Tag: Zulfikar Shariff

Singapore Muslims Must Embrace Change

For those interested in political science:

I have discussed the concept of path dependence in government institutions several times. Basically, in historical institutionalism, a policy, structure or rules tend to be retained from its founding or initial development. Because stable institutions have defined their characteristics, decisions today are based on the choices made before it.

B. Guy Peters argues that path dependence develop into local optima. In relating economics to policy, he stated:

“These inefficiencies produce numerous local optima and firms, once they find such a local optimum, seize it and that local optimum becomes the dominant solution to the problem. Phrased more in terms of the operations of government programs, a particular program addressing a policy problem may not be the best in the abstract but once it has been shown to produce some positive results it will dominate other solutions that may in principle, be superior but which will require movement from that existing and seemingly functional program”.

Path dependence and the adoption of local optima is not confined to government policies. In Singapore, we see a similar behavior with Muslim organizations.

These organizations have taken an approach in political engagement and regardless of its inefficiencies, have remained within the engagement model. While there are better models to adopt, they are unable or unwilling to change from the way they have always engaged because it appeared to have worked before.

Thus, the inability for the Muslim community to solve their problems cannot be viewed simply from the government’s refusal to respond or change. Our organizations have been caught in an engagement inertia. Until we acknowledge that the model we have utilised all these years are not the best or most appropriate, we will always remain in this situation.

We have taken a specific model that has not worked for decades and expect a different result. Either we change our goals, change those we engage with or change how we engage.

Authored by Zulfikar Shariff

October 8, 2014
Confession of an Ex-Muslim Lesbian

Greetings R1C,

I have a confession to make. I was formerly a Muslim who was interested in girls. It starts because I was confused about myself. Ever since I was young, I know that I dun really like boys. I feel very strange when I look at the TV and see so many people kissing. I didnt understand why pretty girls would kiss boys. I never saw my mother kiss my father as they were divorced when I was very young.

When I was growing up I also dun understand why my friends like to go out with boys. I felt very lonely and kept this to myself until later when I was in secondary school. In sec 4, I met this nice girl and that was when I had my first kiss with another girl. I felt at that time like I truly loved her. She meant a lot to me. I know that Islam says LGBT is wrong but nobody reminded me and all the religious teachers didnt really talk about LGBT. Most of the Muslim religious preachers were silent about the dangers of LGBT so I was not aware of how much sin and danger I was in.

Anyway suddenly this girl disappeared and dun return my calls. I was so sad at that time. I saw her again 2 years later. I had been with a few other girls but broke up after another short term relationship. I asked her why she never returned my calls. She said that she had met this Pastor at her church. He was so wise and know so much about God and told her she was living in sin. I was at first unhappy and angry with him. When I first met him, I wanted to slap him. But he was very calm and listened to what I had to say.

He then invited me to one of his sessions at his church. It was so different from the religious classes I went to in the part time madrasahs that I went to. They were so open and welcoming and loving and supportive. It was also quite fun and joyful with a lot of singing. When I saw him speak, I realized that I could actually love a man. I also met alot of new friends who pulled me away from the sinful LGBT lifestyle. I am forever grateful to him and the church for opening my heart to God and leading me away from my sinful lesbian lifestyle.

Now I read about the wearwhite movement. Even though Ustaz Noor Deros may not be the pastor who converted me from my life of sin, I see that inside he is sincere, and this movement will attract people to turn away from homosexuality. Maybe if he was born earlier I could have left the LGBT lifestyle but remained a Muslim.

I hope our Lord grant the Ustaz with the strength in battling the evils of homosexuality and unnatural lust, and grace him and his followers with the knowledge that the only true marriage in the eyes of God is between one man and one woman (I left Islam partly because of the fact that someone pointed out that they support polygamy, which is a slippery slope to gay marriage, bestiality and pedophilia.) But I am glad that there are church leaders like Pastor Lawrence Khong who are standing up together with the Muslims to protect our morality.

Sincerely,
Rebecca Maryam

YOUTUBE: youtube.com/user/rilek1corner

FACEBOOK: facebook.com/rilek1corner

TWITTER: twitter.com/Rilek1Corner

WEBSITE: rilek1corner.com

EMAIL: [email protected]

FEEDBACK: rilek1corner.com/hubungir1c/

July 2, 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

YOUTUBE: youtube.com/user/rilek1corner

FACEBOOK: facebook.com/rilek1corner

TWITTER: twitter.com/Rilek1Corner

WEBSITE: rilek1corner.com

EMAIL: [email protected]

FEEDBACK: rilek1corner.com/hubungir1c/

July 2, 2014
Perlu Perpaduan Dalam Gerakan Kembali Ke Fitrah-Wear White 2014

Credit: Osman Sulaiman

Baru-baru ni, ada pergerakan memakai putih untuk kembali ke fitrah, pada 28 June ini. Ada juga yg tidak memberi sokongan atas alasan, ‘kalau nak kembali ke fitrah, tidak perlu memakai putih. Sembarang warna pun boleh.’

Di sini masalah orang Islam. Berpecahan. Kalau kita beri sokongan, apakah menjadi dosa? Jatuh miskin ke kita di dunia dan hari kemudian apabila memberi sokongan?

Masalah sekecil inipun dibantah, dicela, dikritik.

Dalam soal ini, saya neutral. Tapi memandangkan ianya tidak mendatangkan dosa untuk saya kalau saya menyokong, saya rasa paling sedikit saya boleh buat adalah dengan sokongan moral dan lisan.

Kita tahu ada banyak cara untuk kembali ke fitrah. Tapi yang mengaturkan acara ini, memilih supaya kita memakai serba putih untuk menunjukkan kesatuan. Bagaimana kita hendak bersatu jikalau perkara sekecil ini yang tidak melanggar peraturan Islam pun dibangkang? Berat ke untuk kita menyatakan sokongan kita supaya pergerakan ini dapat sokongan orang ramai dan sekaligus, dapat eratkan perpaduan?

Dari segi kelebihan dan kelemahan, saya tidak dapat terfikir akan kelemahan yg ada pada pergerakan tersebut. Malahan, ia banyak kelebihannya dari sudut perpaduan. Jadi mengapa susah untuk orang kita menolak tepi perbezaan pendapat untuk sesuatu yang baik? Saya mahu bertanya mereka-mereka yang membangkang sepenuhnya. Mengapa tidak setuju dgn cara ini? Dari segi haram, adakah ia merosakkan akidah? Ataupun mendatangkan dosa kepada yg menyertai?

Kalau kedua-duanya tidak, dengan segala hormat dan merendah diri saya usulkan supaya kita berhentikan membantah hanya kerana tidak sesuai dengan citarasa masing-masing. Mari kita lihat kepada kebaikkan dalam masa panjang. Dan kalau tidak dapat melihat akan kabaikkannya dalam masa panjang, atau kelemahan pergerakkan tersebut, jgn pula lancang atau memperkecilkan usaha mereka2 ini. Mereka bergiat untuk ummah walaupun tidak sehaluan dgn cita rasa kita. Mungkinpun saya tidak akan memakai putih pada hari tersebut, tetapi niat baik org2 ini, tidak harus dicela. Malahan, kita harus beri semangat untuk mereka meneruskan hajat baik mereka itu.

Maaf kalau pendapat saya ini kurang menyenangkan pihak-pihak tertentu. Tidak bermaksud untuk bertelaga. Cuma sebagai kaum muslim di singapura, saya mahukan yang terbaik untuk semua. Bersatu kita teguh, bercerai kita roboh.

Wasalaam.

Dikarang oleh Osman Sulaiman

READ RELATED ARTICLES ON WEAR WHITE & PINKDOT SG

June 19, 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