Tag: Islam

88-Year-Old Karang Guni Auntie Cannot Stop Smiling After Abang Melayu Helped Her

Happy Chinese New Year 2016.

Was driving back home in Toa Payoh when suddenly i saw a trolley rolling down the road with full of unused items. I was puzzled and i look around for the owner of the trolley. Ended up i saw another trolley bigger than the first one with more items and behind all this huge items i saw a small old lady. She almost get hit by a car due to her pushing the trolleys in the middle of the road. And best part there were about 2 to 3 cars passing by and never did stop and help her. Manage to stop and push up the first trolley to the pavement followed by attending to her. While approaching her all u can see is her half face with her hands waving. Due to huge boxes covering most of her body. From far she shout ‘uncle boleh tolong saya uncle boleh tolong saya!’ Which is ‘help me help me!’

Cut story short help her since i have a van. And she direct me to the place where she is going. HONESTLY if she push it on her own its gonna take her 1hr30mins or so But it was only a 5 min drive. While in the van. We talked. She was 88 years old live in toa payoh. She has kids but lost contact with her. (True or not i donno) She only drinks coffee and eat kueh pau. Spent the rest of the day serching for unused items.

Best question and answer.

Me: aunty you angkat barang kenapa banyak sangat? Satu orang dua trolley. You sudah tua makin sakit.
Her reply moved me!

Aunty: Chinese new year sudah mau datang. Saya harus kerja kuat kuat nanti dapat wang lebih boleh beli makan sedap. Boleh kasi wang sama budak budak.

And seriously it moved me! She work so hard and earn so little and her thoughts for Chinese new year is so huge. I envy her spirits.

And i never know hows a life of karang guni in Singapore till i met her. She directed me in someplace where she can sell it. And she teach me to put the items accordingly. Like papers with papers cupboards with cupboards metal with metal etc. And FYI i got scolded by her for messing it up. So have to redo everything balik. Not easy! Seriously not easy. And i got stop and questioned by Police Officer due to parking my van in the opposite direction. Which i didnt realise and the aunty directing to the place. And they left!

After all is done. I have to make my move and go home. Aunty never stop saying thank you uncle thank you uncle. Tak ada orang tolong sama saya cuma you sahaja. I told her its okay. If people help you take it as a blessing. If people dont help you dont expect much. We owe no one a living. Aunty replied. Wahhh saya happy la ini hari. So cute i tell you the aunty.

Before moving off handed a certain amount of money and all of a sudden she cried. And this is what she say. “I asked your help not for money. I asked your help to help carry the stuff cos im old and weak not for your money” translated thou.

My reply “no worries. Keep the money. Get yourself good food. Bak kut teh or whatever u wanna eat. Get yourself good drink like wheat grass or soya bean. I dont want you to eat kueh pau and drink coffee tmr. Have something good for yourself. Prepare yourself for Chinese New Year. Buy what is necessary.”

Her face expression is priceless. Smiling with a lil tear dropping. And continue saying thank you Uncle! And i depart with good bye aunty and kong xi fa cai.

And the smile on her face stuck on my mind. I guess this is the most wide smile she smiled before. I thank Allah for letting me meet this aunty and give me the chance to help her. Things happen for a reason. Kindness start with oneself. May we be different in colours but kindness show no difference in colours. And Alhamdullilah everything is smooth. Aunty reached her destination safely.

Every happiness starts with you. To all my Chinese friend. Happy Chinese New year.

Psst. The pictures is she request to take all because ” uncle amek gambar saya la jadi uncle boleh ingat saya. Nanti bila uncle rindu sama saya uncle boleh tengok gambar saya.” Translated “uncle take my picture so you can remember me. As and when you miss me just see the pictures and you will be remembered.”

Thank you.
Kong xi fa cai!

Source: Syam Sj

February 5, 2016
Muslimah: Kind Former British Principal In International School Allowed Me To Pray In Her Office

The story on the kind auntie who shares her rest spot so that Muslimahs can perform their prayers reminds me of the time i worked in an international school Avondale.

My principal graciously told me (i didnt even asked her!) that i could use her office to pray if i want to and that she would step outside to give me the privacy.

She was a British lady, very loud and outspoken, kind and funny. She also has a soft spot for small kids and her teachers. It was very long ago…

Funny one remembers these things.

Source: Nur Shah

February 4, 2016
Lee Kuan Yew’s Belief In Hierarchy In Genetics Explains The Position Of The Malays In Singapore?

Lee Kuan Yew’s perception of racial equality is based on genetics hierarchy…

Where the Chinese are on top…and the Malays at the bottom.

During a speech at the University of Singapore in 1967, Lee Kuan Yew said:

“Three women were brought to the Singapore General Hospital, each in the same condition and needing a blood transfusion. The first, a Southeast Asian was given the transfusion but died a few hours later.

The second, a South Asian was also given a transfusion but died a few days later. The third, an East Asian, was given a transfusion and survived. That is the X factor in development. (145)

Lee revealed in this speech, as reported by Chandra Muzaffar a perception of a racial hierarchy of Asians, in which the Chinese and other East Asians are at the top,

Malays and other Southeast Asians are at the bottom, and Indians and other South Asians are in between. (149)

Singapore’s multiracialism…encourages a high consciousness of one’s race even as it insists on tolerance.

Further, it has been considered by many as a covert form of discrimination in favour of the majority Chinese

and against the minorities, especially the Malays. (145)

Reference:

Barr, Michael D. “Lee Kuan Yew: race, culture and genes.” Journal of Contemporary Asia 29.2 (1999): 145-166.

Source: Almakhazin SG

February 4, 2016
Has Islam here been robbed of its True Essence?

My ancestors came to the Malay World to spread Islam among the Malays. They preached tolerance and love for humanity. They shared useful knowledge that Malays learnt until they became better than those who brought Islam to them.

My ancestors were Sufis. But they were Sufis who adhered closely to the Sunnah, to the traditions of the Prophet and Sahabah. Why? Because their greatest ancestor was the Prophet himself.

But today, the people who claim to follow the path of these righteous predecessors have become intolerant. They seek to ban groups that do not conform to their line of thought. They lobby for speakers to be stopped from coming into the Malay world.

They have departed far from the Ways of the Sufis in the past. They have forgotten the heritage of peace that was presented to them. They have substituted knowledge for positions and praise. They have forgotten their own selves.

And because of this, I say that Islam here has been robbed of its True Essence. Will we ever return to the times when tolerance was a way of life? The moment in our past when ideas were fought with ideas and not with oppression?

Source: Khairudin Aljunied

February 4, 2016
Mass Dance – A Muslimah Perspective

I was a student in a JC, having formerly studied in a local Madrasah. While I was happy to overcome stereotypes that Madrasah students can never make it to a local JC, I definitely wasn’t comfortable with the compromises that I had to make as a Muslim. But I realised I had to make those compromises to get ahead. So I was not shocked after coming across online articles of mass dancing in a local JC.

Choosing to study in a JC was a tough decision to make. I was embarrassed and felt like I was betraying my faith by having to remove my hijab to attend a JC. I understood the need to follow the uniformity of a secular school, with Singapore being a secular country, and I know that if I insisted on an Islamic education and an Islamic way of dressing, then I must go to a school in Malaysia or even the Middle East. But that was not an option for me, and it had also always been a dream of mine to study in a local JC and then moving on to NUS. I reluctantly accepted that I couldn’t put on my hijab in school, for two years. And I was able to achieve my dreams.

But even back then I couldn’t comprehend the need for a mass dance during orientation. It was enough embarrassment sacrificing my aurat for studies. It was worse having to dance with hordes of school mates, most of whom I barely know. And there were times we were told to dance with a school mate of the opposite sex.

For the life of me, I couldn’t understand the purpose of the mass dance. I mean, we could make friends without dancing together right? I decided that I wasn’t going to participate in it and it was a choice I was willing to make. Hence, everytime there was practice for the mass dance, I would excuse myself to the ladies’. I contemplated telling them that it was that time of the month for me but i figured, telling them that I had stomachache was easier. At the toilet, you can see others who are just lazy or feel they they were too cool for the mass dance. I made good friends there.

So there you go, my secret to cabut the mass dance. If you don’t want to do it, don’t. It is not a big issue and should not stop you from choosing a JC to further your studies. Islam is my religion, and this is how I was brought up. I am proud Muslimah who can make tough choices to excel in this world.

Reader Contribution

February 3, 2016