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Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| [REVIEW] Muslim, Moderate, Singaporean |
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| Barr |
| 07/14/03 at 11:15:17 |
| Assalamu'alaikum :-) Some of us may feel a bit iffy with labels such as "moderate", "extremists" etc. However, this booklet do not seek to pigeonhole individual Muslims, but provide a framework for both Muslims and non-Muslims to understand the concept and application of [i]ummatun wasata[/i] (moderate nation), as mentioned in the Qur'an, vis-a-vis the modern times and the different waqi' (environment) that we are in. This book is written in the Singapore context, but I thot it would be useful for others too. Allahua'lam :-) Muslim, Moderate, Singaporean By Mafoot Simon http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/commentary/story/0,4386,199416-1058133540,00.html? EXPECT a new round of controversy in the Muslim community on what makes a 'moderate Muslim' when a booklet, entitled Muslim... Moderate... Singaporean, is out later this month. 'Moderate Muslims should be guided by Islamic principles and defined by the reality of Singapore's context - not that of Indonesia or Turkey. In a sense, this is similar to the concept of democracy, which in Singapore, cannot be defined by the context of America and Europe.' - Ustaz Muhammad Haniff Hassan (above). The bilingual booklet is a bold attempt at defining the moderate Muslim in the context of multi-racial and multi-religious Singapore through six principles: upholding peaceful means; upholding the principles of democracy; upholding the principle of law; respecting the opinions and rights of others; keeping issues in the context of a multi-religious Singapore; and upholding Islamic teachings. The writer, Ustaz Muhammad Haniff Hassan, 34, says the booklet is a collection of his personal writings, and arose out of his concern about the issue. It is published by voluntary organisation Perdaus, of which he is the manager, and the management of the Al-Khair Mosque in Teck Whye Crescent. Ustaz Haniff switched from secular to religious education at secondary level and graduated in Islamic Studies (Syariah and Law) from the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia in 1993. His book will almost certainly attract a range of reactions from every quarter of society. The cynics might describe his six principles as 'motherhood statements' coming right out of the speeches of political leaders. Political leaders, on the other hand, might pay closer attention to his debunking of the ideal of the moderate Muslim that some wish the Singaporean Muslim would be, such as those of Kamal Attaturk's Turkey, or the Abangan of Indonesia. He writes: 'Moderate Muslims should be guided by Islamic principles and defined by the reality of Singapore's context - not that of Indonesia or Turkey. 'In a sense, this is similar to the concept of democracy, which in Singapore, cannot be defined by the context of America and Europe.' Some readers will wonder if he is not pushing for a higher standing to be given to local ulama, or Muslim scholars, although he also says no one should blindly follow them. The majority belongs to Pergas, the Singapore Islamic Scholars and Religious Teachers Association, of which he is an executive committee member. Some Muslim scholars might disagree with his definition of shura or the practice of consultation in Islam, as the closest concept to democracy that Islam has. In his view, the key difference is the extent of power given to citizens to formulate laws. Democracy gives more, he says, but there will be those who say Islam gives as much. Finally, ordinary Muslim Singaporeans might take umbrage with some of the points he raises. For example: 'While Muslims in Singapore generally practise Islam in moderation, we should not assume that all Muslims manifest 'moderation' '. He gives two pieces of anecdotal evidence: the discovery of the Jemaah Islamiah terrorist plot, and the controversy surrounding Muslims who refuse to sit at the same table as non-Muslims who are drinking alcohol or eating pork. Ustaz Haniff, the second youngest of eight siblings, is known in the community for his tell-it-as-it-is views, which he dispenses weekly in a column in the Malay language daily, Berita Harian. For instance, confronted with questions about the acceptability of Newater from a Muslim standpoint, his advice was blunt: 'Are we able to offer a better alternative to Newater?' While he could understand the 'psychological barrier' against accepting Newater, he said, Muslims should also not belittle the efforts to find new sources of water here. Muslims would also be irresponsible if they simply doubted the fatwa issued by the Mufti on Newater's acceptability, without producing counter arguments to show the flaws in it, he said. Ustaz Haniff is now on a year's leave to pursue a Master's degree in Strategic Studies at the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies. Of the booklet, he says he is fully aware of the minefields: 'Efforts at defining the moderate Muslim can never produce homogenous results.' But he believes the issue can no longer remain 'an internal matter' within the Muslim community. 'Since Sept 11, non-Muslims too have been swept up in a flurry of events that require their participation in the issue,' he says. His own community cannot take it lightly, he warns: 'Should Muslims be less forthcoming in providing their own definition of moderation, they should not be surprised if others take on this task and fill in the void.' More importantly, the issue of moderate Muslims cannot be wished away, he says. Mushim Singaporeans need a clear idea of what being moderate means in order to participate in national discussion of other concepts such as integration, identity and nation building. Ustaz Haniff hopes his booklet will contribute to that discussion. Readers who turn to it to see if it can help them pigeonhole individual Muslims as moderate or not will however be disappointed. He says: 'You cannot judge people and individuals... We may disagree with certain views, but that does not mean we should make judgement on the individuals.' Such as, for instance, his eldest brother, the turbaned, robed and fiery Ustaz Mohamad Hasbi Hassan, who has a reputation for being a vocal critic of the government on issues related to the wearing of the headscarf and Islamic schools in Singapore. According to Ustaz Haniff, he shares the views outlined in the booklet. Whatever readers make of the booklet, what is clear is that most will have a view on it. The controversy will go on. Mafoot Simon is a senior writer for The Straits Times. |
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