Playing by the rules
One of the mailing lists I was on forwarded a link from the website of Nik Roskiman, affliliated with the IIUM and currently in Edinburgh pursuing his PhD. His article discussed the issue of Malaysians in the UK applying for child benefits and other credits made available by the British government, within the context of the restriction of student visas to the UK, which clearly state that we should not have recourse to public funds.
He argued:
This was then supplemented by arguments taken from various kitabs, the Quran and the Hadith, which you can read from the link given above.
What was interesting to me was one of the commenters who clearly disagreed with Nik Roskiman's arguments, saying, in the voice bordering on arrogance that we hear so much these days:
The question of whether it is wrong or right to claim for such benefits aside, I see a lot of flawed logic in this commenter's way of thinking. Because we perceive (and this is very much a matter of perception, because many could argue that what the British government are doing, with the arrests akin to the ISA and making visa requirements stringent in the interest of public safety makes perfect sense) people to be bad, it automatically makes it right for us to commit a counter-sin? Two wrongs making a right? In effect, because some governments are perceived to be 'wrong'; it's right then for us to plunder their banks and steal their money? Why stop there, why not kill their young and rape their women, then?
I've always believed that judging the rights and wrongs of others is best left to the Almighty; all we need to do is try and play by the rules. Within the context of religion, faith and belief in God, what do you think? (Atheists and those who do not subscribe to organised religion, I gather, may have different views)
He argued:
(1) Jika sekiranya warga Malaysia/orang asing dibenarkan mengikut undang-undang Britain mendapatkan benefits yang disebutkan tadi, maka tiadalah ia menjadi satu kesalahan dan diharuskan mengikut syarak;
(2)Walaubagaimanapun, bagi pelajar Malaysia yang datang ke sini bersama Visa masing-masing tercatat "No Recourse to Public Funds", kita sewajarnya menyemak dahulu apakah tafsiran "public funds" itu. Ianya boleh dilihat di salah satu laman berikut:
i. UK Visas Public Funds List;
ii. Definition of Public Funds
Maka jika apa yang dimaksudkan "No Recourse to Public Funds" di sini termasuk juga di dalamnya child benefit/ working credit tax benefits dan lain-lain seperti yang disenaraikan di laman berkenaan, maka adalah jelas sekali hukumnya Haram di sisi Islam menuntut wang yang tidak layak dituntut oleh kita.
This was then supplemented by arguments taken from various kitabs, the Quran and the Hadith, which you can read from the link given above.
What was interesting to me was one of the commenters who clearly disagreed with Nik Roskiman's arguments, saying, in the voice bordering on arrogance that we hear so much these days:
Kirim salam pada Nik Roskiman, dia baru di sini dia ingat orang British baik sangat. Mereka tangkap orang guna Terrorist Act, susahkan memberi Visa, ada yang terkandas di airport berjam-jam jadi tak salah kita ambil duit mereka.
The question of whether it is wrong or right to claim for such benefits aside, I see a lot of flawed logic in this commenter's way of thinking. Because we perceive (and this is very much a matter of perception, because many could argue that what the British government are doing, with the arrests akin to the ISA and making visa requirements stringent in the interest of public safety makes perfect sense) people to be bad, it automatically makes it right for us to commit a counter-sin? Two wrongs making a right? In effect, because some governments are perceived to be 'wrong'; it's right then for us to plunder their banks and steal their money? Why stop there, why not kill their young and rape their women, then?
I've always believed that judging the rights and wrongs of others is best left to the Almighty; all we need to do is try and play by the rules. Within the context of religion, faith and belief in God, what do you think? (Atheists and those who do not subscribe to organised religion, I gather, may have different views)
posted by Idlan at 8/29/2004 10:36:00 am
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