Malaysiakini（http://www.malaysiakini.com）
Lift ban on my hadith book, urges author, 26 June 2012
by Fathi Aris Omar & Jimadie Shah Othman
INTERVIEW Controversial author and scholar Kassim Ahmad wants the government to lift the ban on his book Hadis: Satu Penilaian Semula(Hadith: A Re-evaluation) - 26 long years after it was deemed as anti-hadith propaganda and taken off the shelves.
Convinced that times have changed, Kassim - a post-independence leftist leader turned Quran advocate - revealed that he has sent a letter to Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein calling for the ban to be lifted.
"Three months ago I sent the letter to Hishammuddin. I said that things have changed a lot. The government has even abolished the Internal Security Act and several emergency ordinances.
"Therefore, the book ban should be lifted as well," he said.
The former Parti Sosialis Rakyat Malaysia (PSRM) president for 18 years caused an uproar in 1986 when his Hadis: Satu Penilaian Semulamade its debut.
It was extremely critical of the hadith - a narrative record of the sayings of Prophet Muhammad and his companions - which is Islam's second highest source of divine guidance after the Quran.
The writing of the book, among others, was said to have been influenced by Rashad Khalifa, an Egyptian scientist who migrated to the United States and was assassinated in 1990 after he claimed to be a prophet.
Another of Kassim's books Dilema Umat Islam: Antara Hadis dan al-Quran (The Muslim's Dilemma: Between the Hadith and the Quran) also suffered the same fate.
'Not anti-hadith but critical'
Kassim's efforts to publish his own interpretation of the Quran with his Singaporean friend Osman Ali also caused much anxiety in Malaysia. The book they produced, Bacaan (Readings), was banned in 1995.
Nevertheless, Kassim said he never took an anti-hadith stance but he was critical of parts of it. He accepts that some 40 percent of the hadith are consistent with the Quran.
Interviewed by Malaysiakini at his residence in Kulim, Kedah recently, Kassim said he was yet to receive a response to his letter to Hishammuddin.
"He must (lift the ban). That's because today, many people have returned to the Quran. It is just them (the government) that does not recognise this situation," he said when asked whether his book on hadith would be put back on shelves of bookstores again.
Kassim argued in the 26 years since the book was published, many Muslims have slowly changed and came to accept his views, including former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
In addition, he claimed, PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim had agreed with the book in principle before changing his stand.
He said Anwar's secretary had told him "we agree with you, but beg to differ tactically". But when the book became a hot-button topic, he was made to understand that Anwar had colluded with the ulama to suppress it.
Elaborating on the acceptance to his ideas, the Kedah-born said there was an imam at the state's Masjid Keling known as "Bukhari", who held him in esteem after the book was published.
Kassim said the late Imam Bukhari had even suggested that the people should steep into his ideas in the book.
"There was also a teacher from Sabah who met Bukhari in Mecca. He (Bukhari) told the teacher, ‘If you want to know more about Islam, go see Kassim Ahmad'.
"The teacher actually came to me about 10 to 15 years ago," he said.
At 79, he continues to write books
Although often finding himself on the receiving end of government pressure, Kassim - a former Umno member - is unfazed and continues to write.
Now at a ripe old age of 79, he also airs his views through social media channels frequented by the young, including blogs and Facebook.
His latest book was Islamic Renaissance, published by American publisher Branbowpress and was launched in Kuala Lumpur in February.
Always upbeat, Kassim said he wanted his book to reach more people, so he had approached the government translation agency Institut Terjemahan dan Buku Malaysia (ITBM) to translate the book.
The foreword to the Malay edition of Islamic Renaissanceis being be written by political observer and activist Chandra Muzaffar, who is his long-time friend.
The 250-page book, among others, reaffirm his view of the hadith in using the 'scientific' method, including Rashad's ‘Code 19' theory.
The theory states that the verses in the Quran have a mathematical structure based on multiples of the number 19.
Islamic Renaissance also touches on recent political developments, including espousing the views that PAS is "conservative", DAP is "dominated by the Chinese" and PKR is "Machiavellian" and will not be able to save the Malay leadership of this country.
Besides his written works in literature and Malay history, Kassim's other books on religion and his spiritual development include Hadis: Jawapan Kepada Pengkritik (Hadith: A Response to the Critics), Mencari Jalan Pulang Daripada Sosialisme kepada Islam (The Road Home) andUniversiti Kedua (Second University).
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