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Tag: converts

  • Me Against The Muslim community: A Convert’s View Of Islam

    Me Against The Muslim community: A Convert’s View Of Islam

    After almost 20 years as a Muslim, I have arrived at some conclusions that put me at odds with the community.

    1. I do not believe the hijab is necessary. It is a cultural affection of the Arabs that evolved into a political statement. It is not mentioned in the Qur’an. And the same with the niqab.

    2. I think halal certification is either a scam or an unfortunate cost. Unless there are obvious reasons to suspect otherwise, everything is automatically halal.

    3. I do not believe damnation permanent. Neither do I believe Salvation is exclusive to Muslims. That limits God’s Mercy.

    4. I think many “authentic” narrations, even in Swahih al-Bukhari, are fabricated. We should exercise more skepticism of problematic ahadits.

    5. I do not believe dog saliva is najis al-mughalazhah, or any restrictions on dogs as pets. That contradicts the Qur’an.

    6. I do not believe that non-Muslims are restricted from inheriting from Muslims. There is no such stipulation in the ayat. There were historical reasons for the hadits.

    7. I do not believe all forms of interest is necessarily usury, riba’. That is a fundamental ignorance of economics.

    8. I certainly do not believe in gender segregation in public places. Strict gender segregation is unnatural.

    9. The concept of an Islamic state is an oxymoron.

    10. Drawings and artistic representations of the Prophet (s.a.w.) are not automatically blasphemous.

    11. Stoning is not a valid means of capital punishment.

    12. Most hudud punishments are outdated, and specific to certain conditions that do not exist for most of us.

    I admit I never cared what Muslims think of me, orthodoxy or otherwise. I did not come to Islam to follow ingrained cultural practices and social beliefs masquerading as religion.

     

    Source: Terence Helikaon Nunis

     

     

  • Musings Of A Chinese Muslim Convert: Muslims Must Reach Out

    Musings Of A Chinese Muslim Convert: Muslims Must Reach Out

    I consider myself well-educated, well-read and well-travelled. But that all don’t mean anything when I drive to the mosque in my luxury car, my $28,000 Rolex on my wrist with my tattoos showing. Some would wonder why a contractor is here – is there any work to be done?

    The stares don’t stop when I perform my wudu and walk into the prayer hall. And yes, I’ve been shouted at and talked down to, a few times as well. As much as born-Muslims hate to admit it, they judge on physical appearance. They don’t care if I’ve donated thousands of dollars to the mosque or other charities, or if I’ve helped some hard-up  people get a job. They only wish to see what they want to see.

    If this is how I am being perceived, what about the other born-Muslim brothers who have more tattoos than me, who dress more lavishly or are publicly recognised in the papers for any crimes that they may have committed? What then? Would the stares stop? Or would the tongues stop wagging? Will people like us, who have chosen a different lifestyle be shown the same welcome?

    The 2015 Central Narcotics Bureau statistics on drug abuse (http://www.cnb.gov.sg/Libraries/CNB_Newsroom_Files/CNB_2015_full_year_stats_final.sflb.ashx) show that there is an increase of Malay drug abusers of 7% from 2104 to 2105. Although that 7% translate to 114 persons, it’s still 1 person too many.

    How many good Muslims have we lost to drugs, to anger, to violence, to arrogance? No doubt, for the most part is our own DNA. But we have been saying that their weak family ties, poor morals, or be it their social or economic structure is to blamed. But as a community, how often do WE blame ourselves? At some point or another in time, we would’ve passed judgement – leading to disrespect, not giving them the charity of a kind word or action. ALL of us are guilty of that. Instead of expecting them to change, why can’t we see that change needs to come from us?

    I remember the very first time I visited Masjid Salim Mattar – 2 elderly men  – the Imam and the Bilai, welcomed me with their warm smiles!!! Subahan Allah! The Bilai speaks good Hokkien too! How wonderful is that? I’ve not been there for a long time now because parking can be quite challenging, and I also prefer to go to the Masjid nearer my place. I still get calls and text messages saying that they miss me over there. Such is the community in Salim Mattar! May Allah bless all of them for their kindness and sincerity!

    On the other hand, I got told off by one elderly man in a Masjid in Bukit Merah (I’m not too good with roads – so I may be mistaken), so unless I’m in a hurry and I know I won’t be able to perform my solat on time, I’ll not go there. Even if I may be closer geographically, I’ll skip that Masjid and drive further down. Not because I’m afraid of confrontations – oh no, not that. My close friends will tell you otherwise. But I see no need to have ill-feelings, especially when I want to perform my solat.

    I used to give salam to the person on my left and on my right during congregational prayers. But I’ve been met with indifference and annoyance that I stopped. Not because I gave up – but I just don’t wish to disturb anyone. Maybe it’s just the culture. But I read somewhere that we should greet one another with at least a smile.  In Malaysia, it is very different. Most people with give or return salams with both hands.

    We, as a community need to do more. Opening our doors is not good enough. We don’t need to drag those who lost faith and hope in the religion to the Masjid. We can go to them. We can reach them through how we display our faith. If social or mainstream education on the evils of drug abuse, on hate and arrogance fails – as it has on them, then surely our faith must follow-up.

    Do not gossip or back-talk on someone who has messed up. Instead, offer a prayer.

     

    Source: http://chineseconvert.com/straying-from-religion

  • #HHWT: Aplikasi Bantu Cari Makanan Halal

    #HHWT: Aplikasi Bantu Cari Makanan Halal

    Semasa mereka belajar di Korea Selatan, tiga sekawan – Cik Elaine Tee, Tengku Suzana Tengku Abdul Kadir dan Encik Melvin Goh – mengalami kesukaran mencari makanan halal agar dapat dinikmati bersama.

    Justeru, setiap kali mereka bertemu restoran halal, tiga sekawan itu akan menulis artikel dan memuatnaikkannya ke laman blog Have Halal, Will Travel (HHWT).

    Blog yang disebarkan melalui Facebook itu mendapat sambutan hangat sehingga dibaca dan dikongsi lebih setengah juta kali.

    Ini mendorong Encik Goh, yang juga ketua pegawai eksekutif #HHWT, mencipta aplikasi memudahkan pengguna mencari makanan halal di Korea Selatan.

    Aplikasi itu menyenaraikan bukan saja restoran halal, malah tempat ‘mesra Muslim’ serta ruang solat.

    Encik Goh, 27 tahun, yang baru sahaja memeluk agama Islam Ahad lalu, berharap aplikasi itu akan menyemarakkan semangat menjelajah dalam kalangan warga Muslim.

    “Saya difahamkan kebanyakan masyarakat Muslim selalunya menundakan niat merantau kerana kesukaran mencari makanan halal.

    “Kami mahu membantu menangani masalah ini kerana Islam sendiri mendo- rong umatnya merantau dan melihat keindahan ciptaan Tuhan.

    “Jadi, dengan aplikasi ini, saya harap isu makanan tidak lagi akan menjadi satu halangan untuk merantau ke luar negara,” ujarnya, yang akan bernikah dengan temannya, Tengku Suzana, 26 tahun, pada tahun depan.

    Bagi Cik Tee, 26 tahun, juga pengasas bersama #HHWT, beliau kini tahu bahawa mendapatkan makanan halal bukan sekadar makanan yang disajikan tanpa kandungan babi tetapi lebih daripada itu.

    Selain Korea Selatan, aplikasi itu juga akan menyenaraikan restoran makanan halal di Jepun dan London.

     

    Source: www.beritaharian.sg

  • Singapore Malays Taking Eid To The Next Level

    Singapore Malays Taking Eid To The Next Level

    With all the hustle and bustle of Eid or commonly known as Hari Raya in Singapore– buying kuihs(cookies), new furniture, Eid clothes & prepping for the joyous occasion, it can be easy to forget that not everyone has family members or close friends to celebrate Eid with. Fortunately, Elegance – a Muslim e-magazine focused on empowering women by Juzaila, Hanisah & Indah together with Noor Mastura, founder of Interfaith Youth Circle – is running a pilot project: SG Muslims for Eid.

    SG Muslims for Eid is a spin-off from HONY for the Holidays. The goal is to ensure as few Muslims as possible are alone this Eid. Or better yet – none.

    “My Eid last year switched from being lonely to being the best example of sisterly love just by experiencing the welcome at my friend’s home with her family’ wrote Meryem Chin, a newly converted sister. “It really means a lot to us- especially new converts celebrating their first Eid without having anyone to celebrate it with.”

    Indeed, all that one has to do to participate is to click on this link  www.bit.ly/SGMuslimsForEid. You will then fill up a short form indicating your interest to participate as a HOST or a GUEST. Hosts can also indicate the number of guests they can accommodate. Both parties will need to write a little about themselves (age,interests etc). The team then screens the forms carefully and matches the guests and hosts with each other.

    “Our job is to screen the forms thoroughly and make sure that everyone is well acquainted before they meet so there will be no surprises on the actual day,”says Hanisah from Elegance.

    Since the call to participate, SG Muslims for Eid has already received a steady flow of participants. The team is confident it will kick off and snowball in size each year.

    According to Noor Mastura, “We are definitely looking at this long term. This year, we are particularly focused on converts who spend Eid alone, but there are many other Muslims who live in Singapore who are not necessarily converts but are either working or studying here and end up spending Eid alone and away from their loved ones. We definitely want to include them as well. Being an Interfaith activist, I am looking forward to the day we invite Singaporeans of other faiths and beliefs to share this blessed day together.”

    As beautifully summed up by Juzaila from Elegance, “Every Eid, my parents invite Muslim foreign workers at our place for breakfast. I am really excited to host an additional convert or 2 this year. Most Muslims are so used to our routine and culture forgetting the actual meaning of celebrating Eid in Islam. I feel this project is a brilliant start to the right direction. Opening our hearts and spreading good cheer and happiness to people is the foundation of Islam-  what more for the most joyous day of the year?”

    This effort is a reminder that although Eid can be a lonely one for many Singaporean Muslims, it certainly doesn’t have to be.

    So please, if you can spare an extra spot(or more) where you are celebrating Eid or if you are looking for a place to go this Eid – click on the link already!!!

    Besides, as Juzaila said, opening our homes and hearts sure seems like the epitome of Eid’Al Fitri.

     

    Source: https://fyndingnoor.wordpress.com

  • Chinese Embrace Islam But Fight To Keep Names

    Chinese Embrace Islam But Fight To Keep Names

    KUALA LUMPUR – Chinese Muslims converts are baulking at taking Malay or Arabic names upon embracing Islam, claiming the discriminatory practice forces them to abandon their culture and traditions.

    Several Chinese Muslims in Malaysia are fighting for the right to keep their original names, in defiance of the convention of replacing their surname with ‘Abdullah’, in a bid to keep their culture alive.

    “I will not change my ethnicity. I was born Chinese and I will die Chinese, I will not become Malay.

    “I did not want to change my name to show that Islam is a universal religion for all nations, not just for the Arabs or Malays only,” the Malaysian Chinese Muslim Association (MACMA) Malacca official Lim Jooi Soon told the BBC in a recent interview.

    Like Lim, several other Chinese Muslims view changing their names to include Arabic or Malay names to be unnecessary as they were adopting a new faith, not a new race.

    “My name may change but my face remains the same. Here, Malaysians say that if someone converts to Islam it means they’re becoming Malay. If I did not change my name, then I remain Chinese,” Ting Swee Keong said, also having kept his Chinese name after converting to Islam.

    Even the practice of celebrating Chinese festivals are at risk, Muslim convert Nur Caren Chung Yock Lan said, despite celebrations like Chinese New Year or Mooncake Festival not being rooted in faith.

    “This cultural celebration does not go against Islamic law; the Mooncake Festival, the Dumpling Festival, the Chinese New Year celebrations, these are more cultural than religious.

    “Judging from history when Saad Ibn Waqas preached in China, he easily accepted the culture since Islam did not kill the culture; the faith changed, not the culture,” she said.

    Although the convention of changing an individual’s name when converting into Islam is not in Malaysian legislature, it is commonly practised by all Islamic authorities, the BBC reports.

    Lim was the first Chinese Muslim in Malaysia allowed to keep his original name, a right he earned after battling Islamic authorities for five years.

    “Five years to talk, debate and discussion, as well as showing strong evidence in favour of me keeping my Chinese name. After that, it made it easy for many people to embrace Islam,” he said.

    “If he gets rid of his surname, it’s as if there is no contact with his family. My second name indicates which generation I belong to and my last name, which is my own, means headed for greatness,” he explained.

    Although MACMA president Professor Dr Hj Taufiq Yap Yun Hin opted for a Muslim name while maintaining his surname and Chinese name upon entering Islam, he urged Islamic authorities to do away with this practice so that those choosing to embrace Islam can still keep their cultural identity.

    “I have also asked the parties related to the registration of the religion that this practice be changed so that the ethnic Chinese are still able to maintain their personal name and their surname if they convert to Islam,” he said.

     

    Source: www.themalaymailonline.com