The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) has successfully
concluded a trial to test the readiness of places of worship and for
worshippers to perform congregational prayers in larger numbers safely.
Since 26 June 2020, Friday congregational prayers have resumed at 65 mosques, accommodating up to 50 congregants at any one time. In the trial, four* mosques implemented Safe Management
Measures (SMM) as prescribed by the Ministry of Community, Culture and
Youth. The success of the trial adds a prayer zone at mosques, resulting in congregational worship of up to 100 persons across two zones.
According to Muis, 26 June-28 August saw approximately 84,000 spaces cumulatively provided for Friday prayers. The organisation noted that worshippers have adapted well to the additional safe measures and behaved responsibly, cooperating with mosque frontline officers to ensure the smooth conduct of daily and Friday congregational prayers.
With the success of this trial, Muis will expand the pilot to allow another 20 mosques to offer two prayer zones for Friday prayers. A total of 24 mosques will now offer praying capacity for 100 spaces (two zones) for three sessions every Friday. Another 10 mosques will also begin offering three prayer sessions. This will provide a total of 13,000 places each week for Friday prayer starting 4 September 2020, a 34% increase spaces available each week.
The original rukhsah** (رخصة, concession), as advised by the Office of the Mufti in its fatwa*** (فتوى, legal opinion) is still in place. Those who have yet to attain a slot for Friday prayers are given the flexibility to replace Friday prayer with the dhuhr (الظهر, mid-day) prayer and are encouraged to tune in to Friday sermons delivered via SalamSG TV.
Details:
View the list of mosques offering more prayer spaces for the first two Fridays of September
Muis will open Friday prayer
registration for more than a week each time, to make it easier for the
public to obtain a slot. Registration for Friday prayer booking for 4
September and 11 September will open on 1 September 2020 at 10 am for
worshippers who have yet to secure a space since 24 July (inclusive).
Registration for congregational prayer slots at all mosques will be open
via the MuslimSG app and via https://ourmosques.commonspaces.sg.
However,
some people have made bookings but failed to turn up, particularly for
the third prayer session. Muis requests that congregants are asked to
cancel their bookings early if they are unable to come for prayer so
that others may have an opportunity to register. Congregants may cancel
bookings at any time up to one hour before the reserved prayer session.
Those who fail to cancel their bookings and do not turn up will be
deemed as having secured a slot in the system and will have to await the
prevailing debarment period before they can reapply. This debarment
period will be reviewed and updated as more spaces progressively become
available.
SMM measures will continue, in the form of
separate entrances and exits for different zones, as well as no
intermingling between zones. All are encouraged to take wudhu (الوضوء, ritual ablutions) before coming to the mosque, bring
their own prayer items (prayer mats and a shoe bag), wear a mask,
refrain from talking and physical contact with other congregants,
maintain safe distancing and use SafeEntry when entering and
exiting the mosques.
Vulnerable individuals (those aged above 60
and those exhibiting symptoms of acute respiratory infection as well as
pre-existing chronic medical conditions) and children below the age of
12 are strongly encouraged to refrain from going to the mosque, Muis
said. They should perform prayers at home instead. Worshippers with
valid prayer slots who are unwell should also cancel their bookings.
*The four mosques are Masjid Assyafaah, Masjid Mujahidin, Masjid Al-Istighfar and Masjid Al-Iman.
**Flexibility, permissibility, an exception to a general law, granted to preserve life or remove hardship.
***Fatwa statement on precautionary measures in dealing with Covid-19 dated 24 March 2020.
Saturday, 29 August 2020
Friday, 28 August 2020
Under Armour introduces sport hijabs
Under Armour has introduced the Under Armour Sport Hijab for the athletes looking for the extra edge. "Ingrained in Under Amour brand values is to Stand For Equality and this ensures we have the gear that allows all athletes to train and compete," said the company in a statement.
“We spent several years developing the UA Sports Hijab, because we wanted to ensure that when the product launched it was the best it could be. The UA Sport Hijab is rooted in functionality and performance, from the breathable and sweat wicking fabric, to the stretch, seam construction and ear bud access.
"Our team worked diligently to launch a quality sport hijab that will meet the performance needs of its user and ensure all female athletes are covered from head to toe no matter their size, level of performance or religion,” said Jennifer Smith, Under Armour Senior Design Manager, Accessories.
Under Armour developed the UA Sport Hijab with the help of Hijabi athletes around the world including Canadian Under Armour Ambassador, Saman Munir. Saman, a certified personal trainer and fitness influencer, tested multiple prototypes and provided her feedback to the Under Armour design team.
"Because we wanted this product to be the best in the market we did spend several years researching and wear testing different iterations," said Smith.
"It was especially impactful to have personal insight from our own UA athlete, Saman, during this process to drive home the fit and functionality while making an authentic product."
“When you’re wearing fabric around your whole head while you sweat, breathability is non-negotiable. The UA Sport Hijab has changed my workout experience because it’s breathable and has enough length in the front and back, so it doesn’t come untucked. The UA Sport Hijab is game changing for all Muslim women,” said Munir.
The Sport Hijab is made with four-way stretch to move better in every direction. The super soft, smooth fabric is made with a unique hex-shaped mesh pattern designed for maximum breathability, sweat-wicking capability and an extra-fast drying time. With a contoured band around the face, the hijab is designed to prevent slippage, so it won’t come untucked or fall off. Built-in headphone access and a reflective logo ensure that women athletes can work out without distraction.
Details:
The UA Hijab is now available at for US$35 at underarmour.com, UA Brand Houses and select retailers.
Under Armour Singapore sells the UA Sport Hijab and the new longer UA Extended Sport Hijab, for bust coverage. Both cost S$35, in XS/S and M/L sizes, and are only available in black. Adidas Singapore also sells a sport hijab in black for S$35, but it is sold out at the time of writing.
“We spent several years developing the UA Sports Hijab, because we wanted to ensure that when the product launched it was the best it could be. The UA Sport Hijab is rooted in functionality and performance, from the breathable and sweat wicking fabric, to the stretch, seam construction and ear bud access.
"Our team worked diligently to launch a quality sport hijab that will meet the performance needs of its user and ensure all female athletes are covered from head to toe no matter their size, level of performance or religion,” said Jennifer Smith, Under Armour Senior Design Manager, Accessories.
Under Armour developed the UA Sport Hijab with the help of Hijabi athletes around the world including Canadian Under Armour Ambassador, Saman Munir. Saman, a certified personal trainer and fitness influencer, tested multiple prototypes and provided her feedback to the Under Armour design team.
"Because we wanted this product to be the best in the market we did spend several years researching and wear testing different iterations," said Smith.
"It was especially impactful to have personal insight from our own UA athlete, Saman, during this process to drive home the fit and functionality while making an authentic product."
 |
| Source: Under Armour. Under Armour Ambassador Saman Munir trains in the UA Sport Hijab. |
“When you’re wearing fabric around your whole head while you sweat, breathability is non-negotiable. The UA Sport Hijab has changed my workout experience because it’s breathable and has enough length in the front and back, so it doesn’t come untucked. The UA Sport Hijab is game changing for all Muslim women,” said Munir.
The Sport Hijab is made with four-way stretch to move better in every direction. The super soft, smooth fabric is made with a unique hex-shaped mesh pattern designed for maximum breathability, sweat-wicking capability and an extra-fast drying time. With a contoured band around the face, the hijab is designed to prevent slippage, so it won’t come untucked or fall off. Built-in headphone access and a reflective logo ensure that women athletes can work out without distraction.
Details:
The UA Hijab is now available at for US$35 at underarmour.com, UA Brand Houses and select retailers.
Under Armour Singapore sells the UA Sport Hijab and the new longer UA Extended Sport Hijab, for bust coverage. Both cost S$35, in XS/S and M/L sizes, and are only available in black. Adidas Singapore also sells a sport hijab in black for S$35, but it is sold out at the time of writing.
SEBATI shepherd's pie gains fans in Singapore
 |
| Source: Sebati.SG's Instagram page. Sebati.SG specialises in shepherd's pie. |
Established in June 2020, SEBATI specialises in baked goods, particularly ones backed with love. The Singapore home-based business operates on weekends, fulfilling orders in the morning and delivering them hot to customers soon after.
Its flagship is a hearty shepherd's pie, with chocolate pie bars and festive cookies also on the menu. Since launch, SEBATI has seen over 100 trays of shepherd's pies sold, despite a compulsory delivery fee of S$10 per delivery. This is not surprising given the reviews. Some of the comments on SEBATI shepherd's pie include:
"The crunchy bites of the celery and carrots makes it more enjoyable. It tasted good."
"My only complain(t) is the personal size isn’t enough for this carbo lover! I need more! MORE! MOAR!"
"Oh my god your Shepherd's Pies! Sooso goood! I really cannot pull myself away, it's addictive. I love this particular taste (of the mashed potato), DAMN TASTY!!!"
"I want SEBATI to be top of mind when it comes to home-baked shepherd's pie," said Nurie Arba'ah, co-founder of SEBATI, when asked about her goals for the brand. She sees SEBATI as a platform that empowers young mothers to be confident in the kitchen, and in life in general.
Nurie Arba'ah and her husband Dzul set up SEBATI to spread goodness through their bakes. They named the company after "sebati", a Malay word meaning "(extremely) fitting, friendly or united - so much so that it is difficult to separate or isolate".
He is in charge of logistics and overall operations, as he majored in logistics and supply chain management. As the Sous Chef, he is also the one whipping up the aromatic mashed potato in the shepherd's pies. She is Head Chef, and handles marketing too.
"With these multiple hats on, we dream of bringing you closer to your loved ones and be a part of your celebrations, as we serve honest, fresh and wholesome shepherd's pies and more!" says the company on its website.
The company originally focused on Instagram, but went online at www.sebati.sg in early August. This has enabled SEBATI to enjoy seamless order management, and paves the way to their further success.
Details:
Order by Wednesdays for weekend delivery.
Hashtags: #SebatiSG, #muslimowned, #shepherdspie, #halalsg, #halalbakessg, #singaporehomecooks, #sghomebaker
Friday, 21 August 2020
1442 has arrived
The Omani Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs has announced that 21 August 2020, is the first day of
the Islamic new year 1442.
The Oman News Agency reported that the new moon marking the month of Muharram had not been sighted on the 19th, making 20 August the last day of the month Dhulhijjah, and the last day of the year 1441.
The Saudi Press Agency reported that 20 August was 1 Muharram, 1442 in KSA according to the Umm Al-Qura calendar as the crescent for Muharram had been sighted on the 19th.
The Bahrain News Agency announced on the 19th that in line with directives from HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the Royal Court of Bahrain will start distributing the annual donation marking 1442. This will be done through the Sunni and Jafari Endowments Directorates to charities and Hussaini community centres.
The Oman News Agency reported that the new moon marking the month of Muharram had not been sighted on the 19th, making 20 August the last day of the month Dhulhijjah, and the last day of the year 1441.
The Saudi Press Agency reported that 20 August was 1 Muharram, 1442 in KSA according to the Umm Al-Qura calendar as the crescent for Muharram had been sighted on the 19th.
The Bahrain News Agency announced on the 19th that in line with directives from HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the Royal Court of Bahrain will start distributing the annual donation marking 1442. This will be done through the Sunni and Jafari Endowments Directorates to charities and Hussaini community centres.
Thursday, 20 August 2020
Sharjah Islamic Bank is recognised for voluntary work
Sharjah Islamic Bank (SIB) has won the 17th Sharjah Award for Voluntary Work, the Emirati news agency WAM has reported. This is SIB's 4th time winning the award, which recognises organisations supporting volunteer work.
The bank was also praised for encouraging Emirati youth to volunteer.
Mohamed Abdalla, CEO of Sharjah Islamic Bank stressed that public and private entities should support society however they can. He said, "As part of the bank’s social responsibility, SIB is always looking to actively support voluntary initiatives, activities and institutions, to better align with the vision and directives of HH Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah."
"There is nothing more satisfying than extending support to those in need. Hence if you have the ability and resources to be of some help to the community, use the opportunity to the fullest," he advised.
The bank was also praised for encouraging Emirati youth to volunteer.
Mohamed Abdalla, CEO of Sharjah Islamic Bank stressed that public and private entities should support society however they can. He said, "As part of the bank’s social responsibility, SIB is always looking to actively support voluntary initiatives, activities and institutions, to better align with the vision and directives of HH Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah."
"There is nothing more satisfying than extending support to those in need. Hence if you have the ability and resources to be of some help to the community, use the opportunity to the fullest," he advised.
Monday, 17 August 2020
Get a Lush fix at ZALORA Singapore
British beauty delicatessen Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics has arrived on ZALORA.
The 23-year old pioneer of beauty products such as fizzing bath bombs, shower jellies, solid shampoo bars and solid toothpaste emphasises fresh ingredients like organic fruits and vegetables, and the highest-quality herbs, flowers, and essential oils. Twenty years ago, Lush created the first bath bomb, and have since sold millions of units, with an 18.5 million made in 2017 alone.
Lush products are available for every part of the body, from the Bath Bombs to Solid Shampoos, and Toothy Tabs to perfumes. Lush is also known for its stance on ethical issues, and commitment to minimising impact on the environment.
Lush uses 100% recycled plastic for its pots and bottles, plastic-free glitter, and is free of microbeads and mineral oils. Sixty-five percent of Lush products are self-preserving, and the ingredients are ethically sourced in support of fair trade and direct trade initiatives worldwide. The products carry use-by dates to ensure customers know when each product was made, and by whom.
The Lush assortment on ZALORA offers favourites such as Rose Jam Shower Gel, Big Sea Salt Shampoo, Sleepy Body Lotion, Boom Toothpaste Tabs and Creme De Menthe Mouthwash Tabs, at www.zalora.sg/lush-fresh-handmade-cosmetics from S$10 - S$129.
All boxes are made of 100% recyclable cardboard. They come with a printed invoice and are sealed with paper-based stickers, and filled with Eco-Flo packing peanuts to cushion any impact. Eco-Flo peanuts are made from potato starch and biodegradable. The boxes will be labelled 'fragile' when carrying delicate products like Bath Bombs.
In celebration of this launch, Lush will be giving the first 100 customers a free Bar Of Soap valued at S$24, and all customers will receive a free travel-sized item while stocks last.
The 23-year old pioneer of beauty products such as fizzing bath bombs, shower jellies, solid shampoo bars and solid toothpaste emphasises fresh ingredients like organic fruits and vegetables, and the highest-quality herbs, flowers, and essential oils. Twenty years ago, Lush created the first bath bomb, and have since sold millions of units, with an 18.5 million made in 2017 alone.
Lush products are available for every part of the body, from the Bath Bombs to Solid Shampoos, and Toothy Tabs to perfumes. Lush is also known for its stance on ethical issues, and commitment to minimising impact on the environment.
Lush uses 100% recycled plastic for its pots and bottles, plastic-free glitter, and is free of microbeads and mineral oils. Sixty-five percent of Lush products are self-preserving, and the ingredients are ethically sourced in support of fair trade and direct trade initiatives worldwide. The products carry use-by dates to ensure customers know when each product was made, and by whom.
The Lush assortment on ZALORA offers favourites such as Rose Jam Shower Gel, Big Sea Salt Shampoo, Sleepy Body Lotion, Boom Toothpaste Tabs and Creme De Menthe Mouthwash Tabs, at www.zalora.sg/lush-fresh-handmade-cosmetics from S$10 - S$129.
 |
| Source: Zalora. |
All boxes are made of 100% recyclable cardboard. They come with a printed invoice and are sealed with paper-based stickers, and filled with Eco-Flo packing peanuts to cushion any impact. Eco-Flo peanuts are made from potato starch and biodegradable. The boxes will be labelled 'fragile' when carrying delicate products like Bath Bombs.
In celebration of this launch, Lush will be giving the first 100 customers a free Bar Of Soap valued at S$24, and all customers will receive a free travel-sized item while stocks last.
Thursday, 13 August 2020
Sharjah Islamic Bank opens branch at the Mall of the Emirates, Dubai
 |
| Source: SIB. HE Ahmed Saad, Deputy CEO of Sharjah Islamic Bank has opened the latest branch of SIB at Mall of the Emirates in Dubai, UAE. Nabil Abou Alwan, Head of Retail Banking Group at SIB attended the opening ceremony alongside Majed Shaaban, Director of the Branches Network at SIB, Mohamed Ibrahim Alghufili, Regional Manager at SIB, SIB’s Corporate Communications team, and leading representatives of the bank. |
Sharjah Islamic Bank (SIB) has opened a branch at the Mall of the Emirates, Dubai. The new branch will be SIB’s fifth in Dubai, and will provide extended opening hours.
HE Ahmed Saad, SIB Deputy CEO said: “The measures implemented by the bank reflect our vision for the future of the Islamic banking sector, especially over the next decade. By objectively assessing the future needs of the banking sector, SIB has been able to invest in technical infrastructure and digital transformation, proving its effectiveness, durability, and ability to keep pace with current changes. Through efficiently and flexibly managing its business and banking networks, SIB has successfully increased its operating profits despite the present exceptional circumstances."
HE added: "The bank remains committed to serving its loyal customer base. Through ongoing digital transformation and extending branch services to clients in various parts of the country, we will better assist our customers and provide them with access to a wide variety of banking products in accordance with the Islamic shari'ah.”
Head of SIB Retail Banking Nabil Abou Alwan said: “The opening of the latest branch aligns with SIB’s expansion goals to serve various segments of society by selecting the locations most convenient for our customers. By increasing the number of branches in strategic locations such as shopping centres, we are constantly rising to meet market demand.
"Our branches enable us to interact and communicate with our customers directly. All branches have been designed to provide an advanced, dynamic and simple banking experience that meets the needs of a wide range of customers, and enhances the bank's contribution to the economic life of the country.”
The bank has undertaken several precautionary health and safety measures, including installation of a thermal detection system for employees and customers, along with a self-sterilisation device in the main branch of the bank. All measures have been undertaken to align with the directives issued by the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) of the UAE.
Details:
The branch operates six days a week, Saturday to Thursday, from 9 am to 10 pm. Digital services are available 24x7.
Sharjah Islamic Bank also provides an integrated package of electronic services, which can be accessed on the bank’s official website and through Mobile Banking solution which supports online payment through Samsung Pay or Apple Pay. Dial 06-5999999 to avail these services.
Monday, 10 August 2020
Massive study to add to our understanding of Arabic
Sharjah in the UAE has begun on a project to chronicle the development in the Arabic language spanning five distinct time periods, Sharjah 24 has reported.
Spoken by more than 400 million people in the the Middle East and Africa, Arabic was the medium through which philosophers, mathematicians, and astronomers communicated during the Golden Age of Islam, said to span the 8th to 14th centuries.
Dr Mohammed Safi Al Mostaghanemi, Secretary-General of the Arabic Language Academy in Sharjah, said: “The Historical Corpus of the Arabic Language fulfils a dream of the entire Arabic-speaking world; it is an exemplary feat that will shine light on the richness of the Arabic language.”
The Historical Corpus of the Arabic Language aims to offer insights into the world’s fifth-most widely-spoken language and serve as a linguistic resource for researchers, academia, linguists and students worldwide. It is envisioned to be a larger-scale project coupled with superb planning and funding.
Under the direct supervision of HH Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, the Arabic Language Academy (ALA) in Sharjah will lead the management and coordination of the project with the support of the Egypt-based Union of Arab Scientific Language Academies.
Experts from 10 Arabic language academies across the Arab world are currently documenting and researching the history and evolution of Arabic words. After an estimated six years, their research will form the most comprehensive historical corpus of the Arabic language to date, and also the first to cover its evolution from the pre-Islamic period through to its modern form.
The project will reference the broad history of science and arts, and delve into the scientific study of the Arabic language, including syntax, morphology, fiqh (فقه, Islamic jurisprudence), phonetics, 'aroodh (اَلْعَرُوض, Arabic prosody), rhetoric, and more.
With the digitisation of nearly 20,000 Arabic books, manuscripts, sources, and historical documents, the Historical Corpus of the Arabic Language will be designed for easy access. A digital library will host more than 40,000 titles, extracts and documents, many in digital format for the first time.
The corpus will answer questions about language use across the Pre-Islamic period, the Islamic era from Hijri years 1 AH to 132 AH, the Abbasid Caliphate, the development of nation states, and the present modern-day era. The Historical Corpus will outline the development and evolution of terms used throughout the centuries and document the entry of new words into the language over time, from word roots and derivatives to phonetic variations. It will also detail semantic changes – be it semantic shift, progression, development, or drift.
Word comparisons with Semitic languages such as Hebrew, Akkadian, Syriac, Abyssinian, and others, will be emphasised. To accomplish this task, a committee of Semitic language scholars are tracing the similarities and differences between Arabic words and their equivalents in Semitic languages.
Spoken by more than 400 million people in the the Middle East and Africa, Arabic was the medium through which philosophers, mathematicians, and astronomers communicated during the Golden Age of Islam, said to span the 8th to 14th centuries.
Dr Mohammed Safi Al Mostaghanemi, Secretary-General of the Arabic Language Academy in Sharjah, said: “The Historical Corpus of the Arabic Language fulfils a dream of the entire Arabic-speaking world; it is an exemplary feat that will shine light on the richness of the Arabic language.”
The Historical Corpus of the Arabic Language aims to offer insights into the world’s fifth-most widely-spoken language and serve as a linguistic resource for researchers, academia, linguists and students worldwide. It is envisioned to be a larger-scale project coupled with superb planning and funding.
Under the direct supervision of HH Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, the Arabic Language Academy (ALA) in Sharjah will lead the management and coordination of the project with the support of the Egypt-based Union of Arab Scientific Language Academies.
Experts from 10 Arabic language academies across the Arab world are currently documenting and researching the history and evolution of Arabic words. After an estimated six years, their research will form the most comprehensive historical corpus of the Arabic language to date, and also the first to cover its evolution from the pre-Islamic period through to its modern form.
The project will reference the broad history of science and arts, and delve into the scientific study of the Arabic language, including syntax, morphology, fiqh (فقه, Islamic jurisprudence), phonetics, 'aroodh (اَلْعَرُوض, Arabic prosody), rhetoric, and more.
With the digitisation of nearly 20,000 Arabic books, manuscripts, sources, and historical documents, the Historical Corpus of the Arabic Language will be designed for easy access. A digital library will host more than 40,000 titles, extracts and documents, many in digital format for the first time.
The corpus will answer questions about language use across the Pre-Islamic period, the Islamic era from Hijri years 1 AH to 132 AH, the Abbasid Caliphate, the development of nation states, and the present modern-day era. The Historical Corpus will outline the development and evolution of terms used throughout the centuries and document the entry of new words into the language over time, from word roots and derivatives to phonetic variations. It will also detail semantic changes – be it semantic shift, progression, development, or drift.
Word comparisons with Semitic languages such as Hebrew, Akkadian, Syriac, Abyssinian, and others, will be emphasised. To accomplish this task, a committee of Semitic language scholars are tracing the similarities and differences between Arabic words and their equivalents in Semitic languages.
Wednesday, 5 August 2020
MUIS launches new COVID-19 relief fund
The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) will allocate S$1.6 million for the COVID-19 Muis Support Fund (CMSF)
to help ease financial burden of households affected by the economic
uncertainty resulting from the current pandemic. The support fund aims
to assist 4,000 households with each eligible household receiving a one-off assistance of S$400.
Since the start of 2020, Muis has seen a noticeable increase in the number of families receiving zakat monthly financial assistance. To further help families in need, Muis will be providing additional support from zakat. In April, Muis had announced that families receiving zakat financial assistance would be automatically renewed for six months when their assistance expires.
The Singapore Fatwa Committee agreed in May 2020 that those impacted financially by COVID-19 through loss of jobs, or whose household incomes are drastically affected, will qualify for zakat assistance. The committee further recommends that aid can be put together drawing from at least three traditional categories: (fakir miskin1, gharimin2, fisabilillah3 and riqab4).
In doing so, Muis as the zakat authority will be able to preserve and retain the use of the traditional categories for existing cases, whilst dedicating funds for a new category of recipients who face financial hardships due to the pandemic. This will also demonstrate the responsiveness of zakat as a tool for financial assistance in times of need more directly, Muis said, and also act as a stimulus to encourage Muslims to come forward and help.
CMSF assistance is open to individuals who are not current beneficiaries of zakat or ComCare financial assistance, and extra consideration will be given to those who have not received any COVID-19 related assistance. The support fund also seeks to financially support families whose children’s Islamic learning classes had to be disrupted due to lack of means.
The CMSF also aims to assist people who are self-employed and employees who have been affected by the economic impact of COVID-19. As such, individuals who have not been in employment before the start of the COVID-19 period would not be eligible5.
Muis will also allocate S$200,000 under CMSF to support asatizah and their families during the pandemic. The asatizah have been adversely affected by the outbreak of COVID-19, particularly those who are self-employed and doing freelance teaching. This is due to the earlier mosque closures and continued suspension of physical classes at mosques.
The one-off top-up grant will be channelled to asatizah through the Singapore Islamic Scholars and Religious Teachers Association’s (Pergas) Gracious Package. This package is a financial assistance scheme initiated by Pergas and offered to asatizah in March 2020, at the onset of the lockdown. The topup grant will be utilised to provide more support for current Gracious Package recipients and also to support new applicants.
Details:
Applications for the CMSFwill be open until the end of August 2020. At the end of the application exercise, Muis will shortlist 4,000 applications who are most in need based on their per capita income.
To apply, click here.
1 Fakir is a category when the individuals has neither material possessions nor means of livelihood; one who suffers, and has no means to sustain his/her daily needs. The definition of miskin refers to when an individual has insufficient means of livelihood to meet his /her basic needs.
2 Gharimin is the category when an individual is in debt and needs assistance to meet his/her basic needs.
3 Fisabilillah is when an individual strives in the cause of Allah for the betterment of the community.
4 The category of riqab in Singapore refers to those who require some assistance to pursue their education, children of zakat recipients. More details of the above categories of beneficiaries of zakat (asnaf) can be found at www.muis.gov.sg/Zakat/About/Beneficiaries-of-Zakat-Asnaf
5 23 January 2020 is the date determined as to when COVID-19 first occurred in Singapore.
Since the start of 2020, Muis has seen a noticeable increase in the number of families receiving zakat monthly financial assistance. To further help families in need, Muis will be providing additional support from zakat. In April, Muis had announced that families receiving zakat financial assistance would be automatically renewed for six months when their assistance expires.
The Singapore Fatwa Committee agreed in May 2020 that those impacted financially by COVID-19 through loss of jobs, or whose household incomes are drastically affected, will qualify for zakat assistance. The committee further recommends that aid can be put together drawing from at least three traditional categories: (fakir miskin1, gharimin2, fisabilillah3 and riqab4).
In doing so, Muis as the zakat authority will be able to preserve and retain the use of the traditional categories for existing cases, whilst dedicating funds for a new category of recipients who face financial hardships due to the pandemic. This will also demonstrate the responsiveness of zakat as a tool for financial assistance in times of need more directly, Muis said, and also act as a stimulus to encourage Muslims to come forward and help.
CMSF assistance is open to individuals who are not current beneficiaries of zakat or ComCare financial assistance, and extra consideration will be given to those who have not received any COVID-19 related assistance. The support fund also seeks to financially support families whose children’s Islamic learning classes had to be disrupted due to lack of means.
The CMSF also aims to assist people who are self-employed and employees who have been affected by the economic impact of COVID-19. As such, individuals who have not been in employment before the start of the COVID-19 period would not be eligible5.
Muis will also allocate S$200,000 under CMSF to support asatizah and their families during the pandemic. The asatizah have been adversely affected by the outbreak of COVID-19, particularly those who are self-employed and doing freelance teaching. This is due to the earlier mosque closures and continued suspension of physical classes at mosques.
The one-off top-up grant will be channelled to asatizah through the Singapore Islamic Scholars and Religious Teachers Association’s (Pergas) Gracious Package. This package is a financial assistance scheme initiated by Pergas and offered to asatizah in March 2020, at the onset of the lockdown. The topup grant will be utilised to provide more support for current Gracious Package recipients and also to support new applicants.
Details:
Applications for the CMSFwill be open until the end of August 2020. At the end of the application exercise, Muis will shortlist 4,000 applications who are most in need based on their per capita income.
To apply, click here.
1 Fakir is a category when the individuals has neither material possessions nor means of livelihood; one who suffers, and has no means to sustain his/her daily needs. The definition of miskin refers to when an individual has insufficient means of livelihood to meet his /her basic needs.
2 Gharimin is the category when an individual is in debt and needs assistance to meet his/her basic needs.
3 Fisabilillah is when an individual strives in the cause of Allah for the betterment of the community.
4 The category of riqab in Singapore refers to those who require some assistance to pursue their education, children of zakat recipients. More details of the above categories of beneficiaries of zakat (asnaf) can be found at www.muis.gov.sg/Zakat/About/Beneficiaries-of-Zakat-Asnaf
5 23 January 2020 is the date determined as to when COVID-19 first occurred in Singapore.
Monday, 3 August 2020
Mastercard, CrescentRating analyse travel readiness in ASEAN ahead of COVID recovery
Mastercard and CrescentRating have released their joint report on travel readiness, The Travel Readiness Report:COVID-19 in ASEAN 2020.
The report aims to better aid destinations and travel stakeholders prepare for future travel in all possible scenarios. According to Mastercard and CrescentRating, the frameworks and concepts in the report can drive strategic solutions to resuscitate travel and can also be applied to destinations outside of ASEAN.
"Over the last few years, April/May has been the time that we have released the Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI). However, this year, given the current crisis, we have prioritised the release of this new Travel Readiness Report to help all stakeholders better frame the impact of COVID-19 on our industry and help build scenarios for future travel. We still do plan to release GMTI 2020 in the 4th quarter of this year," explained Fazal Bahardeen, Founder & CEO, CrescentRating.com and HalalTrip.com, in the foreword for the report.
"Our previous reports have focused on how the general industry can better cater to the Muslim travel market, and we continue to focus on this area closely. However COVID-19 has impacted everyone and created new gaps. These demanded more robust frameworks and new ways of thinking to manage the complexity and drive strategic solutions to help resuscitate travel," he added.
"According to recently-conducted Mastercard Impact Studies, confidence in travel has started rising across the world, especially in Southeast Asia. While most people have had to cancel or delay trips, these studies have shown that more than half the people across Asia Pacific are going to plan for future trips when travel restrictions have lifted. While countries have started slowly easing restrictions on movement and travel, this comes with heightened safety measures and protocols in place that were never there before. While the travel sector is gearing up for these measures, they need to ensure that they are prepared to meet the new needs of customers," observed Safdar Khan, Division President Southeast Asia Emerging Markets, Mastercard, in the same foreword.
"As we all prepare for a new normal, there is a need for reliable data insights that can help sectors plan and future-proof their businesses. 2020 is our sixth year partnering with CrescentRating to develop in-depth reports that serve as a beacon for businesses and governments who are looking to bolster their travel offerings and bring memorable experiences to their end-customers. We trust this report can help the tourism industry craft strategies that will make them more digital, resilient, agile, and flexible to changing consumer needs, and successfully navigate the difficult—but not insurmountable—challenges of the future," he said.
The two companies note that tourism has been a key economic and GDP contributor in ASEAN, and a source of revenue for many small businesses, but this has changed since the COVID-19 pandemic hit. They believe that even after restrictions on movement and travel are lifted, heightened safety measures and protocols will be implemented by all nations.
The need to better understand the trends and how the tourism industry can prepare for the new world and the inevitable change in consumer needs was the impetus for the research.
Based on expert analysis and data from leading organisations, The Travel Readiness Report by Mastercard and CrescentRating offers players and stakeholders in the travel and tourism sector in-depth insights into various areas - from how COVID-19 has affected household finances in the region, to mapping out different recovery trajectories, to providing concrete courses of action for businesses in the tourism industry to move forward with greater confidence.
The report also provides insights for destinations to plan their COVID-19 recovery roadmap along four key phases: Containment, Recovery, Normalization and Growth.
In a segment on Muslim travellers in ASEAN, the report profiled three Muslim traveller categories and how they have been impacted by COVID-19: Muslim Millennials, Muslim Gen Zers, and Muslim women travellers.
Defined as those born between 1981 to 1994, Muslim Millennial travellers (MMTs) are are dealing with career progression and starting a family while their employees adjust work arrangements and cut salaries in order to retain jobs. "Travel is no longer accessible, and the availability of authentic experiences is questionable in the near future. Thus, MMTs are forced to prioritise economic stability over trip planning," the report said.
Defined as those born between 1995 to 2009, Gen Zers are also affected badly when it comes to travel, the report added.
Women travellers are hard-hit when the ailing travel and tourism industry is woman-dominated. The COVID-19 fallout has meant that more women are either being displaced or are facing wage-cuts during the pandemic, and their wages are usually lower than men's in the first place.
"Additionally, gender roles and expectations render women to be responsible of household affairs. Thus, the potential of Muslim women travellers to explore and energise communities is severed during the pandemic," the report said.
The report further noted that such travellers represent 21% of the domestic tourist and 43% of the intra-ASEAN travellers, due to the large Muslim travel outbound markets from Indonesia and Malaysia travelling to neighbouring destinations. Outbound travellers leave their home country to travel to other countries.
"With its strength as one of most Muslim travel-friendly regions in the world, ASEAN could benefit from this segment of travellers as intra-regional travel opens up," the report said.
Report authors further noted that Malaysia and Indonesia are ranked a joint first in last year's Mastercard-Crescentrating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2019. ASEAN countries Brunei and Singapore along with Malaysia and Indonesia occupy four of the top 10 ranked destinations in the GMTI.
"This strength allows ASEAN destinations to position strongly to attract the Muslim market as travel opens," the report concluded.
Details:
Read the report (PDF).
Hashtags: #AseanTravel, #TravelReadinessASEAN
The report aims to better aid destinations and travel stakeholders prepare for future travel in all possible scenarios. According to Mastercard and CrescentRating, the frameworks and concepts in the report can drive strategic solutions to resuscitate travel and can also be applied to destinations outside of ASEAN.
 |
| Source: The Travel Readiness Report:COVID-19 in ASEAN 2020. Cover for the report. |
"Over the last few years, April/May has been the time that we have released the Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI). However, this year, given the current crisis, we have prioritised the release of this new Travel Readiness Report to help all stakeholders better frame the impact of COVID-19 on our industry and help build scenarios for future travel. We still do plan to release GMTI 2020 in the 4th quarter of this year," explained Fazal Bahardeen, Founder & CEO, CrescentRating.com and HalalTrip.com, in the foreword for the report.
"Our previous reports have focused on how the general industry can better cater to the Muslim travel market, and we continue to focus on this area closely. However COVID-19 has impacted everyone and created new gaps. These demanded more robust frameworks and new ways of thinking to manage the complexity and drive strategic solutions to help resuscitate travel," he added.
"According to recently-conducted Mastercard Impact Studies, confidence in travel has started rising across the world, especially in Southeast Asia. While most people have had to cancel or delay trips, these studies have shown that more than half the people across Asia Pacific are going to plan for future trips when travel restrictions have lifted. While countries have started slowly easing restrictions on movement and travel, this comes with heightened safety measures and protocols in place that were never there before. While the travel sector is gearing up for these measures, they need to ensure that they are prepared to meet the new needs of customers," observed Safdar Khan, Division President Southeast Asia Emerging Markets, Mastercard, in the same foreword.
"As we all prepare for a new normal, there is a need for reliable data insights that can help sectors plan and future-proof their businesses. 2020 is our sixth year partnering with CrescentRating to develop in-depth reports that serve as a beacon for businesses and governments who are looking to bolster their travel offerings and bring memorable experiences to their end-customers. We trust this report can help the tourism industry craft strategies that will make them more digital, resilient, agile, and flexible to changing consumer needs, and successfully navigate the difficult—but not insurmountable—challenges of the future," he said.
The two companies note that tourism has been a key economic and GDP contributor in ASEAN, and a source of revenue for many small businesses, but this has changed since the COVID-19 pandemic hit. They believe that even after restrictions on movement and travel are lifted, heightened safety measures and protocols will be implemented by all nations.
The need to better understand the trends and how the tourism industry can prepare for the new world and the inevitable change in consumer needs was the impetus for the research.
Based on expert analysis and data from leading organisations, The Travel Readiness Report by Mastercard and CrescentRating offers players and stakeholders in the travel and tourism sector in-depth insights into various areas - from how COVID-19 has affected household finances in the region, to mapping out different recovery trajectories, to providing concrete courses of action for businesses in the tourism industry to move forward with greater confidence.
The report also provides insights for destinations to plan their COVID-19 recovery roadmap along four key phases: Containment, Recovery, Normalization and Growth.
In a segment on Muslim travellers in ASEAN, the report profiled three Muslim traveller categories and how they have been impacted by COVID-19: Muslim Millennials, Muslim Gen Zers, and Muslim women travellers.
Defined as those born between 1981 to 1994, Muslim Millennial travellers (MMTs) are are dealing with career progression and starting a family while their employees adjust work arrangements and cut salaries in order to retain jobs. "Travel is no longer accessible, and the availability of authentic experiences is questionable in the near future. Thus, MMTs are forced to prioritise economic stability over trip planning," the report said.
Defined as those born between 1995 to 2009, Gen Zers are also affected badly when it comes to travel, the report added.
Women travellers are hard-hit when the ailing travel and tourism industry is woman-dominated. The COVID-19 fallout has meant that more women are either being displaced or are facing wage-cuts during the pandemic, and their wages are usually lower than men's in the first place.
"Additionally, gender roles and expectations render women to be responsible of household affairs. Thus, the potential of Muslim women travellers to explore and energise communities is severed during the pandemic," the report said.
The report further noted that such travellers represent 21% of the domestic tourist and 43% of the intra-ASEAN travellers, due to the large Muslim travel outbound markets from Indonesia and Malaysia travelling to neighbouring destinations. Outbound travellers leave their home country to travel to other countries.
"With its strength as one of most Muslim travel-friendly regions in the world, ASEAN could benefit from this segment of travellers as intra-regional travel opens up," the report said.
Report authors further noted that Malaysia and Indonesia are ranked a joint first in last year's Mastercard-Crescentrating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2019. ASEAN countries Brunei and Singapore along with Malaysia and Indonesia occupy four of the top 10 ranked destinations in the GMTI.
"This strength allows ASEAN destinations to position strongly to attract the Muslim market as travel opens," the report concluded.
Details:
Read the report (PDF).
Hashtags: #AseanTravel, #TravelReadinessASEAN
Sunday, 2 August 2020
Smart cards aid pilgrims at Hajj 2020
The KSA Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has activated the smart card digital identity initiative to provide services to Hajj pilgrims for the second year running. While the cards were used on a small scale in 2019, the service was expanded in 2020 to include all pilgrims and participants.
Dr Amr Al-Maddah, Supervisor General of the Planning and Development Agency at the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, said that the smart cards are part of the ministry’s strategy for digital transformation via creating virtual platforms to facilitate and reduce procedures, keep pace with the technological developments and achieve the goals of the Vision 2030 Executive Programme called Serving Pilgrims. He added that the smart cards are extensions of the Smart Hajj platform project launched by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
Each card includes the pilgrim’s personal, medical and residential information, which are required for various services, such as guiding pilgrims to their residence at holy sites, controlling access to facilities, and reducing illegal Hajj. The cards also include near-field communications (NFC) to read Hajj data through self-service machines as well as a barcode that can be read by Hajj support staff.
Dr Amr Al-Maddah, Supervisor General of the Planning and Development Agency at the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, said that the smart cards are part of the ministry’s strategy for digital transformation via creating virtual platforms to facilitate and reduce procedures, keep pace with the technological developments and achieve the goals of the Vision 2030 Executive Programme called Serving Pilgrims. He added that the smart cards are extensions of the Smart Hajj platform project launched by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
Each card includes the pilgrim’s personal, medical and residential information, which are required for various services, such as guiding pilgrims to their residence at holy sites, controlling access to facilities, and reducing illegal Hajj. The cards also include near-field communications (NFC) to read Hajj data through self-service machines as well as a barcode that can be read by Hajj support staff.
Saturday, 1 August 2020
Fatwa Robot service launched during the Hajj
 |
| Source: KSA Ministry of Media. The Fatwa Robot service enables fatwas safely when social distancing is required. |
The KSA Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance, represented by the Directorate General of Information Technology, has launched the Fatwa Robot service. Through this service, the Ministry has sought to apply state-of-the-art technology in line with its commitment to Saudi Vision 2030, and to implement the health protocols inherent to this year’s Hajj.
The service issues religious rulings and consultations to pilgrims in a move considered the first in the field of religious rulings and consultations. The service also bolsters health protocols through social distancing.
This roaming service, currently in service at the Namirah and Grand Mosques, will allow for direct visual communication between pilgrims and a team of Muftis from the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance. It will also facilitate the remote issuance of Fatwas in multiple languages.
The Namirah mosque (مسجد الإجابة), marks the location where the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) camped before delivering his final sermon. The Grand Mosque or Masjid Al-Haram (المسجد الحرام) encloses the Ka'abah.
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