Fulfilling The Trust: 50 Years Of Shaping Muslim Religious Life In Singapore

by Norshahril Saat

Overview

Muslims constitute about half a million or 15 percent of Singapore's multiracial and multireligious population. In 1968, the Singapore Parliament passed the Administration of Muslim Law Act (AMLA), which led to the formation of Muis or the Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (Islamic Religious Council of Singapore). The formation of Muis has brought about better administration of Muslim affairs in Singapore in meeting the religious needs of the Muslim community in areas like the issuance of fatwa (religious rulings), provision of halal food, management of haj (religious pilgrimage), collection and disbursement of zakat (charity tithe), running of madrasahs (religious schools) and having access to sound Islamic education. This was achieved with Muis having earned the trust and confidence of the community and ensuring the mutual facilitation of the community's, state's and society's needs.Fulfilling the Trust: 50 Years of Shaping Muslim Religious Life in Singapore is the first book that comprehensively studies the development of Muis' policies over the last 50 years since its founding in 1968. It offers an insight into the multi-faceted considerations and the overall context of the development of such policies, providing a wide-ranging and evaluative analyses of their evolution in the various work domains.The book argues that in order to better appreciate Muis' policies, one has to also understand the critical junctures, socio-historical context, diverse stakeholders and decision-makers' perspectives that led Muis to respond to issues and challenges in a certain way. This book is a valuable contribution to the community's cultural and experiential heritage, providing an indispensable resource for anyone or any institution wishing to pursue a constructive role for religious communities to equally contribute towards the betterment of a thriving plural society ensconced within a secular-based polity.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9789813275492
Publisher:	World Scientific Publishing Company, Incorporated
Publication date:	10/01/2018
Pages:	400
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.82(d)

Table of Contents

Acronyms ix

Foreword Masagos Zulkifli Masagos Mohamad, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources and Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs xv

Foreword Mohammad Alami Musa, Muis President xix

Foreword Abdul Razak Maricar, Muis Chief Executive xxi

Foreword Dr Mohamed Fatris Bakaram, Mufti of Singapore xxv

Muis at 50: A Personal Reflection by Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Former Minister for Communications and Information, Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs and Minister-in-Charge of Cyber Security xxxi

Acknowledgements xlvii

Note on Translation, Spelling, and Other Conventions xlix

Introduction: Towards a Socio-Historical Analysis of Muis Policies Norshahril Saat 1

Part 1 Building Muis' Foundations 13

1 The Institutionalisation of Islam in Singapore: The Administration of Muslim Law Act and the Birth of a 'Majlis Ugama' Alfian Yasrif Kuchit 15

2 Institution Building and Community Development: Dynamics of Muis' Dual Identity Azree Rahim Yazid Mohamed Ali 33

Part 2 Shaping Religious Life and Education 55

3 Contextualisation and Modernisation: Islamic Thought through Fatwas in Singapore Nazirudin Nasir 57

4 Developing Asatizah in Singapore through the Asatizah Recognition Scheme Mohammad Hannan Hassan Irwan Mohd Hadi Shuhaimy 73

5 Madrasah Education: A Journey Towards Excellence Farah Mahamood Aljunied Zalman Putra Ahmad Ali 89

6 Rethinking Islamic Education for the Young Farah Mahamood Aljunied Mohamad Khidir Abdul Rahman 111

Part 3 Managing Assets and Services 129

7 Mosques in Singapore: Managing Expectations and the Future Ahead Mohamad Helmy Mohd Isa 131

8 Doing Things Differently: Zakat and Social Development in Singapore Zulfadhli Ghazali 149

9 Enhancing Community Assets: Sustaining the Wakaf Legacy Masagoes Muhammad Isyak 165

10 Haj Aspirations: A 'Hybrid' of Public and Private Models for Singapore Abdul Rahim Saleh 179

11 Managing Demand Growth for Halal Food Dewi Hartaty Suratty 199

12 Seeking the Meaning of Sacrifice: Evolution of Korban in Singapore Sakdun Sardi 221

Part 4 Beyond the Singapore Muslim Community 239

13 International Networking: Bringing the World to Muis Asri Aziz 241

14 Spirit of Blessings to All: Muis' Contribution to Social Cohesion Zalman Putra Ahmad Ali Zainul Abidin Ibrahim 255

Conclusion: Diversity and Disruption: Charting New Pathways for the Future Albakri Ahmad Zalman Putra Ahmad Ali 275

Profile of Contributors 293

Glossary 303

Past & Present Images 309

Index 335