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Tag: mosques

  • Al-Istiqamah Mosque Reopens After Upgrading

    Al-Istiqamah Mosque Reopens After Upgrading

    The Al-Istiqamah Mosque in Serangoon North is open to the public after the completion of year-long upgrading works.

    Worshippers can now enjoy more elderly-friendly features. These include the installation of a lift to service the three-storey main building and upgraded ablution areas and toilets, including the addition of anti-slip tiles.

    The mosque was upgraded at a cost of S$1.2 million and is the fourth mosque to be completed under phase 2 of the mosque upgrading programme. The mosque can accommodate up to 3,000 worshippers.

    Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim visited the mosque on Friday (Nov 21), and said these improvements will help meet the changing needs of the Malay-Muslim community.

    “We can attract more of our elderly and also ensure that the mosque continues to be family-friendly. So I am quite happy with the development thus far,” he said.

    He also commended the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) and the Muslim community for focusing on the needs of the elderly and disabled.

    “I would like to thank the community for being patient and understanding. By and large, they have been very tolerant and very supportive and we have been able to fulfil this on time,” said Dr Yaacob.

    “This is a wonderful situation in Singapore where we have a close working relationship between MUIS, mosques and the community to ensure that we continue to remain relevant to the changing needs of the community,” he added.

     

    Source www.channelnewsasia.com

  • Lee Hsien Loong: MUIS Collecting Funds For Humanitarian Assistance to Gaza

    Lee Hsien Loong: MUIS Collecting Funds For Humanitarian Assistance to Gaza

    Credit: Lee Hsien Loong Facebook
    Credit: Lee Hsien Loong Facebook

    In the last week, the armed conflict in Gaza has hotted up. Hundreds of people have been killed, mostly civilians, including many children and infants. The loss of innocent lives is tragic and painful. The Middle East is far away, but still we empathise with the pain and suffering of the Palestinian people, because of our common humanity.

    Alas there is no easy solution. The Israel-Palestinian problem goes back almost a century. The distrust and enmity are mutual, and deep. Yet there is no future in this endless cycle of violence and retribution.

    Any lasting solution must begin with restraint and an end to violence, by both sides. I hope all parties will work together to stop this latest episode of violence.

    Let’s keep the victims of the ongoing conflict in our thoughts and prayers. MUIS is collecting funds for humanitarian assistance to Gaza. Singaporeans have donated generously, and not only Muslims. I hope more concerned Singaporeans will continue showing support in this way. – LHL

    Konflik bersenjata di Gaza semakin meruncing sepanjang seminggu ini. Ratusan nyawa terkorban, kebanyakannya orang awam termasuk ramai kanak-kanak dan bayi. Korban jiwa mereka yang tidak bersalah dalam jumlah yang besar ini, amat menyayat hati. Walaupun Timur Tengah begitu jauh, kita dapat rasakan kepahitan dan kesengsaraan yang ditanggung rakyat Palestin kerana ikatan kemanusian yang kita semua kongsi bersama.

    Tiada huraian mudah. Masalah Israel-Palestin berakar umbi hampir seabad lamanya. Mereka saling tidak mempercayai dan permusuhan begitu mendalam. Lingkaran keganasan dan tindak balas yang tiada penghujung tidak menjanjikan masa depan yang baik untuk rakyat.

    Sebarang huraian jangka panjang mesti bermula dengan kedua-dua pihak menghentikan keganasan. Saya harap semua pihak bekerjasama untuk akhiri gelombang keganasan terbaru ini.

    Marilah kita sama-sama mendoakan kesejahteraan mangsa-mangsa konflik yang sedang berlaku ini. MUIS mengumpul dana bagi bantuan kemanusiaan untuk Gaza. Rakyat Singapura telah menyumbang dengan murah hati termasuk bukan Muslim. Saya harap rakyat Singapura yang prihatin akan terus memberi sokongan mereka melalui cara ini. – LHL

    (Those who wish to contribute can do so at donation boxes placed at all mosques till 24 July, or donate online via MUIS’ website. / Photo courtesy of MUIS)

    Authored by Lee Hsien Loong

    READ RELATED ARTICLES ON GAZA/PALESTINE CONFLICT

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  • Pastor Lawrence Khong Supports Muslim #WearWhite Movement

    Credit: ST
    Credit: ST
    https://www.facebook.com/lawrence.khong.fcbc
    https://www.facebook.com/lawrence.khong.fcbc

    I’m so happy that Singapore’s Muslim community is making a vocal and visual stand for morality and Family. I fully support the ‘wear white’ campaign. FCBC, together with the LoveSingapore network of churches, will follow suit on the weekend of 28 and 29 June, island-wide. I look forward to celebrating the Family with the Muslim community and I am pleased to partner with them in championing virtue and purity for the good of our nation!

    LoveSingapore will also be supporting an online Family campaign called FamFest Singapore (www.facebook.com/FamFestSingapore ). This is a unique FaceBook page by TOUCH Family Services. It promotes the right Family values. It celebrates the contributions of the Family in Singapore.

    The family unit is the lifeblood of our nation. The time to stand and defend what is right is NOW.

    Authored by Pastor Lawrence Khong of FCBC

    EDITOR’S NOTE

    Are you supporting the Freedom to Love or are you supporting the Traditional Values of Marriage and Family? 

    Which side are you on? Share your opinion with us at Rilek1Corner.

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  • Idolizing ‘Maha Gurus’ Is Not Piety and UnIslamic

     

    Photo taken on 2 May 2014 during Friday prayer at local mosque
    Photo taken on 2 May 2014 during Friday prayer at local mosque

     

    Dear R1C,

    Yesterday I noticed a man with a fancy looking head gear at a local mosque. I was seated behind him and realized he had inserted two photos of his ‘Maha Gurus’ or ‘religious teachers’ on the right side of his head gear. While it is important to dress clean, neat and proper when you want to perform your prayers, I find that such act of idolization of his religious teachers or ‘Maha Gurus’ is inappropriate especially when you are praying to Allah SWT, There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the last Prophet.

    Islam takes a firm stand against idolatry in any form. Islam takes the position that such objects have often been used to glorify or idolize people or creatures, in violation of God’s law against idolatry. Thus, anything that can be construed as an idol is forbidden. Allah is the Only One Who has the power of giving shape to His creation and creating them in the best image. The matter also has to do with aqeedah when these images are taken as idols which are worshipped instead of Allah.

     

    Al Basheer

     

     

     

  • Muslims have Special Parking Rights?

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    On the afternoon of 10 January 2014 between 1.15pm- 1.30pm, I parked my car at Geylang road between Lorong 30 to 32, and left my car to run some quick errands. When I returned, I received a summon ticket for parking along a double yellow line. I am aware that it is an offence to park along a double yellow line, and I accept that I will have to pay for the parking offence. However, I noticed that there were many other cars parked along the same road and opposite from where I parked my car. They were all not issued any parking summons.

    I stood there and observed the LTA officer (One female in plain clothes by the name of Phyllis), and another in uniform (Indian guy) summoning a few other vehicles. Phyllis stood there and observed which cars belonged to Chinese owners, before directing her Indian colleague to issue summons to these vehicles. I went up to the LTA officers and questioned why they were issuing summons only to the Chinese vehicle owners and not the Malays.

    Phyllis told me that the Malays who are going to the mosque nearby are allowed to do so. Is there such a rule in Singapore that I am not aware of? If so, why do I see LTA officers summoning cars during festivals where we Chinese are offering prayers to our god? I see no racial equality in this situation. Please help to share around so that this issue will be brought to the relevant authorities attention. Thank you!

    Don Tan

    Source: http://on.fb.me/1ftJtih