Uzbekistan's heritage takes centrestage at the first International Forum of Islamic Civilization

The President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, has called for greater investment in education, stronger scientific cooperation, and the promotion of religious tolerance as essential responses to rising global conflict, extremism, and Islamophobia. Mirziyoyev made the remarks at the first International Forum of Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan on July 7.

The forum, organised by the Center of Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan, reflects Uzbekistan's growing role as a centre of Islamic scholarship and intercultural dialogue while advancing the concept of Islamic enlightenment. Islamic enlightenment was first introduced by President Mirziyoyev during the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly in 2017.

In a message read at the Forum's opening ceremony, President Mirziyoyev noted that despite unprecedented scientific and technological progress, the world is facing growing geopolitical tensions, declining trust between nations, and increasing attempts to deepen divisions between cultures and religions. "In these challenging times, noble ideals, including Islamic values, remain the most important and enduring foundations of peace, social progress, harmony and enlightenment," he said.

The President stressed that Islam has historically encouraged scientific inquiry, education, artistic development, and intellectual discovery, rejecting the notion that religion is incompatible with modern progress. He paid tribute to the enduring contributions of Central Asia's great scholars, including Muhammad al-Khwarizmi, Abu Rayhan al-Biruni, Ibn Sina, and Mirzo Ulugh Beg, whose achievements transformed mathematics, medicine, astronomy, and philosophy and continue to shape global science today.

Delivering greetings on behalf of the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, His Virtue Professor Dr Allahshukur Pashazade, Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims' Board, Chairman of the Qazi Council (Fetwa institution) of the CMB, and Sheikh ul-Islam of Caucasus, described Uzbekistan as "a beacon of Islamic knowledge for centuries" and praised the country's efforts to preserve and promote its rich intellectual heritage.

Themed The Path of Peace, Tolerance and Enlightenment, the forum brought together more than 450 participants from over 50 countries and examined the contribution of Islamic civilisation to peace, tolerance, enlightenment, and intercultural dialogue. It also underscores Uzbekistan's commitment to preserving its intellectual heritage while expanding international cooperation in science, education, and cultural exchange.

In 2017, President Mirziyoyev said that the principles of peace, tolerance, and enlightenment at the heart of Islam are universal values capable of uniting societies rather than dividing them. He called for combating extremism and Islamophobia through enlightenment, science, and culture, laying the foundation for a state policy based on the principle of Enlightenment Against Ignorance.

Over the years, Uzbekistan has established a modern cultural, educational, scientific, and academic infrastructure that supports the comprehensive study, preservation, and promotion of the intellectual heritage of Islamic civilisation. The cornerstone of these efforts is the Center of Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan, which brings together research, museum activities, educational initiatives, and international cooperation within a single complex.

"As Forum participants have noted, the Center of Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan is becoming a platform for shaping a new international agenda for humanitarian cooperation based on knowledge, enlightenment, mutual respect, and trust. The Forum concluded with agreements to launch numerous joint research initiatives, international expeditions, educational programmes, digital manuscript preservation projects, and other major cultural initiatives aimed at strengthening peace, mutual understanding, and dialogue among civilisations," said Dr Firdavs Abdukhalikov, Director of the Center of Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan.

During the event, delegates discussed preserving and studying Islamic manuscripts and cultural heritage, applying digital technologies and AI to historical research, expanding international academic cooperation, and exploring the relevance of Islamic intellectual traditions in addressing today's global challenges.

The Forum also served as a platform for presenting new publications, launching major cultural and scientific initiatives, signing international cooperation agreements, and adopting the Declaration of the First International Forum of Islamic Civilization,, which outlined a shared vision for future collaboration in promoting the universal values of Islamic civilisation.

Among the Forum's flagship events are international conferences dedicated to the scholarly legacy of Imam al-Bukhari, Imam al-Maturidi, and Imam al-Tirmidhi, highlighting the influence of their works on the development of Islamic thought and world civilisation.

MUIS welcomes 20th Council

The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) has welcomed its 20th Council, which guides MUIS in overseeing Singapore’s Muslim community's socioreligious needs. Their three-year term runs from 7 August 2025 to 6 August 2028. 

Under Section 7 of the Administration of Muslim Law Act (AMLA), President Tharman Shanmugaratnam has appointed the Council members, which includes MUIS's President Mohamed Sa’at Abdul Rahman; Chief Executive Kadir Maideen; and Dr Nazirudin Mohd Nasir, the Mufti of Singapore. 

Other members were recommended by the Singapore Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Associate Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim and President Mohamed Sa’at from nominations by various Muslim organisations. 

MUIS's new Council blends draws both senior and emerging leaders from across the education, public service, corporate, religious, and social sectors. It will see a diverse team of seven returning members and nine new appointees who will set the direction of MUIS's key initiatives and strategic thrusts in the next three years. 

Associate Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim commented: “Today's rapidly changing environment requires both experienced leadership and innovative perspectives to steer our community forward and ensure that its socioreligious needs are well cared for. 

"The 20th MUIS Council embodies this balance. Collectively, their diverse expertise reflects our continued commitment to shape impactful policies and deliver targeted programmes, in tandem with our community's evolving needs. I thank the outgoing 19th Council members for their contributions. I am confident that the new Council will bring in fresh insights that will benefit MUIS and the community, and I encourage MUIS to continue strengthening its partnership with the community and its key partners.” 

Maideen stated: "The new Council's diverse expertise will bring fresh perspectives to our deliberations. As we welcome them, we thank our outgoing Council members for their leadership and dedicated service. Their achievements have laid a strong foundation, which the incoming Council will build upon to develop innovative solutions for current and future challenges." 

Ustazah Dr Siti Nur 'Alaniah Abdul Wahid, a new member of the Council said: "Our blend of new and experienced Council members creates a strong team for our Muslim community. The generous guidance offered by longer-serving members, combined with fresh perspectives from new appointees, positions us well to build on impactful and sustainable programmes while finding innovative solutions. I appreciate their support as we begin this important work together."

Common salary guidelines to be developed for asatizah in Singapore

Every year, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) organises a Workplan Seminar to cover the highlights of the previous year, and share new focuses for the current year.

Source: Muis Facebook page. Highlights for 2021 included record zakat contributions as well as religious guidance on wearing a headscarf in the uniformed services.

2022 kicks off Muis' 7th Three Year Plan, which has three thrusts, developing the asatizah ecosystem being one of them. The plan will also focus on imbuing the community's religious life with Singapore Muslim values, as well as to mobilise and galvanise community assets for socioreligious development.

"As we look ahead, we must continue to focus on reinforcing our competences to strengthen our resilience for a successful future, including shaping our community’s religious life and strengthening the asatizah ecosystem. I therefore commend our asatizah for constantly upskilling to keep pace with the changing times and for providing religious guidance and care to our community meaningfully," said Masagos Zulkifli, Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs in Singapore, on Facebook.

Minister Masagos said that Muis will work with madrasahs and mosques to implement a Common Salary Guideline for asatizah so that they can be compensated fairly based on their skills, competency and the value that they bring to their jobs. More details on the salary guidelines will be released soon.

Minister Masagos further shared that the International Conference on Communities of Success would be taking place this September in Singapore. "Religious scholars, state officials, and community leaders worldwide will be in Singapore to discuss current and future issues impacting the socio-religious lives of Muslims," he said.

Explore

Download the report on 2021 highlights.

Hashtags: #MasyarakatGemilang, #CommunityofSuccess, #MajuBersamaM3

Muis opens Hajj 2022 to 407

In response to new developments from the KSA Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) has filled this year's Hajj quota for Singapore with eligible pilgrims who were supposed to perform their Hajj in 2020. The pilgrimage had been deferred for Singapore pilgrims since 2020 due to COVID.

Muis had previously asked pilgrims who were affected by the deferment of Hajj in 2020 and 2021 if they would be interested to perform this year’s Hajj, and recorded their vaccination status plus latest contact details. This is part of Muis’ efforts to get prospective pilgrims to prepare early, remain flexible and be spiritually, physically, mentally, and financially ready to perform their Hajj. 

Those who have yet to reply to Muis are requested to do so by 29 April 2022, failing which they will be automatically placed in the queue for subsequent years. Muis has also confirmed that all other pilgrims who are in the Advance Haj Registration System will be automatically requeued to perform Hajj in subsequent years, subject to conditions and requirements as mandated by the KSA authorities. 

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah recently announced that Hajj in 2022 will be opened to 1 million pilgrims, including 850,000 international pilgrims. Each country is accorded approximately 45% of their previous official pre-pandemic quota. Singapore has been granted a Hajj quota of 407 places, which is approximately 45% of the previous official quota of 900.

The Ministry also specified that this year’s Hajj will be allocated for pilgrims aged under 65. All pilgrims must be COVID-19 vaccinated with a KSA-approved vaccine and must submit a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test within 72 hours from the time of departure to KSA. 

Muis is now appointing approved travel agents for Hajj 2022 and finalising the approved Hajj packages available for pilgrims. Muis will be announcing the list of approved travel agents and package prices on 4 May 2022. 

Muis is also finalising the list of pilgrims who are able to meet the conditions and requirements for Hajj 2022 and will be issuing formal letters of offer on 5 May 2022. Eligible pilgrims will be notified via SMS informing them to check their email for details on the collection of their letter. 

Upon accepting the formal offer from Muis, pilgrims are required to purchase Hajj packages with their preferred approved travel agent within three calendar days. 

Allocated pilgrims are strongly advised to prepare the following travel documents before purchasing their Hajj packages: 

- Valid passport (six months validity before departure date) 

- Colour passport picture (4 cm x 6 cm) 

- COVID-19 vaccination certificate (www.notarise.gov.sg)

- Meningococcal meningitis vaccination certificate

- Seasonal influenza vaccination certificate (recommended) 

Given the requirement of a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test within 72 hours from the time of departure to KSA, pilgrims are strongly encouraged to purchase travel insurance that cover their medical expenses in KSA, trip cancellation and trip curtailment, should they fail their PCR test and cannot travel to KSA. 

Muis also stated that the cost of approved Hajj packages is dependent on costs in KSA. "We are still awaiting confirmation from the Saudi authorities, although there are indications that there will be an increase in costs compared to pre-pandemic times," the organisation said in a statement.

Muis announces logistics for Eid prayers

The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) together with the mosque sector will open the booking window for Hari Raya (Eid) prayer slots on 28 April 2022 at 10 am. The prayer, which is scheduled to take place on 3 May 2022, will see 66 mosques offering a total of 153,250 spaces. 

Each of the 66 mosques will offer at least two sessions of Eid prayers. The first session will be conducted from 7.30 am to 8.15 a.m, and the second session from 8.45 am to 9.30 am. Of these mosques, 15 mosques that, based on data, are expecting bigger attendances will offer a third session from 10 am to 10.45 am. Congregants attending the third session at these selected mosques may walk-in to perform their prayer with no booking of slots required.

Based on attendance patterns and demand throughout Ramadhan, 60 mosques will cater to both male and female congregants while six mosques will cater to only male congregants. 

Muis encourages the community to plan accordingly, and to consider going to lesser crowded mosques that are located away from neighbourhoods and housing estates. Muis also asked congregants who are unwell or unable to attend the prayer to cancel their bookings so that others may get the slot. 

Details:

Booking of the prayer slots can be made via the Muslim.sg app or https://ourmosque.commonspaces.sg. Browse the list of mosques here.

Safer Mosques pilot kicks off in Singapore from 25 June

The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) has released an educational video in conjunction with the Safer Mosques pilot, running at four mosques for the Friday prayer starting 25 June.

Safer Mosques are selected mosques offering more than 50 spaces, with pre-event testing (PET) implementation. However, congregants who have been fully vaccinated do not need to undergo PET.

Whether the pilot will be extended to more mosques will depend on the community’s vaccination rate, how soon we can adapt to PET if we need to, as well as the prevailing national guidelines, which are aligned to the rate of community spread, Muis said.

Singapore mosques can currently offer one zone of 50 spaces without pre-event testing (PET), or up to 250 spaces with PET. on a smooth visit at the Safer Mosques!

Details:

View the video.

Singapore will continue with a modified qurban ritual in 2021

The Singapore Mosque Korban Committee (JKMS) for 2021 has announced that a modified qurban ritual will be held this year, as the importation of livestock into Singapore would be challenging during the pandemic.

This year, mosques will again facilitate arrangements for Muslims who wish to perform Korban during Eid Al-Adha by having the ritual performed in Australia, after which the meat is chilled and shipped to Singapore. Mosques will distribute the meat to individuals who have purchased sheep for the qurban ritual, and share a portion of the meat with low-income families and to the community in the days after Eid. Safe management measures will be strictly observed during the entire exercise.

JKMS conducted an open request for proposal (RFP) exercise to recruit suitable approved vendors. The final list of qurban vendors are approved by the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) and the Singapore Food Agency (SFA). These vendors have been assessed to have full compliance to all regulatory requirements for the import of meat products, Muis said.

The committee noted that modifications to the traditional ritual had been very well-received by the Muslim community in 2020. In 2020, 42 mosques offered the modified qurban ritual and services, offering up to 100 sheep each, with the sheep priced between S$300 and S$330. All participating mosques adopted standard operating procedures, observed high hygiene standards, staggered distribution and collection slots, and adhered to prevailing safety measures.

More details for qurban registration this year will be released in the first week of June 2021.

More Indonesian educators in religious education eligible for wage subsidies

The Ministry of Religious Affairs in Indonesia (Kemenag) together with the Committee for the COVID-19 Handling and National Economic Recovery Communication Team (KPCPEN) and the Indonesian Ministry of Finance have launched wage subsidies for non-civil servant educators and educational personnel (Bantuan Subsidi Upah Pendidik dan Tenaga Kependidikan Non-PNS, or BSU PTK non-PNS) under the Kemenag's domain. This programme is part of government support for PTK Non-PNS during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This news was disclosed by Dr Muhammad Zain, S.Ag., M.Ag, Director for Madrasah Educators and Educational Personnel of the Directorate General of Islamic Education at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, at a dialogue titled Wage Subsidy for Non-Civil Servant Educators and Educational Personnel Teaching Religious Education School Subjects at the KPCPEN Media Center on 19 November.

"As many as 84% of the teachers in the Kemenag domain are working on short-term contracts (honorer). Meanwhile, teachers with civil servant status amount to only 126,000 people. So, the BSU PTK Non-PNS programme is very beneficial for educators and education personnel within the Ministry of Religious Affairs domain. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on madrasah teachers. Moreover, many madrasah are operating under non-profit foundations. There are even some religious education teachers that are only paid Rp300,000 per month," explained Dr Muhammad Zain. Those interested in the programme can check the Educators and Educational Personnel Services Information System (SIMPATIKA) for eligibility criteria. They must have a national identification number (NIK); a bank account; do not currently benefit from BSU Tenaga Kerja, the Manpower Ministry's workers wage subsidy programme; are not recipients of Kartu Prakerja, a pre-employment card programme; and earn less than Rp5 million with non-civil servant status. Facilities to help open a bank account for those who do not have one will be provided.

BSU Non-PNS PTK recipients in the Religious Affairs ministry domain consist of kindergarten (raudhatul athfal)/madrasah teachers, Islamic religion education teachers in public schools, Catholic religion education teachers, Buddhist religion education teachers and Confucian religion education teachers. Each recipient will receive a lump sum of Rp1.8 million, and there are some 637,048 beneficiaries. The full budget is more than Rp1.15 trillion.

According to Dr Muhammad Zain, aid recipients will be vetted rigorously. "So, the validation process is not one-dimensional because we also involve the BPJS (social security provider). We've conducted an internal review through the Kemenag's Inspectorate General. The data validation process is carried out on multiple levels. This way, we are able to prevent duplicate data or channelling aid to the wrong people.

"On the bureaucratic side, we have collaborated with regional offices of the Ministry of Religious Affairs to monitor schools in their working areas. All data validation processes must be tiered. Hopefully the implementation will run smoothly and that things of concern will not happen," he said.

In addition, he said that there will be no reduction in aid value when it reaches each beneficiary. "We hope that each beneficiary will receive Rp 1.8 million in full, not deducted by income tax. You see, the programme is a government aid programme. On the other hand, the government also carries out strict supervision over the process of the aid distribution. In fact, the KPK (Corruption Eradication Commission) also supervises the process," he said.

"To fellow teachers and honorer education personnel, let's continue to be optimistic. We must continue to carry out our duties professionally because our role determines the future of the nation. Even though we are experiencing hardships, education must continue as the pulse of the nation's civilisation. We must always adhere to health protocols by implementing 3M (wear masks, handwashing, and maintaining a safe distance). Hopefully the BSU PTK Non-PNS in the Religious Affairs ministry domain will be useful to increase the resiliency of our teachers too," he concluded.

A similar programme has benefited PTK Non-PNS under the Ministry of Education and Culture.

As the handling of COVID-19 and the national economy recovery should be closely aligned, Indonesian President Joko Widodo issued Presidential Regulation (Perpres) No. 82 of 2020 on the Covid-19 Handling and National Economic Recovery Committee (KPCPEN) on July 20 2020.

The KPCPEN's priorities are INDONESIA SEHAT - people should be safe from COVID-19, with health services reform as part of the equation; INDONESIA BEKERJA, empowerment and acceleration of employment; and INDONESIA TUMBUH, national economy recovery and transformation.

More spaces now available for Friday prayers in Singapore

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.

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.

Ramadhan begins in Singapore

The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) has announced the beginning of Ramadhan on 23 April.

The organisation noted that according to astronomical calculations, the new crescent marking the start of Ramadhan appeared in the evening of 23 April after sunset for about 17 minutes. As such, the first day of fasting began on 24 April 2020.

"We welcome the arrival of the holy month of Ramadan this year with a different atmosphere. Our country, as well as the rest of the world, is currently fighting the COVID-19 outbreak. Besides the act of fasting, we should also play our part to stay at home to prevent the spread of this deadly virus," said Singapore's Mufti, Dr Nazirudin Mohd Nasir.

"This year, Ramadhan and Hari Raya (Eid al-Fitr, or Aidilfitri) will be celebrated together with our family in our own homes. No matter the test, we can accept and overcome it with the permission of Allah S.W.T., what more with the arrival of Ramadhan – a month of challenges, and the culmination of patience, perseverance and hope.

"As we strengthen our faith this Ramadhan, may it also spur us to be more determined to fight this virus. This test will eventually pass, and we will overcome this with patience and unity."

Muis separately announced that zakat fitrah rates for Ramadhan this year are S$5.10 or S$7.50. Zakat fitrah is an obligatory contribution by all Muslims during the month of Ramadhan, with the amount determined by the Muis Zakat and Fitrah Committee, by using staple food of the country that the person resides in.

As rice is the staple food here, the rates are based on the median price of 2.3 kg of the grade of rice that is generally consumed by the Muslim community.

The two-tier zakat fitrah rate has been in place since 2005 to facilitate those who may wish to pay more than the normal rate as they consume a higher grade of rice. Zakat payers may choose the rate that is most suitable based on their daily consumption.

The deadline for zakat fitrah is the morning of Eid al-Fitr. However, the Muslim public is advised to pay early and through electronic modes of payment in light of the current COVID-19 situation.

Explore:

Watch the announcement of Ramadhan by Dr Nazirudin on SalamSG TV.

Details:

Various methods to pay zakat fitrah are available in Singapore.

PayNow is a new mode of payment. Payers can make payment by scanning the QR code or by keying in the UEN T08GB0028LZKT on their banking app. To obtain an official receipt and for IRAS tax auto-inclusion, payers should visit go.gov.sg/zakat.

Muis releases theme for Ramadhan 2020

The theme for Ramadhan in 2020 (1441) is Deepening Spirituality, Strengthening Resilience (Memperdalam Iman, Memperkasa Amanah), said the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis). It calls for the Singapore Muslim community to remain resilient during unprecedented conditions.

With the disruption to traditionally observed communal activities of community gatherings and congregational tarawih prayers at the mosques, the community is encouraged to continue observing Ramadhan meaningfully at home:

- Focus on the core duties of fasting and helping the needy with zakat.

- Retain the spirit of the community through alternative means by learning with asatizah online.

- Continue to support the vulnerable and community through online contributions as Ramadhan is about charity.

"Responsibility is one of the most important virtues and it is a testament to our faith – we must play a part to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone," Muis said in an online statement.

The Office of the Mufti recognises the critical role of the religious fraternity in guiding the Singapore Muslim community as new challenges arise amid the increasing severity of the COVID-19 developments.

The local religious fraternity will actively convey how religion comprehensively demonstrates and builds spiritual, social, physical and psychological resilience, while emphasising the importance of social responsibility during the COVID-19 outbreak:

 - Spiritual resilience

Being adaptive in our religious practices that transcends physical spaces through uplifting religious narratives, and the importance of non-ritual elements to deepen one’s spirituality.

- Social resilience

Community to be united in supporting one another in times of need.

- Physical resilience

Health is a responsibility (أمانة, amanah), and it also extends beyond caring for our own individual health, to looking out for others.

- Psychological resilience

Staying mentally strong despite the tests we face; seeking help from family and others in the community if we need to.

- Social responsibility

Sacrificing personal interests for the greater good to prevent causing any form of harm on the lives and health of individuals and the general public. This also includes being mindful of others and not inconveniencing them through unnecessary acts.

The Office of the Mufti will also launch a Ramadhan 2020 handbook, Contemporary Irsyad Series Vol. 2, to guide the community in practising their faith during the COVID-19 pandemic. The handbook will emphasise the role of Singaporean Muslims as citizens in practising social responsibility to curb the transmission of COVID-19.

It will feature several religious advisories that have been issued during this outbreak. Related religious queries from members of the public will also be addressed.

Community crowdfunding initiative to support Singapore mosques

The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) has launched a centralised donation portal in support of the mosques named OurMasjid.SG and called upon the community to continue to support Singapore mosques and asatizah during the challenging months ahead.

The mosques were closed temporarily on 13 March 2020, and meant to reopen the same month. As the risk to the community remains high, the Fatwa Committee in Singapore recommended on 24 March to continue the closure of mosques and suspend Friday prayers until further notice. In making this recommendation, the committee is guided by two principles that apply in a situation like COVID-19, i.e. to avoid all forms of harm and to close all doors that lead to danger and harm.

The mosque closure has prevented the community from donating directly to mosques through donation boxes, which the mosques rely on for operations and manpower funding. All mosque operational costs, such as manpower and utility bills still depend largely on donations from congregants. Significant amounts are typically collected during Friday congregational prayers.

In response, Muis has partnered MuslimSG to launch OurMasjid.SG - a community crowdfunding initiative for mosques. With this new platform, it is now easier for the community to make online donations to mosques.

Singapore mosque overheads include salaries as well as utilities costs. They employ more than 2,000 staff which includes Mosque Religious Officers (MRO), Social Development Officers (SDO), aLIVE teachers, imam, bilal, admin officers as well as maintenance & support officers (noja). These frontliners face thousands of congregants weekly, and play important roles in keeping religious life alive at the mosques.

In addition, while there have been efforts by the mosques to promote water and energy conservation, mosques continue to be in need for support from the public to defray such costs to ensure the cleanliness and safe operations of mosques. Water and utilities alone account for almost 4% of mosque annual expenditure.

Separately, KuliahSG will centralise online religious content provided by the mosques. Starting out as a ground-up initiative by two individuals, KuliahSG is a centralised portal for online programmes produced by mosques. Muis and mosques are fully supportive of this initiative and will work together with KuliahSG in the spirit of helping the community gain access to Islamic online content which asatizah and mosques in Singapore are producing daily, Muis said.

Despite the physical closure of the mosques, mosque asatizah and staff have been working hard to continue to serve the spiritual needs of congregants by bringing mosque programmes and religious content online. For example, over 50 mosques now have put up online content, comprising over 1,130 videos. Mosques are also continuing with Islamic education for the young, by conducting aLIVE lessons through home-based learning.

Muis announced on 7 April 2020 that S$1 million had been set aside to support mosques during their temporary closure due to COVID-19. The organisation is working with partners under the SGTeguhBersatu Task Force to provide a comprehensive assistance package for asatizah, the mosque sector, as well as the tenants of wakaf properties.

With the temporary closure of the mosques, Muis noted that many asatizah have lost both their primary platform to reach the community as well as a source of income. Muis will assist asatizah in applying for assistance under the Resilience Package, including the Self-Employed Income Relief Scheme (SIRS) and the Temporary Relief Fund (TRF). 

For SIRS, Muis will work with NTUC, and will accept applications from self-employed ARS-certified asatizah who are eligible for this scheme. Muis will outreach to asatizah to raise awareness of the scheme, and guide asatizah through the application process.

Asatizah who are eligible to receive the support under the scheme will receive three payouts of S$3,000, starting from May.

Muis will also work with MSF to assist and support asatizah to apply for the Temporary Relief Fund via the designated online portal. Asatizah who experienced a drop in income due to COVID-19 will receive a one-off payment of S$500. In addition, asatizah who lost their jobs due to COVID-19 can also apply for the COVID-19 Assistance Grant and receive S$800 a month, for three months.

Asatizah who wish to apply for these schemes can call +65 6350 5374 or 6350 1440 for assistance.

Muis has also helped mosques to move more lessons and classes online. This includes programmes conducted by its religious officers, home-based learning for aLIVE madrasahs* and other Islamic learning classes. Muis will also share a toolkit with IECPs** and home-based Quranic teachers to encourage more to continue their classes via online platforms. This will ensure they continue to draw income during this period.

To support and prepare asatizah for beyond the crisis, Muis will partner MENDAKI Sense to support the upskilling of asatizah. To complement the Self-Employed Person (SEP) Training Support Scheme, Muis will encourage asatizah to upskill especially in areas like digital marketing, technology-enabled learning delivery and counselling. This will be tied to the launch of the Career Map and Competency Framework (CCF), one of the recommendations from COFA***, later this month, which will create more opportunities and enhance the career pathways for asatizah.

Given that the closure of mosques will affect them financially, Muis earlier said that it will provide grants to support mosques to adopt enhanced precautions to deal with COVID-19 when they reopen. This includes temperature taking, contract tracing, and manpower and systems for queue management.

In addition, as the aLIVE class is partially affected by the closure of the mosque and will be replaced with home learning, Muis will give a grant to mosques to waive the aLIVE fee by 50% for two months. Parents in the aLIVE programme will be informed by their respective mosques on the details of this fee waiver.

Muis is committed to supporting businesses and organisations which are renting wakaf properties. In this regard, Muis will pass on all the property tax rebates provided by the government from the Resilience and Solidarity Budgets. In addition, Muis will provide additional rental waivers to commercial tenants as well as community tenants.

Wakaf properties are those dedicated by a Muslim for a purpose recognised by Muslim law as pious, religious; or charitable. Community tenants refer to non-profit organisations and SMEs offering socio-religious services.

All commercial and community tenants will receive a baseline rental waiver of 1.5 months as part of passing on property tax rebates to tenants. Commercial tenants will receive an additional 0.5 month rental waiver on top of the associated tax rebates while community tenants will receive an additional two months' rental waiver. In total, commercial tenants of wakaf properties will receive a two-month rental waiver while community tenants of wakaf properties will receive a four-month rental waiver.

Muis has also said that zakat financial assistance will remain available at the 31 Social Development Mosques.

Details:

Members of the community can make their contributions online at https://ourmasjid.sg (English) or https://ourmasjid.sg/ms/ourmasjid-home-ml/ (Malay) via credit and debit cards, eNETs, PayNow and GIRO. Recurring payments can also be made through credit/debit card or GIRO to help support the mosques in the long term.

*ALIVE (Learning Islamic Values Everyday) are religious programmes for children across various age groups (kids, tween, teens, youth). The programmes are conducted at mosques across Singapore.

** Islamic education centres and providers (IECP) provide religious instructions (e.g. lectures, classes) at various location. IECPs are required to employ teachers who are registered under the Asatizah Recognition Scheme (ARS) and to ensure that the curriculum, learning materials and teachers employed comply with the ARS Code of Ethics. 

***The Committee of Future Asatizah (COFA) was formed in March 2019 to spearhead engagement on the Vision for Asatizah of the Future. The committee recently published a report outlining three key thrusts and 10 recommendations, based on the Vision of Future Asatizah.

Singapore's Deputy PM talks about Muslims in multireligious Singapore, self-radicalisation

Singapore Deputy PM (DPM) Teo Chee Hean, who is also the Coordinating Minister for National Security, spoke about a meeting with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, His Eminence Dr Ahmed Al Tayyeb, at the annual Religious Rehabilitation Group Iftar on 6 June 2018.

"I was impressed by his open approach to inter-religious interactions. He said that Muslims should live and thrive in a multireligious environment. He drew from experiences in Egypt and also lessons from history, that the interaction between Muslims and other communities could take place in a practical way," said DPM Teo.

Such practices included shaking hands and greeting members of other religions on religious holidays. "For example, he always made it a point to greet Christians on Christian festivals. I found his explanations most enlightening and beneficial for a multireligious society like Singapore, where all communities can have meals together, visit one another, and share our joys and sorrows together. We should reject views that limit our interactions and divide us as communities," he said.

He noted that non-Muslim youth ambassadors are involved in MUIS’s Touch of Ramadhan campaign. The campaign focuses on spreading messages of strengthening the family, caring for society and showing concern for the environment. "This shows that people of all faiths can work together to promote common, positive messages that benefit everyone," he said.

The threat of terrorism and radicalisation remains however, with radicalised individuals still present in Singapore. "Indeed, we must remain vigilant at all times, and enhance our community resilience," he said.

"Let us continue the important work that the Religious Rehabilitation Group and various community groups are doing to help save individuals from doing harm to their families and their loved ones," he said.

Muis calls for vigilance against self-radicalisation in Singapore

The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) has reminded the community to seek religious instruction and guidance from local religious teachers, who are registered under the Asatizah Recognition Scheme (ARS), and are guided by the Code of Ethics of the ARS. 

The organisation further urged the community to continue playing its part to refer family members and friends who need guidance after the arrest of Mohamed Faishal bin Mohd Razali, a self-radicalised Singaporean, who was recently detained under Singapore's Internal Security Act.

"While the Singapore Muslim community rejects the ideology of exclusivism and extremism, we need families, friends and the wider community to remain vigilant and seek help from relevant authorities and agencies when in doubt," Muis said in a statement.

Muis Senior Director, Religious Policy and Development, Dr Nazirudin Mohd Nasir, said: “Exclusivist and extremist teachings, including propaganda videos by known terror groups that attempt to extol the virtues of violence by conflating it with jihad, are available online. That is why we must continue to protect our community by building in them religious and spiritual resilience through the correct and contextual appreciation of Islam and its teachings. This is the role that our accredited asatizah (religious teachers) play in guiding Muslims in their socioreligious life so that each Muslim embraces the compassionate and peaceful spirit of Islam and is well-equipped to immediately reject any form of extremist ideology.

“Families and friends must be vigilant, show support and help connect their loved ones to avenues where questions about religion and Islam will be answered by credible and trained asatizah.”

The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) is working through the Asatizah Youth Network (AYN) to combat extremist ideologies that propagate online. As announced in the 2018 Committee of Supply (COS) debate earlier this year, Muis will grow AYN membership over the next five years, conduct drop-in sessions for youths at Masjid Al-Falah and continue training asatizah in digital media engagements and youth counselling.

A member of the AYN, Executive Imam and Head of Islamic Learning at Masjid Muhajirin, Ustaz Mohammad Khalid Rafi, said: “Religion has been exploited to justify violence and destruction with no regard to the sanctity of life. Islam calls for the pursuit of peace and that should be our priority as Muslims. Let us not be misguided by disinformation promoted by such propaganda of hate. 

"We believe in an Islam that promotes peace and harmony based on the tradition of love and respect. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) had always chosen peace over war and conflict. Therefore, we should cherish our peaceful co-existence in multireligious Singapore, and be among those who seek peace and extend friendship to others.”

Ustaz Khalid also shared that the drop-in consultation session provides a ‘safe space’ for anyone to consult an AYN asatizah on issues related to questionable concepts and doctrines. Ustaz Khalid is of the view that such sessions are crucial to discourage individuals from ideologies that may lead to radicalisation.

Details: 

Drop-in sessions are available at Masjid Al-Falah, where individuals can ask about exclusivism and armed conflict. Trained asatizah offer counselling and will enhance their online presence to offer support and guidance to Singapore youth on social media. Book consultation sessions at Masjid Al-Falah at +65 6235 3172.

The Religious Rehabilitation Group (RRG) is also ready to help and can be contacted at 1800-7747747 as well as via the RRG Mobile App. 

The community can also approach Muis at +65 6359 1199.

Muis moves forward with Singapore mosque reorg, shares 50th anniversary plans

Muis has reorganised the current six Enhanced Mosque Clusters (EMCs) into the North, South, East, and West clusters, effective May 1, 2018. This revised cluster configuration takes into account all existing and planned mosques, and regroup thems for better balance and optimisation of resources. For example, mosques in the new North, East, and West clusters will run programmes that cater to congregants from the heartlands, whereas mosques in the South cluster within the city area cater to the working population there.

During a West cluster mosque investiture ceremony, some 174 volunteers from 16 mosques of the newly-formed West Mosque Cluster received their appointment letters as members of the respective Mosque Management Boards (MMBs). This is the first group of MMBs appointed under the new enhanced mosque cluster boundaries that were announced early in April at the Muis Work Plan Seminar. 

"I am heartened that almost 25% appointed here today are appointed for the first time to the MMB. All of you will join another 600 other members of the Mosque Management Boards who are serving selflessly in our other 54 mosques. As you embark on your journey as mosque leaders, I applaud and thank you for coming forward to serve. It signifies your commitment to help administer our mosques and to serve the community," Chief Executive, Muis, HJ Abdul Razak Maricar said.

Muis will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2018, and organising the Muis Community Fest as part of the celebrations. The three-day community event in September this year at Our Tampines Hub will include the Mosque Convention 2018 (MC18). MC18 will help to refresh and chart a new blueprint for the mosque sector for the next five years.

"Through MC18, we will take stock of our achievements, and at the same time seek to revitalise our vision, refocus our activities and set clear goals for the future," HJ Abdul Razak said.

A number of ideas were mooted as part of the Muis50 conversations*, held since October 2017, he added. "Till date, there have been a total of eight sessions involving 278 staff and MMBs, and over 1,000 hours with more than 1,500 ideas and suggestions," he said. "Ideas such as One Mosque Sector, a call for closer collaborations for common growth and sustainability and working together in the area of human capital development for both staff and volunteers, designing and delivering of new key programmes, as well as long term financial sustainability.

"One Mosque Sector would also mean a common mosque culture in Singapore that will contribute more effectively to the development of the Muslim community and nation-building.

"Another big idea was the Mosque for All which calls for our mosques to be more embracing in the spirit of blessings to all and to reach out beyond the community, as well as to collaborate with other agencies on common programmes such as active ageing, fitness and wellbeing."

"There was also the suggestion to look at developing Impactful Collaborations," HJ Abdul Razak added. "This entails our mosques leaders to be collaborative leaders who are able to spiritualise and create the spirit of community conscientiousness and play a more active role in community building and develop partnership across sector. I understand this conversation is still continuing."

*The conversations were held along three tracks: Religious guidance for a diverse Muslim community in a multireligious Singapore; Strengthening delivery of full time and part time Islamic education so as to build a generation of connected and contributing youth; and Enhance the role of mosques to be community nodes for all ages. 

Primary 1 Joint Madrasah Admission Exercise for 2019 begins

Madrasah Al-Ma’arif Al-Islamiah, Madrasah Alsagoff Al-Arabiah, Madrasah Irsyad Zuhri Al-Islamiah and Madrasah Wak Tanjong Al-Islamiah are conducting the Primary 1 Joint Madrasah Admission Exercise for the 2019 school year.

A joint effort between the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura, Muis), and the four full-time madrasahs offering primary level education, the exercise allows interested parents and legal guardians with eligible children to apply to the madrasahs online.

Children born on or between 2 January 2012 and 1 January 2013 are invited to apply to one of the four madrasahs for admission to primary 1 in 2018 via their websites:

Source: Muis. Logos for the four madrasahs. From left: Madrasah Irsyad Zuhri Al-Islamiah, Madrasah Al-Ma'arif Al-Islamiah, Madrasah Wak Tanjong Al-Islamiah and Madrasah Alsagoff Al-Arabiah.

Madrasah Al-Ma'arif Al-Islamiah, 3 Lorong 39 Geylang, Singapore 387865

Madrasah Alsagoff Al-Arabiah, 111 Jalan Sultan, Singapore 199006

Madrasah Wak Tanjong Al-Islamiah, 589 Sims Ave Singapore, Singapore 387600

Madrasah Irsyad Zuhri Al-Islamiah, Singapore Islamic Hub, 277, Braddell Road, Singapore 579711

Details:

Interested parents and guardians may choose to fill in the online application form at their choice madrasah’s website. The deadline is 6 April. 

Application Period	24 March – 6 April 2018
Test Date	14 April 2018
Application Result	14 May 2018
Period of Appeal	21 – 26 May 2018
Registration Date	2 June 2018

Get more information on the admission process

Muis appoints travel agents for Hajj 2018

The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) has appointed five individual travel agents and seven lead consortium travel agents as general sales agents (GSAs) to offer Hajj packages for 2018 (1439). Muis is in the process of notifying pilgrims whose registration numbers fall within the official quota (800) to choose their preferred Hajj package.

Prospective Singaporean pilgrims may choose from a total of 30 Hajj packages. Ten of these are short packages with the duration of stay ranging from 13 to 22 days. Eighteen of these are intermediate-trip packages with the duration of stay between 24 to 31 days. The remaining two packages offer stays ranging from 32 to 35 days.

The average Hajj package costs around S$11,500 (double occupancy). The lowest package price is S$6,995 (quad occupancy). All package prices quoted include emergency medical assistance (EMA) but exclude airfare and prevailing taxes. KSA has also imposed a 5% value added tax (VAT) on all goods and services in the country from 1 January 2018. This tax has been included in the Hajj packages for 2018. Despite the tax, all prices remain stable and competitive, Muis
said.

Muis advises prospective pilgrims to evaluate Hajj packages carefully based on individual needs and affordability. Prospective pilgrims are strongly advised not to make any payments to the approved GSAs until they receive the Haj Package Selection Letter from Muis. Pilgrims are also advised to read and understand the contents of the Haj Package Purchase Contract. GSAs have been requested to explain in full details to prospective pilgrims before confirming and signing each contract.

Details:

Get the list of authorised travel agents and approved Hajj packages for 2018

Explore:

Read the Suroor Asia blog posts about VAT in KSA and Hajj statistics in 2017

Muis shares Islamic calendar, key dates and prayer timetable for 2018

The Islamic Council of Singapore (Muis) has released new materials for 2018:

The Islamic calendar 2018 (PDF)

Key Islamic dates for 2018, including the beginning of each Islamic month and the dates for both Hari Rayas (Eids) and the Islamic New Year (PDF)

Prayer timetable for 2018 (PDF)

While the Islamic calendar and key Islamic dates are valid for other countries the prayer timetable would be very specific to Singapore.

Muis reports disbursement of zakat contributions

The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) has reported that 2017 zakat contributions amounted to S$2.3 million, which allowed 3,765 families to receive Year-End Grants (YEGs). This is an increase of 42% compared to the amount given in 2016, Muis said.

The YEG, which comprises bonuses, "Back-to-School" vouchers and other activities, is given on top of monthly financial assistance (FA) received by zakat beneficiaries. An estimated 1,500 primary and secondary school children will have received a "Back-to-School" vouchers worth between S$50 to S$100. 

In 2017, an additional S$320,000 will be given to families with children aged 18 years old and below, as part of the yearly Reqab (study) Bonus. This bonus is an extra amount given to families to cope with the costs of textbooks and learning programmes.