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Tag: Muslims

  • Malaysian Muslims Seem To Have Very Weak Faith

    Malaysian Muslims Seem To Have Very Weak Faith

    I have been fasting in full every Ramadan for many years now and I admit, I do feel hungry and thirsty during the day and it isn’t totally comfortable all of the time.

    But of course, like anything you do, if you put your mind to it and persevere, it eventually stops being a problem.

    You get used to fasting and it actually makes your body feel good. But I won’t be talking here about the benefits of fasting on your health and well being.

    What I do want to talk about is the fact that there are so many weak Muslims in Malaysia who can’t take fasting. I’m usually not one to judge, but well, this time I am going to!

    We have a teacher in a school who asks his non-Muslim students to go to the toilet to drink during Ramadan, just so Muslim students won’t see them drinking.

    It is ridiculous how some school canteens are instructed to close during the fasting month because it would mean non-Muslim students eating in view of Muslim students.

    This issue of non-Muslims having to go out of their way, in the name of being respectful to those who are fasting, crops up every time Ramadan comes around.

    I don’t understand how this is respect. All I can conclude from this is that some Malaysian Muslims are just too weak, and when they see someone drink water, their will to fast disappears.

    I have many non-Muslim friends and I accompany them for lunch or even just for a drink at the mamak, even when I’m fasting, just so we can hang out and have a chat.

    I see them eat and drink but I don’t get tempted. Sometimes, they tease me too and pretend to order for me a glass of teh ais and we all have a good laugh. But I still fast. No problems.

    This fasting month, although only a week has gone by, I’ve even been accompanying my wife for lunch at restaurants whenever we are out and about.

    She is in the final trimester of her second pregnancy and she needs the food and nutrition. So she doesn’t fast. We sit and chat as she has her meal and I still fast. No problems.

    I’m not trying to say that I’m a perfect Muslim here. No way. I am far from that. What I am trying to say is that some Malaysian Muslims need to take a step back and look at their faith.

    Fasting is an‘ibadah’and it is suppose to be challenging (although not torture!). And aren’t challenges suppose to make your faith and fast count for even more?

    So technically, Malaysian Muslims should welcome people to eat and drink in front of them, and then resist, so they can collect more‘pahala’, right? Funny, isn’t it?

    But no. Malaysian Muslims are just too weak. They fast but they can’t take it when they catch a glimpse of someone eating or drinking. Their faith starts to waver.

    They can’t even take it when when non-Muslims use the word ‘Allah’ because they start getting confused and all with their own faith. Malaysian Muslims. What a weak bunch they are.

     

    Source: http://english.astroawani.com

  • Malaysian Bar Council Chief: Non-Muslims Do Not Have To Hide When They Eat During Ramadan

    Malaysian Bar Council Chief: Non-Muslims Do Not Have To Hide When They Eat During Ramadan

    The Malaysian Bar Council has called on the education authorities to uphold and put in practice the principles of harmony and unity in schools when it came to issues like the rights of non-Muslim students during the fasting month.

    Malaysian Bar Council president Steven Thiru said the recent statement by deputy Education Minister Datuk Mary Yap Kain Ching to avoid avoid eating or drinking in front of Muslim students does not inspire mutual respect and understanding among Malaysians.

    He said it instead emboldens those who are misguided in their belief that only their rights matter and further result in resentment among those whose rights are ignored or marginalised. ​

    “​This is a recipe for disharmony and disunity that we can ill afford. The purpose of fasting is not to inconvenience others who are not fasting.​ ​

    “Indeed, to impose any such inconvenience would appear to be contrary to the spirit of the fasting month and devalue the qualities that it seeks to honour,” he said in a press statement.

    He said Yap’s statement was disturbing as it casts the everyday eating and drinking of those who are not fasting as acts of disrespect, and it encourages the curtailment of the rights of those who are not fasting. ​ ​

    “This is inimical to the principles of mutual respect and understanding that underline our constitution.”

    He said there were often attempts to compel or impose respect and understanding in schools in a divisive manner.

    “This serves to poison the minds of our children, and sows in them the seeds of prejudice, distrust and suspicion.

    “Our future as a nation will be in jeopardy if this worrying trend is not arrested and reversed.”

     

    Source: www.therakyatpost.com

  • Malaysian Students Participate In IS During Semester Breaks

    Malaysian Students Participate In IS During Semester Breaks

    MACHANG: The authorities did not rule out any possibilities of Malaysian students in the Middle East participating in the militant group, Islamic State (IS) in Syria during their semester breaks.

    Bukit Aman Special Branch Counter Terrorism Division, Assistant Director, Datuk Ayub Khan Mydin Pitchay said, it is difficult to monitor the activities of students outside the country especially those who  are not registered with the Malaysian Embassy there.

    “There are only some of our students abroad who are registered with our embassy. This group is easy to be monitored by us.

    “Others who are not registered took the trouble to go on their own. This group is beyond our control. We do not have any ability to control them.

    “Maybe they utilise the semester breaks to participate in the militant group operations in Syria,” Ayub Khan said when met after the safety and threat of the IS group talk in UiTM Machang campus Monday.

    He added that similar modus operandi is employed by Malaysian students in Pakistan, taking advantage of the university’s semester breaks to participate in the activities of Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan.

    Touching on the threats of IS in Malaysia, Ayub Khan said that for now, his team is actively monitoring the group to ensure that the threat is combated and does not become widespread among the public.

    However, he did not rule out the increasing severity of threats by the global militant IS group and more stringent controls are needed to prevent the people of this country from being influenced by these extremist groups’ doctrines.

    Currently, 11 Malaysians known to be advocating the militant group’s cause have been confirmed killed in Syria and Iraq. It was reported that five were killed in war while another six died as suicide bombers.

     

     

    Source: http://english.astroawani.com

  • New Cafes And Restaurants Offer Ramadan Specials To Break Fast

    New Cafes And Restaurants Offer Ramadan Specials To Break Fast

    This Ramadan, Muslims can break fast over satay and rendang pizza at casual restaurant Tasconi’s Pizza in Simpang Bedok.

    The Muslim-owned Brunei franchise, which came to Singapore last December, is marking Ramadan for the first time this year, along with many other cafes and casual restaurants which have opened in the last 18 months.

    It will be the first Ramadan for most of these places, including newer cafes such as four-month-old Wilder in North Bridge Road, six-month-old The Lab in Jalan Pisang and casual Western restaurant Royz Et Vous in Telok Ayer Street.

    They are pulling out all the stops by offering special buka puasa menus and dishes to tantalise the tastebuds of diners.

    Others, such as American buffalo wings franchise Wingstop, which has two outlets in Singapore, have recently become halal-certified and will be serving special food for break fast as well.

    During the annual holy month of Ramadan, which begins on Thursday this year, Muslims refrain from eating and drinking from dawn until dusk.

    The day begins with a pre-dawn meal, or sahur, at about 5am, and ends with a meal at dusk.

    Hari Raya Aidilfitri is the celebration which marks the end of the fasting period. It falls on July 17 this year.

    Tasconi’s Pizza is incorporating satay and rendang into pizza to give the dish a twist, says its marketing consultant, Madam Nor Suhir.

    The 48-year-old says: “Satay and rendang are traditional dishes that are a must-have during Ramadan. It is a time for Malays to balik kampung (come home), go back to basics and forget all about the modern things.

    “Pizza is something generally more enjoyed by the younger generation. We wanted to bring together the young and old, as well as the new and traditional.”

    This concept of melding the contemporary with the traditional to cater to different generations was also behind cafe Butter Studio’s new Ramadan set menus.

    Inspired by the traditional Malay communal dining experience of food being served on dulangs (metal trays), the cafe will be offering modern brunch fare served on sharing platters for Ramadan.

    It has created the Studio Eggs Ben platter, which has portions of Crabby Eggs Neptune, chicken Spam and chilli beans served on a silver sharing platter.

    The All-Star Sliders Platter features three kinds of sliders – Signature Godfather Burger, The Elvis Burger and Mexican Wrestler Sliders – served on a wooden sharing platter. Both platters come with side dishes.

    Miss Shannon Lua, 31, owner of Butter Studio, says: “We liked the heritage behind the dulang and found it thematic for Ramadan, which is all about families dining in and breaking fast together.

    “At the same time, we wanted to offer an alternative to the traditional dulang set, which usually consists of rice and dishes. Teenagers who want something different can try this as they cannot enjoy brunch items when they fast in the day.”

    Bakeries such as And All Things Delicious and Wheebake, which opened in May and January last year respectively, are also getting in on the act by offering a special range of baked goodies for Ramadan and Hari Raya.

    The owner of And All Things Delicious, Mrs Dewi Imelda Wadhwa, 36, will be creating a Ramadan edition of her house blend granola by adding dates from Tunisia.

    She says: “The granola is great for sahur (the pre-dawn meal Muslims take before fasting) as it is high in protein and will provide a slow release of energy throughout the day.”

    Wheebake will be bringing back its popular rainbow butter cookies for its second Ramadan. The bakery sold more than 1,000 jars of its rainbow cookies during the fasting month last year.

    Muslims such as document officer Nor Hayati and undergraduate Nurul Aqilah are interested in visiting these new cafes to break fast.

    Madam Hayati, 55, who enjoys visiting new eating haunts, says: “I am excited to try out these places. I like Western food such as steak and pasta and many of these cafes serve a mixture of Western and local fusion food.

    Miss Aqilah, 20, says: “My family would rather go to restaurants they usually go to as they will not be inclined to try out these places for the first time, especially during Ramadan. But I would definitely go to these cafes to break fast with my friends, who are younger and just as adventurous as me.”

     

    CASUAL RESTAURANTS

    TASCONI’S PIZZA

    Tasconi’s pizza. — PHOTO: CHUBBY BOTAK KOALA

    What: This Muslim-owned casual restaurant, which is in the midst of getting halal certification, will be launching its satay or rendang pizza ($23.80) and rendang baked rice ($9.90) for both dine-in and delivery this Ramadan. Go big with its Ramadan combo meals ($29.90 or $46.90), which consist of either satay or rendang pizza, rendang baked rice, Mexican wings, a bottle of drink and dates.

    Its 15 other usual pizza flavours and signatures such as shepherd’s pie will still be available. There is a $3 charge for delivery.

    Where: East Village, 430 Upper Changi Road, 01-61

    Open: Normal opening hours are 10am to 10pm (Sunday to Thursday), 10am to 11.30pm (Friday to Saturday). It will be open from 3 to 10pm (Monday to Thursday) and 3 to 11pm (Friday to Sunday) during the month of Ramadan.

    Info: Call 6341-6991 or www.facebook.com/TasconiPizzaSingapore

    WINGSTOP

    Kecap Manis from Wingstop. — PHOTO: WINGSTOP SINGAPORE

    What: Get your buffalo wings fix from this American franchise, which will be rolling out a new wing flavour, Kecap Manis, for Ramadan at its two recently halal-certified outlets.

    Its 11 regular wing flavours such as Oriental Soy Pepper and Garlic Parmesan will also be available ($7.95 for six wings). There is also a Ramadan bundle for four people ($49.90) with 24 wings, eight tenders, four regular side dishes, vegetable sticks, four dips and four regular sodas.

    Where: Bedok Mall, 311 New Upper Changi Road, B1-53, tel: 68449230; City Square Mall, 180 Kitchener Road, B1-33/34/K15, tel: 65096571

    Open: 11am to 10pm daily

    Info: www.facebook.com/wingstopsg

    ROYZ ET VOUS

    What: This Muslim-owned casual Western restaurant recently moved to bigger premises which seat 80. It will be offering three different Ramadan set menus every week.

    Available from 7to 9pm, each set menu (from $20 to $30) includes a soup of the day, main course, dessert and drink. For the first week, diners can choose from three main dishes: garlic and chicken pasta, chicken stew or smoked duck breast served with side dishes. They can also choose to add on selective a la carte items (from $12.90) such as jalapeno poppers, buffalo wings, potato skins and pizza.

    Where: 137 Telok Ayer Street, 01-01

    Open: 8am to 9pm daily

    Info: Call 6293-0270 or go to www.royzetvous.com.sg

    CAFES

    WILDER

    Soba salad. — PHOTO: WILDER

    What: Break fast over a range of Mexican food, traditional Malay food, fusion food and more at this Muslim-owned cafe, which will be introducing different cuisines on its Ramadan set menu every week from 7pm.

    For the first week’s set menu ($35), starters offered are soba salad and lobster bisque. Choose between pan-seared salmon with mushroom pasta or pulled beef for mains. Dessert, water and dates to break fast are also included in the set.

    Selected best-selling dishes such as salted egg fries and salted egg calamari off the cafe’s a la carte menu will still be available. The restaurant is also accepting pre-orders for its signature lasagne ($11.90) for takeaway.

    Where: 749 North Bridge Road

    Open: 12.30 to 10pm (Tuesday to Saturday), 12.30 to 9pm (Sunday), closed on Monday

    Info: Call 6635-1136 or go to www.facebook.com/wilder.sg

    SARAH’S THE PANCAKE CAFE

    The Shabulan Ramadan from Sarah’s The Pancake Cafe serves pancakes topped with pieces of shabu shabu beef. — PHOTO: SARAH’S THE PANCAKE CAFE

    What: This Muslim-owned cafe will be introducing a special break fast dish, the Shabulan Ramadan ($17.50). Available from 7pm, it features pancakes topped with slices of shabu shabu beef, caramelised onions and parmesan and cream cheeses, served with mixed vegetables on the side.

    Dates are also offered to diners to break fast. The Shabulan Ramadan also comes as a meal ($19.50), which includes mushroom soup and a drink.

    The cafe will continue to serve its regular a la carte dishes (from $9.50), including sweet and savoury pancakes, crepes, pasta and appetisers. Signatures include its Ala Dol (chendol) and Ala Mak (nasi lemak) pancakes.

    Where: East Village, 430 Upper Changi Road, 01-62

    Open: 10am to 10pm (Monday to Thursday), 9am to 11.30am and 2.30 to 11.30pm (Friday), 9am to 11.30pm (Saturday) and 9am to 10.30pm (Sunday)

    Info: Call 9688-4163 or go to www.facebook.com/pages/Sarahs-The-Pancake-Cafe/1510133592538587

    SEDAP CAFE

    What: From 6 to 9pm daily, diners can dive into halal-certified Sedap Cafe’s Eat All You Can Buffet Ramadan Special ($15.50 nett each for adults and $9.50 nett each for children eight and younger).

    It offers a spread of international and Asian fare. Highlights include Terengganu grilled chicken, Kelantanese grilled beef, squid salad, wasabi chicken, deep fried prawns and beef fajitas, as well as local delights such as briyani, mee siam and the signature nasi lemak.

    Desserts and drinks are also provided. The cafe’s regular a la carte menu will still be offered during this period.

    Where: The Sports Stage, 200 Pandan Gardens, 01-12

    Open: 8am to 9pm daily. The Eat All You Can Buffet Ramadan Special is available from June 18 to July 16.

    Info: Call 6899-1706 or go to www.sedap.com.sg

    THE LAB

    Mediterranean-inspired fragrant pilaf rice with grilled rosemary lamb chops. — PHOTO: THE LAB

    What: From 6.30 to 9pm, this Muslim-owned Western cafe is offering a special Ramadan set menu ($38) that will include a choice of starter, main course, dessert and drink for break fast.

    Diners have a choice among three starters and three main courses. Starters include spicy marinara mussels, grilled honey chicken joints and bruschetta. Mains include Mediterranean-inspired fragrant pilaf rice with grilled rosemary lamb chops, grilled salmon and local fusion food such as beef or chicken burgers with rendang sauce.

    There are also vegetarian options under the set menu, such as fragrant pilaf rice paired with grilled aubergine.

    Where: 1 Jalan Pisang, 01-01

    Open: 12.30 to 10pm (Monday to Saturday), last order at 9.15pm; 1 to 9.30pm (Sunday), last order at 8.45pm

    Info: Call 6299-5681 or go to www.facebook.com/weexperiment

    BUTTER STUDIO

    The All-Star Sliders Platter from Butter Studio. — PHOTO: CHEW SENG KIM

    What: Head to this halal-certified cafe to break fast over its two special Ramadan sharing platters, for two to three diners. The platters are available from 6 to 8.30pm and reservations must be made.

    Pick between The Studio Eggs Ben Platter ($59.90), which includes servings of Crabby Eggs Neptune, chicken Spam and chilli beans, or The All-Star Sliders Platter ($59.90), which offers three different types of sliders. Both platters come with chips and salad, as well as mocktail iced drinks and salted egg pandan madeleines for dessert. Its regular a la carte menu will also be offered.

    Butter Studio is also offering Ramadan pastries (from $18) at its two halal-certified retail outlets. These include pandan pineapple balls, red velvet white chocolate cookies and gula melaka pandan cake rolls.

    Where: Cafe is at 147 Jalan Besar, tel: 6294-7115. Retails outlets are at Takashimaya Food Hall, B2 Takashimaya Shopping Centre 08-4A, tel: 6734-6153; One KM Mall, 11 Tanjong Katong Road, B1-K13, tel: 6702-2820

    Open: The cafe is open from 10.30am to 10pm (Sunday to Thursday), last order at 9pm; 10.30am to midnight (Friday and Saturday), last order at 10pm.

    Both retails outlets are open from 10am to 9.30pm daily.

    Info: Go to www.facebook.com/butterstudio

    BAKERIES

    AND ALL THINGS DELICIOUS

    House blend granola. — PHOTO: CJ SAMEER WADHWA

    What: Bakery owner Dewi Imelda Wadhwa has created a Ramadan edition of her house blend granola ($8 for a 200g pack, above). Containing Deglet Nour dates, rolled oats, desiccated coconut, almonds, soya oil, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds, the granola is meant to be a Suhur meal before fasting.

    In addition to selling her regular bakes made with halal ingredients, she has unveiled a special Hari Raya range of goodies for order during Ramadan. These include cakes such as gula melaka cake and orange-infused sugee cake (from $36), sticky pineapple jam scones ($34 for six), quiche ($55) and cookies (from $22).

    Where: 462 Crawford Lane, 01-61

    Open: 8am to 5pm (weekdays), 8am to 6pm (Saturday), closed on Sunday

    Info: Call 6291-4252 or go to andallthingsdelicious.com

    WHEEBAKE

    Rainbow butter cookies. — PHOTO: WHEEBAKE

    What: This Muslim-owned bakery is marking its second Ramadan by offering a special cupcake set called the Kampong Box ($16) with four cupcakes: ondeh ondeh, pandan kaya custard, bandung and chendol. Other goodies available only during Ramadan are the rainbow butter cookies ($16 a jar), mango sticky rice tart (from $7.50) and egg sponge roll with pineapple spread ($10 for three).

    It will continue selling the usual cupcakes with eight to 12 flavours available daily, tarts, cakes and premium milkshakes with flavours such as salted caramel and bubblegum which were introduced early this month.

    Where: 415 Pandan Gardens, 01-114Open: Normal opening hours are 1 to 7pm (Tuesday to Thursday), 1 to 9pm (Friday and Saturday), 11am to 6pm (Sunday), closed on Monday

    It will be open from 1 to 6pm or till sold out (Tuesday to Sunday) during the month of Ramadan. It is closed on Monday.

    Info: Call 6635-6693 or go to www.wheebake.com

     

    Source: www.straitstimes.com

  • International Yoga Day Gets India In A Twist

    International Yoga Day Gets India In A Twist

    Across the country, lines of yoga enthusiasts are taking to open spaces, laying out their mats and practising their postures.

    Sports stadiums, public parks, playgrounds have all been appropriated.

    Thousands are training up for this Sunday’s International Yoga Day – when India will bid to write its name into the Guinness Book of Records and attempt the largest yoga gathering in history.

    While the aim of yoga is to relax the body and unify the spirit, for some of India’s religious minorities, this Sunday’s event is neither relaxing nor unifying.

    Last week, Catholic leaders from the southern state of Kerala criticised the decision to hold the event on a Sunday. This week, Muslim leaders have charged the government with promoting yoga to marginalise the country’s 175 million Muslims.

    Abdul Rahim Qureshi from the All India Muslim Personal Law Board told Reuters: “It is a campaign to enforce Hindu rituals on all non-Hindus.”

    The inclusion in Sunday’s programme of a series of yoga postures, “surya namaskar” (sun salutation) has drawn most fire from Muslim groups, as Islam forbids believers from worshipping anything but Allah.

    But Hindu Nationalist groups, such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’sBharatiya Janata Party, BJP, have said they see yoga as part of India’s past glory that they wish to resurrect.

    Yogi Adityanath, a member of parliament from the ruling-BJP, said those opposing sun postures should “leave Hindustan” or “drown themselves in the ocean or live in a darkened room for the rest of their lives.”

    The central focus of Yoga Day and the world record attempt will be New Delhi’s grand thoroughfare, Rajpath, where the government anticipates 35,000 people will take part in a mass yoga event.

    Prime Minister Modi – himself a yoga enthusiast – will give a speech at the event, but he is not expected to take part in the yoga.

    The government is not taking any chances on mass participation. The armed forces, the police, bureaucrats have either been obliged or strongly urged to take part.

    In addition to mass-participation events in 650 districts throughout India, 192 countries will also take part. New York’s Times Square is preparing for a Yoga Day celebration.

    In London an International Yoga Day event is being organised in front of the OXO building on the South Bank and at Alexandra Palace Gardens.

     

    Source: www.telegraph.co.uk