Author: Rilek1Corner

American-Muslim Preacher Yusuf Estes’s Views Not A Threat To Social Harmony

As a Christian, I do not see how the views of American-Muslim preacher Yusuf Estes denigrate the Christian faith or “damage social harmony”, by claiming that it is “not part of Islam to celebrate other people’s holidays” or questioning the religious basis for Christmas. (“S’pore blocks American-Muslim preacher from entering to preach on Islamic-themed cruise”, Dec 2)

A Muslim is fully entitled to refrain from participating in religious festivities of other religions.

Article 16(3) of the Singapore Constitution guarantees that no person shall be required to receive instruction in or to take part in any ceremony or act of worship of a religion other than his own.

In a 1999 case, the Singapore Court of Appeal explained that this is meant to protect a person’s right to choose his own religion. For example, a Muslim cannot be “required to take part in” a Christian ceremony such as the Holy Communion.

Furthermore, Estes’ view that Christmas was ‘from the Solstice celebration, and had been going on for hundreds of years before the time of Jesus’, is neither new nor offensive.

It is a widely known among many scholars that Jesus Christ was not born on Dec 25 of 1 AD.

Historians and Christian scholars alike recognise that the ancient Roman Empire celebrated Saturnalia, a winter solstice festival, at or about the time of Dec 25 each year.

According to Sam Moorhead of the British Museum, after the Roman Empire embraced Christianity as its official religion, Saturnalia was incorporated as a Christian holy day.

While many Christians celebrate Christmas, there are also those who do not.

The discussion is an ongoing one, among Christians and non-Christians alike, as to the origins of Christmas or whether it is acceptable to “redeem” such ancient Roman festivals. This is a natural and reasonable exercise of freedom of speech and religion.

However, it is quite another thing for the Government to stifle the discussion by deeming certain perspectives as offensive or denigratory.

In order to promote respect for religious freedom and harmony, the right of every person to pursue religious truth and live in line with his conscience should be respected and upheld. Short of real threats to public order, health or morality, the Government should respect the right of every person to profess, practise and propagate his religion.

Source: todayonline

December 8, 2017
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib Razak To Issue Statement On US Recognition Of Jerusalem

MALAYSIA will make an official statement on the United States’ decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, a move that is certain to have repercussions in the Middle East.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the Prime Minister would be making an announcement on the matter.

He told reporters this after a 30-minute meeting with Hamas Political Bureau member Dr Maher Salah on the sidelines of the Umno general assembly here yesterday.

Dr Maher said such a move would cause more concern among the Arabs and asked the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to intervene.

“This move is in contravention with international laws and the rights of the Palestinians. Jerusalem is the capital of Palestine and belongs to Islam.

“I laud the Deputy Prime Minister’s stand on this issue,” he added.

It was reported that US President Donald Trump would be declaring a formal recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and move its embassy from Tel Aviv.

Later yesterday, Dr Ahmad Zahid launched the Home Ministry’s booth at the Putra World Trade Centre for the assembly.

The booth will offer services from all agencies under the ministry, including the police, Prisons Department, Immigration Department and National Registration Department.

He also unveiled a 238-page book on the ministry’s achievements and performance since he became Home Minister.

Dr Ahmad Zahid, who is also Umno vice-president, took time off to sit in debates at the Umno Youth, Wanita Umno and Puteri wings.

December 7, 2017
Singer Sheila Majid Got into Trouble Because Of Her Tweet…

Umno information chief Tan Sri Annuar Musa says that iconic singer Sheila Majid, who tweeted about the rising cost of living, was mistaken.

The Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club portal reported Annuar as saying that much of what Sheila said was not true.

“A lot of it is wrong, because this is not her field,” said Annuar.

However, he said that he respected the views and responses of the rakyat and would have a positive attitude about it.

“We must respect the voices out there, we must give them our attention, and the Government must be positive about it,” he said.

On Tuesday, Sheila tweeted her disappointment about the rising cost of living which many Malaysians are facing.

“Food is expensive, the ringgit is weak, the cost of living is high and jobs are scarce,” read part of her tweet.

Sheila also said that many Malaysians want the Government to focus on getting the country back on track.

Earlier Wednesday, Puteri Umno executive committee member Khaidhirah Abu Zahar took a jab at actress Fathia Latiff at the Umno annual general assembly here.

“If she really wants to talk about the struggles of the people, then go on the ground like Puteri Umno. If she just wants to simply type words using her smartphone, then there’s no need,” said Khaidhirah.

“There’s no need to meddle in government affairs,” Khaidhirah said in her speech at the assembly.

In a recent Instagram post, Fathia had posted a tribute to former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, saying that his contributions to the country seemed to have been forgotten.

December 7, 2017
Muslimahs At Workplaces – Gain Your Bosses’ Trust First

Some workplace, tak benarkan kita pakai pakaian yang “terlalu” muslimah (baggy clothes/tudung labuh).

After 11 years of working and jumping around few MNCs and gov offices, first time, boss aku talk to me about “professional attire”.

Aku is vendor. Engineer dari lain company giving service to another company. So he told me, dia nak aku dress professionally and deliver expertise aku accordingly. Aku faham apa dia trying to say bila dia tengok aku atas bawah.

He shared with me, dia taknak ada incident where he will be asked not to take “muslimah” again sebab diorang pernah encounter banyak problem with the previous muslimah.

Waktu solat takes forever.
Bila bercakap, tak tapis. Nak jaga with non mahram sampai appear rude.
Dressing terlalu labuh/extreme.
Datang kerja lambat.
Buat kerja selalu ada mistakes.
Bila ada mistakes, tak own up. Argue.

Aku pernah ada staff muslimah.
Bila kerja, mulut dia kumat kamit. Prolly berzikir.
I dont have any problem with that.
I dont have problem with dressing as well.
But kita selalu kena be mindful of other religion and race. Nak baca apape.. jangan lah sampai macam tengah berjampi. Maybe ada orang tak selesa.

And masa tu, aku was fronting auditors for my team. And tiap kali auditor spot a mistake, mesti it comes from this lady. Everyday datang lambat. Masuk waktu solat, hilang almost 45 mins. Pastu argue je.. dengan boss. Dia try to gunakan aku as a shield but aku, time kerja, kerja. Time friends, friends.

So aku share skit, aku stick to black bila masuk office. So “nampak” professional. Tudung je tukar2 color. Try to wear baju office gi office. Baju kurung ke, jubah ke, maybe boleh pakai on Friday. On weekdays, you can wear palazzo/skirt and tops labuh.

But one thing aku paling jaga is timing pergi balik office and work performance. Jangan lambat masuk office. Orang benci those yang tak datang on time tapi nak balik on time.
Those yang tak jaga break time. Tak pernah ada dekat desk. Kalau nak gi solat pon, tu bukan company bapak kita. So plan your time wisely. Jangan sampai mulut orang kata “amik muslimah, nak kena put on radar. Because they are so irresponsible”.

Bila boss aku amik aku, he told me honestly that dia akan put aku on radar, and aku baru dapat lepas his hook sebab aku selalu available bila clients ke customer carik.

Jangan busukkan nama muslimah. Be a professional productive muslimah.

Then once boss da percaya, nak pakai sari gi kerja.. pakailah..

Source: Nisa Tahir

December 7, 2017
(Russia) ‘Halal’ Bitcoin May Be Coming To A Muslim Community Near You

Cryptocurrency as a tool of Islamic banking is being discussed by the Muslim community and could be created within the next two or three years, according to the adviser on Islamic economics and finance of the Russia’s Muftis Council Madina Kalimullina.

She told TASS that based on the cryptocurrency characteristics, the coin can be halal [permissible – Ed.]. “Sharia standards do not cover this issue yet, but in the perspective of two or three years they can be developed,” Kalimullina said after a conference in Kazan.

“This topic is now very popular in the Russian Islamic community, particularly in the Caucasus, it is constantly discussed at the meetings of Islamic economists,” she added.

There’s already a so-called ‘meet-coin’ in Kazan for settlements in the livestock business.

Kalimullina said bitcoin exchanges have been opened in some Muslim countries. Middle East’s first wallet BitOasis which opened for UAE customers, and is now available in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman. Indonesia’s Bitcoin and Malaysia’s Coinbox also offer services linked to cryptocurrencies.

The absence of a single regulator for cryptocurrencies is one of the major issues which confuses followers of Islam, according to Kalimullina. “Among the main arguments against bitcoin is a high degree of risk (maisir) and uncertainty (garar), a lack of provision of real assets and state guarantees,” she said.

The expert added that it is not forbidden to conduct bitcoin operations for Muslims if they access all the “risks and the high probability of garar and maisir.” The UAE has recently started issuing a new cryptocurrency, secured with gold, she said.

Islamic banking requires banking activities following the religious teachings of Islam. Maisir and garar are forbidden by Islamic law. Sharia law requires a currency to be tangible or to have evidence of existence. Islam forbids the use of a money that is tied to debt, and prohibits the charging and profiting from interest paid out on loans. For a currency to be halal, it must be deflationary in nature meaning that it is resistant to inflation and has a steady market price.

Source: RT

December 4, 2017