To cane or not to cane: It's more than that

A few weeks ago, there was a Muslim woman being guilty of consuming alcoholic drink in a bar and eventually was sentenced to caning. As expected, there was a huge debate in the print media as well as the Internet whether the sentence should proceed, and the debate is still and I bet will be alive for a long time.

To cane or not to cane is not a big issue. Whether she is actually obeying or teasing the Muslim is also not an issue. There is a bigger issue than that. It is whether the Muslims are willing to accept either Islam is a closed system or Islam is an open system.

A closed system means that there will be no further discussion or review over Islamic matters that were decided by scholars of the past centuries. Basically, it means the Muslims must accept whatever the fatwas or judgements which were written nearly a thousand years ago. Typically, it is called "taqlid" in Arab which simply means "to obey or follow", if I'm not mistaken.

On the contrary, an open system, just like a computer system, means that there are rooms for arguments and discussions over Islamic matters, regardless whether it is about syariah, ibadah, akidah, etc.

If the Muslims think that Islam is a closed system, then there is no point of discussion. As far as I know, as I didn't study religion, the punishment for consuming alcohol drink is caning. It means there is no debate whatsoever.

If the Muslims think that Islam is an open system, then debate should be allowed either in public or by invitation only.

Unfortunately, I'm of the opinion that the followers of the closed system are the majority and dominant. I don't think there is any room to talk about because the followers of the closed system will not allow you to do so. If you start talking about it, then there will be a lot of condemnations and accusations from all over.

I believe that religion is about interpretation, whatever religion it is. I hope there will be a lot of discussions and forums on the interpretation of the Quran, the Holy Book. We are living in the 21st century with new technologies, therefore some of them have to reviewed. Muslims must dig and study back all the references and literature they can find in the past.

I believe Islam is not completely a closed system and that is why God gives us the Holy Book to show us the right way. Evidence in the Holy Book points that we are encouraged to think, use our brain and heart. More importantly, we pray to God that we do not follow the wrong way at least 17 times a day. It means that continuously staying in the right path is very important.

Allahu 'alam.