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Answers To Common Questions About Ramadan And Hari Raya

“Really? Cannot eat at all?”

It’s a common question asked of myself and my fellow fasting family and friends by non-Muslims during this period.

Muslims the world over fast for the whole month of Ramadan, the ninth month in the Islamic calendar.

In Singapore, Ramadan started on the evening of Wednesday, June 17, with Muslims going through their first full day of fasting on Thursday.

The next question is usually: “But can drink water, right?”

While it is often the same questions asked on an annual basis, it’s better to ask than stay quiet.

In the interest of clearing up a few things once and for all for my non-fasting friends, here are the answers to some of your fasting month questions.

Why do you fast?

Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam – anyone who is of age (generally determined by reaching puberty), and is not ill or in a situation which makes it difficult for them to complete their fast (eg strenuous work), must fast.

For Muslims, fasting during the month of Ramadan is not just about abstaining from food and drink.

It’s also about abstaining from other things from sun rise to sundown – such as smoking and sex.

We are encouraged to stay away from all kinds of temptation.

But drinking water is okay, right?

No, really, we can’t!

Not water, or tea, or milk, nothing.

Yes, in this weather, this means you can get really parched, but the idea is to tahan (take it) until about 7 in the evening, when we’re able to eat and drink again during the iftar, or breaking of fast.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong joining congregants of the newly upgraded Mujahidin Mosque in Commonwealth for a break fast, or iftar, session in 2014. ST FILE PHOTO

So you can eat in the evening. When do you stop eating then?

We generally stop eating and drinking at imsak, which is about 10 minutes before the break of dawn, a practice of the Prophet Muhammad.

We are encouraged to wake up in the early mornings – around 4 to 5am in Singapore – to eat something before imsak – this morning meal is called sahur.

For some, it’s a couple of dates. For others, it can be a full meal of rice and other dishes.

We eat again at sundown, which coincides with the time of the Maghrib prayer, one of the five prayers Muslims do every day.

What happens if you accidentally eat or drink something during the day?

It can happen, simply out of habit. This has happened to most Muslims I know. If it’s unintentional, we keep fasting.

What happens if you feel dizzy, or ill?

Only those who are well enough to fast should do so. You are permitted to break your fast if you are unwell.

So, do you have to “pay back” for the days you didn’t fast?

Yes, we should pay back the missed days as soon as possible.

It doesn’t have to be continuous but before the next Ramadan comes around.

If one is unable to repay, or unable to fast for years, then he or she can pay fidyah, a sum of money calculated using the number of days missed that will be donated to the poor.

So do NSmen have to fast?

Yes, if they are not ill. A guidebook from the voluntary welfare organisation Perdaus encourages fasting NSmen to drink lots of water and eat in the morning before sunup to help them through the day.

Uh, should I not eat or drink in front of you?

That’s entirely up to you! Food smells are certainly much more distracting on an empty stomach, so it would be nice if you didn’t.

But dealing with temptation is a strong theme for us Muslims during Ramadhan. Just, you know, don’t tempt us on purpose, lah.

BH FILE PHOTO

How about those countries where the sun sets at night, or sometimes not at all during the summer months?!

I had the same question when I was a kid. Do they, like, never eat at all?

They do but their fast is longer.

Now that it’s summer and days can be very, very long in the northern hemisphere.

Muslims in places like Reykjavik, Iceland, may fast for up to 21 hours a day, reports Quartz.

However, some scholars say that for health reasons, Muslims in such places could follow the “morning to evening” timings for fasting.

So, after Ramadan ends, you celebrate Hari Raya, which is Muslim New Year, right?

Actually, Hari Raya Puasa, or Aidilfitri, means ‘festival of breaking of fast’ in Arabic.

We celebrate it right after Ramadan ends, during the next month in the Islamic calendar, Syawal.

Muslims are not permitted to fast on Hari Raya Puasa.

In Singapore and in some other countries, the celebrations continue for a month, with friends and family visiting each others’ houses in traditional garb, presenting both children and elders with ‘green packets’, and serving traditional Malay kuih, or cookies.

It is all-encompassing as non-Muslims are invited over, too!

BH FILE PHOTO

Unlike Chinese custom, the younger members of the family generally stop receiving green packets after they’ve started working. Eating dishes like ketupat, rendang and ayam masak merah, however, is permitted no matter how old you are.

Oh, and we do have a “Muslim New Year”, or more accurately Islamic New Year.

It falls on the first day of the first month in the Islamic calendar, called Muharram. Our next New Year will be from sunset on Oct 13 to sunset of Oct 14.

There’s another Hari Raya on my calendar. What’s the difference?

That would be Hari Raya Haji, which marks the end of the annual Hajj, where millions of Muslims travel to Mecca to perform the pilgrimage.

On this day, those who are able are meant to sacrifice, or korban, a goat, a cow or a sheep, with the meat being meant for your family, neighbours and the poor.

No, you don’t have to go to butchery school! Your neighbourhood mosque will likely be able to conduct the sacrifice on your behalf. Some Muslims opt to pay for animals to be sacrificed in other, usually poorer countries, so the meat can be distributed to the needy there.

The korban commemorates the prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael (the Quran doesn’t exactly say which son, but we believe it’s Ishmael, while Jews and Christians believe it’s Isaac).

Don’t worry, the story has a happy ending – at the last minute, the sacrifice is stopped and Ibrahim (or Abraham as he is otherwise known) is told by God that the deed has been fulfilled, as Ishmael has been replaced by a “great sacrifice”.

Okay, why do both Hari Rayas keep occurring earlier every year?

Because we get more and more eager to celebrate?

No. The real answer is that the dates are determined by the Islamic calendar, which has 12 months, but just 354 days.

The months are shorter as they follow the lunar cycle – the first day of the month starts when the first crescent is spotted. That’s how the beginning of Ramadhan is determined as well.

(The Islamic calendar is fully lunar, while the Chinese calendar is lunar-solar … that’s why Chinese New Year doesn’t move around as much as Hari Raya does.)

Also, this is why some years you get a public holiday bonanza, with Hari Raya Puasa falling in the same week as Chinese New Year from 1996 to 1998, and Hari Raya Haji (Eid-ul Adha) falling two days after Christmas in 2007.

Hopefully these answer the basics.

Source: www.tnp.sg

June 21, 2015
Zainal Sapari: Is Outsourcing Always The Best Solution?

I have been talking about the Government sector’s move into the world of outsourcing of their essential services. In my recent interview with Mothership.sg, I have mentioned this again. Well, as expected, there were some disagreeing views. But I stand firm with my thoughts.

The strategy of outsourcing jobs in the public service has affected many professions such as cleaning, security and landscaping. When outsourcing came about, it brought many advantages to the business market. Companies could better manage their operations as they were now focused on core businesses. But it also brought with it many setbacks – for the workers.

At some circumstances, when contracts change hands, workers are the ones who are affected most. Their terms of employment may be reset, especially their salaries. In my view, one major employer that can prevent this from happening is the Government.

My strong affirmation on this comes from my childhood experiences. My Father back then was employed as daily-rated worker with the Public Works Department. As a Civil Servant, he enjoyed all the welfare benefits that were pegged to his scope. And so did our family. I wish this can be the case for all low-wage workers in the public sector – that they are direct employees so that they are shielded, to some extent, from the harshness of the economic system.

This I why when I heard about the Housing Development Board Staff Union (HDBSU) and HDB’s successful emplacement of its security staff into the Operations Support and Management Support Schemes of Service, I was gratified.

The union had discussed at length with the management partners on taking care of the interest of these workers in the best way they could. The Security Scheme of Service was to be discontinued and there were 18 employees who were to be impacted. After much discussion, both sides decided to retain these workers within the organisation. In a gist, 17 security officers were placed onto the Operations Support Scheme (OSS) and one Assistant Security Officer was placed into the Management Support Scheme. With this change, the security employees are set to have better career paths and prospects.

My staff had a chat with one of the security officers at HDB, Mr Suhaimi Bin Aman, aged 56 years old. Mr Suhaimi shared that life in the security profession with HDB has been fulfilling. Above all, the major peace of mind he has is on job security. “There are some friends we know of who are outsourced workers, and their livelihoods really depends on the company’s tender. There is no form of commitment on the workers’ part as well. When you are in-house, there is a greater level of certainty with your job.”, he told my staff.

This IS the reality. NTUC has done some work that enables our workers in the lowest rung – our cleaners – to earn at least $1,000 with the Progressive Wage Model. Yet, the solution to help these workers who find their careers on a reset mode is still yet to be uncovered. With the progressive wage, even if the wage is reset, it is reset to a minimum level of $1,000 or $1,200 if you are skilled.

My hope is for the Government sector to consider directly hiring for positions like cleaners, security officers and the landscape workers.

Source: Zainal Sapari

June 21, 2015
Police Officer Shot At Khoo Teck Phuat Hospital

A police officer was hurt in a rare shooting incident yesterday evening.

According to witnesses, three gunshots rang out from a consultation room at the Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH) Accident & Emergency (A&E) department.

A suspect had earlier been escorted to the hospital by two police officers, after he complained of chest pains.

According to sources, one officer had stepped out of the room and the suspect allegedly attacked the remaining policeman.

In the struggle, the shots were fired.

Sources report that two paramedics, who were walking past the private room in KTPH, rushed in to help subdue the suspect.

“They jumped on him before he could fire again,” he said.

The paramedics were visibly shocked when the shots were fired, said the man who did not want to be named.

There was a smell of gunpowder in the air.

The immediate worry was whether the suspect would run amok in the hospital and hurt more people.

The incident happened just after 7pm.

A police spokesman said: “He was swiftly brought under control and remains in police custody. The situation is under control and members of the public were not in any danger at any time.

“The accused sustained superficial injuries, while the 31-year-old officer sustained gunshot wounds to his thumb and foot. His condition is stable.

“Police investigations are ongoing.”

SPECIALIST

The injured officer was rushed to Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH). He was moved because he needed a specialist hand surgeon and one was immediately available, said a KTPH spokesman.

Family members of the wounded officer were spotted at TTSH late last night. A police officer was seen talking to two family members, giving them an account of what happened.

TNPS understands that the officer was hit between the thumb and index finger.

The family members declined to comment when approached.

Police officers milled around both hospitals last night.

Assistant Commisioner of Police Lian Ghim Hua was seen arriving at TTSH around 1am.

Relatives of patients waiting at the A&E department at KTPH did not seem to be aware of the drama that had taken place earlier.

A national serviceman, who wanted to be known only as Mr Leen, said he had been at the hospital since noon.

The 21-year-old was visiting his grandfather who was in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

He said he did not hear anything even though the ICU is near where the incident happened.

“If there was a shot fired, I had no idea about it. I couldn’t believe it when a friend told me through Facebook,” said Mr Leen.

“He was swiftly brought under control and remains in police custody. The situation is under control and members of the public were not in any danger at any time.”

– A police spokesman

Past cases of gun-snatching

FEBRUARY 1989

Two men, trying to break into a shop, ran in separate directions after being spotted by police officers at Block 107, Tampines Street 11.

A police constable caught one of them, Ong Yeow Tian, at Block 127.

Ong stabbed the officer in the neck and grabbed his revolver, which was drawn. He shot the cop in the head before running away. The officer died of his injury several hours later.

During the manhunt, Ong used the stolen gun and shot at two other police officers.

He was caught and hanged for his crimes.

The incident prompted the study and later introduction of the snatch-resistant holster.

MAY 1998

Two police officers spotted a group of men at Woodlands Street 81 and approached them.

They ran off in different directions. But one of the officers, a corporal, caught up with Anthony Tan Cheng Lock.

During the struggle, Tan grabbed the officer’s revolver and shot him in the thigh before running away with the revolver.

A manhunt ensued and Tan was tracked down to his mother’s flat at Chai Chee Street. As the tactical team stormed the flat, Tan shot himself in the head.

He was on a drug supervision order and had skipped mandatory reporting dates.

MAY 2002

Syed Mohamad Nazmi Syed Alawi Alhamid, 33, armlocked a female Cisco constable and tried to grab her revolver, which was housed in a snatch-resistant holster.

As he struggled to remove the gun, the Cisco officer’s colleagues noticed the struggle and came to her rescue.

Nazmi was pulled away.

He was later jailed for six years and given nine strokes of the cane.

Hard to remove gun from holster

SHIN MIN DAILY NEWS FILE PHOTO

Police officers escorting accused persons are armed with the .38 Taurus revolver.

1 The revolver is a housed in a snatch-resistant holster moulded to the gun. The gun can only be drawn vertically. This makes it difficult, though not impossible, to forcibly yank the revolver out during a struggle.

2 A buckle over the cocking hammer prevents the gun from being fired while partially in the holster. As long as the cocking hammer cannot be pulled back, the loading chamber is unable to rotate and the gun cannot fire.

3 All guns are further secured with a rubber lanyard which is secured to the butt of the revolver and the belt.

Source: www.tnp.sg

June 21, 2015
Walimah Ringkas, Lagi Jimat

Isu pembaziran di majlis perkahwinan memang sudah lama diperkatakan.

Namun, tidak banyak pakej pilihan yang diperkenalkan bagi mengatasinya.

Ini mendorong Encik Aydarus Ahmad, pengasas Relite Events Management, memperkenalkan majlis walimah yang mudah, ringkas, dan paling penting, tidak membazir.

“Banyak anak muda yang menangguhkan perkahwinan kerana masalah kewangan.

“Seperti yang kita maklum, melangsungkan walimah menggunakan banyak wang – daripada katering, dekorasi dan andaman.

“Ini belum termasuk wang hantaran dan barang hantaran yang ditukar kededua pihak lelaki dan perempuan lagi,” ujarnya.

Mungkin ada yang menganggapnya agak janggal menghadiri majlis walimah yang tiada kerusi meja.

Tetapi inilah perbezaan pakej walimah Relite Events Management.

Tiada kerusi yang perlu disarung dengan sarung kerusi berwarna-warni, diikat dengan tali reben khas ataupun penggunaan kerusi khas putih. Setiap tetamu yang datang juga akan menjamu selera dengan makanan hidang yang dikongsi empat orang sedulang. Setiap dulang akan disaji dengan nasi beriani dam kambing, ayam masak merah serta kuah dalca.

Tuan rumah juga boleh memilih pakej yang menyediakan nasi mandi, salad dan sambal Hadramaut.

Dulang itu kemudian akan diletakkan di atas sebuah meja bulat kecil bagi memudahkan tetamu menikmati jamuan yang disediakan.

“Kami menggalak pasangan mengadakan majlis walimah di dewan serbaguna yang mempunyai tempat terbuka dan tidak diadang tembok.

“Kemudian kami akan membentangkan permaidani besar bagi tetamu duduk,” ujar Encik Aydarus yang menambah bahawa beberapa kerusi akan disediakan khas bagi warga emas dan mereka yang memerlukannya.

Sejak memperkenalkan pakej ini Julai lalu, Relite Events Management sendiri tidak menyangka terdapat banyak permintaan daripada pasangan muda yang memilih mahu bersederhana.

Sejak Julai tahun lalu, syarikat itu telah mengendalikan 10 majlis.

“Usah fikir corak majlis begini tidak diminati pasangan muda.

“Kesemua walimah yang kami kendalikan merupakan pasangan muda yang rata-rata sudah agak penat dengan majlis perkahwinan besar-besaran yang membebankan mereka,” ujarnya yang merujuk kepada majlis perkahwinan kini yang boleh mencecah sehingga $30,000.

Majlis sederhana yang dimaksudkan menelan belanja separuh daripada jumlah itu iaitu sekitar $14,000.

Kalau majlis mewah banyak memberi tumpuan kepada kecantikan visual, majlis sederhana menitikberatkan soal makanan dan layanan terhadap tetamu.

Menurut Encik Aydarus, 41 tahun, beliau mempunyai sehingga 20 kendarat – 10 lelaki dan 10 perempuan – yang telah dilatih cara melayan tetamu.

Mereka bergerak daripada seorang tetamu ke seorang tetamu yang lain dengan membawa bekas pembasuh tangan, siap dengan sabun bagi memudahkan tetamu mencuci tangan selepas makan.

Dari segi dekorasi pula, ia ringkas, tiada balutan kain pada tembok.

Pelamin juga tidak sarat dengan bunga-bunga – cukup bagi mempelai bergambar bersama keluarga dan sahabat handai sahaja.

“Kami juga galakkan mempelai berinteraksi dengan tetamu yang hadir. Ada kalanya pengantin sendiri tidak tahu siapa yang datang untuk menyerikan majlis mereka,” tambahnya.

Bagi jemputan 1,000 orang, Relite Events Management mengenakan bayaran sekitar $14,000 termasuk makanan, kendarat, pelamin, sistem bunyi serta persembahan qasidah.

“Yang penting, kami mahu menggalakkan mempelai melakukan apa yang wajib sahaja dalam majlis persandingan mereka,” ujar Encik Aydarus.

Source: http://beritaharian.sg

June 21, 2015
Dominant Lions XII brush Off ATM

LionsXII dominated from start to finish as they emerged 3-1 victors over ATM FA on Saturday evening at the Jalan Besar Stadium.

An own goal from Fazly Alias set the home team on their way, before Safuwan Baharudin and Shahdan Sulaiman wrapped up the win in the second half.

As early as the second minute, they threatened to open the floodgates, but Khairul Nizam’s acrobatic effort from a deflected Gabriel Quak cross was wide of the mark.

The hosts were unable to break down a compact ATM side, until Faris Ramli had another bicycle kick attempt after Quak guided a cross towards him in the 21st minute. The winger however, scuffed his attempt and the ball bounced wide.

Three minutes later, Izzdin Shafiq saw a volley deflected off target, before he set up Faris in the 30th minute with a fantastic ball, only for the latter to put his attempted lob over the bar.

Amri then smacked his free-kick against the cross bar, before Venice Elphi forced Izwan Mahbud into a save down the other end.

The pressure finally paid off though, as the LionsXII got their deserved goal six minutes from the half-time whistle after Fazly turned Faris’ free-kick into his own net under pressure from Safuwan.

LionsXII head coach Fandi Ahmad made some tactical changes at the break, with Zulfahmi Arifin moving into the heart of the defence while Safuwan took his place in midfield.

The move worked a treat, as they doubled the lead minutes after the restart.

A cross from Quak that failed to find Nizam was picked up by Faris. The winger laid the ball back for Safuwan, and he side-footed the ball into the bottom corner to double the lead.

It could have been three four minutes later, but Syed Adney produced a superb double save to deny Khairul Amri’s flick with his back heel, and Faris’ shot from the follow-up.

Fazly then redeemed himself by reducing the deficit in the 60th minute, after escaping Nizam’s attention to meet Mario Karlovic’s corner and power a bullet header into the roof of the net.

Centre-back Madhu Mohana wasted a golden opportunity almost three quarters into the match, heading wide Quak’s cross despite having ample of space and time.

Substitute Shahdan then wrapped up the victory with LionsXII’s third goal, guiding a nodded ball from Safuwan into the bottom corner in the 84th minute to wrap up the win.

LionsXII: Izwan Mahbud (GK)(C), Madhu Mohana, Gabriel Quak, Khairul Nizam (Shahdan Sulaiman 81’), Nazrul Nazari, Izzdin Shafiq, Faris Ramli (Firdaus Kasman 78’), Khairul Amri (Sahil Suhaimi 68’), Safuwan Baharudin, Zulfahmi Arifin, Shakir Hamzah

Source: http://lionsxii.sg

June 21, 2015