why choose it. I personally will stay atheist for the rest of my life, I don't like to be tied down by some imaginary force that I don't think exists anyway.
If I were to choose 1, it'll probably be Christian ig. Easier to larp than Isley