Tag: Muslims

Nur Jihan: Converting To Islam Made It Easier For Me To Do Good

This has been sitting in my draft for the longest time. I initially had the idea of writing this because there appears to be a lot of assumptions being made on the circumstances that surrounded my conversion. So here goes!

Not a lot of people know about this but I was pretty unhappy few years back, after I graduated from university. I would have sudden panic attacks where I would be paranoid about my parents meeting harm. One incident was particularly bad. My father had gone to China. I was telling my mum that he hasn’t whatsapped us for two days, which was unusual.

I couldn’t barely sleep that night and in the rare moments that I did, I would be rudely awakened by a dream of a car crash or the metallic smell of blood. I still couldn’t sleep at 6am, so I tried calling my father’s phone but it wouldn’t get through. Probably because my plan only allowed local calls. I waited till my mum stirred in her sleep to ask her for her phone. The call went through this time but I got an automated message saying that the phone number was no longer in use. That only added to my anxiety.

I whatsapped, SMSed and emailed my dad – just trying to get any response I could. 12 noon and I still got no reply. I was a mess. Thoughts were running through my head, mostly of regret. I thought of the times I was rude to my father, and how I would always refuse to accompany him whenever he wanted company to have dinner, supper or drop by the supermarket or petrol station.

It was only in the afternoon, at about 1 or 2pm, when my mother told me that my father had called back after receiving my messages. He thought something bad had happened at home. She assured him that everything was fine, and I was just worried that he had not contacted us for 2 days.

My mum asked if I wanted to speak to him on the phone. I declined. I didn’t know what to say to him. I ran into the toilet and cried, overwhelmed with relief.

I remained kind of unhappy after that, not doing much to change things as they were. I slowly started to realize that maybe I was disappointed at the person that I was? I was always nice to friends, but I never gave my parents the love I thought they deserved and it was eating me up.

This had never bothered me before but perhaps growing up and graduating from university made me realize some things? It was as if something snapped in me and made me aware of this gaping hole that I never knew I had and left me very unfulfilled about my life.

I would hear Aizat talk about the funny things that happened at home with his family and I would get jealous. They were so close. I don’t even remember the last time I hugged or kissed my parents, let alone enjoy a meal out with them. Our outings were always quiet and tense and not much fun. I always dreaded them.

I didn’t know how to turn things around.

A friend got to know about my situation and recommended that I attend a life coaching program. I was so desperate to feel better that I dragged another friend along with me. We spent almost $3000 on the program to ‘fix’ ourselves.

It wasn’t very useful in retrospect. Sure, during those 3 days you witness miraculous changes in your attitude and mood, but I wouldn’t liken it to anything more than having a great holiday with friends.

Long story short. Life coaching programs aren’t what they shout to be, at least to me.

What I did take away from the program was the call I made to my mum (as part of the Acts of Courage we were required to do everyday) to ask for her blessings, and if she would be fine with me embracing Islam. She told me that all she wanted was for me to be happy and she hoped that I would make the decision for myself and not under the pressure of others.

Perhaps the best part of the program were the similarities I drew between the program and Islam. One example was how the program required us to do 5 daily ritual/routines that were meant to be meditative and instill discipline. That sounded a lot like the 5 daily prayers Muslims had to perform every day! There were many other aspects and reflections I had of the program that reminded me of Islam.

I thought to myself, why was I spending money on a program to make myself happier when I could get it for free by learning more about Islam? And why was relying on a 3 day course for guidance when I had something more permanent I could depend on?

That was when I thought, screw this program, let’s see what Islam offers. And I haven’t stopped learning about Islam since. And what a change my life has been!

I’m happier now. I can hug and kiss my parents freely. I learnt how to put my parents before my needs – sometimes! But it’s a start! I’m starting to become the person, the daughter, the sister, and the friend I want to be.

The day of my conversion (30 May 2015) at Darul Arqam.

I just want to leave this world feeling like I was a good person and that I have reciprocated the blessings I received in this life to the wonderful people, and the world, around me.

Beliefs aside, I believe that this desire to be a better version of yourself, to do good is an innate one for most people. We’re not unique or different from others in this aspect. Everyone finds their own way there. I don’t believe that anyone can be truly happy without it, else there wouldn’t be so many self-help books on happiness and finding purpose in life.

Skeptics often say ‘Oh, that’s sad. You actually need a religion to do good’. Great for you if you managed to get there on your own – that’s really impressive and admirable. But it wasn’t as straightforward for me. I knew what was wrong but I didn’t know how to fix it. Thankfully though, I have found my way.

I’m done with the self-help books and life coaching programs. I now have Islam and it just makes things a lot easier for me. My religion makes me more disciplined, more reflective, and implements a way of life that makes doing good easier. I think of it as a lifehack and it’s the best lifehack I ever discovered.

Think of it this way: even if there wasn’t a God, I would have lost nothing, but gained everything. I would have lived a more meaningful life. And that’s all that matters to me

Source: www.theradiantmuslim.com

February 10, 2017
Shanmugam Stresses Need To Uphold Racial Equality

The need for Singapore to remain committed to protecting its minorities was stressed by Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam yesterday, as anti-Islamic and anti- immigrant sentiments jolt the world and the region grapples with growing polarisation along religious lines.

“In the face of all this, the Government has to convey a clear message: We are all Singaporeans. We guarantee the safety, security and freedom of religion to all, including the Muslim community,” he said. “And as a community, we must covenant to ourselves to never allow xenophobia and majoritarianism to override the protection and guarantee of equality, particularly to minorities.”

With 74 per cent of the population being Chinese, “our system of elections means majoritarianism could have easily taken hold and can, in future, easily take hold”.

He credits Singapore’s founding leaders for laying the foundation that includes ensuring equal opportunities for the minorities.

Mr Shanmugam’s robust statement on Singapore’s core principle of equality for those of all races and religions follows the upheavals of the past week after US President Donald Trump’s order suspending refugee intake and temporarily keeping the citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries out of the US.

At a seminar on religion, conflict and peacebuilding, he said the US changes, made suddenly, present a serious risk to Singapore. The travel curbs, he noted, reflect anti-Islamic feelings gaining ground in the United States and Europe. “It is a groundswell fuelled by fear and a substantial element of racism. Many otherwise reasonable people are also supporting such movements,” he said.

Singapore, with a 15 per cent Muslim population, could easily slide into a similar situation, he added. Hence, it is imperative that the Government steer clear of engaging in racial politics, Mr Shanmugam said.

But it can do this only with the community’s support, he added.

While the majority must back these efforts, the minorities must play their part, and not grow increasingly exclusive. Both sides need to “work together to increase common space, and work with the Government that is determined to hold the common space together”, he said.

“That is the only way we can resist the tide of populism that is sweeping the rest of the world. We keep to our way of life,” he added.

The two-day symposium is organised by the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies under its Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies Programme.

In his address, Mr Shanmugam sketched his view on what has led to the anti-Islamic wave in the West, Singapore’s approach in avoiding the backlash elsewhere against minorities, and regional trends that could agitate Singapore’s minorities.

Pointing to the Chinese majority, he noted that Singapore has avoided majoritarianism by ensuring equal opportunities regardless of race or religion, guaranteeing religious freedom and clamping down strongly on hate speech.

“The result is, regardless of all else, you can walk with a sense of being yourself, comfortable in your own skin, as an equal citizen… That is the lived reality of a Singaporean,” Mr Shanmugam said.

But this takes work, he said, noting that the Government has not taken a laissez faire approach. Without active state intervention, he said, “you will get segregated communities, segregated schools, the lessening of common space and a reduction of opportunities for minorities”.

Urging racial and religious leaders to champion integration and interaction, he said: “This is critical… to preserve what we have in Singapore.”

Source: ST

February 2, 2017
Singapore Must Guarantee Equality To Minorities: Shanmugam

Faced with issues such as growing Islamophobia and religious extremism, Singapore must never allow xenophobia and majoritarianism to override the protection and guarantee of equality – particularly to minorities, said Singapore Home Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam on Wednesday (Feb 1).

“We are all Singaporeans. We guarantee the safety, security and freedom of religion to all, including the Muslim community,” he told a roundtable discussion at a symposium organised by the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS).

Mr Shanmugam opened his speech by revealing he had initially not been slated to speak. “But events around the world give cause for pause, for reflection,” he said, referring to the likes of Brexit and the election of Donald Trump as US president.

“Post-US election, there has been a scramble, to predict the policies of the new Administration and what it means for the world,” Mr Shanmugam said. “We now have had a preview of what might happen … The country whose actions possibly have the greatest importance on the world seeks to change course, and seeks to change course suddenly.”

Pointing to the US exiting the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and banning citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries within a week of Mr Trump assuming office, he said: “When a superpower moves this fast, the rest of us have to avoid being caught in the slipstream.”

He warned that events in the US could impact Singapore on a racial and religious front, specifically the “public disagreement” displayed by Mr Trump’s firing of the acting Attorney-General for opposing his travel ban, protests on the streets and deep splits within Congress.

“There are many consequences to perceptions of the US, its leadership role in the world, and the role the Rule of Law plays and is valued in the US,” said Mr Shanmugam. “One of the consequences … is that it could lead some Muslims around the world to become anti-American, believing that the US has become more Islamophobic.”

“This has serious risks for a lot of people including us.”

Source: CNA

February 2, 2017
Ingin Bantu Pelarian Syria Harungi Musim Sejuk? Semua 70 Masjid S’pura Kumpul Dana Khas Mulai Jumaat Ini

Kita di Singapura, Malaysia dan Indonesia sedang mengalami cuaca dingin yang nyaman. Namun para pelarian Syria kini dibelenggu oleh cuaca amat sejuk, yang menggigit rantau Timur Tengah.

Bermakna, para pelarian Syria kini memerlukan lebih banyak bantuan dan kelengkapan bagi melindungi diri mereka, selain keperluan lain seperti makanan.

Lantaran itu, mulai Jumaat ini (3 Feb), semua 70 masjid di Singapura, dengan kerjasama Yayasan Rahmatan Lil Alamin (RLAF), akan mengadakan kutipan derma khas sempena musim sejuk, bagi membantu para pelarian Syria.

KERJASAMA RLAF, UNHCR & MAHASISWA S’PURA DI JORDAN

Konflik dalam negeri dan peperangan di Syria yang sudah berlarutan hampir enam tahun amat menjejas para penduduknya.

Lebih empat juta rakyat Syria sudahpun melarikan diri dari negara itu dan mendapatkan perlindungan di negara-negara asing seperti Eropah, Turki, Jordan, Lubnan, Iraq dan Mesir.

Di Jordan sahaja, terdapat 650,000 pelarian dan jumlah yang tinggi itu menjejas ke atas sumber-sumber di negara yang juga sedang berusaha memenuhi keperluan rakyatnya sendiri.

(Gambar: MOHAMAD ABAZEED / AFP)

Oleh itu, RLAF akan bekerjasama dengan UNHCR dan badan mahasiswa Singapura di Jordan untuk menghulurkan bantuan dalam program bantuan musim sejuk serta program-program pendidikan bagi kanak-kanak Syria.

KEMPEN KUTIP DANA BERLANGSUNG SELAMA SEMINGGU

Kotak-kotak derma RLAF akan diletakkan di semua 70 masjid dari Jumaat ini sehingga Khamis 9 Februari 2017 dan akan tertera tulisan “Special Winter Collection in Aid of Syrian Refugees”.

Orang ramai boleh menghulurkan derma mereka secara tunai ataupun menerusi cek. Semua derma menerusi cek perlu diberikan kepada “RLAF” dan ditulis “Special Winter Collection in Aid of Syrian Refugees” pada bahagian belakangnya.

Sumbangan wang tunai dan cek boleh dihantar ke Bangunan MUIS di Hab Islam Singapura, No 273, Braddell Road, Singapore 579702.

Selain itu, orang awam juga boleh menyumbang secara online menerusi https://zakat.sg/ePayment/donations.aspx.

RLAF PERNAH BANTU 4,000 KELUARGA SYRIA

Pada tahun 2014, RLAF dan masjid-masjid di Singapura berjaya mengumpulkan lebih $400,000 menerusi dua usaha mengumpul dana bagi para pelarian Syria.

Dana itu digunakan untuk mengagihkan makanan yang sudah dimasak, keperluan bagi lebih 4,000 keluarga Syria, peralatan sekolah bagi kanak-kanak pelarian Syria di tiga buah sekolah di Turki serta kit ubat-ubatan bagi klinik-klinik untuk merawat mereka yang cedera dan kurang upaya.

(Gambar: YASIN AKGUL / AFP)

Yang paling penting, RLAF dengan kerjasama Projek ASRIT (Bantuan untuk Pelarian Syria di Turki) berjaya menubuhkan Pusat Pendidikan Temasek di Kilis, selatan Turki yang mengambil 500 pelajar Syria dari peringkat tadika sehingga pos-menengah setiap tahun. Sehingga kini, pusat ini masih lagi beroperasi.

Source: BeritaMediacorp

February 2, 2017
SMRT Hero Mr Mohamad Nazaruddin Helped Couple Who Delivered A Baby In His Taxi

It was just an ordinary day for Mr Mohamad Nazaruddin, serving passengers just like he did the last two years. Little did he know that it would be life changing as he picked up his first passenger of the day.

These are the words of appreciation from Mdm Ma.elena del Rosario Ortiz: “This is such an unforgettable and remarkable experience. I feel shocked and also overjoyed that my baby girl was born in a taxi. My husband and I would like to thank Mr Mohammad for doing a good job to take care of our baby and reassure us that the baby is fine. It was very well done.”

Mdm Ma.elena’s newborn arrived in Mr Mohamad’s taxi yesterday afternoon while she and her husband were enroute to the hospital for a checkup. Upon noticing that Mdm Ma.elena was in pain, he took the initiative to drive the couple to the nearest hospital. Even before they arrived, the baby was delivered in the taxi! Mr Mohamad remained calm and advised Mr Hamid, Mdm Ma.elena’s husband, on what he had to do to ensure the baby was fine.

The 39 year old taxi partner shared, “I’m lost for words. I’m glad that I’m able to help them in terms of giving them advice on what to do with the baby and ensuring that the baby is safe. I feel great about being part of this amazing journey with the parents. I hope that the family will be happy and joyous and wish them all the best.”

Upon arrival at the hospital, Mr Mohamad immediately got help from the nurses, and waived the taxi fare for Mr and Mrs Hamid. We cannot be happier to be part of this meaningful journey, and extend our congratulations to Mr and Mrs Hamid on their newborn! On this joyous occasion, SMRT will waive Mr Mohamad’s taxi rental for a day 🙂 Kudos to Mr Mohamad, our SMRT taxi partner. #SMRTHeroes

Source: SMRT

February 1, 2017