Syed Hamid's Nobel Act

The book cover

A few days back there was a news going around on the launch of a new book titled "Wasatiyah dalam Al-Quran dan Sunnah" which was translated from by Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar, the former Home Minister who is now chairman of the Public Land Transport Commission. The book was launch by the Minister of Communication and Multimedia, Dato Seri Shabery Cheek, at the International Institute of Advance Studies (IAIS), in Kuala Lumpur.

Event was launched by Dato Seri Shabery Cheek

Before i go further with respect to the book, i am sure most of you would like to know what does "wasatiyah" means. Wasatiyah is defined as;

“PENDEKATAN WASATIYYAH adalah berlandaskan ajaran sebenar Islam dalam setiap perkara yang dilakukan dan berjaya membawa kesan positif kepada negara.“ “

Gerakan Kesederhanaan Sejagat akan menyelamatkan kita daripada tenggelam kepada kehancuran, terus berputus asa dan kehinaan. Sudah tiba masanya bagi kita mengamalkan kepemimpinan yang membawa harapan dan mengembalikan maruah serta martabat untuk semua.” 

“Kita mesti kembali kepada perkara pokok dan moral tinggi yang dirampas daripada kita. Kita mesti memilih kesederhanaan berbanding ekstremis, memilih rundingan berbanding konfrantasi. Kita perlu memilih untuk bekerjasama dan bukan menentang sesama kita. Ia perlu menjadi keutamaan dan bukan hanya diletakkan di sisi kita.” 

“Ini merupakan satu contoh jelas boleh dicapai apabila kesederhanaan dalam setiap kepercayaan bagi mengatasi ekstremis ini yang mahu merampas nilai sejagat dalam agama kita.” “Keseimbangan ini mendorong kepada kesederhanaan atau wasatiyyah mengikut tradisi Islam demi keamanan dan keadilan.” - Perdana Menteri, DATO’ SRI NAJIB TUN RAZAK

The action taken by Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar for me is consistent with the aspiration of Prime Minister Dato' Sri Najib Tun Razak who has emphasized many times of the need for us to apply the "wasatiyah" concept in our daily life. Plus if we really look in detail, by applying the "wasatiyah" concept we can further improve our self to become a better person thus developing the country at the same time. 

Tan Sri Syed Hamid has also actually provided an opportunity for the Malay speaking Muslim majority in this country an easy access to the 'wasatiyah" concept by translating the book into Bahasa Melayu. We all know that Malaysian have not yet developed a habit of reading, especially if it is an English language book. By having the book in BM maybe the masses will be more interested in buying and reading it. 

Well, below are some information regarding the book for your perusal.It can be bought at the MPH bookstore with the following details:

TITLE          : WASATIYYAH DALAM AL-QURAN DAN SUNNAH

ISBN           : 978-967-415-201-7

PRICE        : RM 20.00

SIZE           : 14.9sm X 22.4sm

FORMAT    : Thin cover (Paperback)