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(SDN) — Four long years!
Counting the days, that’s 4,380, minus holidays, absences, cutting classes, and tardiness at the Catholic University of Santo Tomas (UST)!
A Moro in UST — Faculty of Arts and Letters, if one may ask — at the height of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) revolutionary war for the independence of Mindanao. Of course, in hindsight, everyone knows what ultimately happened to the separatist struggle of the MNLF. As well as to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s (MILF) own struggle for a “pure Islamic State”.
In the end everything boiled down to “autonomy” — in different forms, after the rivers of blood had dried up.
But that’s another topic for another day.
As someone who spent college life in a Catholic academic institution, the UST no less, when it was not wholly appreciated among Muslim parents, and at the peak of the war in Mindanao, this space would like to express its voice on the arguments pro and con on San Beda University’s barrier-breaking and brave move to offer a course, a subject, in its Graduate School of Law, titled “The Qur’an and Shari’ah Law” to be handled by a Catholic priest, Fr. Dr. John P. Mallare.
Sounds strange, earth-shaking? Maybe, maybe not. Depends on what side of the fence you are seating.
Disclaimer: this is not an opinion from an expert, this space is by an ordinary journalist whose passion for Journalism has remained undiminished despite being in the news media industry for over four decades.
Over social media on San Beda University’s course offerings a few days ago for its Graduate School of Law, the announcement on Fr. Mallare’s “The Qur’an and Shari’ah Law” is no longer included; but there’s a course on “The Jewish Law in the Old Testament” and more than 30 other courses or subjects on the world’s different laws.
What copy of the Qur’an San Beda Graduate School of Law would use?
Being that it’s a Graduate School of Law, it’s not surprising San Beda would offer a course pertaining to Islam’s Holy Book and Islamic Law. It’s great offerings, the world’s various laws being offered to its graduate students. It would be a well-rounded education for everyone.
It does not surprise this space that they will offer one about Islam and it’s much maligned (by mostly Westerners) Shari’ah, the Islamic Law.
Apparently, what raised critical — objective or subjective — observations from Islam believers was that a priest was assigned to do it. Surely, there would be no objection if a Muslim scholar on Islam and the Shari’ah would be the one to discuss the subject, for a Muslim lives it, breathes it, practices it, and is sworn to it, and Islamic experts know every aspect of the subject (from the smallest to the biggest).
From the comments and reactions on Fr. Mallare’s assignment, the principal objection is his being a non-Muslim, never mind that he had obviously studied the Islamic Holy Book and the Shari’ah; or San Beda wouldn’t have tapped him.
Personally, this space have no problem with priests teaching about Islam, the Qur’an, and Shari’ah. As long as they remain faithful to integrity and decency and objectivity, of being Godly.
But this space has, respectfully, some suggestions to make, one of which from a comment, on handling the Qur’an, which is held in very high esteem by the followers of Islam’s Messenger, the Prophet Mohammad (may peace be upon him).
If the Islamic course is push through, would San Beda require its students to get a copy of the Muslim Sacred Book, the one with Arabic text that comes with transliteration, and translation? Or an Arabic Qur’an itself, which is different from the Translations? Some say Translations are Interpretations of the Qur’an and not the Qur’an per se.
If San Beda goes for the Translated Qur’an, may it suggested the Translation by Syed Abul Ala Maududi, Maulana Yusuf Ali, Marmaduke Pickthall, or others that are generally accepted in the Islamic world, but should NEVER be the Translations by non-Muslim translators, for there were those of them who made translations to distort the Qur’an.
Unless proven that a non-Muslim translation is precise, accurate, and faithful to the Arabic Holy Qur’an by Saudi Arabia (maybe other authoritative Arabic versions).
Remember that in the times of the Crusades there were many attempts to destroy Islam and Muslims, some non-Muslims producing distorted translations of the Islamic Holy Book, even extremist Jewish of old and the present making distorted translations.
Handling a Qur’an is a delicate thing
Alhamdulillah! Islam has become the fastest growing religion in the world despite many attempts to destroy the Creed.
In handling the Qur’an, Muslims are required to have performed “Wudu” or Ablution first before touching it. Meaning, one has to be clean. It should never be treated as an ordinary book that you can place anywhere, everywhere, it is not supposed to put anything on top of it.
In June 2008 this space was part of the East-West Center (EWC) Senior Journalists Seminar in Honolulu, Hawaii; Washington; New York; and Colorado Springs and Denver in the State of Colorado, one of the itineraries was at a Jewish Temple in Maryland.
Huge surprise when seats inside the Temple greeted the EWC seminar participants from Asia with a Bible under each, tucked in the seat’s bottom, meaning the Bible is under the ass of every worshiper at the Temple. It is not far-fetched to think Jewish worshipers in that temple may blow bad air on the Bible beneath their seat. That would be grossly unrespectful.
That is a definite no-no in Islam and among Muslims; walking over a Qur’an is also forbidden.
For this space, personally, these are the concerns, and some others.
Like, how would Fr. Mallare approaches his lectures on “The Qur’an and Shari’ah Law”, would he be approaching it like a true scholar, objective and not a nitpicker?
Would he be not unlike the ISIS, the Islamic State, the Taliban, the Abu Sayyaf Group who liberally quoted and misused, distorted verses in the Holy Qur’an to suit their devilish goals?
As to these concerns, if Fr. Mallare diverges from his scholarly and priestly integrity and, instead, be nitpicker in his choices of what verses to discuss, give them other meanings without giving context as to when, where, how, what situation occasioned the revelations of such verses, Muslims can’t do anything because no one can’t stop anyone vent on a selfish agenda. That would be entirely in his conscience.
This humble space is not worried at all that Fr. Mallare may spew venom and throw the sink on Muslims; his honest Catholic heart and scholarly integrity would not allow him to be so careless and callous and leave reason to the garbage bin. He would not be sowing hate in the hearts of his students, he is not that kind of human being. He will not gain anything.
Another point, this space hopes San Beda would consult Muslims before implementing its course on “The Qur’an and Shari’ah Law” for an opportunity to discuss how the Qur’an should be handled and not treat it as an ordinary book. Out of respect, for the Qur’an is handled by Muslims with much reverence, being that they believe it’s the word of Allah (God in Arabic). Certainly, not how he would deliver his lecture.
One more thing, would it not be better for Muslims to enroll in his class on “The Qur’an and Shari’a Law, or at least a sit-in?
Someone had said that “Every religion is good that teaches man to be good.” (♧)
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Note: Again, as of today, Tuesday, December 10, 2024, the San Beda University announcement on its Facebook page on Fr. John Mallare’s course is no longer included with more than 30 others on various laws of the ancient, old and modern world.