ISSUE 13
SEPTEMBER 2019
ARS NEWSLETTER
Click to play the Eid Sermon video
IN THIS ISSUE: Protecting harmony from new threats
Langkah memantapkan Akta Mengekalkan Keharmonian Agama Awal bulan ini, Kementerian Ehwal Dalam Negeri (MHA) telah mengusulkan pindaan terhadap Akta Mengekalkan Keharmonian
Bolehkah kita menyertai sambutan perayaan agama lain? Kepelbagaian sebahagian daripada rancangan Allah
Agama
(MRHA)
Langkah
itu
bagi
diambil
menangani setelah
ancaman-ancaman
mengkaji
dan
baharu.
mendapatkan
pandangan para pemimpin agama.
MRHA mula digubal pada tahun 1990 dan berkuatkuasa pada tahun
1992.
mengeluarkan menimbulkan
Ia
memberi perintah
rasa
kuasa
kepada
sekatan
kebencian,
pemerintah
kepada
kemahuan
sesiapa
atau
untuk yang
permusuhan
antara kumpulan-kumpulan agama yang berbeza. Dalam pada itu,
kumpulan-kumpulan
agama
juga
menyokong
pindaan
ke
atas undang-undang keharmonian agama Singapura.
To be continued on the next page
Muis, dalam satu kenyataan, bersetuju dengan kepentingan meletakkan langkahlangkah
perundangan
Kenyataan masyarakat yang
jelas
itu
turut
melindungi
menambah,
keagamaan untuk
bagi
di
"Kami
Singapura
melindungi
keharmonian berharap
usaha
bersama-sama
keharmonian
agama
agama
yang
dengan akan
di
negara
dilakukan
ini. oleh
undang-undang
memperkukuhkan
persefahaman bersama dan hidup berdampingan secara aman dalam masyarakat kita yang beragama."
Protecting harmony from new threats
Earlier this month, The Straits Times had published an editorial discussion on the proposed amendments to MRHA. The legislative move indicates that evolving threats to religious harmony have to be taken seriously.
The Act's efficacy as a deterrent can be attested by the fact that it has not been invoked since it came into effect in 1992. However, the Act's intended effect could be
compromised
in
this
era
of
social
media,
especially
since
inflammatory
messages that seek to disturb public harmony can get disseminated more rapidly than before.
SEPT 2019, ISSUE 13
PAGE 2
Offensive online posts, for example, need to be dealt with as expeditiously as possible in order to minimise the damage they can cause the longer they are up for public viewing.
Also equally important is the effort to ensure that religious
organisations in Singapore adhere to the norms and laws of the country.
Although religion is universal by nature, religious sentiments can be manipulated to harm societies in ways that are unprecedented. An updated MRHA would mean that there shall be no direct foreign control over local religious organisations. To
ensure
that,
key
organisation
personnel
are
required
to
be
citizens
or
permanent residents of Singapore.
Requiring
key
personnel
to
be
citizens
or
permanent
residents
is
a
way
of
ensuring that organisations retain their stake in Singapore.
Although these changes to the MRHA are necessary, they are not sufficient by themselves.
Ultimately,
tolerance
and
vigilance
among
citizens
are
the
most
effective tools against threats that may harm the social fabric of Singapore.
SEPT 2019, ISSUE 13
PAGE 3
Muatturun Siri Irsyad Kontemporari! Untuk edisi Bahasa Inggeris  https://bit.ly/2GusPSR Untuk edisi Bahasa Melayu https://bit.ly/2EelHb9
Bolehkah kita menyertai sambutan perayaan agama lain?
Penting bagi kita untuk jelas terhadap tujuan di sebalik tingkah laku kita. Jika kita diundang ke acara perayaan agama lain, kita boleh menghadiri dan menyaksikan acara itu tanpa menyertai segala upacara ritual atau ibadah keagamaannya. Bagi acara yang diadakan sebagai acara kebudayaan atau kemasyarakatan, masyarakat Islam dibenarkanhadir. Oleh itu, penting bagi kita untuk benarbenarmemahami tujuan acara tersebut dan di manakah batas penyertaan kita. Menghadiri keramaian masyarakat lain dengan tujuan menghormati dan menghargai budaya akan lebih mengeratkan lagi hubungan antara orang Islam dan bukan Islam, dan dapat memupuk rasa saling hormat menghormati di kalangan budaya dan kaum. “Dan apabila kamu diberikan penghormatan dengan sesuatu ucapan hormat (seperti memberi salam), maka balaslah penghormatan itu dengan yang lebih baik daripadanya, atau balaslah dia (dengan cara yang sama). Sesungguhnya Allah sentiasa menghitung segala sesuatu.� (An-Nisa:86)
SEPT 2019, ISSUE 13
PAGE 4
ANDALAH YANG KAMI CARI!
DAFTAR SEGERA UNTUK MENJADI SALAH SEORANG PENULIS ATAU PENTERJEMAH KAMI
KHUTBAH-MUIS
GO.GOV.SG/
SEPT 2019, ISSUE 13
PAGE 5
Mufti menyeru lebih ramai tampil ke hadapan Mufti
Dr
Mohamed
masyarakat
Fatris
Melayu/Islam
Bakaram Singapura
menyeru dapat
supaya tampil
lebih
ke
ramai
individu
hadapan
sebagai
pendamping (befriender) kepada para banduan dan ahli keluarga mereka.
Beliau berucap demikian pada edisi pertama program Muhasabah Masyarakat Bersama Mufti pada 7 September di Wisma Geylang Serai. Antara lain, Mufti membahas
perjuangan
yang
dialami
bekas
pesalah
serta
anggota
keluarga
mereka. Beliau turut mengajak 800 para hadirin pada program tersebut untuk menerima bekas banduan serta keluarga mereka demi mencapai erti sebenar "hijrah" dan kemajuan bersama.
Mufti juga berharap masyarakat akan menjadi lebih memaafkan dan menerima bekas banduan, selain tidak meminggirkan mereka yang lemah dan yang kurang mendapat Geylang
perhatian.
Serai,
Masyarakat
Dr
Menemui Mohamed
Bersama
Mufti
itu
warga Fatris
media berkata
membolehkan
selepas bahawa
ucapannya program
komunikasi
di
Wisma
Muhasabah
langsung
bersama
masyarakat berkenaan isu-isu sosial semasa.
SEPT 2019, ISSUE 13
PAGE 6
CPE
Klik sini untuk ketahui semua kursus ARS
Nota Kursus: Islam dan Hubungan Muslim & Bukan Muslim Kursus ini membincangkan prinsip asas kehidupan dalam
sebuah
Singapura
masyarakat
yang
kesejahteraannya
majmuk
mana
berdasarkan
seperti
kejayaan pada
dan
toleransi
dan
penghormatan bersama.
Di
samping
itu,
para
peserta
telah
diajak
untuk
memahami kepentingan untuk menyumbang secara aktif
kepada
keharmonian
umum
masyarakat
dan
negara, yang selaras dengan tradisi Islam.
Kursus ini dijalankan oleh salah seorang anggota ahli Pejabat sebuah
Mufti
telah
buku
"Guidelines
menerbitkan
kecil
for
berjudul
Muslims
on
purchasing & owning a property"
Buku
kecil
ini
mengetengahkan
isu-isu
akan
Lembaga
Pengiktirafan
pertanyaan
yang
(ARB),
Ustaz
Dr
Muhammad Haniff Hassan. Dalam setiap isu ARS Newsletter
bermula
November,
kami
bulan
akan
September
kongsikan
dua
hingga set
nota
daripada kursus ini.
utama
yang ditangani dalam teks fatwa, dan
Asatizah
sering
Islam mengikut konteks
ditanya daripada fatwa ini.
Kepelbagaian sebahagian daripada rancangan Allah
Imbas atau klik pada kod QR di bawah
untuk
membaca
buku
tersebut secara dalam talian.
Hubungan antara Muslim dan bukan Islam Memahami konsep Wala’ dan Bara
Isu berkenaan hubungan di Singapura Fatwa dan Deklarasi Mardin
SEPT 2019, ISSUE 13
PAGE 7
CPE
Click here for a full list of CPE Courses
Islam mengikut konteks Ustaz Haniff menekankan bahawa amalan Islam tidak boleh dipisahkan daripada konteks
kita.
Ini
kerana
setiap
konteks
mempunyai
cabaran
tersendiri
yang
menuntut keperluan untuk mengukuhkan fabrik sosial, masyarakat atau negara.
Kontekstualisasi bukanlah sesuatu yang asing daripada tradisi Islam. Al-Quran diturunkan secara beransur-ansur kepada Nabi Muhammad selama 23 tahun untuk memenuhi konteks dan perkembangan masyarakat Islam pada masa itu. Di samping
itu,
sahabatnya
terdapat
banyak
contoh
mempertimbangkan
di
konteks
mana dalam
Nabi
Muhammad
perundangan
dan
agama
para demi
mengekalkan kesejahteraan masyarakat.
Oleh itu, pada dasarnya, Islam harus diamalkan sesuai dengan konteks sebuah masyarakat yang membuktikan kekayaan tradisi Islam.
Kepelbagaian sebahagian daripada rancangan Allah Seperti yang disebutkan dalam al-Quran, kepelbagaian adalah fenomena semula jadi
yang
wujud
dalam
semua
aspek
kehidupan.
Ustaz
Haniff
menegaskan
bahawa kepelbagaian adalah rahmat bagi umat manusia kerana ia memberikan kita peluang untuk belajar daripada satu sama lain.
Daripada perspektif sosiologi pula, fenomena kepelbagaian ini boleh mamajukan sebuah masyarakat. Di samping itu, sejarah telah memberikan banyak contoh di mana
Nabi
Muhammad
s.a.w.
menjaga
hubungan
baik
bersama
penganut
agama lain.
Secara tuntas, keimanan dalam diri seseorang itu tidak seharusnya melahirkan sifat tinggi diri terhadap orang lain. Sebaliknya, adab dalam tradisi Islam mengajar kita untuk saling menghormati selaras dengan prinsip rahmatan lil alamin (rahmat bagi seluruh alam).
SEPT 2019, ISSUE 13
PAGE 8
CPE
Click here for a full list of CPE Courses
List of future CPE courses Date
Title
CPE
Medium
Wed, 2 Oct
Hadith Mengikut Perspektif Fuqaha dan Muhaddithun
3
Malay
Mon, 7 Oct
Disability and Inclusion - Perspective from the Islamic Tradition
3
English
Mon, 14 Oct
Inter-Religious Relations: History, Development and Context
3
English
Wed, 16 Oct
Keganasan Domestik - Peranan Asatizah
3
Malay
Mon, 21 Oct
Family Violence First Responder Training
6
English
Thu, 24 Oct
Pengenalan Kod Etika Asatizah
4
Malay
Sat, 2 Nov
Methods in Teaching Al-Quran and Its Application in Contemporary Context
3
English
Mon, 11 Nov
Learning Journey to RRG
3
English
Thu, 14 Nov
Menangani Kemusykilan Agama Dalam Konteks Singapura
6
Malay
Mon, 18 Nov
Bengkel Kemahiran Asas Kaunseling Kekeluargaan - Peranan Asatizah
6
Malay
Sat, 23 Nov
Pengenalan Kepada Cryptocurrency
3
Malay
Mon, 25 Nov
Understanding Sharia in Context
7
English
Thu, 5 Dec
Islamic Financial Contracts
6
English
Mon, 9 Dec
Methodology of Mufassirun
3
English
SEPT 2019, ISSUE 13
PAGE 9
ARS
Ask Q
I am teaching at an Islamic centre in Singapore that has yet to register under IECP, Muis. What should I do?
A: Any entity that provides Islamic educational services in Singapore must be registered under the Islamic Education Centres and Providers (IECP). It is an offence to teach at a non-registered IECP. Teachers at all IECPs are also required to be registered under the Asatizah Recognition Scheme (ARS).
Proprietors
of
non-registered
IECPs
are
liable
to
be
penalised
under
Muslim
Religious School Rules Section 87 of AMLA, with a fine not exceeding $2000 or 12 months imprisonment, for the following contraventions: Failure to register IECP with Muis Failure to comply with requirement to - Employ only ARS registered asatizah - Allocate Islamic teachers (asatizah)/Quranic teachers for the appropriate levels of teaching under the ARS - Comply with Muis' order to not employ specific asatizah whose ARS has been suspended or cancelled Failure to take remedial measures ordered by Muis for registration of IECP Obstructing, hindering or refusing to comply with requirement for the purposes of inspection of IECP, requisition of information by Muis or order attendance at Muis to provide information Provision of false information
Q
I am still pursuing my studies overseas and have yet to accumulate the CPE credit. Will my ARS be cancelled?
A: Full-time undergraduates and postgraduates in Islamic studies programmes can
be
exempted
from
the
Continuous
Professional
Education
(CPE)
requirements if they produce a letter of acceptance from the university.
It is every asatizah's responsiblity to update the ARS Office should they intend to pursue their studies.
SEPT 2019, ISSUE 13
PAGE 10
M
3
Mendaki. Muis. Mesra
Encik Masagos: Masyarakat Melayu/Islam prihatin soal negara dan sejagat - menyedari isu mengenai ekonomi, iklim, identiti diri Dalam satu sesi dialog pasca-Rapat Umum Hari Kebangsaan, Menteri Bertanggungjawab Bagi Ehwal Masyarakat Islam, Encik Masagos Zulkifli melahirkan rasa penghargaan atas keprihatinan masyarakat Melayu/Islam, bukan sahaja terhadap hal ehwal setempat, bahkan isu-isu global juga. Encik Masagos bersama Encik Saktiandi Supaat, Ahli Parlimen bagi Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, bertemu dengan para pemimpin akar umbi, sukarelawan dan belia Melayu/Islam untuk mengadakan dialog pada 8 September lalu. Topik-topik yang dibincangkan termasuk yang berkaitan dengan tahap kebangsaan - seperti persekitaran dan perubahan iklim, pra-sekolah dan ekonomi.
Masagos urges union leaders to step forward; more benefitting from M3@Town The Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli through a post on Facebook, urged Malay/Muslim union leaders to contribute to the community through M³ initiative. He recently met 16 union leaders to discuss on collaborations to further uplift the Malay/Muslim community. He also added that union leaders can play an active role in helping the community through employment, skills enhancement, and contributing to the M³@Town initiative that are held in eight towns – eight towns with high density of Malay/Muslim residents: Tampines, Pasir Ris-Punggol, Bedok, Choa Chu Kang, Jurong, Nee Soon, Marsiling-Yew Tee and Woodlands.
SEPT 2019, ISSUE 13
PAGE 11
Reclaiming the narrative of Hijrah Hijrah in Prophet Muhammad s.a.w's hadith does not suggest a physical relocation, but rather, a change in mindset and behaviour. By Ustaz Muhammad Saiful Alam Shah
Hijrah or emigration to a state is fully governed under the ‘Islamic law’ is one of the several concepts utilised by violent extremist groups in mobilising Muslims to join their cause of terror.
The notorious terrorist group that called themselves as the
‘Islamic State’ (IS), has been invoking this classical concept of Islam to rally people to move to their territories. They have also been using ‘hijrah’ to sow doubt among Muslims, especially those living in non-Muslim majority states. So what exactly is the
meaning
of
‘hijrah’,
and
how
have
violent
extremist
groups
like
IS
been
misusing it for their cause?
Continue Reading
4 intriguing things you may not know about the Islamic Hijri Calendar
Muslims around the world use the Islamic calendar to determine the dates of religious events and observances. By Ustaz Muhammad Abdul Mateen Bin Hisham
The calculation of the Hijri Calendar plays an important role in the life of a Muslim as it concludes the time for Ramadan, the two Eids and the period for Hajj, just to name a few.
These specific periods are essential to observe some obligatory acts like the fasting in Ramadan and the Hajj or pilgrimage, for those who have met their calling. In this article, we will explore 4 other interesting things about the Hijri Calendar that you may not know.
Continue Reading
SEPT 2019, ISSUE 13
PAGE 12
Our asatizah are constantly striving to meet the emerging needs of the community.
Click on the poster to share your thoughts today!
SEPT 2019, ISSUE 13
PAGE 13
https://blog.pergas.org.sg/wasat/
Dealing with non-practising/ sinful close family members: Argument for "Hate the sin, not the sinner" By
Dr Muhammad Haniff Hassan
When a Muslim has committed himself to live based on his religious principles, the existence of a close family member
(i.e.
parents,
siblings,
spouses
or
children)
who chooses a different way of life or possesses habits that do not conform with Islamic teachings (i.e. drinking alcohol,
taking
performance
of
drug,
fornication,
religious
gambling
obligations)
will
or
non-
pose
a
challenge and problem because: the incompatibility of such lifestyle and habits with one’s personal beliefs and principles the effect of such lifestyle and habits on the home environment and other family members energy, mind and time are needed to counsel the family member because Islam obligates Muslim to enjoin good and forbid evil, especially among close family members and often this would cause strain in relationship situation like this may induce stress, sadness and frustration to a person.
The outcome of the situation varies. Some may be able to
remain
patient,
continue
the
good
counsel
and
remain strong. However, many fall into depression and experience In collaboration with
broken
relationship
that
harms
personal
wellbeing and harmonious family life.
Continue Reading
PERGAS SEPT 2019, ISSUE 13
PAGE 14
SEPT 2019, ISSUE 13
PAGE 15
JOBÂ OPPORTUNITIES
SEPT 2019, ISSUE 13
PAGE 16
Own a
registered IECP and
hiring? Submit the job opening information to
iecp@muis.gov.sg
SEPT 2019, ISSUE 13
PAGE 17
DESIGN & CONTENT ARS Office & ARS Secretariat
EDITOR Ustaz Fauzan A. Roslee Ustaz Irwan Hadi Ustaz Muhammad Haniff Hassan
Ustazah Sukarti Asmoin Ustaz Fauzan Arif Roslee
ARS NEWSLETTER IS Â A PUBLICATION OF