In defense of fun against the Islamist sourpusses…
As a child in Malaysia I recall celebrating the end of Ramadan with fireworks, oil lamps, music and a jolly dose of cake-eating, which kids are wont to do. Ramadan and Eid were fun then, during those days in the 60s and 70s when the entire month of Ramadan was spent cleaning the oil lamps, filling them with kerosene, lighting them up every evening, buying (and hoarding) fireworks and having firework fights with my neighbours. Things however began to change as soon as the tone and tenor of normative Islam in Malaysia took a turn for the political and the Mullah-wannabes began to preach from the pulpit about the evils of fun and happiness.
By the 1980s, as Malaysia went into full swing in the spirit of an Islamisation programme that witnessed little fun but rather the rise of more and more conservative types in mosques and the Parliament, the element of fun was slowly but surely stamped out. We were told that music was haram, that the oil lamps were Hindu, that the fireworks were decadent and corrupt. Tell that to a seven-year old and you kill his love for fun for the rest of his life.
As a researcher working on comparative religious politics across the Muslim world, I have witnessed the massacre of fun from Pakistan to the Magreb, from Malaysia to Brunei. Which is why Indonesia is such a startling place for me, as it seems to be one of the few places in the Muslim world today where Muslims can actually be happy and have fun, despite the difficulties – both economic and political – that the country faces.
null 9:22 pm on September 23, 2009 Permalink |
What does “Islamist sourpusses” mean here? I can see that they might be kill-joys, but why use Islamist instead of just conservative or traditionalist?
(Not picking a fight, just asking).
pi.info 9:37 pm on September 23, 2009 Permalink |
Reflected what the story said.
(“took a turn for the political and the Mullah-wannabes…”)
null 9:59 pm on September 23, 2009 Permalink |
Fair enough.
However, I would guess that the author took some poetic license here: “…the Mullah-wannabes began to preach from the pulpit about the evils of fun and happiness.”
I find it hard to believe anyone would preach against fun and happiness, rather than excess and decadence. The end result probably looks the same to small children, when they take away their fireworks and oil lamps. But its a bit much to imply that fun and happiness is dependent about how many fireworks are set off. People are quite capable of enjoying themselves in a more subdued celebration among close knit family and community gathered around good food etc.
bingregory 2:55 am on September 24, 2009 Permalink |
Didn’t even have to click the link to recognize the author of that piece. As usual, I’m more or less on board with his general intent, but just as frequently I don’t recognize the Malaysia he talks about. Eid al-Fitr is still a joyous occasion here, filled with lights, fireworks, mountains of cakes and house-to-house visiting and it lasts essentially the whole month of Shawwal. The dark and sinister 80’s Islamization programme may have tried to kill the joy of Hari Raya for all I know, not being around at the time, but it obviously didn’t succeed. Selamat Hari Raya everybody.
null 3:03 am on September 24, 2009 Permalink |
It’s not a Malaysia I remember or recognise either. I remember Malays as extremely warm, super smiley, easy going – and not at all lax in their faith.
Anyway, Selamat Hari Raya Bingregory!