Q. Comments on the book " Religious Diversity in S'pore "

Asker's comment:

Salaam,

The book, "Religious Diversity in Singapore" is a book that reviews the major and new religions in Singapore. It is edited by Lai Ah Heng, under ISEAS and IP, which is available in NLB. Overall it is a pleasant book to read and informative, despite some misunderstanding of opinions regarding Muslims in Singapore.

The book fairly covers points about Islam, such as Islamic discourses, Muslim religious elite, organization and social service as well as interfaith. However, one particular topic, which is under "Muslim Religious Elite of Singapore" by Noor Aisha A. B attracts me, since her critical analysis wrote a form of indirect negative critic on our ulama..

Well, point 3 can be broken into a few parts; (quotation as emphasized)

1. Muslim elite are considered as being (quoting), "...unfamiliarity...with western or modern knowledge.(pg 261). One key point of her disagreement is tlack use of "reason" in justifying the basis of understanding new and novel situations. Her assumption is the ulama to (quote) "...mistrust reason of its possibility of its use...is absurd." I disagree on her because in Islamic history, the use of reason (from Greek and Indian philosophy) had been applied by many leading past scholars leading both benefit and also harm, during the golden age (take Ibn Rushid and Ibn Sina for an example ). Muslim scholars today are simply more cautious in using reason, as reason on the same path with God's revelation creates balance the direction of physical and spiritual development pursue . The Islamic traditions and leaders of the past had a part to play in modern thought for Muslims, as their thoughts and sayings reflect differing view and interpretation. Islam does not belittle people of the past, whether in their contributions or error, History must not be reduced to "a long time past" story, in fact, history could repeat itself...

2. Additionally, the "new Muslim traditionalist" who are equipped western education and Islamic knowledge, are viewed as people who are a "variant of "traditionalism" (pg.262) and their thoughts as whole "irrelevant to the Muslim community in Singapore". This group, according to her, "exaggerates the Islamic golden past", and labelling modern thought and knowledge as depriving "dynamism and significance". Again, in my observation Islam is "'clouded" with Western history of secular and renaissance movement in Europe as a whole, which reflects much confusion regarding Islam as a religion and history. Islam is always viewed as a "shadow civilization" in history, while the West is viewed a the "supremacy and society of reason and intellect". Muslims are aware and respect Western achievement and modern advancement today, however Muslims are also exposed and deeply aware to the growing moral degeneration, social and moral conflicts as well as intra to inter-personal violence prevalent and increasing within the Western (and also Asian) society. It is strange, that lately Eastern philosophy, mystical beliefs and Gnostic gained much attention to the West in recent years , since the spiritual wisdom and thoughts are devoid in the West in decades and started to "fill" among western youths today. Muslims hence, sought to review the successes and failures of other societies and civilization, as well their own, and develop new methods or long term commitments to bring Muslims from deviation and error to the practice of real Islam. Muslims too, acknowledge the past mistakes of Muslim leaders and figures too, which I feel, Noor Aisha failed to consider in her own discourses.