Category: Komentar

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  • Komentar: Tidak Perlu Menghina Pengunaan Sesuatu Bahasa dan Para Penggunanya

    Komentar: Tidak Perlu Menghina Pengunaan Sesuatu Bahasa dan Para Penggunanya

    Isu Bahasa & Agama: Tidak Perlu Menghina Pengunaan Sesuatu Bahasa dan Para Penggunanya

    Baru-baru ini ada tengkarah mengenai penggunaan bahasa yang digunakan dalam kelas-kelas agama yang dijalankan di sebuah Masjid.

    Si ayah mengatakan yang beliau rasa “ditipu” kerana anaknya hadir dalam kelas madrasah sambilan yang menggunakan bahasa Melayu sebagai bahasa pengantar dan bukan bahasa Inggeris, sebagaimana yang dikatakan ayah tersebut. Kata-kata yang diluahkan ayah tersebut telah mengundang reaksi yang pelbagai.

    Satu bentuk reaksi adalah kehampaan terhadap ayah tersebut yang telah mencemuh pihak Masjid dan juga para pengguna bahasa Melayu.

    Sekiranya benar bagai dikata oleh ayah tersebut, maka seharusnya pihak Masjid terbabit pastikan yang kelas-kelas madrasahnya menggunakan bahasa Inggeris dan bukan bahasa lain. Dan pihak Masjid sudahpun berikan respons yang cepat untuk tangani maklumbalas tersebut dengan segera, sambil memohon maaf.

    Namun, pada masa yang sama juga, isu ini sebenarnya dapat ditangani dengan cara yang lebih bijak. Sekiranya nak bawa juga isu ini ke tengah melalui media sosial, pendekatan yang lebih merendahkan diri akan lebih meraih simpati dan sokongan ramai. Dan setentunya, terdapat pilihan lain untuk tangani isu secara bersemuka – bertemu dengan pihak Masjid terbabit dan dapatkan penjelasan secara terus-menerus tanpa melalui hiruk-pikuk media sosial sebagai perantaraan.

    Satu perkara yang susah untuk dilepaskan atau dibiarkan begitu sahaja adalah sikap yang tertonjol jelas melalui episod ini.

    Apakah yang sikap tersebut?

    Iaitu sikap negatif terhadap penggunaan bahasa Melayu dalam pengajaran Agama. Episod ini, tidak secara langsung, mempamerkan betapa bahasa Melayu dan para penggunanya dipandang begitu rendah sekali oleh sesetengah golongan yang kelihatannya seperti berbangsa Melayu. Dan pandangan negatif itu menjadi lebih negatif apabila ianya dibawa ke dalam konteks pengajaran Agama.

    Mengapakah sampai begitu negatif sekali tanggapan sesetengah pihak terhadap penggunaan Bahasa Melayu dan para penggunanya, apatah lagi dalam konteks pengajaran Agama?

    Dan di sini juga, bukanlah berniat untuk mempertikaikan penggunaan Bahasa Inggeris dan penggunaan dalam pengajaran Agama.

    BUKAN.

    Nak pakai Bahasa Inggeris, pakailah. Silakan.

    Isunya adalah, apakah perlu memperlekehkan Bahasa Melayu dan para penggunanya dalam kontek mempertikaikan apa yang dikatakan dijanjikan oleh pihak Masjid terbabit berbanding apa yang disajikan dalam kelas?

    Tidak ada sesiapapun akan mempertikaikan hak seseorang untuk mendapatkan apa yang dijanjikan oleh pihak lain. Dan sekiranya didapati betul akan tuntutan hak tersebut, pihak yang menjanjikan memang seharusnya memenuhi janji tersebut dan memohon maaf sekiranya tidak melaksanakan janji tersebut.

    Namun, dalam menuntut hak tersebut, tidak perlu untuk melakukannya dengan cara menghina sesuatu bahasa dan para penggunanya.

     

    Source: Mohd Khair

  • How Credible Are “Scholars” Who Learn About Islam From Western Institutions?

    How Credible Are “Scholars” Who Learn About Islam From Western Institutions?

    # Islamic Scholars from Secular & Western Universities?

    While neighbouring countries celebrate local & overseas scholars who attained doctorates in Islamic universities such as Jordan, Egypt & Saudi Arabia, and take knowledge from them.

    Why then are we taking knowledge & promoting local & overseas scholars from Western universities such as those in Cambridge & Oxford, and secular universities such as those in staunchly secular Tunisia?

    And who can we credit for this idea of sending students for Islamic studies to secular & Western universities and to eventually promote & propagate a brand of Islam with liberal & orientalist leanings?

    “Religion as a knowledge does not belong to religious institutions, but rather to SECULAR higher learning colleges. And if we speak about qualified higher learning institutions, WESTERN universities are the most competitive ones.

    Thus, if you want to study Islam, particularly Indonesian Islam, it should not be at UIN or a Middle Eastern institution, but rather at such universities as in the Netherlands, the United States, or Australia.”

    ~ Luthfi Assyaukanie (co-founder of Liberal Islam Network, Indonesia), “Where we go to study Indonesian Islam?”, Jakarta Post, 25 June 2010

     

    Source: Islamic Sg

  • Don’t Impose Secular Views On Religious Bodies

    Don’t Impose Secular Views On Religious Bodies

    The statements by the National Council of Churches of Singapore and the local Roman Catholic Church regarding the “gay moment” in the Disney movie, Beauty And The Beast, are quite clearly meant as advisories to the leaders of their respective congregations and the parents there (Disney’s Beauty And The Beast given PG rating for ‘mild violence’; March 15).

    But the statements were picked up and published by various media outlets.

    Not unexpectedly, a number of netizens took offence and attacked and ridiculed these statements without considering the context.

    We should not impose our secular views and opinions upon any religious body or organisation, out of respect for its religious belief and also out of respect for our Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act.

    The various online alternative media outlets which mock religious beliefs and activities could be seen as making mischief.

    They risk tearing the fragile fabric of religious harmony in Singapore.

    I hope they can rein in their attacks before the situation gets out of control.

    David Fong Chee Hong

     

    Source: www.straitstimes.com

  • Commentary: The Problem With ‘Hijab Fashion’

    Commentary: The Problem With ‘Hijab Fashion’

    I’d like to take a minute and speak about this prevalent trend of ‘Hijab fashion’ and ‘Hijabi Fashionistas’. Before anyone gets defensive and feels they’re being attacked, this is not about anyone’s *personal* journey, rather more about *public journeys* and how we are influencing our youth. So no one is judging anyone, nor being holier than thou, this is a bit of food for thought.

    Recently I’ve been seeing fashion shows/cat walks, Muslims women on the runways etc highlighting “modest fashion” where the idea is to cater for Muslim women.

    I completely understand Muslim women fall into many many categories when it comes to implementing the Hijab in its entirety, and by that I do not mean just the headscarf. I understand the difficulties in implementing the hijab (been there, done that). I understand all the thought processes before finally making the decision to implement the hijab outwardly and inwardly. I also understand wanting to look nice and presentable.

    What I do not accept nor understand is the category of women who outright reject the command. Our attire and what we have been commanded to wear is clear cut, stated in the Qur’an and ahadith. It’s fine for you to do business, also fine for you to cater for Muslim women as there is a huge market, but I feel somewhere in all this business and making a name, the true essence and identity of a Muslimah is getting lost behind make up, pouts and excessiveness.

    There are so many problems with the Hijab Fashionista era that we are living in. Here are three:

    1. Our attire is being commercialised and we are condoning it.

    Initially it was just within, now it is also external. We do not need Nike to promote our hijab, we do not need Debenhams to start endorsing our clothes. We do not need approval or validation from any mainstream companies. They are not doing us a favour, they are not “accepting us” they are thinking with their business hat on and how to make a profit. So firstly, it is important we do not fall into that trap of thinking finally the world is starting to accept us.

    2. Are catwalks modest?

    When Muslim women are walking up and down the runway, there are male photographers present, male audience present, men reading and seeing about the fashion show in the news, does this defeat the purpose of hijab? Whilst we flaunt the “modest clothing” on our body, we are being watched and ogled at. Beautified faces, beautified clothes, is this really modest, if we think about modesty in its entirety and not just a piece of cloth? Does this thought process make me extreme? O_o

    3. Is it really Hijab?

    We are seeing Muslim women bloggers who categorise themselves as Hijabis and whilst they may be struggling to wear the hijab in its correct form, showing your hair and neck is not hijab and should never ever be promoted as hijab. Whilst these bloggers influence our youth to wear turbans, show their awrah yet call it hijab, surely we should be challenging this and not encouraging when these bloggers “make it” and become “famous”.

    Honestly is it a great thing to see sisters excelling and making a name for themselves, but at the expense of a lost identity?

    Are Muslim women having an identity crisis, trying to fit in between the “modern world” and Islam? What are WE doing to lead our youth and what CAN we do to lead them? To ensure our youth do not feel like they need validation? To ensure our youth are looking up to the correct figures as their role models?

    May Allah allow us to excel in His beautiful Deen, and forgive us when we fall short.

     

     

  • Commentary: Riding Is A Cheaper Method Of Transport But That Only Shows How Cheap Your Life Is

    Commentary: Riding Is A Cheaper Method Of Transport But That Only Shows How Cheap Your Life Is

    Hi

    Someone posted a bold comment about riding motorcycle in Singapore and relate to the BKE accident recently. In the post he criticise riders saying that ride motorcycle as a form of cheap transport. He say maybe there is a trend in singapore because like almost all riders are malay and told the malays to take care. He was a rider to a driver (car to lorries who cares) and realise that singapore roads are not for bikers.

    In the post:

    “i am a rider and driver from cars to lorries even class 4, i must say bikers are a pain in the ass (: thankfully i drive now. Lets face the fact that Singapore roads are never suitable for motorcycles.  Yes it may be a cheaper method of transport as compared to a car. However, that only shows how cheap your life is. so if you cant afford to drive, dont ride and just take public transport @ Yusuf norseni i dont know whats the trend going on in SG but it seems like many mlay are riders, please take care buddy. Lets pray for all the casualties and van driver, peace out”

     

    So, who is this guy think he is. All bikers are pain in the ass? All riders are malay? How bout your stupidity is the trending now. People can ride because of hobby and they want to spend the money on bikes. Why you have to mention one race when saying about all the bikers in sg? And from rider to driver means you right to criticise and look down at people who are riding bikes is it? No point you remove your fb.

    I have been riding in singapore close to 10 years now. From small bikes to bigger so i know how it feel as a biker here. I work despatch and delivery too. As a singaporean and malay and a rider, i really feel offended and angry.

     

    Salim

    Reader’s Contribution