Dear Dr. Alwi,

We live in a multi-racial and a multi-religious society. Others have learnt to respect us and we have learnt to respect them. That is how Singaporeans have been educated and that is how they have been brought up. The magic word is mutual tolerance and we are loaded with it.

"The Islam that we practice in Singapore is a very mild and diluted form or version - of Islam."

The Islam that we practise in Singapore is the same as that practised by all Muslims. There is no dilution or our own version of Islam. There is no Compulsion in Islam in Singapore.  Most of the Muslim masses are educated and practise the religion for seeking God's pleasure. 

"Elsewhere in other Muslim countries - our ideas or notions of Islam are NOT accepted !"

Doesn't matter and we should not care. Neither do they all accept each other's ideas or notions. 

"Indeed the madrasah issue is one telling example where a Non-Muslim state interferes directly with the Muslim affairs."

After the Taleban and 911 episodes, even the Muslim states have begun to interfere and monitor the madrasahs. I do not consider it an interference in the religious affairs. All Muslim parents should also be concerned with what their children are being taught in the Madrasahs. If politics of hate and vengeance is being taught, they should also interfere.

Politicians in cahoot with their own favourite Mullahs and Imams, in other Muslim countries, establish madrasahs under the cover of religion. That is no service to God or humanity. I don't mean that all madrasahs belong to such people. There are many good folks who are also running madrasahs for the poor and those who cannot afford education. Madrasahs should be run like schools and the subjects taught should also include those taught in other schools, not just religion.

Having said that I would say that we have no Singapore brand or our own version of Islam. What we do have is proper education which other Muslim states badly lack. If others do not accept and accuse us of having a "Singapore brand" of Islam, they are wrong.

Salaam Alaikum

BMZ

Having said that I would say that we have no Singapore brand or our own version of Islam. What we do have is proper education which other Muslim states badly lack. If others do not accept and accuse us of having a "Singapore brand" of Islam, they are wrong.

I disagree with you totally. I believe that we in Singapore do practice our own brand of Islam. Just look at how the Syariah is administered. In the Middle East, Malaysia and Indonesia - the Syariah laws and courts are much more developed and have greater powers. We are not used to Syariah Laws in Singapore.

And what about the Hijab issue in our schools ? Look at how other countries deal with it.

Indeed it seems to me that even the Government want to propagate the notion that we have our own version or brand of Islam. I can see that Islam elsewhere is much more orthodox.

There is nothing wrong with our own brand of Islam. The question however is - will the rest of the Muslim world acknowledge and accept our brand of Islam to be a legitimate type of Islam ? Thats the million dollar question.

No whims and no desires here, hindii.

I just reject openly and only some ahadith which do not stand correct in the shade and the light of Qur'aan. You are free to reject them too.

I cannot follow the whims and desires of men who gloat in backbiting and slander via ahaadith. An example would be the hadith taken from one single unreliable man, who declared that my dear prophet consummated marriage with Ayesha when she was nine.

If you believe in such hadith and Sunnah, would you marry a girl who is nine or would you be prepared to let your nine years old daughter marry a 53 years old man? Any objection?  

The Islam that we practice in Singapore is a very mild and diluted form or version - of Islam.

What do you mean by 'mild and diluted' ?

Singaporean brand of Islam

I'm not getting you.

Do Muslims in Singapore believe in the same Allah as Muslims in other part of the world?

Do Muslims in Singapore believe that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah as Muslims in other part of the world?

Do Muslims in Singapore pray 5 times a day as Muslims in other part of the world?

Do Muslims in Singapore fast for the month of as Muslims in other part of the world?

Do Muslims in Singaporepay Zakat as Muslims in other part of the world?

Do Muslims in Singapore perfrom Hajj (if they can afford it) as Muslims in other part of the world?

Do Muslims in Singapore perform ablution before they pray as Muslims in other part of the world?

Do Muslims in Singapore recite their solat in Arabic as Muslims in other part of the world?

What on earth is the Singaporean brand of Islam?

Specifically, it is just the criminal law of the Sharia that Muslims in some part of the world can't follow because of political and demographic reasons.

But that's ok, it doesn't make you less of a Muslim. Especially those of us who are not theives, adulterer, murderer ..etc, then the criminal law of the Sharia is not applicable to us anyway. 

Even in Singapore, nothing is stopping Muslims from following most of hte Sharia law.

There is nothing is stopping us from getting married, divorce, inherit in accordance with the Sharia.

And is that the only difference in the 'Singapore brand' of Islam? The Sharia?

No that is not the only difference. We are Secular Muslims whereas Islam in Muslim countries elsewhere are Political Muslims.

We live in a very secular, non-Muslim environment. Our politics does not reflect our Muslim aspirations and world-view

The Syariah we practice is limited to inheritance laws and  marriage laws. It does not cover many other aspects of Syariah.

In conclusion the Singapore brand of Islam is a secular brand of Islam. We Singaporean Muslims are not accustomed to Political Islam

Secular Muslims whereas Islam in Muslim countries elsewhere are Political Muslims.

I've heard of practicing Muslim and non-practicing Muslims but what is a 'Secular Muslims' and what is a 'Political Muslims'?

Our politics does not reflect our Muslim aspirations and world-view

What is a Muslim world-view?

In conclusion the Singapore brand of Islam is a secular brand of Islam.

That's nonsense.

We Singaporean Muslims are not accustomed to Political Islam

That I can agree.

Secular Muslims do NOT mix Islam with governance. Political Islamists mix religion with politics all the time.

A Muslim world-view is a world-view based on the Islamic creed, values and paradigm e.g. non-secular, Muslim values oriented etc.

In Singapore - we Muslims are secular. No doubt about that. Not one single PAP Malay MP dares to mix religion with his politics in the course of duty. They do not even address the issue of Islam - preferring to deal with problems without invoking Islam. Indeed - when you watch the Malay news - they do not even give salam etc. No doubt young man - our Singapore Islam is a secular Islam.

Thanks for the definations.

Even if Muslims are govern by secular government under secular rule, they are still Muslims. The same as Muslims in other parts of the world.

Islam does offer you a way on how to govern, but if you don't follow that, it doesn't mean you're less of a Muslim.

The small part of the Sharia which Singapore's Muslims don't follow is the ones which will affect society, not individuals. Individually we are still the same as Muslims in other parts of the world

Even if Muslims are govern by secular government under secular rule, they are still Muslims. The same as Muslims in other parts of the world. Islam does offer you a way on how to govern, but if you don't follow that, it doesn't mean you're less of a Muslim.

Thats what you say. But others claim that we are less Muslim because of this.

The small part of the Sharia which Singapore's Muslims don't follow is the ones which will affect society, not individuals. Individually we are still the same as Muslims in other parts of the world

We follow only a small part of the Syariah - marriage and inheritance plus death rituals. The many other aspects of Syariah - we ignore.

I see nothing wrong with being different and in fact, I think its dangerous to say that we follow the same brand of Islam as - say - the Saudis. We are not Wahhabis. We are not Salafis or Deobandis. There is nothing wrong in admitting that we are different. its more honest. Otherwise people will say - why aren't you following the Saudis ? Or the Salafis etc etc ? Why aren't we following Malaysia ? I would prefer to be different.

Thats what you say. But others claim that we are less Muslim because of this.

Who? Osama? Zawahiri? Ayyub al-Masri?

The fact is the Prophet NEVER said he who is not govern by the Sharia is not a Muslim. Or anything similar to that.

The many other aspects of Syariah - we ignore.

Not many. Just the criminal law of the Sharia.

And there are part of the Sharia where it is not practice at state or social level, but Muslims here do it on an individual level (eg. prohibition of gambling).

Otherwise people will say - why aren't you following the Saudis ? Or the Salafis etc etc ?

I don't follow Wahabis, Salafis, Malaysia because I follow what has been revealed by God to the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

Who? Osama? Zawahiri? Ayyub al-Masri? The fact is the Prophet NEVER said he who is not govern by the Sharia is not a Muslim. Or anything similar to that.

You don't need to go far - the extremists in Indonesia and Malaysia already think like that. Not to mention people like Sarkeranwar etc and some Middle Easterners. According to their view - we cannot pick and choose in matters pertaining to Syariah ; we must accept all. Islam is kaffah so they say.

Not many. Just the criminal law of the Sharia. And there are part of the Sharia where it is not practice at state or social level, but Muslims here do it on an individual level (eg. prohibition of gambling

Not just the Hudud but actually in many other matters as well. You can refer to the many excellent texts on Syariah.

I don't follow Wahabis, Salafis, Malaysia because I follow what has been revealed by God to the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

And who taught you Islam ? The Prophet personally ? Another self-taught expert wannabe ? The local Ustaz ? Who ?

My point is that you have to learn Islam from someone and that someone has his own prejudices etc. There is no denying this. To say that you follow what is revealed to the Prophet is NONSENSE because no matter how you avoid it - the question always is who your teacher was. Because you did not receive Islam directly from the Prophet. It was through a teacher.

You don't need to go far - the extremists in Indonesia and Malaysia already think like that.

Why are you listening to them? Do you think they're right?

According to their view - we cannot pick and choose in matters pertaining to Syariah ; we must accept all.

Yes but we live in Singapore.

I accept te entire Sharia, but there is nothing I can do about it. God will not hold you to account what is beyond your control.

And who taught you Islam ?

Everyone learns Islam from the Quran and the Hadith. God made man his own priest. If there is something I'm uncertain about, I will approach Ustazs or whoever knows better.

My point is that you have to learn Islam from someone and that someone has his own prejudices etc.

No you don't.

To say that you follow what is revealed to the Prophet is NONSENSE because no matter how you avoid it - the question always is who your teacher was.

Let's take the salat for example.

Before Muslims perform their solat, they perform the Wudu.

Who started this? The Ustaz? The Imam? The Mufti? The Ulama? It is in the Quran, demonstrated by the Prophet.

When Muslims pray, the begin in a standing position, facing the kiblat. The prayer ends with a salam.

Who made solat to be performed in this way? The Ustaz? The Imam? The Mufti? The Ulama? Who? The Prophet.

In public, Muslims must follow a dress code.

Who determines the dress code? The Ustaz? The Imam? The Mufti? The Ulama? Who? The Prophet.

Even scholars who differ on a certain matter will make rulings base on the Quran and the Hadith.

You are now beginning to talk nonsense. From whom did you learn Islam ? Your father ? Some Ustaz ? Or did the knowledge come to you from the sky ?

Ultimately you do not learn Islam from the sky - you get it from  someone. Now who is that someone ?

"You are now beginning to talk nonsense. From whom did you learn Islam ? Your father ? Some Ustaz ? Or did the knowledge come to you from the sky ? Ultimately you do not learn Islam from the sky - you get it from someone. Now who is that someone ?

His father, mother and elders, lah! Dr. Alwi.

From whom did you learn Islam ?

All of those you mention. But what is important is that I can trace what tey say back to the Quran and Hadith.

It's easy to know if they're making things up or not.

And you believe everything that is told to you ?

I have no doubts whatsoever that in Singapore we skip many aspects of the Syariah in favour of our secular heritage. Indeed most Singaporean Muslims cannot even fit in - in orthodox Muslim societies - having been conditioned and accustomed to a secular environment.

I certainly will not be so foolish as to say that the Islam in Singapore is the SAME as the Islam in Malaysia or Saudi or Egypt etc etc etc. The Syariah courts in Malaysia are powerful and they even have religious police. But we do not enforce a religious approach to our social problems in Singapore. We always take the secular approach. Indeed - we are told to uphold secularism ! There is no way you can say that our Islam is the same as in Malaysia or Saudi or etc etc.

And you believe everything that is told to you ?

No, why must I?

I have no doubts whatsoever that in Singapore we skip many aspects of the Syariah in favour of our secular heritage.

Actually, we skip many aspects of the Syariah because we have to. We live in a multi-religious country govern by a non-Muslim government, remember?

I certainly will not be so foolish as to say that the Islam in Singapore is the SAME as the Islam in Malaysia or Saudi or Egypt etc

It is the same, at least the fundementals are.

But we do not enforce a religious approach to our social problems in Singapore.

Yes, we let our social problems get out of hand.

Interresting to follow your discussion. It appears that Singapore owes its success to the fact that Muslims are only 15% of the population. The day Muslims are 60%, this tolerant and intelligent interpretation of Islam will be gone.

HMI says:

"Actually, we skip many aspects of the Syariah because we have to. We live in a multi-religious country govern by a non-Muslim government, remember?

and it means a lot.

Sad, and hopeless IMO

HMI,

You are a bad boy. You are making Dr. Alwi angry. Now that is not good.

I will talk to Dr. Alwi.

Dr Alwi has been angry for God's knows what reason ever since he first came to IOL.

His problem, not mine.