OCT 30 — You would think that members of a marginalised community would be more forgiving and liberal in their religious outlook.

After all, religious doctrines have not been fair to them: transgenders and members of the LGBT community are constantly harassed and told that they are aberrations of society and religions.

Seeing Facebook statuses which are the opposite of the above begs questioning. They are more moral, and religious than we think they are. We are shocked that they who have transgressed, actually pray five times a day, observe Islamic tenets.

It was a Facebook status of a married gay man that began it all. He had stated that the Malays are practising bida’ah, and have strayed from the true path of Islam. Whatever we did or didn’t do, was wrong.

Women and children had their place in Islam. We were getting too liberal for our own good. There was a reason for Wahabism, he posted.

To find the answers, I asked a few transgender friends who are HIV activists and professionals.

The succinct reply?

“Selalunya yang sexual sexual pelik ni dorang mental sikit Dina, they create own ideology... suka merengsa, dok merengek kat fb wall... cer you observe sendiri next time... as if there’s restless soul yang dok sakit.” (Loosely and sharply translated, the person has mental issues.)

These men, they warned me, always practised a brand of militant Islam. Their wives were always submissive. They were not polygamous men (but certainly strayed when young men enticed them), but they expected Mecca at home.

Because of their sexual orientation, they had had to hide their sexuality, and had to be the best Muslim they could ever be. Hence, their submissive wives. And docile children.

“Lagi satu dalam otak depa dah ditanamkan dengan idelogy... kena kawin nanti tua tak mo duduk sesorang di rumah orang tua... and kena kawin sbb nak ada anak sbb nanti mati anak soleh boleh mendoakan depa dalam kubur, oops!” (These men were scared of old age, hence the marriage, and hoped to have pious children who’d pray for their souls when they were dead.)

You want the truth on life, ask a transgender. They’ll give it to you in spades.

However, transgenders too are as observant of Islam. They will not negotiate when it comes to their beliefs and identity as Muslims. We are believers, full stop.

HM has had a sex change, and as far as she is concerned, she is a practising Muslim. No one could take that away from her.

“Honestly, when I began my journey, I heard so many things. Some said to wear men’s clothes, some said wear what I wanted… It really confused me, you tahulah sometimes our clerics on television would scream, ‘You will always be a man.’

“I am a post op... I wear the telekung when I pray. I did try wearing men’s clothes when I prayed but found it uncomfortable. After that hijrah, I knew the answer. The rest can go to hell… This is why when I pray and recite this part of Surah AlFatihah... ‘Ih dinas siratal mustaqim’, I ask Allah to show me the true path.”

Prayers, to the transgenders I interviewed, are important. It is for strength, it is to have light in their soul. They are bewildered by the Facebook mullahs whose postings they see.

“I tak suka some TG yang dok meroyan kat wall pasal Islam, menafsir mengikut hawa nafsu... solat tidak, apa tidak... yang kononyer dia berilmu dan berpengetahuan tentang agama islam... even kalau you ada ilmu sekali pun ilmu feqah tu tak akan konsisten dengan setiap individu... hakikatnya?... That’s why no matter what it has to be balanced, ilmu yg kita ada kita kena lihat dengan cahaya nur... cahaya nur pun nak mendapatkannya melalui solat... sebab tu solat itu wajib...” (I don’t like how some transgenders spout rubbish on their Facebook walls, interpreting the Quran according to their needs. They don’t even pray but pretend to be knowledgeable.  You have to pray. It is compulsory.)

What about the liberal voice who stands up for transgender rights?

I was met with silence.

“Sometimes, nok, they worsen the situation.”

This was why there are some transgenders who are ‘ringsa’ (“It means effing annoying(ed) to the utmost,” was the reply when I asked what it meant) .

When it comes to religious matters in Malaysia, they noticed it was the non-Muslims who always had a say. “There is nothing wrong with Islam, but there’s a lot of wrong with people.”  It was a vicious cycle, what with some transgenders who confused everything with Islam and non-Muslims baying for blood.

“It makes me sick and tired when people misinterpret the true spirit of Islam. My understanding of liberal adalah TAK OVER, lebih subtle , mengikut peredaran zaman selagi tidak terpesong dengan akidah. Liberal yang outspoken tanpa mengambil kira hakikat, makrifat dan syafaat adalah mental.”

Danni was vocal. “The non-Muslims? Say what they like. They know nuts.  We must learn to respect each other. Those pukimak who wants to create scene is bulls***.”

What about the Allah issue?

They screamed.

“Sometimes I think it’s the Muslims who buka jalan bagi non muslim untuk mempertikaikan ugama.”

HM said, “Pasal issue kalimah Allah, I’m sceptical sikit. Yes the Arab Christians have been using Allah for years, but Malaysia is different. Why now? Why has been blown out of proportion? For me there must be something about Mary... it’s the agenda... maybe I’m wrong…”

You know, my friends told me, we are no different from you. The Mak Nyahs they knew have always taken Islam seriously and want to get closer to their faith. Their knowledge is deep because many of them come from very pious families.  The ties between piety and transgenders have always been misunderstood, as if they were godless.

What is your personal stand on your faith, despite your physical make-up, I asked?

“I am a MUSLIM and I am a MUSLIM Mak Nyah!” was the typed reply.

* This is the personal opinion of the columnist.