I WANT TO TOUCH A DOG ~ If only we can have the same enthusiasm when it comes to Touching an Orphan.

I have been reading the comments from supporters of “I Want To Touch A Dog” (IWTTAD) event with great interest. My oh my, how this people believe strongly in what they did and stand 200% behind it. Suddenly they switch to become the follower of whichever “mazhab” that advocates the act of touching a dog even keeping them as pet. Some even go as far as researching and uploading photos of other Muslims in other part of the world hugging, kissing and walking their dogs to justify and defend what they are doing is absolutely right. Anyone dare to say otherwise, is deemed as enemies and they will lash out at you with their sharp toungue and fierce arguments. I was labelled “keyboard warrior” today for expressing my opinion. It would be nice if the young man who award this “makcik” with such rank check out the meaning of it first.

I am not about to argue on mazhab, hadith and all…I think I would like to keep my opinion to myself on that matter. But I must say I admire their devotion. I do. I just wish they could use the same devotion in getting closer to our Creator via other activities besides touching a dog….like touching an orphan, touching & reading the Quran, touching the poor, touching a handicapped person….or touching the heart of another muslim with kindness, respect and compassion. A number of people said almost the same thing too. And yet these supporters lashed back saying the organiser (Syed Azmi) has done a good deed by organising “I Want To Touch A Dog” event, and ask us (the criticizer) to try and do one too (good deed/event).

So here I am talking about this same subject again (Yup I am getting sick of it too!). But I feel I need to share my little experience in organising a charity event. I am sure you all know that there are many unsung heroes out there who have done lots of charity events that goes beyond “touching a dog”. Unfortunately they don’t get the same coverage and “interest” from the main media like you all did. Recently I have helped a friend organising prayers and dinner for 800 orphans. The event is funded by donations from the public. These people are the unsung heroes who pocket out their own hard-earned money, to put together an event for no other reason but in the name of Allah SWT. We wanted to invite public to joint in prayers and spend time with the orphans and also to bring us Muslims of all walks of life closer together to build and strengthen our ukhwah via such good deed.

Thousands of flyers were distributed, bunting and banners were hanged in advance. All social media were utilised to the max. I wrote to all major media, i.e.; the papers, TV and radio to help us promote it. Sadly…only a number of media responded. And these are only the Islamic and Bahasa Malaysia media. None of the English papers show any feedback. When I checked on this “I want to Touch a Dog” event, the major English and the alternative papers were quick to report them… even the Singaporean media are suddenly so interested in us being charitable to dogs. Now don’t tell me, our event is aimed at the Muslims therefore it doesn’t appeal to the their target readers. Do u mean Muslims don’t read English papers? And what about promoting Islam as a good religion in order to “instill tolerance and understanding among all Malaysians”? Don’t tell me u can achieve that only by highlighting Muslim touching a dog in your papers. We expected at least 500 guest among the public to attend…only a handful turned up. But Alhamdulillah we had almost 100 volunteers to help organised the event and filled up the mosque and dining hall and the orphans enjoyed themselves.

Like I said how I wish we can get the same enthusiasm from IWTTAD participants for us to join hands and bring families, friends, children, to touch an orphan and spend time with them and also the same enthusiasm from the media to promote it. Hey we can even invite the non Muslim, why not? Let’s see how many will turn up. Everytime I visited the orphans or charity home, I bumped into quite a number of men and women who came to visit but sadly almost none bring their children to experience and understand what it is like to be poor and alone without parents. I guess it is not as interesting as teaching your children to touch a dog.

I would like to emphasize I have no qualms on any Muslim who want to touch dogs….but u don’t need to campaign on it. If you think it is so important to touch a dog to manifest the humanity in you and to earn validation from your non Muslim community then go knock on your non-muslim neighbours door and ask permission to touch one or you can just go to any petshop or SPCA.

I have nothing against Syed Azmi, I don’t even know him. I believe he has good intentions…but there is a saying “intention doesn't condone your action”. In my humble opinion if the event only creates “fitnah” and divide us further then perhaps he should consider focusing on his other charity events that brings us closer with each other not just with the dogs. I sincerely hope he will put his sudden popularity to good use and for the benefit of the ummah.

I am sure this will not be the end of such event. But those who are against touching dogs (but against abusing dogs ok) also deserved to be respected of their opinion, feelings and sensitivity.

May Allah forgive me for my lack of knowledge and humble opinion.

I WANT TO TOUCH A DOG ~ Manifest of a Modern Progressive Muslim???

I am no ulama to comment on the “halal” and “haram” of touching a dog and I am not about to become one of those self righteous-I know all about Islam just bcoz I started wearing Hijab yesterday, nor do I want to be an “Ustazah Cyber” whose knowledge of Islam is obtained from chained/shared Whatsap and FB status. I can’t help but to question the benefit of “I want to touch a dog” event in becoming a good Muslim. Now before you all out there who think that you belong to the “Progressive Modern Hip Muslim” group makes hasty judgement on me, just hear me out first. After all isn’t a healthy debate and freedom of speech the basis of a modern progressive society?

What is the objective of this event? According to the organiser, Syed Azmi Alhabsi, it is an event to overcome fear of dogs and instill tolerance and understanding among Malaysian of all races and religion. I applaud his good intention. But why stop at dogs? I know many people who are afraid of cats…and most of them are Muslims. Some of them became hysteric and I have seen one who even jumped and squatted on her chair when this little furry adorable harmless kitten came near her feet asking to be fed. Not to mention those people who abuse cats, be it Muslim or not. And this is an animal where you don’t have to worry about washing your hands 6 times with water and one with earth. An animal stated in the hadith as the prophet favourite pet. What about other animals too like sugar glider, hamster, guinea pig, and chameleon? These are some of the pets in my most feared animals list. Yup, why don’t we organise a whole petting zoo for that matter? Shouldn’t a good Muslim love all animals and not hate or abuse them?

One misguided Muslim attendee of the event even post on her FB status saying that the aim of this event is to create awareness amongst Muslims to not hate or abuse dogs. Helloooooooo!!!!! It is sad and humiliating every time I read a thoughtless comment from a Muslim generalising the rest of her fellow believer. Please…. a person who abuse any animal is not a Muslim or belong to any religion! For a non Muslim to perceive us like that is expected, but coming from a Muslim…..Masya’Allah girl, u should spend more time in understanding Islam rather than spending your weekend petting a dog.

What I can see this is no other than an excuse to allow Muslim to satisfy their urge to pet a dog with a hidden agenda of changing the perception of others about Muslim relations with dogs. Some of the comments I read (of course most of them come from Muslims themselves), that those who did not agree with this event are labelled as conservative, barbaric, and even stupid. Well explain to me how does touching a dog make you modern, progressive, brilliant and a good Muslim? If you want to portray yourself as such a progressive Muslim let’s strive at excelling in all field that we are involved, be it at studies, career, business, science, technology, aeronautics, arts, to name a few. Or the simplest way of being a modern, good, progressive Muslim is to mind your language and manners when posting comments … apparently many of us fail to even do just that! Well perhaps there is someone out there who can think of a creative and attractive event to change these sickening so called Muslim attitude and maybe we can call it “I want to touch the Muslim in me” event.

Honestly I do not hate dogs. Being a cat lover, I do think dogs are more adorable than cats. I just don’t like the idea of being licked by one and having to go through the trouble of cleaning myself with 6 times of water and one earth. In fact my late grandfather used to have 2 dogs in the kampung….yes u got it right “kampung” as in Jeram, Kuala Selangor. The dogs were for guarding his chicken farm from wild animals and thieves.

I am not against this event. I just think there are many other better things we can do to potray an image of a good Muslim and to become one. I find this sermon from an Ustaz I heard recently very interesting indeed: “Allah ask us to touch the hands of our parents and husbands for love and forgiveness, the Prophet ask us to caress the head of an orphan for the sake of Allah, a good deed will be written to his/her account for every hair over which he passed his hand….and why do we want to go and touch a dog instead!”

If I am wrong let Allah be my judge and to Him I shall seek forgiveness.