No hugging, we’re Muslims
posted in - Palmdoc, - Sexuality |So says the Deputy Prime Minister as reported in The Star
“No hugging please, we are Muslims” this was Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s message in hitting out at such actions being promoted by certain TV reality shows and programmes.
“This is not a question of young or old people hugging. This is about religion. It is forbidden in the religion” he stressed.
Najib made these remarks when opening the Malaysia Youth Council’s 55th Annual General Meeting at the Langkawi Exhibition and Exposition Centre here.
With such reality shows attracting large audiences, he said the programmes should instead be helping spread moral values.
“Hugging scenes are not suitable. They must sing decent songs, and must act decently”he said.
I am sure the good Minister meant hugging between persons of the opposite sex in those shows. I hope he didn’t mean hugging in general.
Hugging is a natural spontaneous act in times of grief and great sadness such as the loss of a loved one.
From Hug Therapy Workshops:
Hugging communicates at the deepest level of emotion. With a hug, we embrace the whole of life. The language of hugs nourishes the spirit. Good touch is needed. Scientific research supports the theory that stimulation by touch is absolutely necessary for our physical health and well-being. Touch is used to relieve pain, depression, and anxiety. Hugging is a very special form of touch that contributes in a major way to healing and health. The many benefits associated with Hug Therapy include safety, security and trust, strength, healing, self-worth, belonging, happiness and appreciation.
Hugging is also a perfectly natural act of affection between spouses, parents and their kids and other members of the family. From Islamonline – Family:
The Warmth of a Hug
During these intimate moments the husband and the wife become each other’s clothing. He takes her in his arms, and the closeness warms her; she feels secure. He grooms himself for her and she beautifies herself for him. She warms him with her body and subdues him with her gaze. To the extent they become part of each other, the couple during these moments become one.
Do you remember your childhood? Those were the days when friends were simply friends and things like ethnicity, religion, culture, political affiliation did not colour our thoughts and feelings. Friends hugged friends.
In this day and age of increasing intolerance and violence exhibited by mankind towards fellow human beings, perhaps the world needs a hug.
MMR Health tip of the day: You can make someone feel better by giving a hug.
Last 5 posts by Palmdoc
- Doctors gone wild again - September 1st, 2010
- Tools of the trade XIX - September 1st, 2010
- Feedback: Housemanship - August 31st, 2010
- Merdeka!! - August 31st, 2010
- The things lawyers say - August 18th, 2010
August 13th, 2005 at 4:37 pm
A very nice message of peace, I am touched.
August 13th, 2005 at 4:43 pm
Need a hug?
August 13th, 2005 at 5:16 pm
Haha, please read my recent experience with a case of advanced astrocytoma in the MMR Public section ‘Advanced Cancer’. Everybody was needing a hug then.
August 13th, 2005 at 6:43 pm
http://medicine.com.my/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=43
Yes I agree with you. You, the girls parents definitely need a hug.
August 14th, 2005 at 12:02 am
Hugs are good things… maybe they will wanna ban handshakes next?
August 14th, 2005 at 12:27 am
I have been away from my home country – Malaysia for almost a year now and I haven’t read much about news. How shocking it is for me to have read about this here! I was instantly reminded of some radical politicians who’ve done much wrong-doings with the faith of their very own interpretation of the respective religions.
I must admit my shallow understanding about religions, particularly Islam. But in this case, I believe such knowledge is not that essential. One hug in moments of grief and joy is more than a thousand words said. This is what we call a human touch and it is an essential communication tool, which has far greater effects than e-mails or mobile phones (even 3G ones).
How you think will be how you see (interpret) things. If you have a sincere heart, I don’t see why such well-meant embrace should be forbidden and despised!
Try to recall one of the most recent tragedies – tsunami. Didn’t we see people hugging each other for consolation? And also during those sporting events, winners/participants were often given hugs and these images were widely broadcasted and displayed in various media. Do you recall seeing these scenes on RTM1, 2, TV3, NTV7 and etc..??
I rest my case… Thanks for sharing the news, Palmdoc.
Cheers to all Malaysians and ppl of all religious backgrounds, with a hug of love and best wishes.
Peace.
August 14th, 2005 at 3:13 am
No problem on Hugs with me. Yes, it’s ALL about sincerity! Any demonstration of love or friendship, via a smile, handshake, or a hug — To each his/her own — be natural, spontaneous, and feel good about it.
But preachers also should Walk the Talk!
One caveat though: When in Rome, Do as the Romans Do, applies in some contexts, esp with communities who feel it’s taboo. I wish to know the true Islam tenet on this…Any reader/ulama can enlighten us?
August 14th, 2005 at 8:01 am
From the perspective of Islam, hugging is something that is very good as long that one not hugging anyone that he/she not suppose to.Example, man cannot hug a women (women that he can marry – friends,teachers,cousin,etc) and this also aplies on women. It is to prevent negative things to be happened (adulteries, ‘sumbang mahram’, etc). However, hugging is something important between parents and children as it is one of the way to show love between them..Hope everybody got a little infos….
August 14th, 2005 at 12:19 pm
Hugging is unislamic ?
Ask these two
http://theage.com.au/ffximage/2004/11/11/arafat8,0.jpg
August 14th, 2005 at 12:43 pm
My muslim friends once told me this,
“Different is different, different doesn’t mean wrong!”
Perhaps we (non-muslims) might feel “strange” because we have different RELIGIONs/cultures.
What are your opinions ?
August 14th, 2005 at 12:43 pm
It’s not so much the act itself but the sincerity and meaning behind the action. If it is to greet one, to comfort or a show of sincere affection then that’s fine in my books. Just as in a handshake, physical actions may be sometimes insincere or superficial
Take this for example
http://www.aljazeerah.info/Cartoons/cartoon%20originals/Jan/14140_2.JPG
August 14th, 2005 at 2:53 pm
Im sorry Irene but i dont really understand the phrase “Different is different, different doesn’t mean wrong!†as mentioned by your friend. By the way (just some additionalinfo) in Islam, hugging between Muslims and Non-Muslims is ok and sometimes it even told to do so as long it is not go beyond the rules (as what I’ve stated before)…..
August 14th, 2005 at 4:30 pm
Oh I see. They mean:
It is NOT OK for a Muslim man to hug a woman that he can marry, like friends, teachers, cousins, etc), as U mentioned just now.
Difference: A Non-Muslim man can do so.
Therefore: There is a difference between us, but, it doesn’t mean either U or ME is wrong.
Actually, I don’t have a deep understanding about ISLAM, but, I respect whatever about ISLAM.
For me , HUGGING with good intention and sincerity is good. It is indeed an action to comfort somebody, provide mental support to others.
August 14th, 2005 at 7:31 pm
This is just another way a Malaysian leader climbing up the ladder to be the next PM. They first voice up a lot of sensitive and racial issues, so as to convince their own people that he is the “one”; but once they become the PM, they will (hopefully) be better and more fair. All our past PMs were all like that initially, even the one who nearly-became-PM-but-end-up-in-jail was also like that.
August 15th, 2005 at 12:34 am
“doc Says:
August 14th, 2005 at 7:31 pm
This is just another way a Malaysian leader climbing up the ladder to be the next PM. They first voice up a lot of sensitive and racial issues, so as to convince their own people that he is the ‘one’ ”
Now this makes me wonder if such wannabe political leaders who are supposedly under BARISAN are acting in the corresponding spirits!
August 16th, 2005 at 10:29 am
Has anyone watched my fav “When Harry Met Sally”? One hug led to ST else. One of the reason is that what happened in the movie can easily happen here. We 1st hug to comfort, then….just happens.
Admittedly this is at the end of the spectrum,but not hugging someone in that context, minimise “risk”. In the E Coast, men & women don’t even shake hands.
August 16th, 2005 at 3:07 pm
No hugging please, we are Muslims
YAB DPM DS Najib Razak was reported to have said in Langkawi that, “No hugging please, we are Muslims”. He was commenting on the so-called reality show Akademi Fantasia where the students hug each other passionately especially when someone…
August 21st, 2005 at 5:31 pm
[...] +++ The Malaysian Medical Resources blog has a neat entry on this topic. –> Comments [...]
August 23rd, 2005 at 9:30 am
Hugging haram?
I’d just like to clarify that hugging is not haram in Islam. For the uninformed, haram = not allowed = sinful. What IS haram rather is physical contact between male and female who has come of age and who are not closely relate ie biological parents/ brother/grandfather/ uncle etc.
The rule however is not absolute. Certain situations which allows it among others include patient-doctor interaction ( ie when doing a physical, minor surgeries, procedures, deliveries), emergencies ( ie CPR, helping someone in life threathening scenarios ) and other unavoidable situations.
It goes without saying that this rules apply to muslims only in their interactions with muslims and non muslims alike.
Islam’s principles generally adheres to the adage ‘prevention is better than cure’. Any acts which could and would lead to something undesirable or immoral is not allowed. It doesn’t just pertain to matters of sexual notions. Other examples include smoking which is also haram but basically because of politics, this rule is not highlighted.
August 23rd, 2005 at 10:38 am
You gave a very clear explaination about it Alya. Sometimes people may get confuse. I think my explaination on it is very simple. Thanks.
August 23rd, 2005 at 11:46 am
Thanks for the info, Alya & aimanRosli