dear “community leaders”

kalau rasa pedas, maka cili sudah pun di dalam mulut sendiri

Why do you silence disagreement?

You don’t have to agree with me, but you have to listen.

The first problem we have is that this statement should be two-way…but it’s not. I don’t have to agree with you either — and I’m forced to listen to you. There is no way to escape knowing what you think, especially true when it’s not just your words but actions directly impacting my life & others around me. You’ve made your point. What happens to me when I try to make mine?

Do you only want to hear agreement or silence? You might not like that I disagree. You might even think I’m stupid for disagreeing.

But you’re not right just because you’re the leader, and I’m not wrong just because I’m a normal person.

Imam Shafiee (may Allah bless him) said:

“I have not debated or discussed a matter with someone except that I cared for the truth to appear, whether it was said by me or by my opponent.”

If you don’t care to listen to us just because of how we look, because you’d prefer it done behind closed doors or because our manners and words are not refined enough for you, then you might have missed out on truth. I think that should worry you.

Why do you only speak out against the weak?

People know your name. They know your face, your voice. Few know mine. That’s not the problem.

What do you use your voice on? Or more importantly, when have your loud, strong words suddenly disappeared?

Are you louder when reprimanding your followers, but meek and submissive when others more powerful than you commit injustice and oppression?

Perhaps you do use that voice to remind the powerful but only behind closed doors. Allah knows best, I do not know.

I know I haven’t seen it. I know there are no such qualms about using it on normal, powerless slaves of God with doors wide open, microphones thrust in your face, digital loudhailers blasting it for everyone to know that you have deemed this person selfish, shameful and sinful.

We see who you snarl at like a lion, and who you mew at like a kitten.

Why do you blame the people?

What you say about the people should pain you, if you are a community leader.

Uneducated. Did you truly educate us?

Not the right time and place. Did you show us when the right time was, where the right place was to express disagreement with the powerful?

Not reflective of our community values. Are you the one blissfully unaware of what our community values?

My Prophet was driven to grief at the state of his people. My Prophet and greatest example of a community leader took responsibility. My Prophet asked himself: where did I go wrong? what more can I do? how can I help my people?

His Lord comforted him. But our leaders seem to comfort themselves. They don’t understand me. They are not grateful. They ruin all the hard work we have done.

With community leaders like these, who needs enemies?

Photo by Loan on Unsplash