Author: Rilek1Corner

Shanmugam: I Find That Very Saddening – Kurang Ajar

I gave the following statement to Berita Harian, in response to questions from them:

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I am very heartened that MUIS and Muslim leaders have come out clearly to state their position. The statements show clearly that the Muslim community strongly values our commitment to religious harmony in Singapore. This shows the spirit of multi-racial, multi-religious harmony in Singapore. It is a very heart-warming move, and majority of Singaporeans will both be reassured, and also welcome these statements.

MUIS and the office of the Mufti are important institutions, which play a critical role in contributing to the maintenance of religious harmony, as well as building inter-faith relations with other religious groups. Regrettably some people have been attacking them – both now and previously .

The Mufti himself has been attacked, in rude and unacceptable language.

Just because these people may not agree with the Mufti, or the Islamic authorities, does not mean they should use rude and abusive language against them. I find that very saddening – kurang ajar. We are keeping a close watch on people who do these things. If the conduct crosses over and becomes criminal, action will be taken.

On the matter relating to the Imam, police will investigate the case thoroughly and interview all parties involved. This includes the persons who filmed and publicised the video. Whether there is a case for further action against any of the parties, will depend on the outcome of investigations. I made this clear in Parliament.

The Government does not take sides in this issue – if anyone is found to have committed an offence, action will be taken.

I have been specifically asked whether it was alright for the video of the Imam’s preaching to have been uploaded on social media. I know today many take it as a norm to post – the more sensational, the more it’s likely to multiply its reach.

The right thing to do though, is that when a matter like this is encountered, it should be reported to the Police, and not put out on social media. That will allow police to focus their investigations on the subject of the complaint.

If instead, the matter is publicly posted, it could lead to a ground swell of feelings, in this case, both from Muslims as well as non-Muslims. It could cause confusion about religion, and increase tensions and so on. We don’t want that in Singapore.

Source: K Shanmugam Sc

March 6, 2017
Islam Punya Jumlah Penganut Paling Ramai Di Dunia Jelang 2070

Islam diramalkan akan mempunyai jumlah penganut paling ramai di dunia menjelang tahun 2070.

Malah, ia satu-satunya agama yang sedang berkembang lebih pesat berbanding bilangan penduduk di dunia ini, lapor The Telegraph, menukil kajian oleh Pusat Kajian Pew yang berpangkalan di Amerika Syarikat.

Menurut kajian itu, bilangan penduduk Muslim di seluruh dunia ini akan meningkat sebanyak 73 peratus antara 2010 hingga 2050, jauh lebih pantas berbanding 35 peratus bagi penganut Kristian, agama kedua paling pesat berkembang.

Dalam tempoh yang sama, jumlah penduduk di dunia dijangka akan tumbuh sebanyak 37 peratus.

Menurut kajian itu, jika kadar pertumbuhan itu dikekalkan menjangkaui 2050, bilangan penduduk Islam akan lebih ramai berbanding penganut Kristian menjelang 2070.

Apakah faktor-faktor yang membawa kepada perkembangan pesat itu?

KADAR KELAHIRAN MAINKAN PERANAN

The Telegraph melaporkan, ia sebahagiannya disebabkan oleh kadar kelahiran di kalangan penganut setiap agama.

Menurut Pusat Kajian Pew, penganut Islam mempunyai kadar kelahiran tertinggi, iaitu 3.1 kanak-kanak bagi setiap wanita, dan ini disusuli oleh penganut Kristian pada 2.7.

Islam juga didapati mempunyai penganut lebih muda berbanding agama lain – 34 peratus berusia di bawah 15 tahun, berbanding purata global 27 peratus. Ini bermakna lebih ramai masih boleh mendapat anak.

Lagi satu faktor menarik, lapor The Telegraph, ialah lebih ramai penganut Kristian diramalkan sama ada akan memeluk agama lain atau keluar daripada agama itu dan tidak mengamalkan kehidupan beragama.

Sekitar 40 juta orang di seluruh dunia diramalkan akan memeluk agama Kristian, namun 106 juta dijangka akan keluar daripada agama tersebut.

Secara keseluruhannya, pada 2010, terdapat seramai 1.6 bilion Muslim di dunia ini, dan 2.17 bilion orang Kristian.

Namun menjelang 2050, bilangan penganut Islam dijangka melonjak ke 2.76 bilion dan penganut Kristian pula, 2.92 bilion.

LEBIH RAMAI MUSLIM MENJELANG 2070, MENURUT KAJIAN

Jika jumlah penganut kedua-dua agama terus berkembang pada kadar pertumbuhan yang sama, bilangan Muslim akan lebih ramai berbanding orang Kristian menjelang 2070, menurut Pusat Kajian Pew.

Kajian itu juga menyatakan penganut Islam akan membentuk 10 peratus daripada jumlah penduduk di Eropah, lapor The Telegraph.

Tinjauan yang dijalankan pusat tersebut tahun lalu menunjukkan, kebanyakan penduduk di Hungary, Itali, Poland dan Greece berkata mereka mempunyai pandangan yang tidak memihak kepada orang Islam.

Sementara pandangan negatif terhadap Muslim lebih jarang berlaku di Perancis, Jerman, Britain dan negara-negara di utara dan barat Eropah.

“Mereka yang berhaluan Kanan dari segi ideology lebih berkemungkinan berbanding yang berhaluan Kiri untuk mempunyai pandangan negatif terhadap Muslim,” menurut kajian tersebut.

Sementara itu, kajian itu meramalkan orang ateis, agnostik dan mereka yang tidak mengamalkan kehidupan beragama akan merosot daripada 16.4 peratus penduduk di dunia kepada 13.2 peratus menjelang 2050, meskipun golongan itu bertambah di Eropah dan Amerika Utara.

Source: BeritaMediacorp

March 4, 2017
8 Beautiful Quotes By Fatima, Daughter Of The Prophet

In many Islamic calendars, today is narrated to be the day that Fatima, daughter of the Prophet Muhammad, met her Lord.

It is an unfortunate reality that her beautiful wisdom has been somewhat left out of the pages of history by many Islamic scholars over the past millennia. Today around the world where women are having to constantly fight for equality and yearning empowerment, the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad has never been more relevant, herself a beacon of female empowerment and equality.

We searched through the dusty books of history (metaphorically speaking) to bring you 8 beautiful quotes by this wonderful lady:

1. On Justice

“God has ordered justice for making hearts intimate and upright.”

2. On Prayer

“God provided the daily prayers to make you pure from pride.”

3. On Charity

“God prescribed charity for the purification of the soul and for the increase of sustenance.”

4. On Parents

“God has regarded benevolence and kindness to parents as a shield against His resentment.”

5. On Patience

“God has made patience helpful in attaining its its fruits (compensation).”

6. On Theft

“God has condemned Robbery to keep a society pure with perfect piety.”

7. On Honesty

“God has recommended Honesty in sales by use of correct measures and weights in order to prevent fraud and deception”

8. On Praying for Others

When her son Al-Hassan observed her praying into the night for others, he asked her why she didn’t pray for anything for herself, to which she replied –

“My son! Neighbours first, our household next.”

Source: TheMuslimVibe

March 4, 2017
Commentary: There Is No Reason At All For Us To Triumph Over You (Non-Muslims)

Our brother, Ustaz Ahmad Muzzammil Shukri, came out with a pretty good explanation about the context of the imam’s sermon the other day. He also agreed that when problem arises, MUIS should play a part in resolving or clarifying the religious aspects such as hadiths, fatwas and ideologies when needed. Alhamdullilah may Allah SWT help the imam and us all.

He said:

“An explanation which may help us understand better of the recent issue of the prayer recitation by the Imam.

In the Quran there are verses that have a similar pattern like in Chapter of al-Baqarah verse 286,
فَانصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ (286)

Nasr means help…but when the word is used with the preposition a’laa..it means help to triumph over..But lets now focus on the word “kafir” which means disbeliever.

Even though the word “kafir” is used, it is NOT referred to all disbelievers.
But instead, only referred to disbelievers that attack and oppress Islam and the muslims because of difference in faith.

And in any community in the whole wide world, if one is being attacked and oppressed, the victim will cry for help and victory, So That The Oppression Will Stop.

Now, how is this interpretation proven correct?

Look at the history of our beloved prophet Muhammad saw. As soon as he reached Madinah during the hijrah, the first few things he did were to build good ties with the non-Muslims in Madinah, particularly the Jews.

Even though the Muslims were the majority at that moment, he made a peace treaty with the Jews. He promoted peace and love and allowed Muslims and Jews to live peacefully on the same land. Why?

Because the Jews at that particular time caused no harm or oppression towards the Muslims.

So this proves that the verse above that was conveyed by Prophet Muhammad saw himself refers to non-Muslims who were causing harm and oppression to Muslims just because they were muslims.

Therefore, my non-Muslim friends in Singapore, there is nothing to worry about. You cause NO harm in any way to us Muslims. So there is no reason at all for us to triumph over you.

And I believe the prayers recited by the imam also refers to non-muslims at other parts of the world who are oppressing Islam and muslims. Again, So That The Oppression Will Stop.

But sadly, wrong interpretation of a convert has just caused chaos and disturbance within the community. Shouldn’t the government take action against this person who caused the chaos and disturbance?”

Syukran ustaz.

Source: Ahmad Muzzammil Shukri

March 4, 2017
5 Things To Do During March School Holidays

Ah, the March school holidays – a time for students to play or catch up with homework.

The week-long break is a tad too short to head overseas for a vacation, yet not too long that parents start to wonder when they will get a break from their children (that is the June holidays).

For those who cannot wait to make plans to savour the precious break, here are five activities you can enjoy together with your family. And even if you do not have school-going children, there is plenty going on to indulge the child in you.

1. Check out i Light Marina Bay

The Body of the Sea by Danny Rose Collective from France. (Photo: i Light Marina Bay 2017)

Singapore’s central business district (fondly known to some as “Englishtown”) will turn up its razzle-dazzle factor from Mar 3 to 26 with the return of the i Light Marina Bay sustainable light art festival.

This year’s theme is “Light and Nature”, aimed at getting the public to reconsider the relationship of light with nature and the city. The installations also look extremely Instagrammable, so bring a fully charged phone with you, or a battery pack.

2. Visit the Land Before Time

Tricey the yellow Triceratops. (Photo: Gardens by the Bay)

From now until Apr 2, Gardens by the Bay’s Supertree Grove will be home to 11 dinosaur sculptures. They have been installed as part of the Children’s Festival, which kicks off on Mar 10. And if that you want to do a bit more running around, there is a dinosaur egg hunt that promises dino-might action.

3. Not kidding – watch goats being milked

Goats at Hay Dairies. (Photo: Hay Dairies/Facebook)

While it is better known for being a concrete jungle, Singapore does house a few farms. Among them is Hay Dairies – a goat farm located at Lim Chu Kang. Visitors who turn up between 9am and 10.30am have the opportunity to watch a goat-milking session, while those who can only make it later can still watch the goats laze around, or even buy hay to feed them. Here is a tip – goats’ milk is amazingly creamy.

Admission is free, and tours around the farm are free as well for groups below 20 people. Do not turn up on a Tuesday though – that is when the farm is closed.

4. Do your grocery run at the Kranji Countryside Farmers’ Market

(Photo: Kranji Countryside Farmers’ Market)

Farmer’s markets – where one can find the best of local food and produce – are not just available overseas. There is at least one in Singapore too, held every quarter. Visitors can purchase fresh vegetables, fruit, herbs, fish and milk, as well as locally made artisanal food and products there. Look out for community workshops and family activities as well.

P.S. A little bird tells us that Singapore’s best roast pork – complete with incredibly crispy crackling – will be available at the Mar 11-12 edition of the market.

5. Camp by the beach, enjoy night walks or a zipline ride on Sentosa

The Sentosa Express. (Photo: Sentosa Development Corporation)

For the entire month of March, all students holding valid TransitLink concession cards can gain free entry into Sentosa via the Sentosa Express when they tap their EZ-Link cards at the turnstiles.

The island’s management is rolling out one-for-one deals and discounts of up to 50 per cent specially for students at attractions such as Wave House Sentosa, iFly Singapore, Mega Adventure and Skyline Luge Sentosa.

There are also several night-time activities, with Mega Adventure’s first Night Zip on Mar 11, and an inaugural free night tour of the historic Fort Siloso, where you can step into the shoes of World War II soldiers and try to find your way out of tunnels.

On selected weekends, guests can camp out on Palawan Beach – just note that it is BYOT (bring your own tent). Or they can enjoy free movie nights at the beach. Among the movies being screened are Taken, the X-Men movies, Ip Man and Pitch Perfect.

Source: CNA

March 4, 2017