Struggling in Singapore
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Salaam @meiznazt
Originally Im from your southern neighboor (Indonesia)
I know you have some problem and look like it's complex, you lived in an Islamic minority country with Sunni majority
It's not easy to follow something that different from the majority fundamentalism.Like in my country the Quranist movement can easily doomed in early 90s.But I always hoped that popularity of Quranist in Malaysia can spread across Nusantara.
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Hi there,
Yes I seriously hope that the movement gains strength and influence here in Singapore, the only problem I see is that the Religious Council is a pain here and forming independent Islamic religious communities is not as easy as setting up a non-denominational protestant church here. Im happy that in Indonesia, its much more relaxed and freedom of religion is a reality there.
Salam.
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Yeah, its all intertwined that way. But there are ex muslims who were bold and wrote in to them that theyve left religion all together or converted to christianity.
That certainly makes them upset, another sheep has gone into another farm.
Nonetheless the sheep remains as sheep.. nothing changes..On a lighter note...
"meh" is an article that denotes a question. So you cant use meh here coz you meant to say, "Of Course!" so it should be
"Of course lah!" =P And yes Singlish has a grammar.=D
Thanks for the valuable lesson on Singlish Grammar.. )
But.. why should we speak good Singlish? I understand you understand enough already meh?
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Welcome )
Love your intro! it is interesting how there seems to be few looking for the truth, yet at the same time more and more people appear. I feel being in the minority is a good thing especially since the quran says if we follow the majority we will be led astray.... there is something to be said about that.
May Allah grant you wisdom.
Christine
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Salam,
I am in Dunedin and would be happy to help you out with the city once here. I just moved here myself but has been in NZ for the last 10 years. I have been looking for someone with similar thinking but so very hard. So I have been just pretending that I do what they do in Eid celebrations etc. but at home I am free to think and practice to God as I like. It is such a freedom to be away from home country and I think this a gift from God to move away. sun
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Peace and blessings to all,
I was born and raised in Singapore and I'm still in this little island state. The majority of Muslims here are of the Shafi'i school of thought and their Islamic practices are fused with local rituals and culture that were fused with supposed Islamic practices. The community here is generally strict yet westernized at the same time but recently there has been an influx of salafi preachers in mosques doing their little study circles and my dad has recently subscribed to the anti-innovation in religion doctrine that is essentially wahhabism and salafism but like most people, would disagree to be labelled but strives to be known as Ahl-Sunnah-Wa-AlJammah. So its been hard for me to express myself here at home where he barks down my throat telling me whats right and wrong and whats religious innovation yet at the same time insists that Islam is simple.
My late grandfather however had a more spiritual approach towards Islam, he was a pretty mild Imam in our local mosque over a decade ago. In my teenage years I've struggled to reconcile the liberating spiritual approach towards Islam and the strict rules that the Hadith portrays and I see similarities between the Hadith and the Jewish Talmud - additions to scriptural ordinances. I grew up questioning alot of Islamic practices and became pretty defiant and chose to just let go of religion and focus on God alone without any religious inclinations. I spent about 5 years in that limbo state, almost drifting around like a jellyfish in a religious vacuum.
At 21 I discovered the Baha'i Faith, I was attracted to its teachings that promoted spiritual and social progress, the equality of both gender (almost) I became pretty active in the local Baha'i community, going for classes, prayers and devotions. But after a while and after careful reading into the history and their countless sacred literature, i decided it wasnt for me. I plunged back into jello-limbo. I then became an apathetic agnostic and started my teaching position in a local prestigious Methodist Mission school for boys. Oh how discomforting it was for me.
A year ago, I started picking up the Quran i left collecting dust on my book shelf in my bedroom. I starting reading it, highlighting the verses that speak out to me. So i thought, yes this message is clear and simple, this religion IS simple but why the countless prohibitions and nonsense we hold to be true and divine from the Hadiths? I started feeling uncomfortable about Islam all over again, I couldn't connect the dots. Love your neighbour says the Quran but dont give your salam and greetings to the non muslims or say death be to you according to the hadith.
So recently Ive been in a heated argument/discussion with my parents about the ritual impurity of dogs and how we're supposed to wash 7 times and with soil (my parents who have never read the entire Quran in their native language, insists that all these are in the Quran btw). I started researching and found this site and couple of others that proclaims that The Quran alone should be obeyed. I rejoiced yet fear sank in. I wonder if I'm going down a road far worse than being plain agnostic, or what if I proclaim this publicly and a fatwa against me is decreed by our neighbouring nation (that is supposedly Islamic but a corrupted government) or i get gunned down by local fundamentalists or the worst case, my family might ostracize me.
There you have it, my lengthy testament. I hope to get to you guys and be able to discuss and share in your spiritual journey in this reversion to true early Islam. (we're like a protestant movement back during the reformation era!)
Salam wa Allahu Akbar!
MeisnaztThis is a good place to seek knowledge. You really don't have to discuss your beliefs with people in your personal lives. The whole world is in the internet. You can discuss with millions of people without anyone in your personal life having a clue. Think about it this way. Every forum you particpate in and everytime you post a thread or make a comment you are doing your own Khutbah. Thousands can be reached that way from all walks of life.
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Hi Bigmo & Dunner
I like your analogy of each post being my own khutbah! I will surely take time to discuss online for it is much safer than having to discuss religiosity with my family I get a lot of tongue lashing when my parents found out I was interacting with my friend's Golden Retriever and if they see me praying with my arms unfolded.
Dunner,
It's good to know that I'll have someone to speak to when I'm there in the near future, my display pic was taken up in dunedin botanic gardens last December ) beautiful place do check it out. Where were you originally from if you weren't already from New Zealand? )
Peace,
Nazerul (