Why do people in Singapore celebrate ritual things ie, Eid and our Prophet (pbuh) Birthday while not doing anything to get their rights to practice Islam properly in Singapore? Are Singapore muslims cowards?
I know our Prophet (pbuh) and his companions never celebrated the Prophet (pbuh) birthday, and i also know that the scholars said that its a good thing to celebrate it. (well opinions differ among scholars as always)
However, my question has nothing to do about the act of celebration but more toward how a Singapore muslim society have allowed themselves to be treated like crap.
If Muslims in Singapore thinks that they are allowed to fully peacefully practice their religion... (or that they have freedom) i think they are in denial. Having mosques all over the country OR sprouting religious/Islamic classes, or just being allowed to exist in the country as being called a Muslim Society, are not a symbol of freedom to practice their religion. Having our way of life (Islam) being reduced and ridiculed to simply ritual and faith is very condescending. Even more disturbing to see that happening in Singapore. Muslim in Singapore have forgotten or probably didn't know that Islam isn't just an act of ritual. Muslim people in Singapore are not fully thriving because Islam is not being practice in its complete form.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying to wage a war or change the country to a Islamic shariah. No i'm not saying that at all. I'm saying that Muslims should have their rights met. If Muslim in the west can thrive and practice their religion fully...than a country like Singapore should be even better. The mentality of Singapore Muslim people is just wired wrong by years of censorship and god knows what.
(just one of the many example) People are not able to go to school or work in some companies with their hijab on! What kinda crap is this!! Who have allowed this to happen? Even if some Muslim do not agree with the aspect and the need for wearing Hijab (or other things they don't agree) They should be supporting the each other in issues like this. It's nothing wrong with wanting this kinda thing. What is the harm with wanting to cover up more? It's obvious that there is a lack of respect and understanding for Islam by Muslims as well as non- muslims themselves) These are some of the signs of how week Muslims in Singapore have been in educating themselves as well as people around them on how to treat them right, justly and fairly. basically they are treated as shit. The everyday muslim people have not educated their future generation, lived in a cocooned environment and seriously lack any understanding of what Islam truly is even if they think that they are living their daily lives as Muslim.
Why do people in Singapore celebrate all these ritual stuff while not using their time to transcending what Islam really is. ( and i don't mean attending more religious classes, that's not gonna help the community in fully thriving as a citizen in a country) Although Muslim Singaporean may not like to what extend they are allowed to practice their religion, while living in a country which is turning more towards anti-Islam (Singapore)....why are they simply complaining , taking it all in, live passively, taking the back seat or even worst accepting their 'fate' and acting like a victim in all of these things that are upon them.
Singapore Muslim are at fault for letting this gone for as long as it have. Yes this includes ESPECIALLY people who go to the mosque and pray 5 times a day, and they who do all the ritual things that Islam require of us, they who teaches Islamic studies, they who preaches to other Muslim what is right and wrong. Don't think that you are doing anything good by just praying/preaching and any allowing such things to happen in your community. Everyone who call themselves Muslim are every bit at fault for the situation you a facing. You guys should step up to the plate and be honest to see what is really going on around you! Don't Muslim in Singapore have any dignity and self respect left in themselves? They are letting themselves being told, dominated and bullied by someone who thinks knows what is right or even acceptable as Singapore Muslim community?
Don't they feel ashamed, as a Muslim living in south east Asia, surrounded by Muslim countries around them, that they have allowed someone else to think for them, promoted themselves as the lesser race/ religion/ culture. Which resulted them not being able to have their rights/voice to practice their own faith. In contrast to that, their muslim brothers and sisters in the west have more freedom to be themselves and practice their religion freely, although the county is not an Islamic country? What an irony.
What do Singapore Muslims say about this? or don't they have a mind and a voice of their own to think and speak up any more?
Sunday April 1, 10:17 PM
Prophet Mohamed's b'day celebrations to forge S'pore Muslim identity : MUIS ADVERTISEMENT SINGAPORE:
Muslims in Singapore celebrated Prophet Mohamed's birthday on Sunday, with the theme of "Forging a Singapore Muslim Identity".
It was a day of fun family activities at the Woodlands Stadium.
The needy were not forgotten as Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Lim Swee Say joined in the celebrations and gave out hampers to the less fortunate.
Mr Lim says the event demonstrates the special features of Singapore society where all religions co-exist in a multi-racial environment and everyone could join in Prophet Mohamed's birthday celebrations.
Commending the community's efforts to forge a Singapore Muslim identity, he also urged all other communities to support this initiative.
Said Mr Lim, "I think by coming together so that this spirit of being good Muslim and for that matter, can be of any religion, at the same time we can as multi-religious Singaporean, we can can come together to care for each other to live together in peace and harmony, at the same time to progress together." - CNA/yy
________________________________________________
This is what i mean by muslim kidding themselves if they think the above statement is true. That their act of celebrating the prophet b'day is an act of a good muslim, "Forging a Singapore Muslim Identity".
That was a great post rojak. well done :)
You have a lot of relevant, and in fact quite accurate descriptions of Muslim communities, and not neccessarily in Singapore either.
I'm not Singaporean, so I guess I won't be able to contribute to debate within the country, but the point you make about victim mentality is relevant to both muslim communities in the west and the so-called 'east'.
"If Muslims in Singapore thinks that they are allowed to fully peacefully practice their religion... (or that they have freedom) i think they are in denial. Having mosques all over the country OR sprouting religious/Islamic classes, or just being allowed to exist in the country as being called a Muslim Society, are not a symbol of freedom to practice their religion"
I'd totally agree with that. I never really thought the visible presence or so-called 'islamic movements' is an indication of frank debate that should be had about the state of muslims today. i'd call it superficial lip-service.
I currently live in a 'muslim' country (i.e. a muslim majority) and there are concerted efforts to incorporate 'compassionate values' (in terms of charitable organisations) into a mainstream framework that totally contradicts what's really going on in the wider community, reflecting an exploitative mentality that no where near deals with real issues in this society.
"In contrast to that, their muslim brothers and sisters in the west have more freedom to be themselves and practice their religion freely, although the county is not an Islamic country?"
I've lived in the west all my life. Honestly, it's not that much of a rosy picture either. While our apparent constitutions claim to allow us the 'freedom to practice religion', it is a highly politicised situation that is also intent on making muslims' lives that much harder.
"just one of the many example) People are not able to go to school or work in some companies with their hijab on! What kinda crap is this!! Who have allowed this to happen? Even if some Muslim do not agree with the aspect and the need for wearing Hijab (or other things they don't agree) They should be supporting the each other in issues like this. It's nothing wrong with wanting this kinda thing. What is the harm with wanting to cover up more?"
Yeah there have been similar debates about this. It kind of relates to a topic posted about whether 'Islamic values ar compatible with Western values'....
http://www.nasibriyanilounge.c...
....which is a common argument posed by those who are hostile to hijab, and is cynically used as a justification to make hijab more and more alien in the West.
It's an extremely self-serving position to take because in the so-called 'modernity' the West is embracing, it just indicates further 'backwardness' from the apparent values THEY designed (i don't recall Muslims urging 'religious freedoms' when these decrees were written).
I mean, which is it? You (as in those confused about what kind of values they want for their societies) claim you want to form a society that is inclusive of all peoples, granting them the proper rights they deserve, yet you feel insecure enough to claim that it is this particular piece of fabric, that stands as a threat to your progression?
It further indicates just where their priorities lie. it never really was about 'religious freedom'. it's quite sad actually...
"Singapore Muslim are at fault for letting this gone for as long as it have. Yes this includes ESPECIALLY people who go to the mosque and pray 5 times a day, and they who do all the ritual things that Islam require of us, they who teaches Islamic studies, they who preaches to other Muslim what is right and wrong. Don't think that you are doing anything good by just praying/preaching and any allowing such things to happen in your community. Everyone who call themselves Muslim are every bit at fault for the situation you a facing. You guys should step up to the plate and be honest to see what is really going on around you! Don't Muslim in Singapore have any dignity and self respect left in themselves? They are letting themselves being told, dominated and bullied by someone who thinks knows what is right or even acceptable as Singapore Muslim community?"
Well... introspection could go a long way. Responsibility I'd agree is with 'us' that claims to profess this faith, but it is also a shared responsibility with a wider society as well. I doubt if sermons will ever help if such issues are never discussed anyhow...
cant remember the last time i went to a lecture myself, but perhaps the reason i stopped is that 'being steadfast' or 'loving your brother and sister' didn't exactly assist me with the 10000's of Q's in my head.
Hmm.. where should I start.... Singapore a super bias country, a country that only allows chinese to fully practise their religion but not Islam. I wouldnt call myself a practising muslim but I do have faith in this beautiful religion call Islam.
Singapore is govern by the Lee family, if it was some other family, then things would change, Singapore muslims are basically a puppet of the government, afraid that their rights will be taken away totally, the are more than happy to be a low profile muslims.
Even MUIS is under close watch by the goverment, afraid some radical ideas would appear but we all know that Islam is a peaceful religion that condones violence.
Youngsters these days are not very religious, whats more to fight for such situation.
I beleive in equality and Singapore does not have it at all, thats the reason why I move out of Singapore to be myself rather than someone else think for me.
Yours Truly
Syed Sadiq
Netherlands
people complain too much and are just pointing fingers at everyone, like government, Muslim organisation etc..but not at themselves.
If people wants to complain about the bad situation on how bad Singapore have become then they should point that blame and their fingers at themselves for letting things happened as bad as it have.
if Singaporeans are going along fine in their lives
(although they have a home and a job etc) but at the same time complaining how horrible their life is because eg. everything in Singapore is for Chinese and how bad the government have been and so on....then, they are the big cowards.
If you dare to complain, then do something about it.
If everyone wants to complain and i mean each and every Singaporeans i know complain about the government and organisation...then stop behaving like you are a victim or something. i mean seriously. no one is forcing you to do anything you don;t want. and if you are living in an environment that you don't like or paying too much taxes , cost of living...etc, then meet up the government (who is running the country for it's people) and get want you want and your rights. i mean anyone would know that sitting around like a dead duck and complaining and whining is not gonna get you anything. And plus if situation is bad..it's because the people of the country have allowed it to go bad. Stop giving excuses and reason. :)
as a citizen of any country, your role is to be a law abiding citizen, contribute to the society and correct your government and leaders if they are going off the wrong path.
that's my point of view in all this.
I cannot agree more with what you said , rojak. But lets not be so angry. Muslims in other countries have more trouble than us practising the religion. And maybe there is a hikmah (blessing) behind all this.
I mean , I've seen people who wears hijabs all their lives (madrasah students) and still their attitudes towards islam is just crap. I have spent more than 10 years in my life in a secular education. I go to school without the hijab and never liked wearing it. I only started wearing it after I joined a local mosque youth group and learned more about islam.
And I started to think that maybe if the country isn't like this I would grow up wearing the hijab and STILL not know why I'm wearing it. In other words , I could be a blind follower.
and I have to agree with thingi.
"And plus if situation is bad..it's because the people of the country have allowed it to go bad."
What have WE done to help our fellow muslims? There are many other ways to help our community besides complaining about the goverment. You can set up a muslim organisation , write a book , make a website (like this) to bring the community together.
I mean lets be practical . You want to start a strike for schools to make all muslim girls wear hijabs?
Imagine the reactions of the minahs.
But just so you know if you ever really want to start the strike (non-violent) I'd give my FULL support. heh.
Why must it be a strike for schools to make "all muslim girls" wear hijab? Why cant it just be to allow "those girls who want to wear hijab, wear it", which means for those who dont want to wear, then dont wear.
0votes 31/07/2007 2:01:06 AM by voeg freshI think you misunderstood me.
I never said we must make a strike for school to make all girls wear hijab.
I was implying that it is probably not the most practical thing to do because not ALL muslim girls want to wear hijab even if given the choice.
Come on, there is no need to be crude about it. Singaporean muslims are not coward or backboneless.
Whatever you just stated is an opinion, and it will remain so.
Do know that your understanding of proper Islam might not be seen as proper to others either.
On the particular example of not being able to wear hijab for certain companies. All i can say is that i am pretty certain majority of the employers here do not judge you by the cloth on your head.
It is a piece of cloth. Does it physically represent a persons 'hijab of the senses'?
I do not know and i do not care to judge others for that.
I dont enourage muslims to be more secular to be modern. But Islam also teaches respect for other religion. Please do not be self centered.
I am happy that i see more people questioning and standing up for their rights to practice religion, but please do not condescending to your own people. We may not be right all the time, so whatever we do does not warrant a snide remark.
If you've got to teach, do so.
But do not contradict yourself, Islam is a religion, not a competition. Please use the word transcending in another manner.
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