Tag: Islam

Almakhazin SG: Most Of Zakat To MUIS Does Not Go To Needy

A lot of Muslims assume that MUIS’ funds are mainly (if not only) from two sources:

1. Government
2. MBMF

And we think that MUIS staff salary are all paid by the government.

Not true.

MUIS actually has multiple sources of income.

As showed previously, MUIS collects about $22 million a year from the Mosque Building and Mendaki Fund (MBMF)

Another source of funds for MUIS is zakat (harta and fitrah).

In 2014, MUIS collected $31.8 million zakat/ fitrah.

For most of us, when we give our zakat, apart from it being a religious obligation, we assume the money will be used to help those in need.

While we may know the different asnaf, there is an expectation that most of the funds will be used to help the needy (whether they are poor, mualaf, travellers etc).

But what many of us may not realise is that a lot of the funds actually go to support MUIS staff salary and operations.

Of the $31.8 million collected in 2014, only $13.8 million went to the needy.

That is less than half of the zakat/ fitrah collected.

Where did the rest of the money go to?

About $1million went to rent.

$7.65 million of the zakat is used for salary.

And this is not for amil. Amil commission is $900,000.

$310,000 of the zakat/ fitrah collection was used for IT maintenance.

Several million are given out as grants.

In 2014, MUIS gave $250,000 to the RRG.

RRG is an organisation set up by the government. We are still waiting for MUIS to respond to our email if the money given to RRG came from our zakat/ fitrah.

And MUIS still has about $30 million from the fitrah fund in bank.

Most of the money we give for zakat does not go to the needy.

A large part of it goes to MUIS staff and its operations.

And some of the funds collected are kept in the bank.

Source: MUIS Annual report 2014

Source: Almakhazin SG

March 23, 2016
Muslimah: Hijabis Should Stop Thinking They Are Superior To Minahs

I once knew a Muslim girl who loved wearing short skirts, the shortest shorts possible and tank tops. She used to go dancing at discos with her boyfriend(s). Go out late at night.

I vividly remember one day, I saw her wearing the skimpiest of clothes, and thought to myself – Ya Allah, whats wrong with this girl? Why does she dress like that??

I judged her. At the time, I felt superior to her because I was covered. I didn’t say anything to her about it. I sort of stayed away from her. Didnt want to get ‘infected’. Syaitan had played a trick on me. He tricked me into thinking I was better because I went to halaqah, mixed with the ‘good’ kids, went to Islamic talks. My headscarf covered my chest and I didn’t wear revealing clothes.

A few years after that, I met her again, she had already started wearing a proper hijab and modest clothing. She had started going to Quranic classes as well. I was shocked, but happy for her. She told me she felt like a newborn. Like she was given a second chance to do things right.

Recently I met her again, this time she was wearing a niqab. I didn’t recognise her! She had changed so much. She held my hands and told me that I had somewhat ‘helped’ her to be better. That she read my fb posts and sometimes felt like I was talking to her.

All I felt was shame. She didn’t know that I judged her once upon a time. That I looked at her and had negative thoughts. That I didn’t say a sincere prayer for her to be a better Muslim.

We both had tears in our eyes. Hers was probably due to happiness and Iman.. mine was pure shame and guilt and fear.

Allah sent her to me to teach me a lesson. Astaghfirullah is all I can say.

Sharing this so it can be a lesson to all of us. A reminder for me. A slap in the face.

Never ever judge someone. It’s not our place to do that. We should only pray that Allah gives Hidayah to them. And that He continues to keep our hearts in line towards Him.

‪#‎astaghfirullah‬

Source: Za’Faran Hisham

March 22, 2016
Najib Razak: Islam Doesn’t Allow Alliance With Anti-Islamic Groups, Even For ‘Noble’ Causes

PUTRAJAYA, March 21 — Islam frowns on Muslims who will ally themselves with their religion’s critics to achieve their goals no matter how “noble”, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today.

He said that the means to achieve a noble aim must be equally noble.

“That means, Islam not only requires that a purpose must be noble, but the method to achieve the purpose must also be correct and noble.

“For example, if we have a good objective or purpose, but we collaborate with those who are anti-Islam or uneasy with Islam, that means that method is not correct and forbidden by Islam,” he said in a speech when launching the 59th national recital of the al-Quran here.

He did not give further examples to illustrate his point.

Earlier, he urged Muslims to be broad-minded when faced with differences of opinion.

“Don’t because of small matters or contentious issues, or being too obsessed with groups or a leader, until we quarrel, leading to enmity, hatred or casting aspersions or inappropriate labels by a Muslim against other fellow Muslims.

“In other words, Islam allows differences in opinion, the voicing of views and objections, but it should be courteous and should be consistent,” he said.

Earlier, he had also stressed the importance of unity within the Muslim community, after quoting a verse in the Quran.

“This verse clearly shows the issue of unity is not a choice, but an obligation to Muslims. This is the command of Allah to us,” he said, before going on to say that Malaysia was lucky as it was an Islamic country based on Sunni Islam.

Source: https://sg.news.yahoo.com

March 22, 2016
Controversial Columnist Ridhuan Tee Abdullah Denied Entry Into Singapore, Claimed Treated Like Terrorist

KUALA LUMPUR, March 21 — Controversial columnist Dr Ridhuan Tee Abdullah has complained that Singapore immigration officials treated him like a terrorist when they recently refused to allow him into the republic.

In his column on Malay-language daily Sinar Harian, the Muslim convert said his photograph and thumbprint were taken at Singapore’s land checkpoint at Woodlands when he and a friend recently travelled to the neighbouring country on personal business.

“I was treated like a terrorist. My photograph and thumbprint were taken,” Tee wrote in his column today titled “Know the true enemies of Islam”.

“After more than two hours of questioning, I received a letter saying I was not allowed to go there. There was no reason given. But I am confident that it was due to my comments on the ‘ultra kiasu’,” he said.

He said it was no loss not being able to go to Singapore, but added: “I just want to remind how dangerous the ‘ultra kiasu’ are”.

“Ultra kiasu” is a term Tee constantly uses on the DAP, a predominantly Chinese opposition party, but he has also applied it to other groups, including Christians and Malaysia’s ethnic Chinese.

The Chinese Muslim has repeatedly criticised the Chinese minority in Malaysia, labelling them as “racist” and “ultra kiasu” for not showing gratitude towards the Barisan Nasional (BN) government.

In Tee’s column today, he again accused the “ultra kiasu” of trying to manipulate Muslims to bury PAS and claimed that Malays in Singapore were not given decision-making positions or posts in the police, immigration or army.

Source: www.themalaymailonline.com

March 22, 2016
Kenapa Tidak Ada Kecaman Keatas Serangan di Istanbul Sama Seperti Kecaman Serangan di Eropah Barat?

After the senseless attacks in Turkey, i have been waiting for the usual suspects to issue their strong condemnations: either through the mainstream media or on their own social media platforms. Unfortunately, though unsurprisingly, i am still waiting.

I really wonder whether these people realize how this looks: are you really saying that the lives of non-White people don’t matter? Or is it Muslim lives specifically that have less or no value?

Do they have to issue condemnations and express public sadness when attacks occur in the West, because they need to ‘prove’ to others that they are ‘moderate’ Muslims, and such a need is not present when the victims are Muslims themselves?

More importantly, this is a good time to discuss the real motivations, issues and complexities surrounding terrorism. Since the victims are not white, talking about the causes of terrorism would definitely not attract the criticism we are familiar with, otherwise: that doing so would be ‘cheapening the lives of the victims’.

So we should not miss this opportunity. Yes, religious extremism is a problem. But let’s not be lazy and reduce the issue to ‘whoever does not wish Merry Christmas is an extremist’, and instead, deal with the issues of grievances about foreign policy, discrimination, lack of trust in authority (political and religious), the occupation of Iraq (which happened almost exactly 13 years ago to this day), the military-industrial complex, socio-economic disenfranchisement, and have an honest conversation about these matters. If we are really interested in solving the problem.

But if we are just interested in scoring points with others or in ‘proving’ ourselves, sure, let’s just continue to ‘condemn’ terrorism (selectively), blame religious extremism, and then lament when the problem still exists: basically, do the same things and then express surprise or outrage when the outcome is not different.

Source: Walid J Abdullah

March 21, 2016