PETALING JAYA: PAS should be pursuing social justice instead of hudud to achieve their dream in forming an Islamic state, USM associate professor in Islamic studies Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin said today.
Asri said social justice was the essence of an Islamic state, not hudud.
He said the environment was not conducive to implement hudud even in Kelantan.
“Although Kelantan has a 90% Muslim population, the conditions are not right,” said the former Perlis mufti.
Asri said this in response to plans by the PAS to table a Private Member’s Bill to implement hudud in Kelantan next year.
“If someone pollutes a clean river, we implement hudud. What’s the point of implementing hudud if someone pollutes a dirty river?” he asked.
“Our present society is consumer-based and there are untouchables who are beyond the law. We have a long way to go before hudud can be implemented.
“During the Prophet’s time, there was no reason for theft. All were even. The rulers had no interest taking a cut from the state’s treasury. The Prophet and his companions were the most troubled ones financially because their priority was a good society.
“It is a just society where everyone is treated equally where there is no reason to commit sins such as adultery and theft,” said Asri.
He added that under that such an environment, hudud provided a veil of protection.