Rilek1Corner

Tag: religion

  • A Chinese-Muslim Convert’s Experience With Ignorance In Singapore

    A Chinese-Muslim Convert’s Experience With Ignorance In Singapore

    I need to get this off my chest.

    I was seeing a new doctor yesterday (4th time this month, don’t ask) and she expressed surprise that my name sounded ‘Chinese’ when I’m wearing a hijab (and therefore look like a Muslim aka. Malay in Singapore). So I said I’m Chinese Muslim, yes, my family is Chinese, yes, I’m the only Muslim in my family, yes, I’m a convert to Islam, yes.

    Then she asked me why I converted. Usual question.
    Me: “I researched.” (Shortest answer, I’ve figured, that prevents unnecessary questions and only engages those who really want to know more, because, what bores people more than research?! hahaa)

    And then she says this.
    “Huh. You researched? Don’t research until become ISIS ah!”

    WELL.
    I’m not offended, no don’t get me wrong. I’ve had this said to me a few times before. But today I feel so strongly about it and am just appalled to know that it has come to the stage whereby learning and gaining knowledge in Islam can be viewed as a route to becoming ‘brainwashed to terrorism’.

    Ever since my reversion close to 3 years ago (I turn 3 in 10 days time, yay!), I’ve met countless Muslims and Muslim converts in Singapore week after week, class after class. Muslims who are so knowledgeable in their field of work, AND in Islamic knowledge. Scientists, mathematicians, historians- and what they all have in common is the knowledge in Islam which sets the strongest foundation in whatever they do. And I’m learning from an ustaz who has no professional certification to his name, yet embodies the humility and disposition of people who have spent years of their lives gaining more and more knowledge. Such people are overflowing with wisdom, but they don’t ever stop learning. As my ustaz would say, “The more you know, the more you realise you don’t know.”

    To all my friends out there, you’ve got nothing to be afraid of, because the epitome of a Muslim lies in gaining knowledge. And the more knowledge we gain, the less we ‘become ISIS’ (I cringe even writing this sentence). What they do/ claim to do in the name of Islam, they are no more than a bunch of terrorists. Got that? Just Terrorists. No “Islamic extremists” or “fundamentalists” or “Islamists”- just terms that the media has coined to make you believe that we Muslims have got anything to do with that bunch- when in fact we are as much related to them as you are.

    Now let me go back to my jihad of trying to be as patient as I can and not have a sarcastic comeback everytime someone tries to link me to ISIS. Ugh.

    —
    The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ- peace be upon him) said: “A servant of God will remain standing on the Day of Judgment until he is questioned about his time on earth and how he used it; about his knowledge and how he utilized it; about his wealth and from where he acquired it and in what activities he spent it; and about his body and how he used it.” (Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 148)

     

    Source: Maryem Chin

  • Balestier Khalsa Suspends Winger Zulkiffli Hassim For Allegedly Racially Abusing Referee

    Balestier Khalsa Suspends Winger Zulkiffli Hassim For Allegedly Racially Abusing Referee

    Balestier Khalsa winger Zulkiffli Hassim will not turn out for his club any more in the 2016 season.

    The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) Disciplinary Committee (DC) has found him guilty of making derogatory racial remarks.

    The incident occurred in Balestier’s 2-1 loss to Geylang International in a Great Eastern-Yeo’s S.League match on Aug 25, with the 30-year-old allegedly making remarks of a racial nature against assistant referee Y Sathyakumar in the 90th minute.

    This is not the first incident Zulkiffli has been mired in that saw racial undertones. He was hauled up for a similar incident four years ago.

    In April 2012, the DC threw the book at Zulkiffli, after he pleaded guilty to charges of making racial remarks against Woodlands Wellington’s Trinidadian defender Fabian Lewis.

    He was banned for five games and received a suspended fine of $1,000.

    This time around, he could see graver punishment.

    Balestier, of their own accord, have suspended him without pay from Sept 8, and will hold a hearing of their own tomorrow.

    Zulkiffli has not turned out for Balestier since Aug 25, missing one game – last week’s 1-1 draw with Warriors FC – and will play no part in the Tigers’ last four league games of the season.

    He will also sit out Balestier’s play-off for third place in the RHB Singapore Cup on Oct 29.

    “Racial abuse has no place in the S.League and in Singapore, and for a club this is an extremely serious issue that is not to be treated lightly,” said Balestier chairman S Thavaneson.

    “We don’t want to pre-judge him, but we decided to suspend him pending his DC hearing, and in that letter to him told him that the club reserve the right to take (further) disciplinary action against him.

    “The first time (Zulkiffli was found guilty for a similar offence) we were sympathetic but firm, and told him that the club would not tolerate any form of racial abuse, against a player, official or fan. He agreed and realised the seriousness of his undertaking.”

    Balestier stood by their man in 2012, pointing to the fact that this was the first instance of such an offence, and while it would not be tolerated, was an isolated incident that happened in the heat of the moment in a match.

    But, with the club hauling him up for a hearing of their own this time, the signs are not good for Zulkiffli.

    “We want to follow due process, but the message must be clear and it must go down not just to players of Balestier, but to everyone,” said Thavaneson.

    “Racial abuse can lead to uglier things, and there is no place for it here.”

    A contrite Zulkiffli told The New Paper that he has missed being involved with his team.

    “I regret what I did, it was in the heat of the moment, and I couldn’t control my anger then,” he said, revealing that he has been going for runs, and playing social football on weekends to stay in shape.

    “I have to apologise to the club and my team. We don’t have a very big squad, and with some of the players out injured, I really feel guilty that I cannot help them out on the pitch.”

     

    Source: www.tnp.sg

  • Singapore Needs ‘Deeper, More Personal Multiracial Compact’

    Singapore Needs ‘Deeper, More Personal Multiracial Compact’

    Building a multiracial compact is never-ending, as Singapore can never be satisfied with what it has achieved, said Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who called for a “deeper, more personal multiracialism” here.

    At a dialogue yesterday with youth, he observed that peaceful accommodation was possible in British and French societies when it came to the first-generation immigrants despite cultural and religious differences.

    Interestingly, he said, it was the second generation that grew up in both countries who felt alienated and were vulnerable to outside influences.

    “(So) however little we’ve achieved, it can tumble down quickly. Building a multiracial compact is a never-ending game, not just because of what we’re like as a people, but because of what’s happening around the world,” he said.

    Noting that ethical and religious consciousness is rising, leading to global conflict, he added that Singapore must put even more effort into deepening its multiracial compact now.

    “We start from young, with friendships, interactions, being in the same netball team, the same hockey team, meeting three or four times a week, being on Facebook together, being on WhatsApp together, growing up as Singaporeans together. It has to be a deeper, more personal multiracialism,” he stressed.

    Mr Tharman was speaking after some race-related questions from students. One had observed that the older generation still harboured “racial sentiments”, and worried that it might cause a divide like the one in the United States.

    Another participant felt that what the President of Singapore does — his actions — rather than his race is the main factor in how people related to the office. He suggested that more be done to allow Singaporeans to know what the President is doing.

    To that, Senior Minister of State and MP (Jurong GRC) Desmond Lee, who was part of the panel, said that, in the first place, the candidate must meet certain criteria and have a lengthy background in the private or public sector. They should be able to explain how they can carry out the roles of the President, he noted.

    As for the issue of race, he said: “When you say race doesn’t matter, we want to be there, we want to work constantly towards being truly multiracial, multicultural Singapore (but) I think we all accept that race still is a factor.”

    The race issue had surfaced recently, with impending changes to the Elected Presidency that would ensure minorities get elected as President from time to time.

     

    Source: TODAY Online

     

  • 5% Jemaah Umrah Singapura Lakukan Umrah 2 Kali Setahun

    5% Jemaah Umrah Singapura Lakukan Umrah 2 Kali Setahun

    Para jemaah Singapura lega peraturan baru itu dikenakan ke atas mereka yang menunaikan umrah kali kedua dan seterusnya dalam masa tahun Hijrah yang sama bukan tempoh lima atau 10 tahun seperti yang dikhuatiri sebelum ini.

    Namun terdapat hanya 5 peratus jemaah umrah Singapura yang sering melakukan umrah lebih daripada sekali dalam masa setahun.

    Semalam (21 September), Kedutaan Arab Saudi di Singapura memaklumkan GSA-GSA tempatan, visa umrah dan haji akan dinaikkan kepada 2,000 Riyal Saudi (S$700) bagi mereka yang melakukannya buat kali kedua atau lebih.

    Encik Mahfudz suami isteri merancang untuk menunaikan ibadah umrah beberapa bulan lalu tanpa menduga akan peraturan baru yang bakal diperkenalkan pihak berkuasa Saudi mulai 2 Oktober depan.

    Tetapi kini, lebih kurang sebulan sebelum berangkat ke tanah suci, mereka redha akan peraturan visa itu.

    “Saya tak terperanjat kerana ini secara kebetulan saja sebab apa di mana-mana di dunia ini keadaan naik tiada yang turun lagi jadi kita kena terima hakikatnya. Niat kita nak belanja jadi kita pergi saja. Kalau kita fikir nak itu nak ini, jangan bergeraklah jawapannya.

    “Tiada siapa yang paksa kerana itu kehendak anda. Kalau rasa tak boleh, berhenti. Kalau rasa boleh teruskan saja jadi perjuangan, itu saja,” kata beliau, seorang bakal jemaah umrah pada November nanti.

    Ramai melihatnya sebagai satu dugaan yang perlu diatasi jika benar-benar ikhlas.

    “Bagi saya tak ada masalah, kalau ada rezeki pergi sajalah, bayar sajalah, sebab kalau tawar menawar seperti tawar menawar dengan Allah. Kalau kita benar-benar nak pergi bayar saja. Kalau kita banyak soal dengan sendiri ibadah kita pun terjejas. Yang penting ikhlas, bayar, jalan,” ujar seorang jemaah haji tahun ii Abdul Hashim Minhan.

    Namun majoriti yang ditinjau akur akan perlunya pihak berkuasa Saudi melakukan sesuatu untuk memastikan jumlah jemaah yang menuju ke tanah suci masih boleh dikawal.

    Pengarah Urusan Jalaluddin Travel Ustaz Jalaluddin Hasan berkata: “Saya melihat peraturan-peraturan yang baru yang dikeluarkan Arab Saudi ini pasti mempunyai kepentingan-kepentingan mereka yang khusus, sebab-sebab peribadi mereka.

    “Saya melihat mungkin atas dasar keselamatan. Dan kami berharap jemaah Singapura dapatlah juga memahami dan mematuhi kerana untuk keselamatan peribadi dengan jumlah jemaah yang ramai sekarang di tanah suci.”

    Dengan hampir siapnya kerja-kerja peningkatan Masjidil Haram, apa yang pasti lebih ramai jemaah boleh ditampung dan kemudahan yang lebih luas dan baru terus menjadi tarikan para jemaah merata dunia.

    “Ada tambahan penerbangan baru Scoot, misalnya, tiga kali seminggu, Saudia Airlines tambahan penerbangan lima kali seminggu dan banyak lagi penerbangan yang berikan pilihan kepada para jemaah dan berbagai lagi perkhidmatan. Sambutan kali ini amat baik sejauh ini kita ada 800 jemaah umrah,” kata Pengarah Urusan Shahidah Travel Ayob Angullia.

    Walaupun musim umrah kali ini dijangka bermula bulan depan, majoriti jemaah Singapura akan berangkat umrah mulai bulan November apabila musim cuti sekolah bermula.

    Source: Berita MediaCorp

  • Premier Taxi Uncle Picks Up Muslim Passenger Twice In Succession, Later Treats Him To A Drink

    Premier Taxi Uncle Picks Up Muslim Passenger Twice In Succession, Later Treats Him To A Drink

    Strangers’ Lunch – Taxi Uncle & Me

    A Story of the Mid-Autumn Festival, Gratitude, Diversity & Inclusivity
    [Disclaimer: Pardon my unpolished sentences]

    Uncle: Hi good afternoon Sir. Where to Sir?

    It was noon & with mooncake boxes on hand, I boarded the taxi, ready to gift mooncakes to our clients. This is a tradition of our organization & makes part of a relationship building process – in celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

    Uncle: You also like to eat Mooncakes?

    Me: Oh thanks for asking Uncle. These mooncakes are not for me, Uncle. They are for my customers.

    The taxi ride to the customer’s place was filled with rich conversation. Taxi uncle in his 60s sharing with me powerful (and sure-fire) tips on staying healthy.

    Me: Uncle, you are in your 60s but look like you’re in your 40s…

    Uncle: I have a secret to share. You must always think positive and keep yourself happy. And for me, I do breathing exercise twice a day. Do at least 10-minutes of slow and full breathing twice a day. That helps me keep fit. Take care of yourself. You are still young

    Upon reaching the customer’s site, I settled with the taxi uncle & thanked him for the pleasant ride.

    Passed on the mooncakes to the customer and had to get to my next destination for lunch. No nearby bus stops so I decided I had to take a taxi.

    Guess what? Same taxi uncle was there hoping to find a passenger. Again, I boarded his taxi.

    Uncle: Wow, today lucky day for me. Don’t have to wait too long and I get the same passenger!

    Me: Uncle, no It’s my lucky day. If not for you I have to wait long time for taxi here.

    Me: Uncle, you may stop me at any nearby coffeeshop. I would like to have lunch.

    Uncle: Sure. Hey, don’t mind me asking. Are you Muslim? I will bring you to the coffeeshop with more food for you. Better for you.

    Me: Yes uncle. Please do. Hope there is one near here.

    Uncle: Have, quite near. Can I have lunch with you too? I’m getting hungry as well.

    Me: Yes, why not Uncle.

    We reached the lunch place. It was awkward as there was no business/friendship/family relationship between Uncle and me after that taxi ride. There wasn’t anything in it for us to be having lunch together (not family, not friends yet, not colleagues). But there we were, having lunch at the same table. We had a good chat about life and filial piety in the short lunch time.

    Uncle: What drink you want?

    After countless attempts of profusely refusing Uncle’s unsolicited generosity, I gave up & allowed a display of unsolicited generosity by Uncle.

    This simple journey led to me going into a mode of self-realisation. I have penned down here some lessons learned with most of it being a reminder to me & possibly to all reading this.

    Lessons Learned:
    1. There should be no hierarchy in life.
    2. Obstacles to mutual respect are unnatural & can be easily overcome.
    3. Respect one and all.
    4. Celebrate diversity & inclusivity
    5. Give thanks.

    *Premier Taxi Uncle. Unfortunately I did not take down your name/mobile number but here’s thanks to you & wish you all the best !

    [This post has been forwarded to Premier Taxis as a compliment to Uncle]

     

    Source: Irfan Mustapha