Upcoming events discuss how Muslims can coexist in modern multicultural times

Source: Muis Facebook page.

Two upcoming events focused on how Muslims can co-exist in a contemporary, multicultural world have been organised.

Through the Adult Islamic Learning (ADIL) programme, the Office of The Mufti is organising a half-day closed-door knowledge retreat session, Muslims in Contemporary World, on September 10. Admission is free.

The ADIL Knowledge Retreat will discuss how Muslims in Singapore can stay faithful to religious values while fulfilling the demands of the modern society, including handling new challenges that come along the way, including radicalism and terrorism propagated by a minority. Questions discussed include:

• What does it mean to be a Muslim in the contemporary world?
• How do we reconcile our religious values and fulfilling the needs of the modern society?
• How do we examine the roots as well as the manifestations of the extremist thoughts?
• How can we co-exist confidently in the existing economic and political system?
• How can we project the faith of Islam as a positive force for humanity?

There are two speakers for the event. Ustaz Dr Nazirudin Mohd Nasir is Director, Religious and Policy Development, Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS). He recntly completed his Dr of Philosophy degree  at St Cross College, Oxford, in the comparative study of the Abrahamic religions.

Ustaz Dr Mohamed Bin Ali is Assistant Professor at Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies (SRP) Programme, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore. His areas of research include Islamic jurisprudence, Islamist ideology, religious extremism, inter-religious relations and rehabilitation of Muslim extremists. Dr Mohamed obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Islamic Jurisprudence from Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt in 2002, Masters of Science in International Relations at RSIS, NTU in 2007 and Dr of Philosophy in Arab and Islamic Studies from the University of Exeter, UK in 2013.

Register
Date: September 10, 2016
Time: 9am to 1pm
Venue: Al Ansar Mosque, 155 Bedok North Avenue 1 

Source: Muis Facebook page.

This year's Abdul Aleem Siddique Memorial Lecture is happening on Friday, 16 September 2016. Ustaz Dr Nazirudin will discuss Revisiting Interfaith Relations in a Postsecular Age, specifically whether religion coexisting with secular cultures change the dynamics of interreligious relations. This could mean that differences between faiths become accentuated, and pose a challenge to interfaith leaders and especially youths who want to ensure interfaith relations remain healthy.

Using examples from the interaction between religion and science as well as religious ethics on socio-political issues, Ustaz Dr Nazirudin will address these questions as part of reflecting on the next phase of interfaith relations in Singapore.

Register or visit the organiser, the Harmony Centre, to find out more. The Centre represents one of the key initiatives of MUIS to bring about a greater understanding of Islam and Muslims amongst the multiracial and multireligious society of Singapore. 

Date: September 16, 2016
Time: 6pm to 9.30pm
Venue: Singapore Islamic Hub - Annex Building level 4, 273 Braddell Road

Hashtag: #OfficeofMuftiSG