Tag: Eid

SG Chinese Girl: Everyone Should Experience Celebrating Aidilftri For The First Time

TOO BEAUTIFUL!!!

Here is an account from an “SG Muslims for Eid” participant who identifies as a non-religious Chinese Singaporean celebrating Eid for the first time!!!

“I saw a very pretty poster on Facebook inviting non-Muslims into Muslim homes during Eid. I signed up out of curiosity, a desire to eat good food and be amongst joyful people in celebration.

Soon I was warmly welcomed into the home of a young couple Dhaniah and Haider. About 160 friends and relatives from both sides were expected that day, some of them even they themselves have never met before. The spectrum of their friends and relatives range wide, from lawyer types to makciks who practice yoga to media types to pakciks who have done the full Haj 4 times (and Umra countless times) to a young wife who is fully clothed from head to toe. Dhaniah’s side of the family look very Chinese and are musically talented. They were actually jamming and recording music as the celebrations went on. And then there’s me, a non-religious Chinese blonde-dyed short-haired woman from the arts and media. Everyone is gentle and accepting of each other.

Despite the sheer number of relatives and friends who came pouring in and out of their home, Dhaniah and Haider managed to make me feel just at home. They introduced me to everyone who came, and everyone happily answered any questions I had about their customs and practices, particularly about the Haj. I’m most curious and fascinated with this epic pilgrimage. A lot of them went way out of their way to make me feel appreciated for my curiosity.

I was most touched by their devotion towards their personal faith, and also their close-knittedness within their families and community. One of the boys kissed my hand even though he was super shy. That’s just the cutest thing ever! I didn’t tell him, but I was blushing inside too 😛

I don’t belong to any particular faith but most of my friends do. Now is as good a time as any to learn and appreciate the part of them that I’m not familiar with. I find it timely for such interfaith learning and appreciation especially in such times of conflicts and misunderstanding around the world. Only when we feel connected will we remember that our core similarities outweigh superficial differences.

The curiosity isn’t one way. Dhaniah and Haider had a lot of questions about my secular meditation practice and they’re very eager to try it out. They’re eager to visit my home even though I told them my home is very boring. I don’t even have a TV! I’ve made some good friends and had a lovely afternoon in a house full of warmth and love (not to mention 2 very cute rabbits). I thank all the organizers of SG Muslims for Eid and especially Dhaniah and Haider for their warm hospitality. I would highly recommend this experience to anyone who is interested. ”

❤❤❤‪#‎SGME2016‬‪#‎InterfaithYouthCircle‬‪#‎Singapore‬

Source: Noor Mastura

July 14, 2016
Muslims Open House To Spread Hari Raya Cheer

Muslims opened their homes to friends and relatives as part of Hari Raya Aidilfitri festivities yesterday but some even invited strangers.

Sikh, Christian and Hindu guests tucked into briyani and curry in Ms Noor Mastura’s home in Serangoon, taking turns at the table with a steady stream of relatives.

Ms Mastura, 26, invited them through the SG Muslims for Eid initiative, which she started last year.

The scheme aims to link up Muslim households celebrating the festival with people of other faiths, and Muslims who want to join in the celebrations but have nowhere to go.

“The whole idea of Eid is to spread joy,” said Ms Mastura, a flight attendant. “The first day is an important day and it’s usually a family affair for the closest relatives and friends, but we wanted to let guests experience customs like the Eid prayer, and going home to ask for forgiveness from elders.”

A total of 16 hosts and eight guests signed up for the initiative, which is modelled on a similar idea that the Humans of New York street photography project in the United States came up with for Christmas.

One of the three guests who visited Ms Mastura’s home yesterday was polytechnic student Parvitar Singh, 19, who was experiencing Hari Raya in a Muslim household for the first time. “It’s an honour to be here and to see how Noor’s family comes together, how there is so much respect between her and her elders, and to experience their love and hospitality,” he said.

He said he signed up for the event to learn more about other cultures and faiths. “Recent attacks around the world made me realise that it’s very important to come together as a society,” he said.

Ms Mastura and co-organisers Dhaniah Suhana, 29, a student, and Haider Amir, 31, a sales manager, said they started their society – Interfaith Youth Circle – to provide opportunities for deeper interfaith engagement, and to give young people a safe space to share their views.

They also organise activities such as monthly group discussions on different religious texts.

Mosques all over the island saw one of their busiest days yesterday.

At Al-Huda Mosque in Bukit Timah, relatives of mosque chairman Azman Kassim and long-time volunteers laid out prayer mats and prepared lontong – a vegetable stew with rice cakes – for 1,000 people.

“It’s become a family tradition,” said Mr Azman, 55, whose parents and some of their brood of 78 – including grandchildren and great- grandchildren – were helping out.

His nephew, Mr Zulqarnain Zulkiflee, 31, who helps looks after the mosque’s social media presence, said: “For those who pray at this mosque, it’s a challenge to come here because they have moved farther away, but the kampung spirit keeps bringing them back.”

Source: www.straitstimes.com

July 9, 2016
Mufti Negara: Umat Islam Singapura Sambut Aidilfitri Rabu, 6 Julai

Umat Islam di Singapura akan menyambut Aidilfitri lusa, Rabu 6 Julai ini.

Demikian diisytiharkan oleh Mufti Negara, Dr Mohd Fatris Bakaram, selepas terbenam matahari malam ini tadi (4 Jul).

Menurut beliau: “Mengikut kiraan hisab, anak bulan Syawal tidak mungkin dapat dilihat di atas ufuk Singapura setelah matahari terbenam petang tadi (4 Jul) kerana bulan terbenam lebih awal.

Ini bererti, esok adalah hari pencukup bulan Ramadan 30 hari dan awal bulan Syawal bagi tahun 1437H jatuh pada lusa, Rabu bersamaan 6 Julai 2016.

Ustaz Dr Fatris juga mengucapkan Selamat Hari Raya Eidul Fitri kepada sekalian Muslimin dan Muslimat Singapura.

Semoga Allah menerima segala amal ibadah yang sudah kita lakukan sepanjang Ramadan ini dan semoga Allah melanjutkan umur kita sehingga bertemu Ramadan tahun hadapan,” ucap beliau lagi.

Source: http://berita.mediacorp.sg

July 5, 2016
Mencuri, Edar Dadah, Demi Persiapan Hari Raya

INDONESIA: Hari Raya akan menjelma tidak lama lagi. Antara yang menjadi kebiasaannya pada waktu-waktu ini adalah mencari pakaian baru.

Sebaiknya membeli mengikut kemampuan masing-masing malah tidak semestinya semua perlu serba baru.

Namun, ada yang nekad melakukah jenayah semata-mata untuk mendapatkan yang baru pada Hari Raya.

SURI RUMAH CURI DOMPET SEORANG NENEK

Seorang suri rumah di Palembang Indonesia mencuri dompet seorang nenek yang bernama Hajah Rokiah semasa beliau sedang memilih baju muslimah di sebuah kedai.

Menurut maklumat yang diterima laman Merdeka.com, suspek bertindak semasa mangsanya sedang leka lantas dia melanggar mangsa sehingga mangsa hampir terjatuh sebelum mencuri dompet nenek berkenaan.

Mujur pemilik kedai itu mula berasa curiga dan memberitahu mangsa, menyebabkan mangsa segera menjerit.

Meskipun suspek cuba melarikan diri, dia akhirnya berjaya ditangkap dan berkata: ‘’Saya mahu membeli baju Hari Raya.’’

TERTARIK JADI PENGEDAR DADAH DEMI WANG BELANJA HARI RAYA

Dalam satu lagi kes berasingan, gara-gara terdesak mahukan wang untuk berbelanja sempena Aidilfitri, Erpin, 45 tahun sanggup menjadi pengedar dadah.

Dia ditangkap semasa sedang berurus niaga di Jalan Taman Kenten, Palembang.

Apabila polis memeriksanya, dia cuba menjatuhkan sebungkus plastik ke arah belakangnya namun diketahui oleh seorang pegawai.

Menurut suspek, dadah tersebut adalah milik rakannya dan dia begitu terdesak memerlukan wang untuk membuat persiapan Hari Raya sehingga tertarik menjadi pengedar.

SUSPEK CURI 4 KALI DARI KEDAI YANG SAMA

Dalam kedua-dua insiden itu suspek sudahpun ditangkap, namun berlainan pula dengan satu lagi kes di mana suspek masih berleluasa malah perbuatannya mencuri hanya diketahui setelah telefon bimbit pemilik kedai pakaian hilang dan mereka memutuskan untuk melihat rakaman CCTV.

Menerusi rakaman CCTV, salah seorang pekerja kedai Toko Rahmad Ilahi yang sibuk dengan orang ramai yang sedang berbelanja sempena Aidilfitri itu berkata, seorang lelaki yang mencurigakan dilihat memasuki kedai tersebut.

Oleh kerana kedatangannya ke kedai itu tidak disedari keempat-empat pekerja kedai, suspek mencuri sebanyak empat kali dari kedai yang sama.

“Menerusi rakaman kami lihat lelaki itu pada mulanya memasuki kedai dan mengambil beberapa set pakaian kanak-kanak, yang kedua mengambil rok, yang ketiga mengambil sepasang seluar dan yang keempat telefon bimbit serta pakaian lain,” menurut Anwar, pemilik Toko Rahmad Ilahi, seperti yang ditukil Antara.

Beliau sudahpun membuat aduan polis berhubung insiden itu.

Source: http://berita.mediacorp.sg

June 25, 2016
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

June 26, 2015