Kassim Ahmad's Blog, page 8
March 11, 2016
SIAPAKAH AHLI SUNNAH WAL-JAMA'AH?
SIAPAKAH AHLI SUNNAH WAL-JAMAAH? Oleh: Kassim Ahmad11 Mac, 2016darul_hikmah333@yahoo.com.my
Dalam beberapa lokasi lain, saya telah menyatakan bahawa tiap-tiap agama atau falsafah atau pandangan hidup, selepas kira-kira 300 tahun, akan bertukar. Demikian yang telah berlaku kepada ajaran monoteisme Nabi Musa bila ia bertukar menjadi agama polities Yahudi. Begitu juga agama monoteis Nabi Isa yang bertukar menjadi agama polities Kristian. Malah begitu juga yang berlaku kepada ajaran monotiesme Nabi Muhammad penyudah segala nabi, dengan kitab sucinya Quran. Selepas kira-kira 300 tahun, ia bertukar menjadi agama puak Ahli Sunnah Wal-Jama’ah! Kala kita bertanya mengapa, saya boleh jawab begini. Dalam jiwa kita ada dua dorongan. Satu mendorong kita naik meningkat – kita sebut dorongan malaikat. Satu lagi meruntun kita turun ke bawah – dorongan syaitan. Pada pokoknya, semua agama (Islam) puak ini anak kepada kecerdasan fikiran Imam Shafi’e (767-820) dengan dengan doktrin barunya dua sumber utama (Quran dan Hadis). Sebelum beliau, hadis dalam ertikata buku-buku Hadis (enam buah semuanya bagi ASWJ) tidak wujud. Setelah doktrin palsu yang baru ini diterima umum, barulah hadis dikutip, ditapis dan dibukukan. Jadi, Hadis/Sunnah bukan warisan Nabi Muhammad. Ia warisan Imam Shafi’e. Demikian juga puak Ahli Sunnah Wal-Jama’ah bukan warisan Nabi Muhammad. Ia warisan Imam Shafi’e. Warisan Nabi Muhammad Quran, dan tidak lain daripada Quran, satu-satunya kita suci yang Tuhan pelihara. dan agama Islam, monoteisme, yang Tuhan lengkap dan sempurnakan. Perhatikan bahawa kebanyakan umat Islam hari ini, di seluruh dunia, tergolong ke dalam puak Ahli Sunnah-Wal Jama’ah. Di Malaysia, puak ini termasuk pegawai-pegawai JAWI (Jabatan Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan) dan JAKIM (Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia). Apabila Perdana Menteri Najib mengumumkan beliau akan meminda Perlembagaan Persekutuan untuk memasukkan doktrin Ahli Sunnah Wal-Jama’ah ke dalamnya, saya segera menasihati beliau supaya tidak berbuat demikian. Alhamdulillah, beliau mendengari nasihat saya. Walaupun kebanyakan rakyat Malaysia tergolong ke dalam puak ASWJ, ada satu golongan kecil, termasuk saya, tetap mengikut ajaran Nabi Muhammad dalam Quran. Syahadah kami satu saja. Ia berbunyi, “Kami naik saksi tiada tuhan, melainkan Tuhan Yang Esa.” Ia disebut dalam Surah 3, (Ali Imran), ayat 18. Syahadah kedua, yang dilafazkan oleh orang munafik, dibatalkan dalam Surah 63 (Al-Munafiqun), ayat 1. Jadi, kita umat Islam, hendaklah kita beriman kepada semua nabi lagi rasul dari Nabi Adam hingga ke Nabi Muhammad, penyudah segala nabi. “Hendaklah kamu berpegang teguh kepada tali Allah, semuanya, dan jangan berpecah belah…” (Quran, 3: 103)
KASSIM AHMAD seorang penulis Malaysia bebas. Laman web bealiau www.kassimahmad.blogspot.com
March 10, 2016
THE RISE AND FALL OF ISLAM
THE RISE AND FALL OF ISLAM
By: Kassim Ahmad17th January, 2016Darul_hikmah333@yahoo.com.my
The Quran in Surah Ali-‘Imran (3) states that “The only religion approved by God is Islam.” The Arabic word ‘deen’ essentially mean ‘way of life’ rather that the restricted ritualistic meaning of ‘religion’. This religion of strict monotheism is taught by all prophets from Adam to its completion and perfection by Muhammad, the last of all prophets. But, as it is wont with human beings, corruption and deterioration set in and complete their work in after about 300 years (10 generations) to change the original teachings. Thus, the monotheism of Prophet Moses became polytheism in Judaism, of Prophet Jesus polytheism in Christianity, and of Muhammad polytheism in Sunnism. Sunnism is sectarian “Islam”, worshipin two gods. KASSIM AHMAD is a freelance Malaysian author. His website is www.kassimahmad.blogspot.com
God has proclaimed: “Do not worship two gods; there is only on god. Therefore you shall reverence Me.” (Quran, 16: 51).
The Quran in Surah Ali-‘Imran (3) states that “The only religion approved by God is Islam.” The Arabic word ‘deen’ essentially mean ‘way of life’ rather that the restricted ritualistic meaning of ‘religion’. This religion of strict monotheism is taught by all prophets from Adam to its completion and perfection by Muhammad, the last of all prophets. But, as it is wont with human beings, corruption and deterioration set in and complete their work in after about 300 years (10 generations) to change the original teachings. Thus, the monotheism of Prophet Moses became polytheism in Judaism, of Prophet Jesus polytheism in Christianity, and of Muhammad polytheism in Sunnism. Sunnism is sectarian “Islam”, worshipin two gods. KASSIM AHMAD is a freelance Malaysian author. His website is www.kassimahmad.blogspot.com
God has proclaimed: “Do not worship two gods; there is only on god. Therefore you shall reverence Me.” (Quran, 16: 51).
ADAKAH MANUSIA BEBAS ATAU TIDAK?
ADAKAH MANUSIA BEBAS ATAU TIDAK?
Oleh: Kassim Ahmad19 Jun, 2015Darul_hikmaH333@yahoo.com.my
Mengiku enam rukun iman yang diajar kepada kita oleh teologi tradisional, rukun ke-6 itu percaya kepada qada dan qadar, iaitu determinisme Tuhan. Anehnya, rukun iman ini berbeza dengan rukun iman yang terdapat dalam Quran. Dalam Quran (4: 136) rukun yang ke-6 (percaya kepada qada dan qadar, determinisme Tuhan) tidak ada. Jadi, rukun iman itu lima saja. Walaupun Tuhan itu maha mengetahui, ini tidak bermakna manusi tidak bebas. Tuhan tahu dari azali segala apa yang berlaku. Umpamanya, dia tahu saya akan menulis artikel ini pada waktu ini, tetapi yang tulis itu saya. Kalau saya tidak mahu tulis pun boleh. Jadi, kita tidak harus mengelirukan dua perkara yang berbeza. Pertama, pengetahuan Tuhan; kedua, perbuatan Tuhan.Walaupun Dia tahu saya akan tulis artikel ini hari ini, yang tulis itu saya, bukan Dia. Salah satu hujah kaum ateis itu pengeliruan antara dua perkara ini. Jika Tuhan ada dan Dia maha berkuasa, mengapa Dia tidak menghalang kejahatan daripada berlaku? Memang Tuhan mengajar kita supaya tidak melakukan kejahatan, tetapi kalau Dia juga bertindak menghalang kejahatan yang manusia lakukan, bermaknalah manusia tidak bebas. Ini bersalahan dengan kehendak-Nya memberi kebebasan kepada manusia. Perhatikan apabila Tuhan memberitahu para malaikat Dia hendak menciptakan seorang khalifah di Bumi, malaikat bantah dengan berkata, “Adakah Engkau hendak meletakkan di sana seorang yang membuat kerosakan serta menumpahkan darah, sedangkan kami bertasbih memuji Engkau dan mengkuduskan nama-Mu? Jawab-Nya, ‘Aku tahu apa yang kamu tidak tahu.’” (Lihat Quran, 2: 30) Nyatalah dialog di atas sebuah kiasan. Ia tidak berlaku seperti itu. Ia mengkiaskan penciptaan manusia sesuatu yang amat hebat, tetapi lagi amat berbahaya – seolah-olah Tuhan mempertaruhkan reputasi dan prestij-Nya di situ! Bolehkan manusia melaksanakan tanggungjawab dan amanah yang Tuhan berikan kepadanya untuk memerintah dunia dengan baik? Kalau dia gagal melaksanakan misi yang diberi oleh Tuhan kepadanya, bagaimana? Bukankah in akan membuktikan kegagalan Tuhan pula? Dengan segala akibatnya kepada seluruh alam? Siapa akan menyembah-Nya lagi selepas itu? Tiada siapa boleh membayangkan hal ini. Mesti inilah sebabnya failasuf Perancis Jean-Paul Sarte dilaporkan berkata, “Man is condemned to be free!” (Manusia tidak ada pilihan kecuali menjadi bebas!) Jadi, pengetahuan Tuhan harus dibezakan dari perbuatan-Nya. Ambil frasa “dengan izin Allah”. Tiada satu pun boleh berlak, kecuali dengan izin Allah. (Quran 10: 100; 6: 59). Ini bermakna semuanya dalam pengetahuan Dia. Allah izin sesuatu perkara berlaku, kerana itu sudah termaktub dalam Lohmahfuz atau pengetahuan Dia, atau jika di alam manusia, kerana ia dikendaki manusia. Jika Dia tidak izin, maka tidak ada kebebasan bagi manusia. Maka itu, lahirnya manusia di dunia satu peristiwa yang besar dan menggerunkan, kerana ia boleh menghancurkan dunia, seperti yang didakwa oleh malaikat. Tetapi, jawapan ringkas Tuhan kepada bantahan ini: “Aku lebih tahu daripada kamu.” Yakni, Tuhan optimis tentang manusia. Di satu lokasi lain, Tuhan menawarkan amanah (memerintah dunia) kepda langit, bumi dan gunung, dan mereka tidak menerima amanah ini kerana takut tidak upaya menanggungnya, tetapi manusia terima, dan Tuhan menyindir manusi sebagai zalim dan jahil. (33: 72). Kalau kita bandingkan sindiran Tuhan ini, ia Nampak semacam bercanggah dengan optimisme Tuhan terhadap kebolehan manusia di atas. Ini bermakna sindiran ini merujuk kepada segi negatif manusia, yakni kerosakan yang boleh dia lakukan. Sejarah manusia di bumi menajdi saksi. Walaupun manusia telah membuat kerosakan dan menumpahkan darah dalam dua peperangan besar, dia juga telah membina tamadun-tamadun yang hebat silih-berganti, dan sekarang di ambang kehidupan di angkasa lepas. Satu soalan: mengapa umat-umat bukan Islam (Amerika Syarikat dan Rusia) yang telah berjaya menghantar roket ke angkasa lepas? Jawapannya dalam Quran juga. “Jika kamu beralih, Dia akan menggantikan kamu dengan kaum lain, dan mereka tidak akan bertindak seperti kamu.” (47: 38)
KASSIM AHAMD seorang penulis Malaysia bebas. Laman webnya www.kassimahmad.blogspot.com
Mengiku enam rukun iman yang diajar kepada kita oleh teologi tradisional, rukun ke-6 itu percaya kepada qada dan qadar, iaitu determinisme Tuhan. Anehnya, rukun iman ini berbeza dengan rukun iman yang terdapat dalam Quran. Dalam Quran (4: 136) rukun yang ke-6 (percaya kepada qada dan qadar, determinisme Tuhan) tidak ada. Jadi, rukun iman itu lima saja. Walaupun Tuhan itu maha mengetahui, ini tidak bermakna manusi tidak bebas. Tuhan tahu dari azali segala apa yang berlaku. Umpamanya, dia tahu saya akan menulis artikel ini pada waktu ini, tetapi yang tulis itu saya. Kalau saya tidak mahu tulis pun boleh. Jadi, kita tidak harus mengelirukan dua perkara yang berbeza. Pertama, pengetahuan Tuhan; kedua, perbuatan Tuhan.Walaupun Dia tahu saya akan tulis artikel ini hari ini, yang tulis itu saya, bukan Dia. Salah satu hujah kaum ateis itu pengeliruan antara dua perkara ini. Jika Tuhan ada dan Dia maha berkuasa, mengapa Dia tidak menghalang kejahatan daripada berlaku? Memang Tuhan mengajar kita supaya tidak melakukan kejahatan, tetapi kalau Dia juga bertindak menghalang kejahatan yang manusia lakukan, bermaknalah manusia tidak bebas. Ini bersalahan dengan kehendak-Nya memberi kebebasan kepada manusia. Perhatikan apabila Tuhan memberitahu para malaikat Dia hendak menciptakan seorang khalifah di Bumi, malaikat bantah dengan berkata, “Adakah Engkau hendak meletakkan di sana seorang yang membuat kerosakan serta menumpahkan darah, sedangkan kami bertasbih memuji Engkau dan mengkuduskan nama-Mu? Jawab-Nya, ‘Aku tahu apa yang kamu tidak tahu.’” (Lihat Quran, 2: 30) Nyatalah dialog di atas sebuah kiasan. Ia tidak berlaku seperti itu. Ia mengkiaskan penciptaan manusia sesuatu yang amat hebat, tetapi lagi amat berbahaya – seolah-olah Tuhan mempertaruhkan reputasi dan prestij-Nya di situ! Bolehkan manusia melaksanakan tanggungjawab dan amanah yang Tuhan berikan kepadanya untuk memerintah dunia dengan baik? Kalau dia gagal melaksanakan misi yang diberi oleh Tuhan kepadanya, bagaimana? Bukankah in akan membuktikan kegagalan Tuhan pula? Dengan segala akibatnya kepada seluruh alam? Siapa akan menyembah-Nya lagi selepas itu? Tiada siapa boleh membayangkan hal ini. Mesti inilah sebabnya failasuf Perancis Jean-Paul Sarte dilaporkan berkata, “Man is condemned to be free!” (Manusia tidak ada pilihan kecuali menjadi bebas!) Jadi, pengetahuan Tuhan harus dibezakan dari perbuatan-Nya. Ambil frasa “dengan izin Allah”. Tiada satu pun boleh berlak, kecuali dengan izin Allah. (Quran 10: 100; 6: 59). Ini bermakna semuanya dalam pengetahuan Dia. Allah izin sesuatu perkara berlaku, kerana itu sudah termaktub dalam Lohmahfuz atau pengetahuan Dia, atau jika di alam manusia, kerana ia dikendaki manusia. Jika Dia tidak izin, maka tidak ada kebebasan bagi manusia. Maka itu, lahirnya manusia di dunia satu peristiwa yang besar dan menggerunkan, kerana ia boleh menghancurkan dunia, seperti yang didakwa oleh malaikat. Tetapi, jawapan ringkas Tuhan kepada bantahan ini: “Aku lebih tahu daripada kamu.” Yakni, Tuhan optimis tentang manusia. Di satu lokasi lain, Tuhan menawarkan amanah (memerintah dunia) kepda langit, bumi dan gunung, dan mereka tidak menerima amanah ini kerana takut tidak upaya menanggungnya, tetapi manusia terima, dan Tuhan menyindir manusi sebagai zalim dan jahil. (33: 72). Kalau kita bandingkan sindiran Tuhan ini, ia Nampak semacam bercanggah dengan optimisme Tuhan terhadap kebolehan manusia di atas. Ini bermakna sindiran ini merujuk kepada segi negatif manusia, yakni kerosakan yang boleh dia lakukan. Sejarah manusia di bumi menajdi saksi. Walaupun manusia telah membuat kerosakan dan menumpahkan darah dalam dua peperangan besar, dia juga telah membina tamadun-tamadun yang hebat silih-berganti, dan sekarang di ambang kehidupan di angkasa lepas. Satu soalan: mengapa umat-umat bukan Islam (Amerika Syarikat dan Rusia) yang telah berjaya menghantar roket ke angkasa lepas? Jawapannya dalam Quran juga. “Jika kamu beralih, Dia akan menggantikan kamu dengan kaum lain, dan mereka tidak akan bertindak seperti kamu.” (47: 38)
KASSIM AHAMD seorang penulis Malaysia bebas. Laman webnya www.kassimahmad.blogspot.com
February 26, 2016
THE ISLAM OF THE PROPHET-MESSENGERS
THE ISLAM OF PROPHETS-MESSENGERS By: Kassim Ahmad24th February, 2016darul_hikmah333@yahoo.com.my
Therefore, you shall devote yourself to the religion of strict monotheism. Such is the natural instinct placed in the people by God. Such creation of God will never change. This is the perfect religion, but most people do not know. – Quran, 30: 30. Recall that your Lord summoned all the descendents of Adam, and had them bear witness for themselves: “Am I not your Lord?” They all said, “Yes, we bear witness.” Thus you cannot say on the Day of Resurrection , “We were not aware of this. Nor can you say, “It was our parents who practiced idolatory, and we simply followed in their footsteps. Will you punish us for what others have innovated?” – Quran, 7: 172-73. Surely, those who believe, those who are Jewish, the Christians, and the converts; anyone who believes in God, and believes in the Last Day, and leads a righteous life, will receive recompence from their Lord. They have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve. –Quran, 2: 62. It does seem from the above verses that the monotheistic religion taught by all divine prophet-messengers, ending with Prophet Muhammad, is implanted in man’s nature. It is natural and most unlike the Islam that has come down to us from our ancestors, the inherited Islam. This Islam is so beautifully inclusive and so beautifully universal in nature. It is the Islam practiced by Prophet Muhammad, so profoundly and far different from the current “Islam” that is spewed by the like of Jawi and Jakim, which want to control every aspect of Muslim lives in Malaysia, pronouncing this and that to be approved or disapproved religiously, by order of the current religious officialdom. It is better that we do away with such authoritarian interference with our lives. It is furthermore sectarian Islam (Sunnism), forbidden by God and the Prophet. It is true that once you freely choose to be a Muslim, you should carry out all the religious obligations, like the five daily prayers, fasting in the month of Ramadan, and so on. You should also try to live righteously. All these obligations are mentioned in the Quran. Islam is so simple that it does not burden its adherents. It allows flexibility in carrying out religious obligations Also there are things that the Quran leaves to one’s individual judgement. All these rulings are proofs of divine mercy. There is a Quranic verse stating that God decrees upon Himself the quality of mercy. (See Quran, 6: 12) Of course, all these obligations are not imposed on the adherents, except to teach them to live righteously. God does not need our worship. He is Great whether we worship Him, or not. On the contrary, it is we who need Him.
KASSIM AHMAD is a Malaysian author. His website is www.kassimahmad.blogspot.com
February 17, 2016
THE STORY OF MAN
THE STORY OF MAN By: Kassim Ahmad17 February, 2016darul_hikmah333@yahoo.com.my
One day the father of Man said to his son, “I want to write the last chapter of the story of Man. “Is it short, or long?” asks his son. “Neither too short, nor too long,” answered the father. “Is it a tragedy, or a comedy?” asks his son. “Decide for yourself,” answered the father. “Please write it quickly. Maybe I will benefit from it,” said his son. Here is the story. After the greats of all nations, ancient, medieval and modern, secular and religious, across all civilizations have come and gone, are we any better? Are we any safer? The answer is a big, “No.” We kill one another every day. One nuclear power threatens another nuclear power with nuclear destruction. We live under threat of total or near-total destruction. Why, oh Lord? Are the protesting angels right? Are we shedders of blood and causers of destructions? But You still went on to create us, saying You know better. Are You wrong? It cannot be, You being All-Knowing. Are we wrong to believe in You? Please help us humans! Where is our promised helper, Imam Mahdi? When is the Second Coming? Oh Lord, please help us. You must help yourselves, says the Lord. I have given you My Book and the mind. Read My Book and use your mind. But all our great minds have come and gone. There is the tomb of books in all the world’s libraries. Still we are no more knowledgeable, nor more safe. Why? The great bullies remain bullies. The aged, the women and the children suffer, become refugees. Oh Lord, where is the justice You promised us? Where is Your compassion?The fault lies not in your stars, but in yourselves, as said Mr Shakespeare. You choose the easy road of sports and amusements; not the difficult road of struggle for justice and truth. You choose to degenerate, instead of to progress. It is your fault. But, Lord, it is You Who make us like this. How can I believe in You now? Even the geniuses among us, like Prof. Stephen Hawking, do not believe in You. Did not Jesus, one of your greats, said that you cannot live by bread alone? You have to believe in something. Better that something be the Ever-Living, the All-Powerful, the All-knowing, the Perfect, even if He does not exist. But what if He does exist? Yes, He does exist. Even if you cannot know Him, he does exit. Otherwise, how can you exist? You exist because He created you. How do you know that He created you? As far as I can see, the world creates itself, although I did not see it happen. I deduce it logically. If I were to say that Someone Else creates the Universe, it makes logical sense. But in the end you will come to the Uncaused Cause. What causes the uncaused cause? If you answer the uncaused cause, causes itself, you put yourself outside the bounds of logic. You become illogical, which is unacceptable. You have to surpass the boundaries of logic, not into the world of the illogical, but into the world of supra-logical. God is not illogical. He is supra-logical. Epistemology is the combination of sensory, logical and supra-logical evidences. Period.
KASSIM AHMAD is a Malaysian author. His website is www.lassimahmad.blogspot.com
February 4, 2016
WHAT IS MAN?
MAN – WHAT IS MAN? By: Kassim Ahmad5th February, 2016Darul_hikmah333@yahoo.com.my
What a piece of work is man! How noble in reason! How infinite in faculties! In form and moving, how exspress and admirable! In action, how like an angel! In apprehension, how like a god! The beauty of the world! The paragon of animals! And yet, to me, what is this quintessence of dust? Man delights not me – no, nor woman neither. HAMLET, Shakespeare. Recently I promised my readers to write on Man. In the Bible, God said that He created man in His own image. In the Quran, man is His vicegerent on Earth (Arabic: khalifah). The meaning is essentially the same: ruler. Man is the ruler and the re-maker of the Universe. That has, of course been done. Man has created cities and civilizations, from ancient Babylon and Egypt, through ancient Greece, and Rome, through modern Arabian monotheism, and lastly through modern Europe and its extension in the United States of America. In a beautiful allegory in the second chapter of the Quran, the angels protested against the creation of Man, saying that Man is a shedder of blood and spreader of corruption in the world. God simply said that He knew better. (See Quran, 2: 30) The angels were partially right. Man did shed blood in the two World Wars. (God forbid that there will be a third!). After the Second World War, there was a period called “Cold War” when a strategic balance was struck between the American-led so-called Democratic block and the Soviet Communist-led Eastern block prevailed. In the meanwhile, Man’s knowledge advance, slowly at first, then by leaps and bounce, and we are now at the threshold of colonizing outer space. In two generations we shall indeed be living in outer space! So it does seem that God’s optimism about Man has been amply demonstrated. If I am not mistaken, more miracles are coming. Anti-aging, for one. We shall soon be forever young! There is no doubt that man cannot escape reaping the harvest of what he had sowed. He will be punished to the extent of his criminality, i.e. disobedience to his own Maker. Unless my reading of the Quran is at fault, this means man will punish his own wrong-doing. What incredible beauty! In the end, man will have punished himself enough, and he will be freed from his own Hell, and enter Paradise. Such is God’s incredible power and wisdom. No wonder we are asked always to remember God’s graciousnes and mercy.
KASSIM AHMAD is a Malaysian author. His website is www.kassimahmad.blogspot.com
February 3, 2016
MALAYSIA: ITS PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS
MY COUNTRY MALAYSIA: ITS PROBLEMS
AND RECOMENDED SOLUTIONS
By: Kassim Ahmad3th February, 2016darul_hikmah333@yahoo.com.my
I am a patriot, a plain Kassim Ahmad, who a long time ago politely refused an UMNO offer for a datukship. Being from a poor oppressed class, I began early as a rebel (with cause, of course!) and soon became the leader of the Malayan People’s Socialist Party (1968-1984). In 1984, seeing the collapse of international socialism in the world, I left the party and made a strong patriotic statement by joining UMNO in 1986. My aim of reforming UMNO from within could not take off. I am still an UMNO member, albeit very critical one. I have also written to the UMNO president suggesting to him how to reform UMNO. I did not expect him to be able to do it; still I tried.On the same day when my application was approved, my widely discussed book Hadis – Satu Penilaian Semula came out. After two months of extensive discussions, including an ABIM-organized public dialogue, and through cunning and deceit, it was pronounced deviationary and was banned by the religious establishment in the country. Several state muftispenned books to rebut my book, repeating their tired old arguments, which I have already refuted in the first place. However, I wrote another book entitled, Hadis – Jawapan kepada Pengkritik (1992), briefly dismissing the muftis’ several books, but giving more details about the Quran.This started the movement for the review of Hadith as well as for going back to the Quran, not only in Malaysia, but internationally. Hadis – Satu Penilaian Semula has since been translated into English and Arabic. I am glad to say that today the Turkish Governmet is undertaking a major project of Hadith re-evaluation. The title of my essay is touching on Malaysia’s problems and my recommended solutions. I admitted that I was a rebel, and still am. At the core of Malaysia’s problems is UMNO, the backbone of its ruling BN Government. In 1946 when UMNO was first formed it was a poor idealistic Malay party embraced en mass by the Malays in their enthusiasm and quest for Merdeka. To cut the story short, via the bloody Mei 13, via great Razak’s Mageran (the Council for the Regeneration of the Country) and his extraordinary vision, Malaysia is what it is today, one of the most progressive countries among the developing world.At the same time, as it is wont in human affairs, deterioration sets in, as complacentcy grows among the ruling elite. UMNO became corrupt, and has perhaps reached the point of no return today. In this atmosphere of gloom when financial scandles abound, pessimism is in the air. Oh Lord! Do we need a second Mageran, ask the thinking part of Malaysia.The people ask, “What are we to do? Can anything be done? Such voices rise from the depths of the soul of the people, voiced by their intellectuals, the likes of Tun Mahathir, HRH Dr. Nazrin Shah, HRH the Crown Prices of Johor, and others. Yes, indeed. What is to be done? Can corrupt UMNO be reformed? Can weak Pakatan Rakyat take over? Where is our Saviour? Where is our Imam Mahdi? When is the Second-Coming (of Jesus Christ)?Unfortunately, all these wailings are of no avail. Man has been created as God’s vicegerent on earth, to rule the earth and change it to his liking. Oh Man! Rise up to your calling! “I created you free,” God said. So wait no more! Act!Enumerate the things you must do in order of importance. Firstly, you must reform UMNO. This has to done through education and constant vigilance by the yearly UMNO general assembly to criticize and correct from within. This is a better way than the Western concept of two-party system of check and balance. A would-be UMNO member must go through an appropriate course, and so would a cadre for various levels of UMNO leadership. Once the difficult task of reforming of UMNO is over, all other problems will be resolved: wastage in manpower in Government, increasing productivity by optimum use of assets, trimming the Government, the need for good governance, increasing salaries of lower-rung Government servants, overcoming corruption, overcoming periodic floods in some states, eliminating traffic jams by decreasing private cars and increasing and improving public transport, and doing away with tolls, and such like actions, to make life more comfortable for all Malaysians. Of course, we should not miss learning from our good traditions. We have the Prophet’s great Madina Charter to model our constitution on.
KASSIM AHMAD is a Malaysian author. His website is www.kassimahmad.blogspot.com
I am a patriot, a plain Kassim Ahmad, who a long time ago politely refused an UMNO offer for a datukship. Being from a poor oppressed class, I began early as a rebel (with cause, of course!) and soon became the leader of the Malayan People’s Socialist Party (1968-1984). In 1984, seeing the collapse of international socialism in the world, I left the party and made a strong patriotic statement by joining UMNO in 1986. My aim of reforming UMNO from within could not take off. I am still an UMNO member, albeit very critical one. I have also written to the UMNO president suggesting to him how to reform UMNO. I did not expect him to be able to do it; still I tried.On the same day when my application was approved, my widely discussed book Hadis – Satu Penilaian Semula came out. After two months of extensive discussions, including an ABIM-organized public dialogue, and through cunning and deceit, it was pronounced deviationary and was banned by the religious establishment in the country. Several state muftispenned books to rebut my book, repeating their tired old arguments, which I have already refuted in the first place. However, I wrote another book entitled, Hadis – Jawapan kepada Pengkritik (1992), briefly dismissing the muftis’ several books, but giving more details about the Quran.This started the movement for the review of Hadith as well as for going back to the Quran, not only in Malaysia, but internationally. Hadis – Satu Penilaian Semula has since been translated into English and Arabic. I am glad to say that today the Turkish Governmet is undertaking a major project of Hadith re-evaluation. The title of my essay is touching on Malaysia’s problems and my recommended solutions. I admitted that I was a rebel, and still am. At the core of Malaysia’s problems is UMNO, the backbone of its ruling BN Government. In 1946 when UMNO was first formed it was a poor idealistic Malay party embraced en mass by the Malays in their enthusiasm and quest for Merdeka. To cut the story short, via the bloody Mei 13, via great Razak’s Mageran (the Council for the Regeneration of the Country) and his extraordinary vision, Malaysia is what it is today, one of the most progressive countries among the developing world.At the same time, as it is wont in human affairs, deterioration sets in, as complacentcy grows among the ruling elite. UMNO became corrupt, and has perhaps reached the point of no return today. In this atmosphere of gloom when financial scandles abound, pessimism is in the air. Oh Lord! Do we need a second Mageran, ask the thinking part of Malaysia.The people ask, “What are we to do? Can anything be done? Such voices rise from the depths of the soul of the people, voiced by their intellectuals, the likes of Tun Mahathir, HRH Dr. Nazrin Shah, HRH the Crown Prices of Johor, and others. Yes, indeed. What is to be done? Can corrupt UMNO be reformed? Can weak Pakatan Rakyat take over? Where is our Saviour? Where is our Imam Mahdi? When is the Second-Coming (of Jesus Christ)?Unfortunately, all these wailings are of no avail. Man has been created as God’s vicegerent on earth, to rule the earth and change it to his liking. Oh Man! Rise up to your calling! “I created you free,” God said. So wait no more! Act!Enumerate the things you must do in order of importance. Firstly, you must reform UMNO. This has to done through education and constant vigilance by the yearly UMNO general assembly to criticize and correct from within. This is a better way than the Western concept of two-party system of check and balance. A would-be UMNO member must go through an appropriate course, and so would a cadre for various levels of UMNO leadership. Once the difficult task of reforming of UMNO is over, all other problems will be resolved: wastage in manpower in Government, increasing productivity by optimum use of assets, trimming the Government, the need for good governance, increasing salaries of lower-rung Government servants, overcoming corruption, overcoming periodic floods in some states, eliminating traffic jams by decreasing private cars and increasing and improving public transport, and doing away with tolls, and such like actions, to make life more comfortable for all Malaysians. Of course, we should not miss learning from our good traditions. We have the Prophet’s great Madina Charter to model our constitution on.
KASSIM AHMAD is a Malaysian author. His website is www.kassimahmad.blogspot.com
MALAYSIA: ISS PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS
MY COUNTRY MALAYSIA: ITS PROBLEMS
AND RECOMENDED SOLUTIONS
By: Kassim Ahmad3th February, 2016darul_hikmah333@yahoo.com.my
I am a patriot, a plain Kassim Ahmad, who a long time ago politely refused an UMNO offer for a datukship. Being from a poor oppressed class, I began early as a rebel (with cause, of course!) and soon became the leader of the Malayan People’s Socialist Party (1968-1984). In 1984, seeing the collapse of international socialism in the world, I left the party and made a strong patriotic statement by joining UMNO in 1986. My aim of reforming UMNO from within could not take off. I am still an UMNO member, albeit very critical one. I have also written to the UMNO president suggesting to him how to reform UMNO. I did not expect him to be able to do it; still I tried.On the same day when my application was approved, my widely discussed book Hadis – Satu Penilaian Semula came out. After two months of extensive discussions, including an ABIM-organized public dialogue, and through cunning and deceit, it was pronounced deviationary and was banned by the religious establishment in the country. Several state muftispenned books to rebut my book, repeating their tired old arguments, which I have already refuted in the first place. However, I wrote another book entitled, Hadis – Jawapan kepada Pengkritik (1992), briefly dismissing the muftis’ several books, but giving more details about the Quran.This started the movement for the review of Hadith as well as for going back to the Quran, not only in Malaysia, but internationally. Hadis – Satu Penilaian Semula has since been translated into English and Arabic. I am glad to say that today the Turkish Governmet is undertaking a major project of Hadith re-evaluation. The title of my essay is touching on Malaysia’s problems and my recommended solutions. I admitted that I was a rebel, and still am. At the core of Malaysia’s problems is UMNO, the backbone of its ruling BN Government. In 1946 when UMNO was first formed it was a poor idealistic Malay party embraced en mass by the Malays in their enthusiasm and quest for Merdeka. To cut the story short, via the bloody Mei 13, via great Razak’s Mageran (the Council for the Regeneration of the Country) and his extraordinary vision, Malaysia is what it is today, one of the most progressive countries among the developing world.At the same time, as it is wont in human affairs, deterioration sets in, as complacentcy grows among the ruling elite. UMNO became corrupt, and has perhaps reached the point of no return today. In this atmosphere of gloom when financial scandles abound, pessimism is in the air. Oh Lord! Do we need a second Mageran, ask the thinking part of Malaysia.The people ask, “What are we to do? Can anything be done? Such voices rise from the depths of the soul of the people, voiced by their intellectuals, the likes of Tun Mahathir, HRH Dr. Nazrin Shah, HRH the Crown Prices of Johor, and others. Yes, indeed. What is to be done? Can corrupt UMNO be reformed? Can weak Pakatan Rakyat take over? Where is our Saviour? Where is our Imam Mahdi? When is the Second-Coming (of Jesus Christ)?Unfortunately, all these wailings are of no avail. Man has been created as God’s vicegerent on earth, to rule the earth and change it to his liking. Oh Man! Rise up to your calling! “I created you free,” God said. So wait no more! Act!Enumerate the things you must do in order of importance. Firstly, you must reform UMNO. This has to done through education and constant vigilance by the yearly UMNO general assembly to criticize and correct from within. This is a better way than the Western concept of two-party system of check and balance. A would-be UMNO member must go through an appropriate course, and so would a cadre for various levels of UMNO leadership. Once the difficult task of reforming of UMNO is over, all other problems will be resolved: wastage in manpower in Government, increasing productivity by optimum use of assets, trimming the Government, the need for good governance, increasing salaries of lower-rung Government servants, overcoming corruption, overcoming periodic floods in some states, eliminating traffic jams by decreasing private cars and increasing and improving public transport, and doing away with tolls, and such like actions, to make life more comfortable for all Malaysians. Of course, we should not miss learning from our good traditions. We have the Prophet’s great Madina Charter to model our constitution on.
KASSIM AHMAD is a Malaysian author. His website is www.kassimahmad.blogspot.com
I am a patriot, a plain Kassim Ahmad, who a long time ago politely refused an UMNO offer for a datukship. Being from a poor oppressed class, I began early as a rebel (with cause, of course!) and soon became the leader of the Malayan People’s Socialist Party (1968-1984). In 1984, seeing the collapse of international socialism in the world, I left the party and made a strong patriotic statement by joining UMNO in 1986. My aim of reforming UMNO from within could not take off. I am still an UMNO member, albeit very critical one. I have also written to the UMNO president suggesting to him how to reform UMNO. I did not expect him to be able to do it; still I tried.On the same day when my application was approved, my widely discussed book Hadis – Satu Penilaian Semula came out. After two months of extensive discussions, including an ABIM-organized public dialogue, and through cunning and deceit, it was pronounced deviationary and was banned by the religious establishment in the country. Several state muftispenned books to rebut my book, repeating their tired old arguments, which I have already refuted in the first place. However, I wrote another book entitled, Hadis – Jawapan kepada Pengkritik (1992), briefly dismissing the muftis’ several books, but giving more details about the Quran.This started the movement for the review of Hadith as well as for going back to the Quran, not only in Malaysia, but internationally. Hadis – Satu Penilaian Semula has since been translated into English and Arabic. I am glad to say that today the Turkish Governmet is undertaking a major project of Hadith re-evaluation. The title of my essay is touching on Malaysia’s problems and my recommended solutions. I admitted that I was a rebel, and still am. At the core of Malaysia’s problems is UMNO, the backbone of its ruling BN Government. In 1946 when UMNO was first formed it was a poor idealistic Malay party embraced en mass by the Malays in their enthusiasm and quest for Merdeka. To cut the story short, via the bloody Mei 13, via great Razak’s Mageran (the Council for the Regeneration of the Country) and his extraordinary vision, Malaysia is what it is today, one of the most progressive countries among the developing world.At the same time, as it is wont in human affairs, deterioration sets in, as complacentcy grows among the ruling elite. UMNO became corrupt, and has perhaps reached the point of no return today. In this atmosphere of gloom when financial scandles abound, pessimism is in the air. Oh Lord! Do we need a second Mageran, ask the thinking part of Malaysia.The people ask, “What are we to do? Can anything be done? Such voices rise from the depths of the soul of the people, voiced by their intellectuals, the likes of Tun Mahathir, HRH Dr. Nazrin Shah, HRH the Crown Prices of Johor, and others. Yes, indeed. What is to be done? Can corrupt UMNO be reformed? Can weak Pakatan Rakyat take over? Where is our Saviour? Where is our Imam Mahdi? When is the Second-Coming (of Jesus Christ)?Unfortunately, all these wailings are of no avail. Man has been created as God’s vicegerent on earth, to rule the earth and change it to his liking. Oh Man! Rise up to your calling! “I created you free,” God said. So wait no more! Act!Enumerate the things you must do in order of importance. Firstly, you must reform UMNO. This has to done through education and constant vigilance by the yearly UMNO general assembly to criticize and correct from within. This is a better way than the Western concept of two-party system of check and balance. A would-be UMNO member must go through an appropriate course, and so would a cadre for various levels of UMNO leadership. Once the difficult task of reforming of UMNO is over, all other problems will be resolved: wastage in manpower in Government, increasing productivity by optimum use of assets, trimming the Government, the need for good governance, increasing salaries of lower-rung Government servants, overcoming corruption, overcoming periodic floods in some states, eliminating traffic jams by decreasing private cars and increasing and improving public transport, and doing away with tolls, and such like actions, to make life more comfortable for all Malaysians. Of course, we should not miss learning from our good traditions. We have the Prophet’s great Madina Charter to model our constitution on.
KASSIM AHMAD is a Malaysian author. His website is www.kassimahmad.blogspot.com
January 29, 2016
THE TIME BOM THAT IS RELIGION
THE TIME BOM THAT IS RELIGION
By: Kassim Ahmad29 January, 2016
Darul_hikmah333@yahoo.com.my
The title of this essay is not mine. I borrow it from Perak Sultan Dr Nazrin Shah’s warning in a speech to a three-day religious dialogue held in Ipoh recently. His exact word were, “When religion is used for reasons other than to spread spirituality, what more when it is sensationalized politically, it becomes an explosive time-bom that could cause chaos and disaster.” He added that Muslims should not be judging each other’s level of faith, as the authority to do so lies solely with Allah. He could not have said it better. The warning is timely, as religious (read “Islamic”) institutions in this country, like Jawi and Jakim, are usurping the fuction of God in their overzealous performance of their duties. Tawfik Ismail’s view that they should be closed down has merit, as Islam is, constitutionally, under the jurisdiction of the Malay rulers and the Agong. It is pertinent to ask, “Which Islam?” On the one hand, there is the Islam of the prophet-messengers, ending with Prophet Muhammad, when God completed and perfected the religion of monotheism (Submission, Islam) for mankind. On the other, the inherited deviated religions of Judaism, Christianity and Sunnism. Some Muslims are unaware that their “ulama”’s brand of Ahli-Sunnah Wal-Jama’ah (Sunnism) is as deviationary, as Jadaism and Christianity are. A deep study of history would reveal the matter.The effect of Sunnism is two-fold. Doctrinally, to deify Muhammad against his will, which these deviationists would vehemently deny. Ask them why they would not be satisfied with mentioning God alone without mentioning Muhammad, as witness their syahadah. Also ask them what does God mean when He says, “Do not worship two gods. There is only one god. Therefore, you shall reverence Me.” (Quran, 16: 51)Muhammad also prohibits his followers from breaking into sects. Sectarian “Islam” is not part of his teachings.Another bigger effect is that their societies are universally blighted will material, moral and spiritual problems. The Muslims are currently at the bottom of the ladder of nations, when they were once at the top. Do their leaders ask these critical questions? Tariq Ramadan, Abdullahi Ahmed An-Na’im and the rest of the reformers – what have they achieved? The answer is sadly, “Nothing.” Why?They have not tackled the basic question. The basic question is to go back to the Quran and to understand it anew. Remember the Prophet’s one complaint to God is, “My Lord, my people have deserted this Quran.” (25: 30)We have to explain why the Judeo-Christian West has overtaken the Muslims since the 16th Century on. There is no other answer except that in the main they have recovered their once-lost monotheistic world-view. The Muslims must wake up. Realize where you have deviated from God’s teachings, as delivered by the last Prophet Muhammad. Stop deifying Muhammad against his will. Stop blindly following your “ulama” priesthood class. Go back to holding fast on to God and follow Muhammad ( read, follow the teachings of the Quran), and you will rise again.
KASSIM AHMAD is a Malaysian author. His website is www.kassimahmad.blogspot.com
The title of this essay is not mine. I borrow it from Perak Sultan Dr Nazrin Shah’s warning in a speech to a three-day religious dialogue held in Ipoh recently. His exact word were, “When religion is used for reasons other than to spread spirituality, what more when it is sensationalized politically, it becomes an explosive time-bom that could cause chaos and disaster.” He added that Muslims should not be judging each other’s level of faith, as the authority to do so lies solely with Allah. He could not have said it better. The warning is timely, as religious (read “Islamic”) institutions in this country, like Jawi and Jakim, are usurping the fuction of God in their overzealous performance of their duties. Tawfik Ismail’s view that they should be closed down has merit, as Islam is, constitutionally, under the jurisdiction of the Malay rulers and the Agong. It is pertinent to ask, “Which Islam?” On the one hand, there is the Islam of the prophet-messengers, ending with Prophet Muhammad, when God completed and perfected the religion of monotheism (Submission, Islam) for mankind. On the other, the inherited deviated religions of Judaism, Christianity and Sunnism. Some Muslims are unaware that their “ulama”’s brand of Ahli-Sunnah Wal-Jama’ah (Sunnism) is as deviationary, as Jadaism and Christianity are. A deep study of history would reveal the matter.The effect of Sunnism is two-fold. Doctrinally, to deify Muhammad against his will, which these deviationists would vehemently deny. Ask them why they would not be satisfied with mentioning God alone without mentioning Muhammad, as witness their syahadah. Also ask them what does God mean when He says, “Do not worship two gods. There is only one god. Therefore, you shall reverence Me.” (Quran, 16: 51)Muhammad also prohibits his followers from breaking into sects. Sectarian “Islam” is not part of his teachings.Another bigger effect is that their societies are universally blighted will material, moral and spiritual problems. The Muslims are currently at the bottom of the ladder of nations, when they were once at the top. Do their leaders ask these critical questions? Tariq Ramadan, Abdullahi Ahmed An-Na’im and the rest of the reformers – what have they achieved? The answer is sadly, “Nothing.” Why?They have not tackled the basic question. The basic question is to go back to the Quran and to understand it anew. Remember the Prophet’s one complaint to God is, “My Lord, my people have deserted this Quran.” (25: 30)We have to explain why the Judeo-Christian West has overtaken the Muslims since the 16th Century on. There is no other answer except that in the main they have recovered their once-lost monotheistic world-view. The Muslims must wake up. Realize where you have deviated from God’s teachings, as delivered by the last Prophet Muhammad. Stop deifying Muhammad against his will. Stop blindly following your “ulama” priesthood class. Go back to holding fast on to God and follow Muhammad ( read, follow the teachings of the Quran), and you will rise again.
KASSIM AHMAD is a Malaysian author. His website is www.kassimahmad.blogspot.com
January 17, 2016
THE RISE AND FALL OF ISLAM
THE RISE AND FALL OF ISLAM By: Kassim Ahmad17th January, 2016Darul_hikmah333@yahoo.com.my
The Quran in Surah Ali-‘Imran (3) states that “The only religion approved by God is Islam.” The Arabic word ‘deen’ essentially mean ‘way of life’ rather that the restricted ritualistic meaning of ‘religion’. This religion of strict monotheism is taught by all prophets from Adam to its completion and perfection by Muhammad, the last of all prophets. But, as it is wont with human beings, corruption and deterioration set in and complete their work in after about 300 years (10 generations) to change the original teachings. Thus, the monotheism of Prophet Moses became polytheism in Judaism, of Prophet Jesus polytheism in Christianity, and of Muhammad polytheism in Sunnism. Fortunately for mankind, the last of God’s scripture, the Quran, is divinely protected so that all mankind can always refer to it as its guide. This divine protection lies internally in the scripture in a mathematically awesome and impossible to imitate structure called Code 19. This Code is stated in the Quran in Surah Al-Muddaththir (74), verses 30-31. The verses go, “Over it is nineteen. We appointed angels to be guardians of Hell, and we assign their number (19) (1) to disturb the disbelievers, (2) to convince the Christians and the Jews (that this is a divine scripture), (3) to strengthen the faith of the faithful, (4) to remove all traces of doubt from the hearts of Christians, Jews, as well as believers, and (5) to expose those who harbor doubt in their hearts. The disbelievers will say, ‘What does God mean by this allegory?’ God thus sends astray whomever He wills, and guides whomever He wills. None knows the soldiers of your Lord except He. This is a reminder for the people.” The rise of Islam, beginning with the reign of Prophet Muhammad in the Arabian Peninsular in early Seventh Century, within a short time of only sixty years shot up to be the No. One power in the world, beating the two superpowers of the then world, the Byzantian Empire and the Persian Empire. Historian Philip K. Hitti, in his book, History of the Arabs (1970), states, “If someone in the first third of the seventh Christian century had had the audacity to prophesy that within a decade some unheralded, unforeseen power from hitherto barbarous and little-known land of Arabia was to make its appearance, hurl itself against the only two world powers of the age, fall heir to the one -- the Sasanid – and strip the other – the Byzantine -- of its fairest provinces, he would have undoubtedly have been declared a lunatic. Yet that was exactly what happened. After the death of the Prophet sterile Arabia seems to have been converted as if by magic into a nursery of heroes the like of whom both in number and quality is hard to find anywhere. The military campaigns of Khalid ibn-al-Walid and ‘Amar ibn-al-‘As which ensued in al-Iraq, Persia, Syria and Egypt remain among the most brilliantly executed in the history of warfare and bear favourable comparison with those of Napoleon, Hannibal or Alexander.” (p. 142). A Western philosophical historian, Robert Briffault, in his epoch-making book, The Making of Humanity (1919), after denouncing a conspiracy of silence by most Western historians on the contributions of Muslim science to modern Europe, surmarised the contribution of Muslim science to civilization, thus: “The debt of our science to that of the Arabs does not consist in startling discoveries or revolutionary theories. Science owes a great deal more to Arab culture , it owes its existence. The ancient world was, as we saw, pre-scientific. The astronomy and mathematics of the Greeks were a foreign importation never thoroughly acclamatised in Greek culture. The Greeks systematized, generalized and theorized, but he patient ways of investigation, the accumulation of positive knowledge, the minute methods of science, detailed and prolonged observation, experimental inquiry, were altogether alien to the Greek temperament. … What we called science arose in Europe as result of a new spirit of inquiry, of new methods of investigation, of the method of experiment, observation, measurement, of the development of mathematics in a form unknown to the Greeks. That spirit and those methods were introduced into the European world by the Arabs.” (p. 191) Muslim civilization lasted eight centuries. In that time, Baghdad became the capital of the world and Europe became students at the feet of Baghdad. When the rot set in, Europe took over the banner of civilization and what is known as the European Renaissance began. Will Western leadership last for ever? Only time can tell. Already cracks are beginning to be seen.The more important question for Muslim leaders to answer is why the Muslim way of life, guaranteed by God, has collapsed, and how they can rebuild it. To answer this all-important question, they must re-study the Quran with a scientific methodology. I can suggest a few signposts. Firstly, at a certain point in time, Muslim science froze and deteriorated, due to wrong teaching of certain so-called masters. These were made into masters by a new priesthood class adopted in imitation of medieval Hinduism and Christianity. In Islam there is no priesthood class.Secondly, at a certain point in time, a certain attitude of fatalism developed in Islam due a new theology preached in accordance to hadith teachings. Hadiths are essentially fabrications falsely ascribed to the great name of Prophet Muhammad. Thirdly, that new theology also preached salvation in the Afterlife, in a nondescript Theologians’ Nirvana in imitation of Bhuddism. This led to Muslim apathy in a life waiting for death. At this point, roughly from the Fourteenth Century onwards, this false Islam died, with the false Muslims. Fourthly and lastly, to rebuild, the Muslims must re-study the Quran (which is their and mankind’s book of guidance) to find correct answers to their current plight. I have surmarised the teachings of the Quran as “revolutionary, life-affirming and death-defying”. We must seek salvation in this life by raising our soul to a higher level. It is this raising of our soul to a higher level that is necessary for the coming Second Muslim Civilization.
KASSIM AHMAD is a freelance Malaysian author. His website is www.kassimahmad.blogspot.com
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