Category: Agama

  • Hindu Party Shiv Sena Expressed Concerns Over Burgeoning Muslim Population, Suggests Better Family Planning And Ban On Burqa

    Hindu Party Shiv Sena Expressed Concerns Over Burgeoning Muslim Population, Suggests Better Family Planning And Ban On Burqa

    Two days after the Shiv Sena advocated scrapping the voting rights of Muslims, the party on Wednesday said there should be proper family planning in the community, expressing concerns that the Muslim population in India will soon be higher than Pakistan or Indonesia.

    In an editorial in the party’s mouthpiece Saamna, Shiv Sena parliamentarian Sanjay Raut said that the rising population of Muslims as compared to the falling population of Hindus in India will disturb the Hindu nation’s cultural and social balance.

    “There’s a threat to the country’s Hindus due to the rising population of Muslims and Christians in India,” the MP said in the editorial, adding though the term “vasectomy” could be incorrect, family planning and population is very much a problem.

    The editorial said that the state of the country is such that one can’t say a word even against stray dogs, who cannot be neutered by compulsion, due to excessive importance given to sympathy and human rights.

    “If Mr. Owaisi saheb cares so much about the development of his community, he should promote family planning and ban the burkha for women,” the editorial said, adding its argument is actually in favour of the Muslims who would be able to raise their children better with limited resources in a small family.

    “We are wasting our time in a silly argument of vasectomy or family planning. If Muslim leaders can’t manage anything else, they should at least save the nation by a vasectomy of their own communal thoughts,” the party said.

    Earlier this week, the Shiv Sena had drawn much ire from across political parties when it said the voting rights of Muslims should be revoked as the community is often used for vote bank politics. Targeting the All India Majlis-Ittehadul Muslimeen, led by the Owaisi brothers, the party said that the brothers were like poisonous snakes who spew venom to exploit the minority community.

     

    Source: http://indianexpress.com

  • More Than 40 Singaporeans Choose To Remain In Yemen, Urged To Exercise Personal Responsibility

    More Than 40 Singaporeans Choose To Remain In Yemen, Urged To Exercise Personal Responsibility

    Foreign Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam today (April 15) called on more than 40 Singaporeans who are still living in war-torn Yemen to uphold “personal responsibility” by leaving the country immediately.

    Speaking to the media today, he said: “The Government has a duty to try and help our citizens in situations like this. At the same time, people also have an individual, personal responsibility not to put themselves at risk.”

    Despite “obvious risks” due to the increased fighting in Yemen and advisories issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), some have not heeded calls to leave, he added.

    Drawing a parallel with the situation in Syria, Mr Shanmugam said: “Again, despite many advisories, some of our people did not leave Syria in time, and then they found that all the escape routes were cut off and leaving Syria became extremely difficult.”

    Syria has been grappling with a civil war since 2011.

    “So really, those who are (in Yemen) should leave immediately and if they don’t, they are putting themselves at serious risk. We will then be operating in a situation where our own ability to rescue them becomes very limited,” he added.

    Tensions between Houthi rebels and forces loyal to President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi have escalated since the Houthis took control of Yemen’s capital Sana’a in September last year, five days after MFA issued the first advisory for Singaporeans to leave Yemen.

    Since last month, a Saudi Arabia-led coalition has been targeting the Houthis and their allies—namely forces loyal to former Yemeni leader Ali Abdulla Saleh— in a series of air strikes.

    Despite the MFA’s multiple appeals, more than 40 Singaporeans, including students, businessmen, homemakers and several young children, are still living in various Yemeni cities.

    “We won’t know the full number, but that is our estimate,” said Mr Shanmugam.

    TODAY understands that many have remained due to business and education obligations. Some, such as Mr Haykal Bafana, 43, told TODAY that he had lived through similar unrest in 2011.

    As Singapore does not have an embassy in Yemen, it seeks assistance from other countries such as China, India, Malaysia, Indonesia and Oman, said Mr Shanmugam.

    However, many embassies on the ground are winding down rescue operations, he noted, which “limits (the Government’s) ability to do much in Yemen any further”.

    A total of 25 Singaporeans have left Yemen in the last two weeks, including a woman who was evacuated yesterday.

    As air travel in Yemen has ceased, current rescue operations are primarily conducted over land, and can take up more than 20 hours through rough terrain.

    TODAY understands that the Singaporeans who managed to get out of Yemen also encountered challenges such as 10-hour bus delays and the lack of travel documents.

    MFA's Evacuation Efforts In Yemen

     

    Source: www.todayonline.com

  • MIlitan Perguna Ideologi Salafi Untuk Tujuan Ganas

    MIlitan Perguna Ideologi Salafi Untuk Tujuan Ganas

    Selepas peristiwa serangan ganas 9/11 di Amerika Syarikat, istilah Salafi telah menarik perhatian ramai.

    Salafi telah dipersalahkan sebagai sebuah ideologi yang menyokong keganasan dan pengganas.

    Sejak itu, sebilangan penulis Barat dan media gagal mengetengahkan analisis yang seimbang dan tetap bagi istilah Salafi: dengan hanya menyebarkan perspektif negatif dan condong.

    Sebenarnya Salafi amat disalah anggap oleh kerana sifatnya yang agak kabur.

    Ia merangkumi pelbagai pemahaman yang termasuk keganasan dan keamanan.

    Oleh itu, usaha-usaha memberikan pengertian menyeluruh yang dapat diterima daripada istilah Salafi telah menjadi sesuatu yang amat sukar oleh para ulama.

    Soalan penting bagi siapakah atau apakah yang layak digelar sebagai golongan Salafi masih dipertikaikan.

    Namun perlu ditekankan bahawa istilah Salafi berasal daripada tradisi Islam.

    Salafi dari segi asalnya hanyalah salah satu daripada berbagai-bagai pemahaman Islam.

    Namun, penting ditekankan bahawa istilah Salafi telah melalui pelbagai pemahaman dari masa ke masa, dan penting bagi kita memahami makna Salaf dan Salafi dari segi dasar, sejarah dan konteksnya.

    APAKAH SALAFI DAN SIAPAKAH SALAF?

    Salafi atau Salafiyyah berasal daripada istilah ‘Salaf’.

    Salaf dalam bahasa Arab bermaksud “yang telah berlalu” (salafa). Dalam bahasa Arab, orang yang telah mendahului nenek moyang kita dianggap seorang salaf.

    Al-Quran juga menggunakan perkataan ‘salaf’ dalam hal ini.

    “Dan Kami jadikan mereka orang-orang yang telah lalu (salafan) sebagai contoh bagi zaman kemudian,” (Quran 43:56).

    Dari sudut Islam, istilah Salaf itu merujuk kepada umat Islam dari zaman awal, yang juga sahabat kepada Nabi Muhammad saw, orang yang mengikuti mereka dan para ulama daripada tiga generasi pertama umat Islam.

    Umat Islam zaman awal ini dikenali sebagai Salaf Al-Shalih dan mereka menikmati status istimewa dalam kalangan umat Islam seperti yang disebut oleh Nabi Muhammad saw: “Sebaik-baik umat adalah generasiku, kemudian sesudahnya, kemudian sesudahnya.”

    Pastinya, disebabkan mereka dekat kepada zaman Nabi saw, bermakna mereka juga lebih dekat kepada ajaran Islam yang asal.

    Para sahabat Nabi saw menerima pengajaran langsung daripada Rasulullah saw dan dapat menyaksikan kedua-dua wahyu dan juga konteks penurunannya, manakala dua generasi berikutnya menerima ajaran Islam menurut tafsiran para sahabat.

    Salafiyyah dikenali sebagai manhaj (metodologi) atau amalan para golongan Salafi.

    Dalam konteks moden, istilah Salafi merujuk kepada pengamal Salafiyyah.

    Dari segi bahasa, istilah Salafi ini adalah satu anggapan ulama Salaf. Salafi adalah seorang yang mengamalkan ajaran Salaf.

    Oleh itu, apabila seseorang mengaku dirinya sebagai seorang Salafi, ia bermaksud bahawa beliau mengamal dan mengikuti ajaran Salaf.

    SALAFI MODEN DAN CABANG-CABANGNYA

    Istilah “Salafi Moden” merujuk kepada kecenderungan agamanya kepada sesebuah idea atau identiti.

    Identiti di sini bermaksud sesuatu sistem kepercayaan (ideologi), idea, moral, kepentingan sosial, politik dan komitmen Salafi Moden.

    Ia juga merupakan sebuah ideologi yang menentukan bagaimana dunia dan sistemnya harus berfungsi.

    Ajaran tersebut berdasarkan ajaran daripada Al-Quran, Sunah (hadis) dan amalan generasi awal Islam (Salaf).

    Oleh kerana mereka mengikuti ajaran Salaf, maka mereka menggelarkan diri mereka sebagai individu daripada golongan Salafi.

    Salafi Moden dilihat sebagai seorang individu yang berusaha mahu penyuburan semula warisan sejarah Nabi Muhammad saw, para sahabat beliau dan generasi awal Islam dengan mengamalkan ajaran pada zaman silam kepada masa kini.

    Salafi Moden bermacam: ia terdiri daripada pelbagai elemen dan orientasi – ada yang sederhana dan ada juga yang digelar ekstrem (pengganas).

    Walaupun kebanyakan Salafi sebulat suara dalam hal akidah dan iman, mereka berbeza pendapat mengenai isu-isu perundangan dan politik.

    Ulama Islam, Abdullah Saeed, membahagikan mereka kepada empat golongan – Salafi Moden, Salafi Islam, Salafi Tegar dan Salafi Militan.

    Salafi Moden merujuk kepada idea-idea yang muncul daripada penghujung abad ke-19 di Mesir dan Damsyik sebagai reaksi kepada kelaziman idea-idea Eropah dan berusaha menerangkan kesan positif dan negatif terhadap tamadun Islam.

    Golongan Salafi ini dikaitkan dengan Muhammad Abduh.

    Beliau berasal daripada pertengahan abad ke-19 di Mesir dan menyaksikan tempoh pengaruhan Barat ke atas Timur Tengah.

    Beliau percaya bahawa pengaruh itu menjejas masyarakat Islam yang senantiasa meniru membabi buta cara-cara Barat lalu menyebabkan keruntuhan moral dan kemunduran di kebanyakan masyarakat Islam.

    Bersama dengan reformis yang lain di zamannya, iaitu Jamal al-Din al-Afghani, Muhammad Rashid Rida, Muhammad al-Shawkani dan Jalal al-San’ani, mereka mencadangkan bahawa penyelesaian terletak dalam pengkajian sumber asal agama.

    Ini termasuk, selain daripada Al-Quran dan Sunah, pematuhan kepada amalan Salaf Al-Shalih itu.

    Bagaimanapun, para reformis awal ini berpendapat bahawa orang Islam tidak seharusnya memisahkan diri mereka sepenuhnya daripada dunia Barat.

    Malah, mereka mengalu-alukan reformasi Islam yang mentafsirkan sumber-sumber awal Islam sambil bersaing dengan cara-cara kehidupan moden.

    PERBEZAAN: SALAFI ISLAM, SALAFI TEGAR DAN SALAFI JIHAD

    Salafi Islam kadangkala dikenali sebagai Salafi Politik, menekankan penerapan pemahaman Salafi di arena politik.

    Contohnya kumpulan Persaudaraan Islam dan Hizb Al Parti Ummah di Mesir.

    Salafi Tegar lazimnya dikaitkan dengan Arab Saudi dan dipercayai telah ditubuhkan oleh Muhammad Ibn Abd al Wahhab.

    Ia adalah jenis Salafi yang lebih tradisional di mana penganutnya mengamalkan cara-cara Islam yang tegas dan selalunya tidak boleh bertolak ansur.

    Salafi ini merujuk kepada Ibn Taimiyah (1263-1328) dan bukan para ulama abad ke-19 seperti Muhammad Abduh, Al-Afghani dan Rashid Rida.

    Akhirnya Salafi Militan, yang juga dikenali sebagai Salafi Jihad.

    Golongan ini cenderung kepada aksi militan yang berhujah bahawa konteks semasa memerlukan keganasan dan revolusi.

    Fahaman ini dikaitkan dengan Osama Bin Laden dan Ayman Al-Zawahiri.

    Golongan-golongan Salafi yang berbeza ini sentiasa merujuk kepada ulama-ulama mereka yang berlainan fahaman sebagai rujukan agama demi kesahihan dan bimbingan.

    Tafsiran agama yang berbeza mempunyai implikasi yang mendalam terhadap politik, sosial dan ekonomi mereka.

    Perselisihan dan pertikaian sesama golongan ini adalah jelas.

    Bolehkah seorang Muslim mendengar muzik?

    Patutkah seorang Muslim menahan diri daripada membeli barangan dan produk Israel?

    Haruskah seorang Muslim berjuang menjatuhkan kerajaan Islam yang gagal melaksanakan syariah sepenuhnya?

    Setiap golangan Salafi mempunyai jawapan dan nasihat yang berbeza bagi penganutnya untuk soalan- soalan tersebut dan yang lain-lain.

    Kategori Salafi Moden yang disebutkan di atas adalah pada permukaan sahaja.

    Ia hanyalah suatu anggaran atau tanggapan untuk membantu kita agar lebih memahami dengan mendalam mengenai trend ideologi Salafi Moden.

    Perbezaan di antara golongan itu menjejas sesetengah golongan Salafi yang juga bersifat aman dalam kalangan majoriti yang membentuk Salafi Moden.

    • Ustaz Dr Mohamed Ali, Penulis Penolong Profesor, Sekolah Pengajian Antarabangsa S. Rajaratnam (RSIS), Universiti Teknologi Nanyang.

     

    Source: http://beritaharian.sg

  • Increased Religiosity In Asia-Pacific: Islam And Hinduism Projected To Make Greatest Gains In Singapore

    Increased Religiosity In Asia-Pacific: Islam And Hinduism Projected To Make Greatest Gains In Singapore

    A trend of increasing religiosity is taking hold in the Asia-Pacific region, while North America and Europe are experiencing the reverse with a projected spike in the proportion of people unaffiliated with any religion, showed a recent report by Washington-based think-tank Pew Research Centre.

    In Singapore, Islam and Hinduism are projected to make the highest gains, with Muslims replacing Christians as the second-largest faith group by 2050. The report, The Future Of World Religions: Population Growth Projections, 2010-2050, was published on Thursday.

    Pew’s researchers took six years to analyse information from about 2,500 data sources, including censuses, demographic surveys, general population surveys and other studies. Demographic projections made in the report were also based on the current size and geographic distribution of the world’s major religions, age differences, fertility and mortality rates, international migration and patterns in conversion between religions.

    The report projected that in the Asia-Pacific region, the proportion of freethinkers is projected to decline from 21 per cent in 2010 to 17 per cent in 2050. Over the same period, the proportion of this group in Europe and North America is expected to increase from 19 per cent to 23 per cent, and from 17 per cent to almost 26 per cent, respectively.

    “Atheists, agnostics and other people who do not affiliate with any religion — though increasing in countries such as the United States and France — will make up a declining share of the world’s total population,” it added.

    The report also projected that the number of Muslims, a comparatively youthful population with high fertility rates, will nearly equal the number of Christians by 2050, if current demographic trends continue. As of 2010, Christians made up nearly a third of all 6.9 billion people on Earth. Muslims were the next largest group, comprising about 23 per cent.

    The report projected Singapore’s total population to reach 7.9 million in 2050. The proportion of Muslims is projected to increase from 14.3 per cent in 2010 to 21.4 per cent in 2050, overtaking Christians as the second-largest group behind Buddhists. Over the same period, Singapore’s proportion of Hindus is expected to rise from 5.2 to 10.0 per cent. The report said the increases were “mostly because of migration from India and Malaysia”.

    By 2050, freethinkers will make up 16 per cent of the total population, down slightly from 16.4 per cent in 2010. Over the same period, the proportion of Christians and Buddhists here will decrease from 18.2 to 17 per cent, and 33.9 to 27 per cent, respectively.

    Commenting on the report, observers here questioned the assumption that migration patterns will continue over the next few decades.

    Dr Mathew Mathews, a senior research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), pointed out that the Government had previously said it wanted to preserve the current racial balance. “Muslims and Hindus in Singapore usually are Malays and Indians, and if their racial composition is supposed to stay the same as currently, it will be unlikely that Islam and Hinduism in Singapore will grow substantially considering the current population plans,” he said.

    The Pew report acknowledged that estimating future migration is challenging because the movement of people across borders is dependent on government policies and international events that can change quickly. “And because many migrants follow economic opportunities, migration patterns are also dependent on changing economic conditions,” it added.

    Nonetheless, Pew said it has developed a technique to estimate recent migration patterns and their religious breakdown, in collaboration with researchers at Austria’s International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis.

    In Singapore’s case, IPS senior research fellow Leong Chan-Hoong and Chua Chu Kang GRC Member of Parliament Zaqy Mohamad said it cannot be assumed that people migrating from Malaysia are probably Muslims. Stressing the challenges of migration projections, Dr Leong said migrants could come from different countries or involve different races or religions within a particular country.

    Mr Zaqy said any increase in the Muslim and Hindu populations could also be because of a higher number of interracial marriages.

    Should the projections come to pass, Singapore Management University law don Eugene Tan said Singapore may also have to look into building more places of worship for Muslims and Hindus. Likewise, there would also be an impact on the relative influence each religious group has on changes, where bigger groups could feel their views should carry more weight, for instance, he added.

     

    Source: www.todayonline.com

  • Singaporean Woman And Four Children Stuck In Aden, Yemen

    Singaporean Woman And Four Children Stuck In Aden, Yemen

    A Singaporean woman and her four children are stuck in Aden, Yemen, as rebel troops close in on the Middle Eastern port city.

    Madam Sherin Fathima Syed Abdul Ravoof, in her 30s, and her four children aged between four and 13, have no way out of the country, which is on the brink of civil war.

    Countries such as China and India have been evacuating their citizens on naval frigates.

    “My kids are terrified because nothing like this ever happens in Singapore,” Madam Sherin told The New Paper.

    A Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) spokesman said it is in close contact with Singaporeans in Yemen, especially those who want to leave the country.

    But since Singapore has no diplomatic representation in Yemen, MFA is working with the Malaysian and Indonesian embassies to help evacuate Singaporeans.

     

    Source: www.tnp.sg