contents P2. Path to Conversion P4. Requirements of Conversion P6. What’s in a Name Muslim Converts’ Association of Singapore P10. (Darul Arqam Singapore) Circumcision Converts’ Development P.14 Division (CDD) Marriage Talk 32 Onan Road, The Galaxy P20. Singapore 424484 Helpful Information Tel: +65 6597 0400 P24. (press 1) Programmes Fax: +65 6440 6724 Conducted by CDD URL: mcas.sg Email: [email protected] ; P26. [email protected] Other Available Programmes the path to conversion 1. Knowing Islam Session (KIS) 2. Beginners’ Course on Islam (BCI) 3. Let’s Pray 1 (LP1) 4. Conversion Ceremony Issuance of Conversion Card Insertion of Muslim name into NRIC for Singapore Citizens at the Immigration and Checkpoint Authority (ICA), if necessary 2 Photo by Muhd Yusuf Ali @ A. Muralitharan Ali Yusuf Muhd by Photo When you are ready to embrace Islam, you may book an appointment for the Conversion Ceremony. Appointments can be made online at: https://mcas.sg/embracing- islam/ An officer will get in touch with you within 5 working days either by phone or e-mail. requirements of conversion preparation bring along We recommend that you attend the Knowing Islam Session (KIS), complete the Two (2) male Beginners’ Course on Islam Muslims (aged (BCI) and Let’s Pray 1 (LP1) 21 and above) before embracing Islam. as witnesses (preferably Note: During the Conversion relatives and/or Ceremony, you need close friends who to recite the Shahadah can guide the (Declaration of Faith) in the Convert) presence of the Registration Officer and the two male Three (3) passport- Muslim witnesses. sized photographs You need to express it Convert’s NRIC clearly with conviction, and (Singaporean) internalize the meaning of or Passport the Shahadah. This is where (Foreigner) the knowledge you have learnt in the preparatory Witnesses’ NRIC courses would come in (Singaporean) handy! or Passport (Foreigner) 4 upon arrival Note: If you had converted Complete the Conversion overseas and want to Registration Form available at officially endorse the the Converts’ Development conversion document, you Division (CDD) office. may contact Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS) Note: You are strongly at +65 6359 1199, which is encouraged to have a subjected to MUIS approval. Muslim name ready.* You @ A. Muralitharan Ali Yusuf Muhd by Photo can browse through a list of Muslim names at the CDD counter. *More information on Muslim Names on page 6 upon conversion You will be issued a Conversion Card with your NRIC/Passport name, Muslim name (if any), NRIC number, date of birth and date of conversion. You will also receive a gift set which includes items such as a translation of the Qur’an, prayer compass, prayer mat, prayer garment The Ka’bah: The House of God; (for sisters) and a prayer cap direction of prayer for Muslims (for brothers). 5 what is in a name do i need a muslim name? While it is not compulsory, you are encouraged to choose a Muslim name that has a good meaning and is distinct from names reflecting other faiths. It is not necessary for converts to adopt ‘Bin Abdullah’ or ‘Binti Abdullah’ which means ‘son of God’s servant’ or ‘daughter of God’s servant’. On your conversion card, your current name remains while the Muslim name is an alias. If you wish to insert your Muslim name on your NRIC / Passport, the format of your name will be the same as Photo by Muhd Yusuf Ali @ A. Muralitharan Ali Yusuf Muhd by Photo your conversion card. Note: A list of Muslim names is available at the CDD office upon request. You can also purchase a book on Muslim names at our Bookshop. 6 lost cards If you have misplaced your Conversion Card, please make a police report, then A Sample Conversion Card* apply for a new card with MCAS. Each card replacement costs SGD$10. zachary tan kim kuat* Zaki Tan Kim Kuat Muhammad Zaki Tan Muhammad Zaki Abdullah Tan LAURETTA ROSEMARY FRANCIS* Latifah Lauretta Francis Latifah Abdullah Francis sample name formats Latifah Rosemary Francis Abdullah * These names are examples and do not represent the names of any actual person. 7 The name Muhammad means “he who is most praised”. Today, the Prophet Muhammad’s (Peace Be Upon Him) name is mentioned every second around the globe by Muslims both in and out of their prayers. Photo by Muhd Yusuf Ali @ A. Muralitharan Ali Yusuf Muhd by Photo The City of Madinah Where the body of the Prophet (PBUH) is laid to rest. For foreigners, please refer to your respective embassies or representative offices for the procedures on officially changing your name your name in your travel documents8 or your county’s legal documents. Insertion of Muslim name in Required NRIC / Passport documents to replace NRIC / Registration of Muslim names Passport can be done online at: www.ica.gov.sg Your existing NRIC/ Passport or over the counter at: Immigration & Custom Conversion Card Original & copy Authority (ICA) ICA Building 10 Kallang Rd One passport (Next to Lavender MRT) sized photograph Singapore 208718 with the following specifications: Call Centre The photograph image Tel: +65 6391 6100 must be taken within the Operating Hours last 3 months; Monday to Friday: 8.00 am to 5.00 pm The photograph must be in colour, taken against a white Saturday: background with either a 8.00 am to 1.00 pm matt or semi-matt finish; Note: MCAS will reimburse The photograph image the fees charged by ICA. must show the full face and without headgear (headgear You are required to present worn in accordance with your new NRIC / Passport, religious or racial customs receipts and conversion is acceptable but must not card to the CDD office hide the facial features); located on the first floor of The photograph cannot be MCAS. taken in uniform. 9 note Circumcision the rulings The circumcision (khitan or khatnah) is the Prophetic practice (sunnah) of Prophet Ibrahim and Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon them and upon all the prophets and messengers of Allah). Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “There are five things that are of the nature (i.e. of the natural hygiene): removing the pubic hair, circumcision, trimming the moustache, removing the underarm hair, and cutting of the nails.” (Reported in all the six authentic collections of Hadith and other books of Hadith) According to Imam Abu Hanifah and Imam Malik, circumcision is highly recommended (sunnah mu’akkadah). According to Imam Shafi’i and Ahmad ibn Hanbal it is mandatory (wajib). Muslim parents should make sure that their male children are circumcised. It maintains cleanliness (taharah) and hygiene as well and as it is a prophetic tradition. Circumcision prevents residual urine to gather in the penis’s foreskin. This enables one to easily clean his private parts as part of maintaining cleanliness for ablution in order to 10 perform the five daily prayers. Note: Circumcision is fast and almost painless. The initial injection of anesthesia is the only pain that one will feel. We recommend laser surgery for faster healing. For female Converts, MCAS does not recommend circumcision. However, if you decide to do so, it is permissible. 11 If your circumcision was circumcision fee reimbursement done overseas after your conversion, you A reimbursement of are required to present up to SGD$300 can be the receipt for the claimed from the Finance reimbursement. Division on the second floor of the Association for Reimbursement value will circumcision procedures depend on the currency done after conversion. exchange rate of the day. north north-west Country Side Clinic Ar-Raudhah Medicare and Surgery Clinic Blk 106, Yishun Ring Blk 372, Bukit Batok Road #01-189, St 31 #01-386, Singapore 760106 Singapore 650372 Dr. Zailan Bin Ahmad Dr. Amir Adha Abdullah Tel: +65 6257 0369 Tel: +65 6567 7458 Important: Please produce Mid: Printed across these two pages is a suggested list of clinics from your Conversion Card and the four main geographical clusters receipts when making the in Singapore. You may choose to claim. proceed with any other clinics or hospitals in Singapore besides the above suggestions for your circumcision. 12 West east Eden Family Clinic Crescent Clinic and Dental Surgery Blk 492, Jurong West Blk 1A, Eunos Crescent St 41 #01-54, #01-2473, Singapore 640492 Singapore 401001 Dr. Elias Tham, Dr. Muhammad Tahir, Tel: +65 6566 0257 Tel: +65 6745 8624 13 marriage talk registration If you intend to register your marriage, please refer to the Registry of Muslim procedure Marriages (ROMM) at the You may have your marriage following address for the solemnized after 7 calendar procedures and to check days at the earliest, or your eligibility. within 150 calendar days at the latest from the date of Registry of Muslim registration. Marriages 7 Canning Rise, Booking of Kadi or Naib Singapore 179869 Kadi* (Registrar or Tel : +65 6337 0207 Assistant Registrar) can Fax: +65 6337 1908 only be done online, through the internet or www.romm.gov.sg the self-help kiosks, at the point where you register for your marriage. Face- to-face bookings or phone bookings are no longer accepted. 14 bring along NRIC or passport (for foreigners) Divorce Certificate or Decree Nisi An interview will be and Decree Nisi conducted with the Kadi or Absolute* Naib Kadi for verification of your marital status. Death Certificate of a deceased A Muslim Wali (legal spouse* guardian) must accompany born Muslim women during Deed poll if name the interview. differs from NRIC *For female Converts, only Proof of Adoption* booking of Kadi is necessary Conversion Card issued by Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) Marriage Guidance Course certificate *Where applicable 15 “O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another.” Qur’an 49:13 16 additional documents for other circumstances, he may give nationalities his consent in writing.