MALAYSIA MADANI: WHERE IS IT TRULY HEADED?
This morning, I had the opportunity to reflect on the latest article written by the President of PAS, Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Tuan Guru Haji Abdul Hadi Awang (TGHH), entitled “Malaysia: Where Is Its Madani Heading?”—his 36th published piece this year.
The concept of Malaysia Madani, introduced by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, has gained significant traction as the hallmark slogan of the current administration. Yet, one must ask: to what extent does this slogan embody the true spirit of madani as defined through the lens of Islamic philosophy and civilizational history?
In his writing, TGHH urges readers to delve deeper into the authentic meaning of madani from an Islamic worldview. Drawing from the works of eminent Muslim thinker Ibn Khaldun, he reminds us that human beings are inherently madani, social beings who cannot survive in isolation, but require community, cooperation, and shared values in order to flourish.
TGHH cautions that a society which develops without divine guidance is likely to lose its moral compass. Civilizations that pursue advancement purely based on desire and unguided knowledge are bound for collapse, as history has shown us with the likes of Pharaoh, ‘Ad, and Thamud, once powerful societies that were destroyed due to their defiance of revelation.
True madani, he argues, emerges only when civilization is built upon the values of Islam as al-din, a holistic way of life. Islam is not limited to personal rituals but encompasses every dimension of human existence, including governance, education, economics, and justice. In this framework, madani civilization is one rooted in knowledge, ethics, equity, and spiritual consciousness.
TGHH critically observes that the current use of Malaysia Madani risks becoming an empty political slogan, one devoid of genuine Islamic content. It may serve more as a branding exercise than a transformative vision, confining the public within a narrow and insular mindset, isolated from the broader legacy of human civilization and the divine teachings that underpin it.
He reminds us that the notion of a madani society is not new. From the time of Prophet Adam (AS), Allah SWT bestowed both worldly knowledge and revelation, setting the foundation for a divinely guided human community. The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) later established a model madani society in Madinah, grounded in faith, justice, and unity, a model that continues to inspire governance in plural societies to this day.
One of the most salient points raised by TGHH is that justice in Islam is universal, not confined to Muslims but extended to all members of a multi-ethnic society. This principle is enshrined in the Qur’an and was formalized in the Sahifah al-Madinah—the first written constitution in history, which protected the rights of Muslims and non-Muslims alike under the Prophet’s leadership.
During the Islamic Golden Age, knowledge from various civilizations was assimilated and refined through the prism of revelation, resulting in a truly madani civilization; ethical, enlightened, and just. In stark contrast, modern civilizations today, both in the West and East, face growing signs of decline: moral crises, environmental degradation, and widening social inequalities, symptoms of progress unmoored from divine guidance.
Therefore, madani cannot be reduced to a cosmetic term or slogan. It is a substantive vision that demands Islam be placed at the heart of governance and society. Without this anchor, efforts to build a madani society are likely to remain illusory, destined to repeat the failures of past civilizations.
The critical question remains:
Where is Malaysia Madani truly heading?
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