Tag: Islam

Non-Muslim Employer: Thanks To Random Stranger, My Indonesian-Muslim Maid Can Taste Aidilfitri

Almost afraid to post this but it has been a very interesting start to Hari Raya for me.

My helper is from Indonesia. She’s my age, alone in a foreign land, with no friends, no family and barely any way to contact her home. For whatever reason, she had chosen not to take the holiday off, and instead opting to be paid for it.

My family sat down today for a steamboat lunch. It was a pork-based soup, so she couldn’t have any. Saw her seated in the kitchen huddled over a bowl of maggi (granted it had all the halal ingredients we had for the steamboat) and my heart broke.

Stepped out of the house in an attempt to buy a few bits of food to make her day better, and realised I had NO idea what constituted Hari Raya food. Had to stop and ask random Malay strangers for their suggestions. I was so embarrassed and flushed that my specs were fogging up.

Bumped into this guy in traditional garb and asked him for suggestions as well, and was so humbled and amazed when he offered for me to go to his house and collect food. Took his number, and half an hour later was walking home with a giant bag of food. Gave it to my helper and could see her choking back tears.

This has been such a humbling and heartwarming experience. I do love Singapore so much. Here’s thanking the random stranger for his big heart. (I found his profile on FB using his number, but I think tagging him is a bit too creepy haha!)

Source: Justinian Liew

July 9, 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
Kolam Renang Awam Austria Haramkan Burkini Atas Alasan Kebersihan

HAINFELD, AUSTRIA: Pakaian renang untuk wanita Muslimah atau ‘burkini’ kini diharamkan di sebuah kolam renang awam di bandar Hainfeld, Austria.

‘Burkini’ dilarang untuk memastikan kolam renang tersebut mematuhi peraturan kebersihan, kata anggota parti berhaluan kanan, Freedom Party (FP) yang juga ahli majlis perbandaran, Peter Terzer.

Katanya seperti ditukil Russia Today (RT) dan NÖN.at: “Kami amat puas hati dengan peraturan baru ini. Dengan ini, kami boleh memastikan, tidak ada seorang pun yang memakai burkini boleh masuk ke dalam kolam renang itu.”

Larangan kontroversi tersebut juga mendapat sokongan dari datuk bandar Hainfeld, Albert Pitterle, lapor RT.

Beliau berkata keputusan itu tidak sepatutnya dianggap luar biasa kerana menurutnya, ia sejajar dengan peraturan kolam renang yang wujud sejak berdekad-dekad lamanya.

Menurut RT, bulan lalu, sebuah lagi kolam renang awam di bandar Neutraubling di Jerman turut mengharamkan wanita daripada memakai burkini.

Ini setelah seorang pengunjung wanita membuat aduan tentang seorang wanita yang memakai burkini di kolam renang tersebut.

Datuk bandar Neutraubling, Heinz Kiechle, dilaporkan tidak senang hati dengan pemakaian burkini, yang katanya “bertentangan dengan usaha perpaduan dan mengiktiraf antara satu sama lain yang kerap dibincangkan di banyak bandar.”

Selain itu, lapor RT, anggota parti FP di Austria, Encik Terzer, juga menggesa agar keselamatan lebih ketat dilaksanakan di kolam renang itu.

Beliau merujuk kepada laporan-laporan yang mendakwa beberapa wanita didakwa diserang secara seksual oleh pendatang asing di kolam-kolam renang di Austria, yang menyebabkan beberapa kemudahan riadah mengharamkan semua pelarian lelaki.

Dalam kes terbaru, pihak berkuasa bandar Mistelbach di Austria mengharamkan secara sementara semua pelarian daripada sebuah kolam renang awam.

Ini setelah seorang remaja perempuan berusia 13 tahun diganggu secara seksual oleh seorang lelaki muda “berkulit gelap”, yang dipercayai seorang pencari suaka.

Bahkan menurut RT, pihak berkuasa tempatan memasang papan tanda tertera “hari ini semua pelarian tidak dibenarkan masuk” menyusuli insiden itu.

Source: http://berita.mediacorp.sg

July 9, 2016
DAP MP Nga Kor Ming Investigated For Insulting Post On Aidilfitri

KEPALA BATAS, July 8 — Two NGOs today lodged four police reports against Taiping MP Nga Kor Ming of the DAP over what they claimed to be a Facebook post that insulted Aidilfitri.

The Malaysia Heritage Club (Keris) and Malaysian Association of Youth Clubs Penang made the reports at the police station here through Keris Secretary-General Azman Hassan and MAYC Penang Chairman Saiful Anuar.

Azman claimed that Nga’s Facebook post carried a caricature of children and guests receiving Aidilfitri ‘duit raya’ cash packets and likened it to bribery.

“Nga’s action is clearly an insult demeaning a noble deed at a time when Muslims are celebrating Aidilfitri,” he told reporters after lodging the reports at the police station.

He said it was hoped that the police would investigate the person who drew the caricature as well as the owner and administrator of the Facebook account.

Azman said Nga, as an elected representative, should have been more sensitive and not link the Aidilfitri celebration to political elements.

“We ask Nga to withdraw the post and make an open apology in the same Facebook account,” he said. — Bernama

Source: www.themalaymailonline.com

July 9, 2016
Mohd Khair: Masyarakat Islam Harus Banteras Usaha Melemahkan Masyarakat

Apakah kita harus berasa malu yang teramat sangat setiap kali ada jenayah yang dilapurkan sebagai dilakukan oleh orang Melayu atau orang Islam?

Apakah Nabi Muhammad saw berasa teramat malu apabila pakciknya sendiri dan kaum kerabat yang lain tidak memeluk agama Islam, malah ada yang menentangnya dengan begitu keras sekali?

Apakah Nabi Nuh as berasa teramat malu apabila kaum keluarganya sendiri tidak mahu beriman kepada ALlah swt?

Apakah Nabi Lut as berasa teramat malu apabila isterinya sendiri yang mengkhianati dakwahnya?

Apakah penganut Buddha berasa teramat malu apabila para Sami di Myanmar membakar madrasah dan masjid serta membunuh ramai orang Islam di sana?

Apakah penganut Kristian berasa malu apabila pemerintah mereka membunuh ribuan ummat Islam saban tahun di merata tempat di bumi Ambiyaa?

Pokoknya, kita tidak seharusnya berasa teramat malu dengan tindakan orang-orang yang melakukan kekejaman atas nama Islam. Sesiapapun boleh melakukan onar dengan menggunakan nama Islam kerana memang mahu mencemarkan nama Islam.

Kita harus lebih bijak untuk tangani lemparan-lemparan najis yang datang dari pelbagai arah dan rupa bentuk terhadap Islam dan Ummahnya.

Tiada apa yang kita harus terasa malu sekiranya kita yakin bahwa agama Islam adalah agama yang sempurna dengan nilai-nilai yang membangun lagi membawa kedamaian untuk setiap insan, tidak kira warna kulit mahupun kepercayaan.

Apa yang seharusnya kita lakukan adalah untuk bangkit dengan lantang menolak segala tindakan dan tohmahan itu sebagai ANTI-ISLAM dan ANTI-MUSLIM.

Dengan tegas kita juga harus katakan yang tindakan dan tohmahan itu adalah najis-najis orang lain yang sengaja dilemparkan kepada dunia demi merosakkan, merapuhkan, melemahkan, menjatuhkan dan membinasakan Islam dari luar dan dalam.

Seharusnya kita usah berasa teramat malu tetapi sebaliknya berdiri dengan tegas untuk menolak segala tindakan dan tohmahan itu sebagai ANTI-ISLAM dan ANTI-MUSLIM, serta melihat itu semua sebagai strategi pihak-pihak tertentu untuk melemahkan kita sebagai Ummah Nabi Muhammad saw.

Bahkan kita seharusnya terus menyebarkan dakwah dengan kemurnian dan kesucian Islam kepada seisi alam.

Buang jauh-jauh sikap apologetik yang menjadikan kita lebih lemah kerana berasa malu yang tidak bertempat.

(Nota: Kita dapat lihat sendiri betapa semakin banyak tohmahan yang dilemparkan kepada Islam dan Muslim, semakin berbondong-bondong orang masuk Islam, alhamdulillah. Itulah sebabnya juga kuta tidak seharusnya berasa bersalah atau malu dengan tindakan orang lain yang bertujuan mencemarkan nama Islam dan Muslim.)

Source: Mohd Khair

July 8, 2016