contents To be or not to be a Muslim FEATURES REGULARS LEAP OF FAITH 06 To be or not to be a Muslim 05 Selimiye Mosque 40 Confessions of a Second 17 Aid to Syrian Refugees in 12 Islamic Finance from a Generation Muslim Turkey Singaporean Perspective 45 Hajj Sights through a 29 The Hijab Way of Guarding 32 Implications of Islam on the Convert’s Eyes Modesty Economic Sphere 60 Best of Both Worlds 55 Advice from Luqman the Wise to His Sons common terms ABBREVIATIONS IN TMR DA: Darul Arqam Singapore / The Muslim SAW: Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wassallam – AS: ‘Allayhis Salam – Converts’ Association of Singapore Meaning: Peace be upon him; Meaning: Peace be upon him; Used for Prophet Muhammad (SAW) Used for Prophet who came before RA: Radiyallahu ‘Anhu/‘Anha/‘Anhum – Prophet Muhamad (SAW) Meaning: May Allah be pleased with him/ SWT: Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala – her/them; Used for Companions of Prophet Meaning: Glorified and Exalted One; Muhammad (SAW) Used for Allah (SWT) TERMS IN THIS EDITION Alhamdulillah: Praise be to God Insha’Allah: If God wills Arabic terms have been represented Da’wah: Invitation to understand Islam Madrasah: Islamic School by simple Roman alphabets, and their meanings briefly provided, to ease your Deen: Religion; way of life Masha’Allah: God has willed it reading. For accurate pronunciation and Hadith: Narrations about the words and Shariah: Islamic Laws detailed meanings, it is highly advised to deeds of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) Sunnah: Practices of Prophet Muhammad refer to the original spelling and meanings Halal: Permissible (SAW) in Arabic. Haram: Forbidden Ummah: Community Hijab / Tudung: Headgear that covers Ustadz (Ust): Teacher TMR contains some of Allah’s names and hair and neck Zakat: Alms-giving Quranic verses. Please do not dispose in the trash. Kindly keep, shred or recycle the Iman: Faith; Belief magazine. the muslim reader volume 32 • issue 01/2014 01 contents LIFESTYLE HOUSE OF ARQAM 22 The Lift Me Up Project 44 A Biography Rich with 15 Book Reading by 26 Arabic for Beginners: Historical Narratives Dato’ Aidit Ghazali Greetings and Introduction 52 Smartphone Apps and the 24 Darul Arqam Bursary Award 36 Helpful Travel Info from Modern-day Muslim Presentation HalalTrip.com 63 Un-Sinfully Good managing editor contributors publisher disclaimer copyright aishah hussein abdul ghafar abdul kadir darul arqam singapore the publisher and editor © 2014 darul arqam candy mak @ nadia mak 32 onan road, the galaxy are unable to accept singapore. all rights carol ‘aliya widjaya singapore 424484 any liability for errors or reserved. the contents associate/lifestyle editor hyder gulam phone: +65 6348 8344 omissions that may occur of this publication may siti zubeidah kadir muhammad timuzi adnan fax: +65 6440 6724 and any consequences not be reproduced in any (tim alden) www.darul-arqam.org.sg arising from the use of form or by any means, shaik kadir information contained either in its entirety, or consulting editor sim khadijah mohammed design & layout in this magazine. the even partially, without the dr yamin cheng siti khairunnisa zainal adzen touche views expressed do not documented permission siti zubeidah kadir necessarily reflect those of the publisher. syeda adiba husain printed in singapore by of the publisher and technical advisor umar munshi khl printing pte ltd editor. the publication zainal abidin nordin dr yamin cheng of advertisements and the muslim reader is advertorials within published three times in the magazine does special thanks a year by darul arqam not constitute any dato’ aidit ghazali singapore. endorsement by the as-souq publisher and editor of david zachariah the contents therein. blocksidge mohd amin teo mohd amirul mohd yunos muhd irfan maslan pustaka nasional yoda the muslim reader 02 volume 32 • issue 01/2014 contents HOUSE OF ARQAM 39 YODA’s Get Out, Discover 50 Multi-National Clubs BBQ 59 YODA’s Bowling Meet Picnic and Gathering editorial note To be or not to be a Muslim Alhamdulillah, this edition of TMR arrives with a brand new feel. Following the launch of the TMR application in 2012 on iTunes, Insha’Allah, the publication of this edition marks the launch of the TMR app on Android. Besides free edition of Teens’ Crossroads (TC), users can also look out for multimedia contents, including e-books of DA’s publications on the TMR app. TMR, in this edition, specially brings together writings that explore some Chinese Muslim/Convert thoughts. Chinese Muslim Convert, Dr Yamin Cheng, explains the cultural and identity issues that the Chinese Muslims in Malaysia and Singapore are facing. Sim Khadijah Mohammed, a daughter of a Chinese Muslim Convert, shares her experiences about growing up as a non-Malay-speaking born-Muslim. Candy Mak @ Nadia Mak, a Chinese Muslim Convert, expresses her thoughts about parenthood and her hopes about the future of her child, who is growing up with a mix of Malay-Chinese heritage. With more contents and regular highlights, including an honorary tribute to the late author Syed Ahmad Semait’s works, Halal-lifestyle reviews, and opinions on Islamic finances, TMR also presents a fresh pictorial spread of activities and events that were happening at DA and around its people. TMR aspires to offer more variety, with improved and enriching contents, Insha’Allah, come every edition. Special thanks to Epsilon Mobile, Adzen Touché, Carol Widjaya, Siti Zubeidah Kadir, and Dr Yamin Cheng for the help rendered in making TMR, from pre-production to post-production. May Allah (SWT) bless you for the contribution. Ameen. managing editor aishah hussein [email protected] the muslim reader 04 volume 32 • issue 01/2014 Selimiye Mosque Edirne, Turkey The Selimiye Mosque is commissioned by Sultan Selim II. This Ottoman mosque was built by architect Mimar Sinan between 1568 and 1574. It was considered by Sinan to be his masterpiece and is one of the highest achievements of Islamic architecture. Surrounded by four tall minarets, the Mosque has a grand dome atop it. The adjoining Social Complex includes two madrasahs, a bazaar, a clock house, a courtyard and a library. The mosque was included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2011. the muslim reader volume 32 • issue 01/2014 05 To be or not to be a Necessary to build a support system so that Converts know the sweetness of being a Muslim in their very own identity. text by YAMIN CHENG et us begin with a story. or even awkward, for one to ask with this perception of Islam. The Once, there was a Muslim about religion. But this is the reality problem is, this perception comes who met a Chinese non- with many of the Chinese in both from many of both the Malays Muslim and was eager Singapore and Malaysia, when it and the Chinese. When a Chinese to tell him as much as he comes to Islam. For persons outside Muslim meets a Malay person, Lcould about Islam, with the hope Singapore and Malaysia, many he may be asked a question like, that the Chinese would become a may be wondering how religion ‘So, you are a Muslim. But are Muslim. He went into great lengths and ethnicity in these countries your parents Chinese?’ In some to impress the Chinese about why are so closely intertwined with one instances, Chinese customs and there is a God, the arguments for another that it is hard to distinguish practices are seen by some Malays God’s existence, what a belief in one from the other. Islam, for as un-Islamic, not because they do God holds for him, and so on and the people in these countries, is not conform to the Islamic beliefs so forth. When he finished his last indistinguishable from the Malay and practices, but because they breath of sentence, he asked the culture. To be Muslim is to be Malay are alien to Malay customs and Chinese if he had any questions that and vice-versa. For a Chinese, to practices. Eating with chopsticks needed clarification, and our friend be Muslim is not only to be Malay, is a unique Chinese practice, nodded. ‘I want to know,’ he said, but to give up his Chinese identity but to some Malays, this is not ‘If I become a Muslim, can I still eat once and for all. He is no longer a an acceptable Islamic practice wanton noodle?’ Chinese after becoming a Muslim. because the Malays do not eat with chopsticks but with their For many of the Muslims, such a Many Chinese Converts to Islam hands. Prophet Muhammad (SAW) question would have seemed weird, face the dilemma of having to live ate only with his hands, they say, the muslim reader 06 volume 32 • issue 01/2014 feature The only way to deal with this situation, it seems, is for the Converts themselves to step in and offer practical contributions that would alter the status quo, or otherwise they may remain to lament at the stereotyping of their image as Muslims and not to follow the Prophet’s conduct is tantamount to not following the Islamic way of life. For some Malays, it is imperative to have a Malay name because a Malay name is, after all, a Muslim name. For some other Malays, it is not only imperative to have a Malay or Muslim name, but it is also imperative to discard one’s Chinese name after becoming a Muslim because a Chinese name is not an Islamic name. Abdul Rahman is a Muslim and a Malay name and it means ‘servant of God,’ but Wan Tan Mee, what Islamic meaning perplexed situation, the situation is Muslim restaurants, are a step does it carry? accentuated with the absence of a in this direction.