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Q&A – The Muslim Perspective On Chinese Traditions

# Q&A on CNY (Chinese New Year) Celebration ~ answered by Ustaz Hamzah Jummat

Question 1:

Assalammualaikum Ustaz,

What about these questions?

Can I accept but don’t give gifts e.g. red packets, oranges, presents for other occasions like birthdays or Christmas as well? Or do I have to reject them?

Can I attend (just be present, but not attend the offerings ceremony) my parent’s or relatives’ funeral/cremation if they were to die?

During the wedding, is the tea ceremony to offer tea to the elderly allowed?

I hope your clarifications can help.

Awaiting for your kind respond.

JazakALlahul Khairan Kathiran.

Regards & Salam
Wendy Ong

Answer for Question 1:

Wa’alaykumussalaam wa rahmatuLLaah,

Bismillah walhamdulillah wassolaatu wassalaam ‘alaa Rasulillaah wa aalihi wa ba’d,

1. According to some scholars of Islam, as you may read below, it is permissible to accept. But some others were of the view that it is not permissible, and they all unanimously agreed that it is prohibited to give. Please read below. The reason for their dispute in accepting gifts is to those who permitted, one who accept does not in any way commemorate the occasion, whereas those who disallowed viewed that accepting inevitably means agreeing and contributing to the commemoration of the occasion. Wallaahu a’lam. The best is to avoid and even if one were to accept, it is better to explain, since if one were to just accept without explaining one’s stance in this matter, the giver will continuously gives on the occasion on a yearly basis and it becomes a form of observance of the occasion. Wallahu a’lam

2. Whatever involves rituals and practices or activities related to ways and beliefs not from Islamic teachings, and especially so when they are related to false beliefs against the teachings of Islam. It is obligatory for a true muslim to avoid. The verse in Soorah al-Furqan: 25:72: “And those who do not witness falsehood [al-zoor]…”. Even without doing them and yet to be present when they are being performed is falsehood and a wrong doing. So you are not to be present at the place where they perform the rituals and the procession of the Final Respect and not also the Cremation. But it is permissible for you to be near without having to witness all these. Wallahu a’lam.

3. I do not know of this ceremony if it has any false belief intertwined with it. If it is just a manifestation of filial piety and respect for both parents, it is permissible Inshaa Allaah, wallaahu a’lam.

#cny #aqeedah

Source: http://www.al-jamaah.sg/2016/02/2-questions-on-cny-chinese-new-year.html

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Source: Islamic SG

January 28, 2017
If Your Son Was Born On ‘Eagle Express’, Would You Name Him ‘Mohd Eagle’?

KUALA LUMPUR: Gara-gara isteri beliau bersalin dalam bas bernama Eagle Express, rakan-rakannya berseloroh, apa kata berikan nama anak lelakinya itu ‘Mohd Eagle’!

Mujur pemandu bas Eagle Express itu, Muhammad Ikhsan Ismail, 45 tahun, berkata beliau tidak akan menerima ‘saranan’ nakal rakan-rakannya itu dan belum memutuskan nama yang akan diberikan kepada anaknya.

Menceritakan kejadian pada 18 Januari lalu itu kepada akhbar Harian Metro, beliau berkata apabila isterinya, Noridayu Ali, 29 tahun, rasa sakit hendak bersalin, beliau membawanya menggunakan bas dari rumahnya di Rawang, Selangor, ke Hospital Sungai Buloh.

Bagaimanapun, isterinya itu bersalin di tempat duduk belakang bas yang dipandunya itu pada 1.45 petang, sebelum sempat tiba di hospital.

“Saya terpaksa berhentikan bas di tepi jalan bila isteri panggil saya, dan terkejut tengok bayi dah keluar.

“Kelam kabut saya waktu itu dan terpaksa terus memandu ke bahagian kecemasan walaupun jalan sempit nak masuk dengan bas,” kata Encik Muhammad Ikhsan kepada Harian Metro.

Menurutnya, beliau lalu membunyikan hon dan memaklumkan isterinya sudah bersalin dalam bas.

Malah, menurut Harian Metro, gambar isterinya setelah melahirkan bayi lelaki mereka di dalam bas itu menjadi viral di Facebook.

(Gambar: Facebook/Saya Orang Johor)

Encik Muhammad Ikhsan berkata meskipun dilahirkan pada usia tujuh bulan, bayinya yang seberat 2.26 kilogram itu, serta isterinya, dalam keadaan sihat dan selamat.

Source: http://berita.mediacorp.sg

January 27, 2017
32 Year Old Female Corporate Lawyer Jailed For Abusing 19 Year Old Ex-Girlfriend

A woman physically abused a 19-year-old former girlfriend, forcing her to strip and threatening her to either live in her apartment or leave in a “body bag”.

Lydiawaty Abdul Rahman also cut the victim’s forearm with a knife in her third-floor apartment in Jalan Novena Barat on Feb 10, 2014.

On Jan 6 this year, after a 12-day trial, the 32-year-old corporate lawyer, who has a master’s degree in constitutional law and human rights and is an entrepreneur as well, was found guilty of five charges.

She was sentenced yesterday to six months and three weeks in jail and fined $1,000, but is out on bail pending her appeal.

Lydiawaty and her victim became acquainted through Craigslist some time in May 2012 and started a relationship which the teenager eventually wanted to end, citing Lydiawaty’s abusiveness.

The victim testified that she had gone to Lydiawaty’s apartment that night as the older woman had claimed to be in distress.

But Lydiawaty locked the gate after she arrived. A heated argument followed, during which she was punched, forcibly dragged into the bedroom and made to remove her clothes, which Lydiawaty then cut up with a pair of scissors. She also threatened the victim with an ornamental knife.

The victim made her way to the gap between the bed and the window and eventually forced Lydiawaty out of the room by pushing her out with the mattress. It was as she was trying to close the door that she was cut on the arm.

Naked, she climbed out of the window and managed to jump down to the second floor to seek refuge at a neighbour’s home.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Sruthi Boppana had sought at least eight months’ jail to be imposed to reflect Lydiawaty’s criminality and the extent of harm and distress the victim experienced from her actions.

Lydiawaty’s lawyer, Mr Shashi Nathan, had urged for a sentence of less than one month for causing hurt by knife and fines for the other charges.

Source: www.straitstimes.com

January 27, 2017
New Mom Returned From Maternity Leave Only To Be Forced To Resign, MOM Powerless

Dear Gilbert,

I have just return from my maternity leave and was told by my boss that I will be handling more decision making work. I enquired about my appraisal report and bonus and she mentioned that it was submitted.

However, on Monday when I went back to work I was informed by my HR manager that company is laying me off. I will be terminated by the Company. This totally came as a shock to me. I asked for the reason of this decision but she was unable to tell me. When I enquired about my bonus due to me she could not give me an answer too.

I have spoken to MOM regarding my case and there’s nothing much that MOM indeed can do. My horrid Company has turned the scenario around now and instead of terminating me, they force me to sign a Resignation letter stating I request to resign immediately and Company has agreed.

This also needs me to pay the Company 1 month’s notice! Company has issued me a bonus (which is actually a payment in lieu to me for terminating me immediately).

Upon reading MOM’s reply to me, I was feeling helpless hence in such situation without aid, I have to just agreed to their terms or risk not getting my notice payment in lieu. I have to stress that no additional compensation was offered to me apart from the notice period payment in lieu.

My manager stressed to me that I either accept the Termination letter or risk not receiving the 1 month’s notice payment in lieu. She also mentioned going to MOM is useless. As what they did is all in line with the MOM’ legislation, which they have seek their lawyer’s advice.

I agree to shaming this Company so that other local job seekers will not fall prey to this Company, terminating people at whim especially when they are near to getting their anniversary bonus. However, I am worried that this might involve me in a possible lawsuit.

Rgds,

Jasmine

Source: www.transitioning.org

January 27, 2017
Driving To Malaysia For Chinese New Year?

Chinese New Year is almost here and best of all, it falls on a weekend.

If you are driving up to Malaysia during the festive season, it is time to consider stocking up on comfort food and drinks. Chances are, you will be stuck in a heavy traffic jam that could last more than four hours along the causeway. However, thanks to the biometric fingerprint-scanning system installed at all causeway checkpoints, traffic may just flow smoothly.

One reason for optimism is that the new fingerprint-scanning system will reduce manual labour greatly as there is no longer a need for immigration officers to go through each individual’s passport in great detail and conduct headcount checks.

Fast and easy clearance at immigration checkpoints is something Singaporeans look out for, especially during the festive holidays. With the new fingerprint-scanning system in place, “drivers can expect to clear customs within three to 10 minutes especially at the Tuas Two causeway,” says Transtar Travel staff Mollie Chittick.

Older people, however, “will need to press harder so they can have their thumbprints registered.” says Chittick.

“In the worst case, the customs officer will ask them to proceed to the manual counters to have their passports stamped.”

In June 2011, Malaysia spent close to USD $42 million on implementing the biometric fingerprint-scanning systems at its causeway checkpoints.

Secondly, an increasing number of people — Singaporeans and Malaysians — are making a conscious effort to plan their travels ahead of Chinese New Year. Many know that traffic conditions along the causeway has been bad for the last decade, so it makes sense to take leave from work or school two to three days prior to the festive season just to travel up to Malaysia.

Beat Chinese New Year traffic

The best time to travel to Malaysia is, of course, during the afternoon before Chinese New Year eve between 4 and 5:30 p.m.

However, Malaysian hairdresser Ireene See says that the best time to travel is the evening before the eve of the festive season. That is provided you are comfortable driving in the dark as the North-South highway has no lights at night.

In her eight years of working in Singapore, See says she has been arranging for her own transport back to her hometown in Batu Pahat for Chinese New Year. “I always book a Malaysian taxi with colleagues and friends three months’ before the holidays. It is expensive – – a single trip costs RM $300 but it’s worth it. The taxi will pick us up at the customs checkpoint.”

While it is good to know that people take their travels seriously, those who are unable to take leave from work or school are left with no other choice than to arrange for private transport on Chinese New Year eve.

Says See: “You can always arrange for a prebet sapu (illegal taxicab). It costs more than a Malaysian taxi.”

Over the last few years, budget airlines like Jetstar Asia, Tiger Airways, Air Asia and Scoot have become the preferred mode of transport for Singaporeans and Malaysians living in Singapore. Air travel also means less jams along the causeway.

On hindsight, with the recent closure of prominent travel agency Five Star tours, moderate traffic jams along the North-South highway are expected. Drivers, no should be prepared!

Source: www.theindependent.sg

January 27, 2017