Tag: NUS

Bekas Pelajar Madrasah Aljunied Terima Ijazah Kepujian Kelas Pertama NUS

https://www.facebook.com/faizal.binabdulaziz

DARI madrasah ke universiti ulung dunia. Demikian pencapaian Encik Faizal Abdul Aziz, 26 tahun, yang juga merupakan antara 1 peratus pelajar terbaik kohortnya bagi tahun terakhir pengajiannya di Universiti Nasional Singapura (NUS). Bekas pelajar Madrasah Aljunied itu, yang mengambil jurusan utama ilmu alam, menerima ijazahnya dengan kepujian kelas pertama di majlis konvokesyen NUS semalam.

Beliau, yang meraih Gred Purata Mata (GPA) 4.89 mata daripada GPA penuh 5 mata, turut dianugerahkan Pingat Emas Lee Kuan Yew dan Pingat Emas Persatuan Ilmu Alam NUS. Atas kecemerlangannya, beliau turut dipilih menyampaikan ucapan perpisahan (valedictory speech) di majlis konvokesyen NUS pada hari ini.

Encik Faizal juga menerima tawaran melanjutkan pengajiannya ke peringkat sarjana di Universiti Cambridge di United Kingdom tetapi buat masa ini, beliau ingin meraih pengalaman kerja buat beberapa tahun dahulu.

“Ibu bapa saya bimbang apabila saya beritahu mereka saya hendak meninggalkan madrasah… mungkin kerana mereka ada rancangan lain untuk saya. Tetapi apabila mereka lihat saya bekerja keras untuk terus mencapai keputusan cemerlang kerana tidak ingin menghampakan mereka, mereka bertambah yakin dengan keputusan saya,” kata anak bongsu daripada keluarga dua beradik itu.

Ibunya merupakan pegawai pentadbiran, sementara bapanya bertugas sebagai pegawai logistik. Encik Faizal yang menuntut di madrasah selama 10 tahun sejak di peringkat sekolah rendah meninggalkan madrasah pada usia 16 tahun untuk menduduki peperiksaan GCE Peringkat ‘O’ sebagai calon privet. Ketika itu, kebanyakan mata pelajaran yang diambilnya seperti biologi, fizik, kimia, pengajian sosial, ilmu alam dan perdagangan adalah asing baginya.

Namun dengan bimbingan guru tuisyen dan kegigihannya mengulang kaji pelajaran sendiri, beliau mencapai keputusan cemerlang bagi peperiksaan tersebut yang melayakkannya memasuki Maktab Rendah Catholic (CJC).

“Saya rasa kekurangan berbanding teman-teman lain kerana banyak subjek yang saya ambil, saya tak belajar di madrasah, jadi saya terpaksa berusaha lebih keras,” ujarnya.

Encik Faizal merupakan antara 10,233 lulusan yang menerima ijazah mereka dalam majlis konvokesyen di NUS yang berlangsung sejak semalam hingga Selasa depan.

Ketika baru memasuki NUS, Encik Faizal berkata beliau tidak menetapkan matlamat menjadi pelajar terbaik tetapi setakat hendak melakukan yang terbaik supaya dapat cari pekerjaan yang baik selepas tamat pengajian demi membanggakan keluarganya.

Malah, beliau tidak pernah mendengar tentang Senarai Dekan, satu anugerah yang diberikan kepada 5 peratus pelajar terbaik setiap kohort, sehingga dimasukkan ke dalam senarai itu buat kali pertama pada tahun pertama pengajiannya. Semasa di tahun kedua pengajiannya, Encik Faizal juga merupakan antara empat pelajar NUS yang dipilih mengikuti pengajian di Universiti North Carolina Chapel Hill di Amerika Syarikat selama setahun di bawah satu program ijazah bersama yang dikendali bersama universiti itu dengan NUS.

“Bagi saya, apa yang penting adalah disiplin diri dan untuk terus mendorong diri kerana saya tidak mahu pulang dengan tangan kosong. Saya juga suka bersaing dengan diri saya, dan ingin melakukan lebih baik dalam setiap semester berbanding semester yang lalu,” ujarnya.

Source: http://beritaharian.sg/setempat/terus-cemerlang-biarpun-tinggalkan-madrasah

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July 8, 2014
The ‘Fundamentalists’ and the ‘Progressives’

Of late, the Muslim ‘Progressives’ in Singapore have been more vocal and assertive; and I welcome this. Previously, they worked behind the scenes and used to detest being labeled as ‘liberal Muslims’ and the like. It is high time they ‘came out of the closet’ and clearly spell out their beliefs and agenda, so that the Muslim community can assess them properly.

(note: we must exercise caution in using the ‘liberal’ or ‘progressive’ label against Muslims we disagree with. I am just appropriating the term that some of them have preferred to use to describe themselves).So the narrative being espoused now is that there are some ‘fundamentalists’ within the Muslim community, and, in my opinion quite humourously, they look to the state to ensure that these ‘fundamentalists’ do not threaten the ‘secular’ nature of the state. The #wearwhite campaign is the ‘poster boy’ for what they would term as rising Islamic religious assertiveness.

Firstly let us not obfuscate the facts: the #wearwhite campaign was a call for the Muslim community, to return to fitrah, or the state of purity. It was a peaceful campaign, done in the spirit of compassion and love, and intended to include and not alienate any Muslim, however far from the faith they may be. The campaign was not motivated by events in neighbouring countries, it was not meant to interfere in the political or public policy realm, it was not meant to discriminate against anyone: it was a call to return to purity, i reiterate. This is quite a simple point that i think has either been genuinely misunderstood or adroitly manipulated by the ‘progressive Muslims’. Does not matter; i hope this clarifies it.

Rather than get into a definitional debate about the problematic terms (‘fundamentalist’, ‘progressive’ etc) that have been thrown about recklessly in mainstream and social media, i have a few questions for these self-proclaimed Muslim progressives.

1) What is your agenda or end-goal? Please spell it out properly.

2) What is your position on issues such as homosexual acts and the hijab in Islamic jurisprudence? Please be straightforward and do not skirt the issue. Your positions seem to be ever-changing on these, so it would help to clarify.

3) Do you believe that anyone can interpret the Quran, even those whose knowledge of the Arabic language can fit comfortably at the back of a stamp?

4) What other laws/legal rulings do you seek to ‘reinterpret’?

5) Do you accept the authority of the ulama’, local and foreign ones? If so to what extent? If not why and whose authority then do you accept? Who are the ulama’?

6) What do you guys believe is the position of ‘rationality’ in Islam? Are there limits to rationality? If so where?

7) I constantly hear you guys singing the tune ‘oh we do not reject the Quran, we just reject the interpretations of classical scholars that are not relevant.’

What is the arbiter/criterion by which you judge what is relevant or not?

8 ) What is your methodology in ‘re-interpreting’ the Quran?

9) What is your methodology for accepting or rejecting the hadiths of the Prophet, if you accept them at all?

10) Do you accept that as Muslims, we have to worship Allah the way He wants us to, and not the way we want to?

These are just some of the questions that i believe should be answered, in order for the community to truly assess the ‘progressives’. Be open about your agenda and aspirations, and let the community decide whether they are worth the community’s time and efforts.

And the answers to these questions are also needed if a genuine dialogue is to be started, and to avoid hollow calls for discussion.

Authored by Walid J. Abdullah

READ Ex-MUIS Staff Say SG Muslim Fundamentalists Felt Threatened By LGBT

READ related Articles on PinkDot, LGBT & Islam Here

Read on Liberal Islam/Progressive Muslims Here

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July 2, 2014
AWARE, Liberal Islam, The Reading Group Organise Talk During Ramadhan

http://www.aware.org.sg/

http://www.thereadinggroup.sg/main.htm

AWARE is organising a 3-Part Ramadan talk on Gender in Islam, and first session is on 4 July.

AWARE will be holding a series of presentations and discussions about the works of prominent Islamic scholars and their views on gender in Islam.

Dr Azhar Ibrahim Alwee, NUS and member of The Reading Group

Session 1: Malay Ideas on Women by Dr Azhar Ibrahim (Senior Visiting Fellow, NUS)

Throughout Malay intellectual history, there were several strands of thinking pertaining to gender and women’s role within the socio-cultural, political and religious spheres of the Malays. This presentation will highlight some of these thinking through early proponents of the modern era, such as Syed Sheikh al-Hadi, to later thinkers such as Hamka, Khadijah Sidek and the prominent Muslim feminist group, Sisters in Islam.

Friday, 4 July 2014
AWARE Centre
6.30pm to 9.30pm
Register for Session 1 here!

Assoc Prof Noor Aisha Abdul Rahman, NUS & member of The Reading Group

Session 2: Muslim Personal Law and Citizens’ Rights: The Case of Singapore
by A/P Noor Aisha Abdul Rahman (Head, Dept of Malay Studies, NUS)

Prevailing discourse on multiculturalism tend to focus on its merits in protecting the cultures and traditions of minority groups within the framework of the politics of accommodation. Less discussed are its implications on the rights and autonomy of members of the groups themselves who may be adversely affected by the arrangement. This presentation will focus on the problems arising from autonomy granted to the Muslim community of Singapore to determine its personal law, on some segments of the community, particularly in the arena of the Muslim law on marriage, divorce and inheritance.

Friday, 11 July 2014
AWARE Centre
6.30pm to 9.30pm
Register for Session 2 here!

Mohamed Imran Mohamed Taib is a social activist with The Reading Group, Singapore.

Session 3: Challenging Patriarchy: Early Reformist Responses
by Mohamed Imran (Associate Research Fellow, NTU)

Feminism and the struggle against patriarchy is not a new phenomenon in Muslim society. This presentation will trace some of the early ideas on feminism to the Egyptian context of Islamic reform in the late 19th and early 20th century. In particular, the ideas of seminal figures such as Rifa’ah al-Tahtawi, Muhammad ‘Abduh and Qasim Amin will be discussed.

Friday, 18 July 2014
AWARE Centre
6.30pm to 9.30pm
Register for Session 3 here!

Individual price: $8 for 1 person/session
Pair price: $14 for 2 persons/session
Price includes cost of catered food.
Prayer space is provided.

Source: http://www.aware.org.sg/2014/06/ramadan-talks-on-gender-in-islam/

READ MORE ON THE READING GROUP, MUIS & LIBERAL ISLAM HERE

EDITOR’S NOTE

Liberal Islam, Progressive Muslims, and The Reading Group seems to be a popular choice among Muslims who are more ‘open-minded’.

Growing number of academics in NUS and NTU are also joining the band of liberal Muslims.

What do you think of this development and trend?

Share your opinion with us at Rilek1Corner.

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June 26, 2014
Clarification on New Islamic Independent Body and Wear White Movement

*READ THIS & THIS & THIS to KNOW WHAT HAPPENED EARLIER ON*

Ustaz Noor Deros

Suggestions By Ustaz Noor Deros:

In my discussions with many muslims about this issue I managed to gather some good suggestions, these are some of them :

– Organise an easy, simple, yet clear and easily viral event such as WEAR WHITE DAY ON THE FIRST OF RAMADAN.

Together with this, all/some of the mosque in Singapore – on the first of ramadan especially – should deliver a clear call to taubah, explaining the concept of fitrah, freedom & sexuality in Islam.

In my opinion, this is the most viable, I and my friends will take this on, you are invited to lend a hand. Please contact me if you are interested.

– Veterans and experienced Mega Maulid/Islamic Events organisers especially the lead and crowdpulling asatizahs should come together and organise a mega program on the first of ramadan, maybe a mega terawih session in a stadium. FOR THE LOVE OF THE PROPHET S.A.W. We will give our support.

– Short videos stating our stand on this issue as Muslims living in Singapore. (This is a must)

– Continuous series of talks and seminars on Islam and the LGBT. (Such programs have started, but we need more of it)

– Talks on Islamic Worldview/ Islamic View of Existence. (This is the most important)

Oh Muslims! Our amal ma’ruf nahi munkar is never and should never be restricted to only Muslims. If your non-muslim neighbour tries to kill an innocent life in front of you what do you do? Harm should not be restricted to physical, for we muslims strongly believe in the reality of spiritual harm.

Oh Muslims! We have been fighting about petty issues for too long, Isn’t it high time for us to come together for something that is common between us?

Come come! Let us all together make taubah!

Scholars should make taubah of their muteness and inaction!

Those who have fallen into the pit of LGBT lifestyle should make taubah of their transgression!

Those of us who think that we are clean and are guarenteed salvation because we are religious, should make the most istighfar! For that is the worse kind of delusion!

Welcome! Welcome oh ye month of Maghfirah!

June 6, 2014
Time for Muslim MPs To Take a Stand on Malay and Muslim Issues

Photo Credit: Yahoo SG

WP MP Faisal Manap raises some concerns of Muslims, as expressed in the Suara Musyawarah Report, in Parliament.

Instead of addressing the issue head-on, PAP Muslim MPs tries to corner Faisal into taking a stand on the issue (which he didn’t, and i think he should have). Later, the MPs were either silent on the issue or tried to skirt it, or even deny it.

Now i have a few questions for the Muslim MPs:

1) Is the Suara Musyawarah Report not commissioned by the government? If so, what is the follow-up?

2) What is the attitude of the Muslim MPs towards the report? Take what you like from it, and ignore what you don’t?

3) If the latter is the case, why have the report in the first place?

4) Even IF those things stated are not true, those are indeed the perceptions of many Muslims. Will you address those perceptions with facts and figures, and reasoned argumentation? Or will those just be dismissed or ignored?

I call upon them to take a stand on these issues/questions, in the name of constructive politics.

Authored by Walid Jumblatt Abdullah

Walid Jumblatt Abdullah, a public-spirited individual, is an ongoing Political Science student of the National University of Singapore (NUS). He is a three-times award recipient of the Graduate Student Teaching (GSTA) Award Honour Roll in 2012. In the recent NUS Commencement Week, he was also selected as the Valedictorian of his cohort.

EDITOR’S NOTE

Seems like both parties cranked up their engines harder this time round with fancy new measures and proposals. The announcement on setting up of WP Malay/Muslim committee to oversee concerns faced by the community should have been done way much earlier. Nevertheless, it’s better late than never. We applaud WP to help the community alongside PAP. Having two different approaches and perspectives to issues will definitely result in expedited progress, only if sole focus is on the community, and not about the respective parties and what’s important to them.

We are glad that more and more Muslims are speaking up for what’s good for their community. This is our country and in a significant way, we have the right to decide our future. As long that discussions are not baseless and no vulgarities involved, someday somehow someone will hear us.

May 30, 2014