Muis Annual Report (2020)
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RE SO LV ED STEERING FORWARD AS A COMMUNITY IN THE FACE OF CHALLENGES Muis Annual Report RESOLVED: STEERING FORWARD AS 2 A COMMUNITY IN THE FACE OF CHALLENGES MUIS ANNUAL REPORT 2020 CONTENTS 3 Vision | Mission | Strategic Priority 4 Te Singapore Muslim Identity 5 President’s Message 7 Chief Executive’s Message 9 Members Of Te Council Sixth Tree-Year Plan (6M3YP) 10 Religious Leadership & Strengthening Social Cohesion 22 Rallying Support To Te Underserved In Te Community 31 Strengthening Support & Development oF Asatizah 45 Strengthening Our Religious Institutions 54 Financial Highlights < BACK TO CONTENTS RELIGIOUS LEADERSHIP & STRENGTHENING SOCIAL COHESION RESOLVED: STEERING FORWARD AS 3 A COMMUNITY IN THE FACE OF CHALLENGES MUIS ANNUAL REPORT 2020 MISSION To work with the community in developing a profound religious life and dynamic institutions. VISION A Gracious Muslim Community of Excellence that Inspires and Radiates Blessings to All. STRATEGIC PRIORITY To set the Islamic agenda, shape religious life and forge the Singaporean Muslim identity. < BACK TO CONTENTS RELIGIOUS LEADERSHIP & STRENGTHENING SOCIAL COHESION RESOLVED: STEERING FORWARD AS 4 A COMMUNITY IN THE FACE OF CHALLENGES MUIS ANNUAL REPORT 2020 THE SINGAPORE MUSLIM IDENTITY Holds strongly to Islamic principles while adapting itself to changing context. Morally and spiritually strong to be on top 1 of challenges of modern society. 2 Progressive, practises Islam beyond form/rituals and rides the modernisation wave. Appreciates Islamic civilisation and history, and 3 4 has a good understanding of contemporary issues. Appreciates other civilisations and is confident to interact and learn from other communities. Believes that good Muslims are also good citizens. 5 6 Well-adjusted as contributing members of a multi-religious society and secular state. Be a blessing to all and promotes 7 universal principles and values. 8 Inclusive and practises pluralism without contradicting Islam. Be a model and inspiration to all. 9 10 < BACK TO CONTENTS RELIGIOUS LEADERSHIP & STRENGTHENING SOCIAL COHESION RESOLVED: STEERING FORWARD AS 5 A COMMUNITY IN THE FACE OF CHALLENGES MUIS ANNUAL REPORT 2020 President’s Message 2020 marked the second year of the 6th Muis Tree-Year Plan (2019-2021). It was a very eventful year. Te COVID-19 global pandemic has caused a disruption to the economic, social and religious aspects of our lives in Singapore. It was a year of challenges, adaptations and a new normal. Despite the situation, Muis was resolved in continuing its role in religious thought leadership for the Muslim community within the context of a multi-religious and secular Singapore. It performed this role through collaborative eforts with stakeholders. Many initiatives were rolled out to strengthen religious resilience and support the community in the pandemic and economic downturn. Muis undertook a significant effort to uplift and empower the disadvantaged in the community, especially more in 2020. I am pleased to note that the valuable partnership forged through the M3 initiative with partner agencies MENDAKI and People Association’s Malay Activity Executive Committees Council (MESRA) has enabled Muis to be more comprehensive in supporting all segments of the community. Te FITRAH initiative has enhanced support for the incarcerated and their families. Te Bersamamu initiative has witnessed collaboration with more agencies to further support and strengthen the resilience of families in our community. Trough accelerated Public Service Transformation eforts, Muis became more accessible to the community with digitalisation of services and the increase of its online presence. < BACK TO CONTENTS RELIGIOUS LEADERSHIP & STRENGTHENINGPRESIDENT’S SOCIAL COHESION MESSAGE RESOLVED: STEERING FORWARD AS 6 A COMMUNITY IN THE FACE OF CHALLENGES MUIS ANNUAL REPORT 2020 “The community recognises In a world of speed and accessibility, Muis recognises the need to engage the community across diverse platforms. Contextualised religious Muis’ unceasing efforts in guidance is now increasingly provided through online platforms like SalamSG TV, MuslimSG and the Asatizah Youth Network. Digital developing the potential religious content in the forms of articles, videos and graphics have been and capabilities of our curated for the context of our plural society. asatizah. Initiatives have Te community recognises Muis’ unceasing eforts in developing the been introduced to guide potential and capabilities of our asatizah. Initiatives have been introduced to guide our asatizah in goals and careers. As ideas evolve and become our asatizah in goals and more complex, I believe that our asatizah will be prepared to face contemporary challenges in the future. Furthermore, my colleagues in careers. As ideas evolve Muis, mosques and madrasahs are missioned up to stay connected with and become more complex, the community to render assistance in these difcult times I believe that our asatizah Te importance of social cohesion is also refected in our continued eforts to broaden and deepen the community’s understanding and practice of will be prepared to face Islam so that they continue to be inclusive, contributing, adaptive and contemporary challenges progressive. We have also been strengthening our mosques and madrasahs so that these key institutions continue to play efective roles in shaping the in the future.” community’s religious life. With the enduring support of the community, Muis has done commendable work in maintaining a strong foundation that have allowed the community to remain undeterred and resolved in the face of crisis. Let us march forward together in the same spirit towards the vision of a Gracious Muslim Community of Excellence that Inspires and Radiates Blessings to All. Te Muslim Community is a Community of Success that Singapore can take pride in. On behalf of Muis, I like to express our deepest gratitude to the community for its continuing support. Haji Mohammad Alami Musa President of Muis < BACK TO CONTENTS PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE RESOLVED: STEERING FORWARD AS 7 A COMMUNITY IN THE FACE OF CHALLENGES MUIS ANNUAL REPORT 2020 2020 was truly memorable, as we battled with COVID-19. Te disruption that it brought into our lives led us to refect and appreciate the things we may have taken for granted. Tis, however, did not deter Muis’ resolve to serve the Muslim community in Singapore. It is thus with honour that I deliver this year’s annual report “Resolved: Steering Forward as A Community in Te Face of Challenges”. Troughout 2020, we witnessed the convergence between Muis, our stakeholders and the community. Te challenges posed by the pandemic have inspired innovative responses and adaptations that we would not have thought of during usual times. The religious leadership of Muis remains committed to providing contextualised religious guidance for the Singapore Muslim community. • Te Ofce of the Mufi (OOM) has continued to guide the community to fulfl their religious duties despite the unprecedented and rapidly evolving situation. OOM issued a total of 4 fatwas and 15 irsyads that were COVID-19 related. • During the Circuit Breaker period, demand for online religious content increased. SalamSG TV was launched to fulfl the community’s longing to attend religious sermons and classes at the mosque. 630,000 views on YouTube was garnered during Ramadan itself. • Digital engagements eforts through MuslimSG and the Asatizah Youth Network ensured ready access to religious resources online, as well as the opportunities to connect in person with our asatizah in a safe and inclusive space. I am also glad to report that Muis has expanded its capabilities to further uplif the under-served in our community: • To support families who were adversely afected by the economic situation, Muis launched the COVID-19 Muis Support Fund (CMSF). $2.22 million was disbursed to the approved applicants of CMSF. Tis scheme, guided by the Fatwa Committee, provided fnancial assistance for those afected by the pandemic but who do not normally qualify Chief for zakat under the existing criteria. • Strong community contributions via the Rahmatan-lil-alamin Executive’s Foundation (RLAF) to the Courage Fund and SGUnited Buka Puasa demonstrated solidarity from persons regardless of race, language, Message or religion, to help those in need. < BACK TO CONTENTS CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S MESSAGE RESOLVED: STEERING FORWARD AS 8 A COMMUNITY IN THE FACE OF CHALLENGES MUIS ANNUAL REPORT 2020 • Together with our Mosques, Muis launched the review sought to develop a holistic asatizah Pelita Centre to better serve the needs of our Zakat development framework with stronger emphasis on benefciaries. It seeks to enhance the capabilities skills development. of Social Development Ofcers to better support the families beyond fnancial means, including • 2020 also marked the commencement of the tapping on other national and community assets to Postgraduate Certifcate in Islam in Contemporary provide holistic support. Societies (PCICS). More asatizah will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to apply their Islamic • Te FITRAH ofce has made tremendous progress knowledge and provide appropriate guidance in in the past year. Te number of volunteers, which the Singapore context. includes Religious Counsellors and Community Befrienders, grew up to almost 400 in 2020. A Wakaf for the Future Digitalisation, driven by the pandemic, played a major • Te economic downturn arising from the pandemic role in the strengthening of our religious institutions: showed how sectors