WHO DIED -- MICHAEL OR MIKAEEL?

THE first report was in November last year but it wasn't big news in the Muslim world and certainly not in this country, although some were aware of it. The news was first reported by Britain's the Sun, not known there to be a serious paper.

There it was, the story about the conversion to Islam by Michael Jackson who then assumed the name Mikaeel. The man himself never confirmed or denied it and subsequently there was nothing else to indicate that he had lived the last eight months of his life as a Muslim. If he didn't I am not surprised. You need to have the environment right for the religious culture to take root and everything indicated that Michael didn't have this environment with him.

But when he died two weeks ago one local TV station mentioned about the conversion in the second paragraph of the report. I don't remember though hearing the TV news attributing the report to any source. That was enough to get some Malay/Muslims excited, a feeling fuelled further when MJ's older brother Jermaine was reported to have said that he was going to guide his family to give Michael a Muslim burial, as stated in his will. Which will?

There was also another report which said that in one will Michael had said that when he died he would like to be cremated and his ashes scattered on the moon. Considering that it costs millions to get a bird up into space to go to the moon that idea had to be shot down because the entertainer was up to his neck in debts and his finances in disarray.

The fact that the memorial service for him was to take place early Wednesday local time escaped me and I only saw it live on TV somewhere in town. I hadn't realised while watching it that the private funeral service had taken place earlier and was hoping to catch a glimpse of it later, thinking that it would come after the memorial.

But never mind. There it was, the memorial beamed live by CNN across the world, an event which no doubt would rake in millions for those who organised it and certainly for Michael's family/estate. And yes there was Jermaine participating actively in it, singing his brother's favourite song, Smile. All the while the gold-draped casket was placed off stage in the centre.

My understanding of it all is that Muslims do not have such a memorial when they die. Even the reading of the talqin to remind the living present at the cemetery is a matter of dispute. The Wahabbis of Saudi Arabia do not believe in it. Some others are against it because they interpret it as something intended to glorify the dead.

When this issue of Michael's religion when he died was brought up, some cautioned against debating about it, insisting that it was a matter between man and god. But if everything is left to god we will have to agree that there should not be any space for an intellectual discourse on anything.

Jermaine is said to have converted to Islam 20 years ago and assumed the name of Jermaine Friday as a result. He is reported to have gone to Mecca but it's unclear if he went to do his haji. But whatever was in his heart and in Michael's, having a memorial just isn't the way a dead Muslim is remembered. But yes agreed, we will never know because we have to leave it to god.....