Category: Agama

Walid J. Abdullah: Jesus Christ Is An Important Figure In Islam

Jesus Christ and Muslims:

*disclaimer: i am not an Islamic scholar, so these are the opinions of a lay Muslim*

Jesus Christ is an important figure in Islam. In fact, no Muslim can claim to be one if he/she does not believe in Jesus Christ. Islam is perhaps unique for being a non-Christian faith that requires belief in the Christ in order to be an adherent to the faith.

This is not to say that Muslims and Christians believe exactly the same things about Jesus. This is an attempt to highlight some similarities and differences on Jesus Christ in the two great Abrahamaic faiths.

Similarities:

Like Christians, Muslims believe Jesus was born of a virgin. Both Mary and Jesus are accorded important positions in Islam. Three of 114 chapters of the Quran are named after Jesus/his family/occurrences in his life: Jesus is mentioned 25 times by name in the Quran.

Jesus is a righteous Messenger and Prophet. And, Muslims actually believe he is the Messiah promised by the God of Abraham to the Jewish people.

Muslims also believe that Jesus will be reappearing near the end of days, for the second coming. His reappearance, will be one of the major signs of the last hour.

Differences:

Muslims however, depart from Christians on an important point: we do not believe that Jesus was divine, God, the son of God, or a second person of the trinity.

Muslims also believe that Jesus was not crucified, or according to some scholars, he did not die by crucifixion. Details aside, the Quranic narrative is that Jesus did not die on the cross.

Furthermore, Muslim theology is similar to Jewish theology in the sense that each person is accountable for his or her own sins, or as stated in the book of Ezekiel, ‘the father shall not bear the iniquity of the son; the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him; the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.’ Thus, Muslims do not believe that Jesus, or anyone else, could die for the sins of mankind.

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Obviously, there will be other similarities and differences; these are perhaps the main ones.

If we are serious about inter-faith dialogue and understanding, we must be honest about what we agree on, and where we disagree. ‘Feel-good’ dialogues that talk about similarities are as unproductive as rants focusing exclusively on differences.

True harmony can only be achieved, i think, when people understand where they disagree, and agree to accept those disagreements as part and parcel of life. Pretending that we share same theologies is not just dishonest, but can be counter-productive.

And, we must also get over the idea that just because we disagree (not just in religion, but in politics and everything else!), we must hate each other. And just because we like each other, we must not talk about differences. Both these notions will end up achieving very little for a multi-cultural, multi-religious society.

Merry Christmas to my Christian friends!

Source: Walid J. Abdullah

December 25, 2016
Lelaki Kristian Ajar Kanak-Kanak Muslim Belajar, Hafal Al Quran

KAHIRAH, MESIR: Ini satu semangat kemanusiaan yang luar biasa. Selama berdekad-dekad, seorang lelaki Mesir beragama Kristian mengajar kanak-kanak Muslim di kampungnya membaca dan menghafal Al-Quran.

Bahkan, Encik Ayad Shaker Hanna, 80 tahun, mempunyai bilik darjah kecil di rumahnya yang digunakan untuk mengajar kanak-kanak di kampung Akoris, membaca dan menulis, menurut laman Al Bawaba.

MEREKA YANG TIDAK MAMPU, BOLEH BELAJAR SECARA PERCUMA

Menurut Al Jazeera, beliau hanya mengenakan yuran yang kecil, dan mereka yang tidak mampu membayar yuran, boleh belajar secara bercuma.

Encik Ayad dilaporkan orang pertama di Akoris yang belajar membaca. Kini sudah bertahun-tahun lamanya, beliau mengongsi pengetahuannya itu dan mengajar kanak-kanak di kampungnya membaca dan menulis, termasuk membaca dan menghafal Al-Quran.

“Orang Kristian menuruti ajaran Isa, dan orang Islam menuruti ajaran Nabi Muhammad.

“Namun di kejiranan ini, dan tentang memberi dan menerima dan sebarang keperluan.. Itulah kasih sayang yang sudah kami kongsi bersama di kampung ini sejak dulu lagi,” kata Encik Ayad seperti ditukil Al- Bawaba.

Menurut Al Jazeera, Encik Ayad sendiri mempelajari tentang Al-Quran semasa di sekolah rendah, dan bapanya menggalak beliau untuk menghafalnya.

“Orang ramai kata Quran menyatakan yang ini dan itu.. Kitab Injil juga berkata yang ini dan itu,” kata Encik Ayad kepada Al Jazeera.

Bahkan, beliau juga berkata beliau rasa dekat kepada Tuhan ketika membaca Al-Quran, kerana ia mengandungi mesej-mesej kasih sayang dan belas kasihan, lapor Al Bawaba.

Source: http://berita.mediacorp.sg

December 25, 2016
Halimah Yacob: Build Community Ties To Guard Against Terror

Incidents like the terrorist attack on a Christmas market in Berlin show that Singapore cannot be complacent, said Speaker of Parliament Halimah Yacob yesterday.

Building strong community ties is important to guard against such tragedies, she added.

“Before we ever reach such a situation, if we do, we must be sure that we build a very strong foundation,” she said.

Twelve people were killed in Monday’s attack – for which the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria terror group claimed responsibility – when a truck was driven into a Christmas market.

“It is really, really sad, and it is really not reflective of what Islam is all about,” said Madam Halimah.

She was replying to a question from the media at Toys Carnival @ Marsiling, a Christmas celebration for needy children from Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC, where she is a grassroots adviser.

It was the second time this year that a truck was used as a terrorist weapon targeting large crowds.

On July 14, 86 people were killed after they were run over by a truck in Nice on Bastille Day, the French national holiday.

Madam Halimah said events such as Toys Carnival @ Marsiling, in which families of all races take part, are key to fostering ties. “These are the platforms that we must consciously create to develop strong community bonding… It is not possible to legislate harmony, but we can build harmony.”

Now in its second year, the annual event brought festive cheer to around 150 children on the morning of Christmas Eve.

Source: www.straitstimes.com

December 25, 2016
Wanita Ditahan Dipercayai Hina Azan, Islam Menerusi Facebook

Polis menahan seorang wanita kerana dipercayai membuat kenyataan dengan menghina azan dan agama Islam menerusi laman sosial Facebook.

Ketua Polis Johor Datuk Seri Wan Ahmad Najmuddin Mohd berkata wanita berumur 26 tahun itu ditahan pada 8.00 malam semalam (22 Dis) di sebuah rumah di Taman Rekamas, Simpang Renggam selepas pihaknya menerima satu laporan, 20 Disember lepas.

“Bertindak atas laporan tersebut, polis yang menjalankan siasatan telah dapat mengesan pemilik akaun laman sosial berkenaan yang disyaki memuat naik kenyataan yang menghina azan dan agama Islam. Keadaan ini boleh mencetuskan suasana tidak harmoni,” katanya menerusi kenyataan hari ini (23 Dis).

Wan Ahmad Najmuddin berkata polis turut merampas satu komputer riba dan satu telefon bimbit milik wanita berkenaan.

Beliau berkata polis akan mengemukakan permohonan reman terhadap wanita itu bagi membantu siasatan lanjut mengikut Kanun Keseksaan dan Akta Hasutan 1948.

Katanya, polis sehubungan itu menasihati orang ramai supaya tidak menyalahgunakan mana-mana perkhidmatan aplikasi media sosial bagi mengeluarkan kenyataan yang boleh menyebabkan suasana tidak harmoni dan melukakan perasaan penganut agama lain.

Source: Berita MediaCorp

December 24, 2016
Mufti Dr Fatris, MUIS Ucap Selamat Hari Krismas Kepada Masyarakat Kristian Singapura

Mufti Negara Dr Mohamed Fatris Bakaram dan Ketua Eksekutif MUIS, Abdul Razak Maricar, bagi pihak masyarakat Islam tempatan, hari ini mengutuskan ucapan Selamat Hari Krismas dan tahun baru 2017 kepada masyarakat Kristian Singapura.

Ucapan tersebut disampaikan dalam surat berasingan kepada dua pemimpin Kristian yang berpengaruh di negara ini iaitu Presiden Majlis Gereja Kebangsaan Singapura, Uskup Rennis Ponniah, dan Ketua Bishop Roman Katolik Singapura, William Goh Seng Chye.

Dalam surat tersebut, Mufti Fatris dan Encik Abdul Razak menzahirkan rasa bersyukur di atas anugerah keamanan, kemakmuran dan persahabatan kukuh dengan semua agama di Singapura, terutama sekali dengan masyarakat Kristian negara ini.

Mereka menambah, sekarang ini merupakan masa-masa sukar bagi banyak masyarakat di merata dunia, seperti serangan “tidak berperikemanusiaan” ke atas Pasar Berlin, yang membunuh 12 orang dan mencederakan 48 yang lain.

Lantaran itu, Mufti Fatris dan Encik Abdul Razak menekankan perlunya ikatan dan persahabatan yang ada diperkuat, dan masyarakat memperdalam kefahaman antara satu sama lain serta membina satu budaya kerjasama.

Masyarakat Muslim Singapura tegas kedua-dua mereka, komited untuk berdiri bahu membahu dengan penganut agama lain, dalam menawarkan peranan positif yang boleh dimainkan oleh agama.

Ini, demi membina sebuah Singapura yang sepadu dan dan makmur demi manfaat generasi masa depan, kata Mufti Fatris dan Encik Razak.

Source: Berita MediaCorp

December 24, 2016