Rilek1Corner

Tag: Jews

  • Commentary: Supplication Has Been Commonly Recited In Mosques Here For Many Many Years

    Commentary: Supplication Has Been Commonly Recited In Mosques Here For Many Many Years

    Someone shared this on Facebook:

     

    “Dear Sir.

    I spent 10 years in a local madrasah system where I studied Arabic as a language and learnt Islamic religious subjects also in Arabic. Following that, I went on to do a part-time diploma in Qur’an and Sunnah (DPQS) at a local private institution.

    I read with shock and distress the accusations against the imam and I also watched the video that was put up as evidence. In my opinion, nowhere in the video did the imam curse at Jews or Christians (or anyone else for that matter) and at no point did he say anything offensive to incite or encourage violence against Jews or Christians. In my opinion, the accusation being made against the imam is wrong because the accuser has not captured the true meaning and usage of the key action word used in the supplication. The key action word (nasara) used in Arabic actually means ‘to help’. Some (though not so common) may translate it as ‘to grant victory’. If we look at most of the different places in which the word or a derivative of it appears in the Qur’an, it is usually translated as ‘to help’. But there is a specific nuance to it. It is to help/grant victory in a situation where the person asking for that help is in dire need of it due to being oppressed or harmed. So in this instance, the imam was asking Allah for help ONLY from those Christians or Jews who were oppressing or harming Muslims, and not ALL Christians and Jews. What the accuser did not highlight, was that the imam also asked Allah for help from bad Muslims too (those who declare that they believe in Allah but in their hearts they do not believe and they do things to harm Muslims).

    So, at no point did the imam curse Christians or Jews at all. In my opinion, there was nothing offensive. The imam was just asking Allah for help from ANY bad people who are harming any Muslims, regardless of the religion of those bad people.

    Sir, this accusation was particularly shocking to me because this supplication (or those similar to it) has been commonly recited in the different mosques here for many many years and it has never made us think that it demands us to be violent towards people of other religions. We have never been taught by our religious teachers that it should mean that Muslims need to seek victory (implying use of violence) over Jews, Christians or any other groups of people. It has always been taught to us in the manner I have explained above. Also, the idea of help or victory, does not necessarily and immediately imply violence (the accuser unfairly linked the word victory to war and crusades in his original facebook post, however, as Muslims, we believe that Allah can grant victory in many ways and it can be as simple as giving a person a better opportunity at a different area and removing him from the situation or position in which he was being oppressed or harmed).

    Having said all of this, I fully agree that encouraging violence against other religions is something that should not be tolerated or condoned at all in Singapore. We have a rare, precious, peaceful environment here where people of all races and religions have been living harmoniously, and as a Singaporean, it is something I really appreciate and value. If the imam was truly trying to encourage violence against Jews and Christians, then I hope appropriate action will be taken against him. However, I hope that in the future, if there were to be such cases, proper measures or steps could be put in place to prevent the accuser from spreading his unverified accusations on social media causing unwarranted fear or panic from people especially because this accusation is a sensitive issue in multi-religious Singapore.”

    <by Dinah Aziz* to Minister K Shanmugam taken from his FB page>

    Edit: *She’s a daughter of a good friend and is working her way to be a hafiz of the Quran. She has completed her hafazan but has yet to be tested in one sitting and certified as a Hafiz. But to me, certified or not, she’s already a hafiz. She has not posted this on her own FB page but I’m sharing what she’s posted because it’s useful for everyone to know the details of the video.

     

    Source:Effendi Basri

  • Commentary: There Is No Reason At All For Us To Triumph Over You (Non-Muslims)

    Commentary: There Is No Reason At All For Us To Triumph Over You (Non-Muslims)

    Our brother, Ustaz Ahmad Muzzammil Shukri, came out with a pretty good explanation about the context of the imam’s sermon the other day.  He also agreed that when problem arises, MUIS should play a part in resolving or clarifying the religious aspects such as hadiths, fatwas and ideologies when needed. Alhamdullilah may Allah SWT help the imam and us all.

    He said:

    “An explanation which may help us understand better of the recent issue of the prayer recitation by the Imam.

    In the Quran there are verses that have a similar pattern like in Chapter of al-Baqarah verse 286,
    فَانصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ (286)

    Nasr means help…but when the word is used with the preposition a’laa..it means help to triumph over..But lets now focus on the word “kafir” which means disbeliever.

    Even though the word “kafir” is used, it is NOT referred to all disbelievers.
    But instead, only referred to disbelievers that attack and oppress Islam and the muslims because of difference in faith.

    And in any community in the whole wide world, if one is being attacked and oppressed, the victim will cry for help and victory, So That The Oppression Will Stop.

    Now, how is this interpretation proven correct?

    Look at the history of our beloved prophet Muhammad saw. As soon as he reached Madinah during the hijrah, the first few things he did were to build good ties with the non-Muslims in Madinah, particularly the Jews.

    Even though the Muslims were the majority at that moment, he made a peace treaty with the Jews. He promoted peace and love and allowed Muslims and Jews to live peacefully on the same land. Why?

    Because the Jews at that particular time caused no harm or oppression towards the Muslims.

    So this proves that the verse above that was conveyed by Prophet Muhammad saw himself refers to non-Muslims who were causing harm and oppression to Muslims just because they were muslims.

    Therefore, my non-Muslim friends in Singapore, there is nothing to worry about. You cause NO harm in any way to us Muslims. So there is no reason at all for us to triumph over you.

    And I believe the prayers recited by the imam also refers to non-muslims at other parts of the world who are oppressing Islam and muslims. Again, So That The Oppression Will Stop.

    But sadly, wrong interpretation of a convert has just caused chaos and disturbance within the community. Shouldn’t the government take action against this person who caused the chaos and disturbance?”

    Syukran ustaz.

     

    Source: Ahmad Muzzammil Shukri

  • Shanmugam: Religious Preachers Who Attack Other Religions Won’t Be Tolerated

    Shanmugam: Religious Preachers Who Attack Other Religions Won’t Be Tolerated

    Religious preaching that encourages violence or pits one religion against another will not be tolerated in Singapore, said Minister for Home Affairs and Law K Shanmugam in Parliament on Friday (Mar 3).

    Referring to a video posted on social media which purportedly shows an imam saying “God grant us victory over Jews and Christians”, Mr Shanmugam said the context of what the imam said will be clear once investigations are completed.

    “If the imam had referred to the phrase, to say, for example, that such phrases can promote ill will, hatred, enmity or violence against other communities, and that this is not acceptable in a multi-religious society, then there can be no objection.

    “But if he had said that Jews and Christians should be defeated, and for God to grant Muslim brothers victory over them – to make that very point – then that is completely unacceptable.

    “The Government has taken a strict position when Muslims have been attacked. People have been charged and sent to jail,” he said. “The same applies to any attack on any other religions.”

    He cited the example of a Christian couple sentenced to eight weeks’ jail in 2009 for distributing material that cast Islam in a negative light.

    Mr Shanmugam said the Government’s position has to be made clear because “matters like this have the potential to escalate, with people jumping in, opinions being formed, hardened, along religious lines”.

    If the imam did not make any inflammatory suggestion, no action will be taken and the authorities will issue a public statement, Mr Shanmugam said. But if the imam had engaged in such preaching, “some appropriate action” will be taken.

    “We have to be fair to the imam,” he said.

    Mr Shanmugam also criticised NUS academic Khairudin Aljunied for encouraging vilification of the individual who posted the video online.

    “Looking at what Mr Khairudin has said, he seems to suggest that it is okay for the imam to say that Jews and Christians should be defeated. He assumes that the imam intended to mean that, and Mr Khairudin sees nothing wrong with that.

    “Mr Khairudin’s position and actions are quite unacceptable. He has jumped into this, without verifying the facts and without checking the context. And supports a position that is quite contrary to the norms, values and laws in Singapore.

    “The police will look into the issues, and the conduct of all involved – quite thoroughly,” Mr Shanmugam said.

     

    Source: CNA

  • Police Report Lodged Against The Imam Who Allegedly Made Offensive Remarks On Jews, Christians

    Police Report Lodged Against The Imam Who Allegedly Made Offensive Remarks On Jews, Christians

    A police report has been made over remarks made by an imam, who allegedly insulted Christians and Jews during his Friday sermons at a mosque.

    In response to TODAY’s queries, a police spokesman said: “The police confirm that a report has been lodged. We are unable to comment further as investigations are ongoing.”

    A spokesperson for the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) said it is aware of the case and is assisting the police with their investigations.

    In a post uploaded on his Facebook page, A Muslim Convert Once More, the writer, who signed off as Mr Terence Helikaon Nunis, said the imam had made the insulting remarks during his Friday sermons on Jan 6 and Feb 24 at the Masjid Jamae (Chulia) in South Bridge Road.

    Mr Nunis also uploaded a video of the imam, who was not identified, giving his sermon on Jan 6.

    In his post, uploaded on Feb 24, Mr Nunis said:  “We should not encourage this sort of thinking or condone this sort of supplications.”

    The Muis spokesperson said: “As part of due process, the individual has been placed on leave whilst investigations are ongoing. Muis takes a very serious view of any behaviour or speech which promotes feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will between different faith communities.”

     

    Source: Today

  • Imam At Masjid Jami’ Chulia Allegedly Cursed At Christians And Jews During Friday Prayers

    Imam At Masjid Jami’ Chulia Allegedly Cursed At Christians And Jews During Friday Prayers

    This is a video, from the 6th January 2017, of the imam at Jami’ Chulia Mosque cursing Christians and Jews. This was during the Friday khuthbah. He did it again today.

    In summary, he said, “God Grant us victory over the disbelievers, God Grant us victory over the polytheists, God Grant us victory over the hypocrites and the people of envy, God Grant us victory over the Jews and the Christians, God Grant us victory over the Jews and the Christians …” The last part was repeated twice as an emphasis.

    This is 2017, and we still have unlettered people leading prayers in the mosque and supplicating as if we are all living in the Crusades and there is a huge religious war. How is this acceptable in the context of Singapore? It is only because he said it in Arabic that most people in the congregation likely did not realise.

    Islam is not at war with people of other faiths, particularly the Ahl al-Kitab, People of Scripture. This is an unbecoming relic of a different age. We should not encourage this sort of thiking or condone this sort of supplication

    ====

    Mr Terence Hekiaon Nunis, the contributor of the video confirmed in an online interview that this was not the only time he heard such supplications made in the mosque and reaffirmed that everything he wrote was factual.

    “It should be noted, also, that this was not a solitary occurrence. It was first noted on the 17th January and then again, on the day I posted this.

    Some people went there for Friday prayers. At the end of the sermon, this is what was recited as a supplication. The first few lines are innocuous and paraphrased from the Qur’anic supplication. The last part about overcoming the Jews and Christians is his own, or likely, taken from some similar supplication elsewhere, and is not from Scripture.

    The word used is “fanswurna” which I have translated as “grant victory over”, but more accurately means, “to overcome”. Translating from Arabic to English is not always easy because there are words which have no direct translation without losing the flavour of the meaning.

    In this case, the flavour is far from benign and the implicit meaning is more than just being better than them, the Christians and Jews, but to dominate them.”

     

    A Muslim Convert Once More

     

    Source: www.allsingaporestuff.com