As Malaysia continues the journey to its 58th year of independence, one cannot help but to ponder upon what lies ahead in the future for the nation. Through independence, Malaysia has been able to chart its own path towards greater heights as a free nation and as citizens of this beloved country, we need to appreciate the freedom that we currently enjoy in determining our own goals and directions. Undeniably, we also realize that there are more to be done in order for Malaysia to stand at par with other developed nations and put the country into the pages of the book on success. The work in achieving these noble goals bears upon the shoulders of every Malaysian. It is our love for the country that should become the impelling cause in this endeavour and the factor that binds the people together.
Love towards one’s country is the very basis of patriotism. The spirit of patriotism brings about a feeling of wanting what is best for the nation and doing things that would make the country proud. It also offers an important platform for a nation like Malaysia which is made up of different cultures, races and religions to unite and create a solid foundation for mutual understanding. The country needs to find such form of commonality which could ensure that the bond among fellow citizens remains strong and intact.
In Islam, feeling of love towards one’s country is highly encouraged. It was written by Abū al-Walīd al-Azraqī , in his books of Akhbar Makkah wa ma ja’ fiha min aathaarin, that the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) also shares his feeling of love towards his birth place, the Holy City of Mecca. In Islam, to have a sense of belonging, love and loyalty to one’s country is therefore encouraged. A renowned Muslim thinker and activist who many might have thought to say little about patriotism and nationalism was Hassan al-Banna. He coined terms like wataniyyat al-hanin (love for the country) and wataniyyat al-hurriyyah wa al ’izzah (nationalism of freedom and glory) to explain the need for patriotism and freedom for one’s country. In his Risalat al-Mu’tamar al-Khamis, he said:
“Islam enjoins upon every person to strive for the good of his country and lose himself in its service, render utmost service to the nation (ummah) in which he lives, and to give precedence to kinship and neighbourliness (in acts of benevolence).”
Loving the country requires us to put the interests of the nation above our very own. There are times when we feel that we know what is best for Malaysia, but our judgment lack the comprehensive analysis of the whole issue or situation. To be fair, we need to always appreciate what fellow Malaysians are also doing to move Malaysia forward. Leaders need to realize that they are not the only ones who work hard to achieve development for the nation nor are they the only people who know what is best for the country. Vice versa, the citizens must not think that they are the sole contributing factor in the country’s road to success. A dynamic and symbiotic relationship between the leaders of the country and its people coupled with the understanding that each has a role to play in Malaysia’s development and accomplishments would speed the whole process and produce valuable solutions in times of difficulties.
As Malaysia is currently facing a testing time to its economy, politics and society, leaders and the people of the nation in general should work hand in hand to push Malaysia out of the current quandary. There is no use to deny that problems do exist in the country but most importantly is how to formulate the right answers to these problems. Malaysia is just like any other nation that is tested from time to time, but just like any success story, it is how we bounce back from all of these setbacks which matters.
In this sense, the nation is like a family which is made up of different individuals with their own unique personalities and personal interests but in the end, it is the family that is most important. Love for the family is the binding element that helps to strengthen and retain the set up. For Malaysia, it can only move forward and remain relevant if every individual citizen is sincere enough to appreciate what each of us is doing for the country. The role of some might be less compared to others, but if we learn to perceive things correctly by acknowledging everyone’s contribution, the country will be able to tread through these tough times. In addition, if we sincerely love the country and wish to see it move forward and become stronger, we need to learn to set aside our egos and individual interests especially if those interests threaten the sovereignty of the people and the country.
Malaysia is indeed a blessed nation, and for it to be able to preserve the harmony, unity and achieve the success it aims for, Malaysians need to come together as one. It is just not enough to utter the word love towards the country, it must also be accompanied by the sense of responsibility in our actions. Let’s truly reflect #sehati sejiwa in this year’s Independence Day celebration and continue to pray that Malaysia will remain resilient and emerge stronger as a nation.