In mid-November, the spotlight came onto Mr Jason Neo who had posted a picture of a school bus with Muslim students from Huda Kindergarten with the caption “Bus filled with young terrorist trainees”.
A few days later, Mr Christian Eliab Ratnam posted a picture of text claiming that Islam is not a religion but ‘an authoritarian, political doctrine which imposes itself by force’, among other inflammatory things.
Shortly after, Mr Donaldson Tan reposted a picture of a pig superimposed on the Kaabah – only the most controversial animal in Islam on the most sacred site in Islam.
To the three men, I pray you are well as you read this, if you ever do.
Your actions have not angered me as much as it has saddened me. Having lived alongside and studied with neighbours and classmates of different faiths in Singapore all my life, I grew up believing that my friends accepted my Muslim identity and faith as part of me. With the recent postings, I wonder, do my friends secretly harbour thoughts that I’m an adherent to a violent religion? Do they worry if I may one day harm them, or my country?
In the past five to ten years, as I read articles about the discrimination that Western Muslims had to face by their countrymen post-911, I always counted my blessings that being a Muslim in Singapore had never been an issue. I am now starting to wonder if I had been naive all these while.
Source: Olx
To Mr Jason Neo, in your defence you said that the boys were standing in a manner that looked as if they were pointing guns at each other. Perhaps you thought that it was a funny coincidence that these Muslim kids reminded you of Osama Bin Laden, the Taliban or Mas Selamat even. I guess I cannot really blame you since the media loves to show angry Muslims burning flags and buildings, and not the regular, smiling Muslims that eat at McDonald’s and take the same trains and buses as you do.
It is sad to know that when you saw the Muslim kids, you didn’t think “That may be my neighbour’s kids” or “How cute those boys are with their tiny headgear” but instead, your initial thought process was in flaming red warning letters: Terrorists. Well, I guess a caption such as “Muslim boys in their cute headgear” was just not inspiring or exciting enough for Facebook.
Muslims have had quite enough of being misrepresented in the media and you are just a walking example of how that has had an effect on your impression towards Muslims.
To Mr Christian Eliab Ratnam, contrary to what you believe, Islam is not “an authoritarian, political doctrine which imposes itself by force”. It’s a pity that you never saw Islam through my eyes. As I grew up and learnt to love my religion, these were the things that I was taught.
Islam Does Not Impose Itself by Force
- ” There is no compulsion in religion.” (Quran 2:256)
- In the Charter of Privileges sent by the Prophet Muhammad to the Christians of Najran, it states:”This is a message from [Prophet] Muhammad ibn Abdullah, as a covenant to those who adopt Christianity, near and far, we are with them. Verily I, the servants, the helpers, and my followers defend them, because Christians are my citizens; and by Allah! I hold out against anything that displeases them. No compulsion [in religion] is to be on them. Neither are their judges to be removed from their jobs nor their monks from their monasteries.No one is to destroy a house of their religion, to damage it, or to carry anything from it to the Muslims’ houses. Should anyone take any of these, he would spoil God’s covenant and disobey His Prophet. Verily, they are my allies and have my secure charter against all that they hate.No one is to force them to travel or to oblige them to fight. The Muslims are to fight for them.”
Islam as a Religion of Mercy, Forgiveness and Honesty
- ” But indeed if any show patience and forgive, that would truly be an exercise of courageous will and resolution in the conduct of affairs. ” ( The Quran 42:43 )
- “Repel evil with that which is best. ” (The Quran 23:96 )
- “Woe to those that deal in fraud ; those who, when they have to receive by measure from men, demands full measure, but when they have to give by measure or weight to men, give less than due. Do they not think that they will be called to account ? ” (The Quran 83:1-4)
- “The best of companions in the sight of Allah is the one who is best to his companions, and the best of neighbours in the sight of Allah is the one who is best to his neighbour.”( Hadith – Narrated by Imam Bukhari in al-Adab al-Mufrad)
- “Worship Allah and join none with Him (in worship); and do good to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, the poor, the neighbour who is near, the neighbour who is far, the companion by your side…”[ The Quran 4 : 36]
According to the celebrated scholar of Islam, Imam Abu ‘Abdullah Muhammad ibn Ahmad Al-Qurthubi (1214-1273 AD ) in his exegesis of the Quran, Tafsir Al-Qurthubi, this verse is clear in its instructions to do good to one’s neighbours, to fulfil their rights, to protect their properties and lives, regardless whether that neighbour is a Muslim or not.
There are many things in Islam that are beautiful. You need only seek it to find it, and you will then see it the way I do.
To Mr Donaldson Tan, while you refuse to remove the offensive picture by saying that “Islam is not sacrosanct”, here’s what I’ll say:
Islam may not be sacrosanct to you, but religious harmony, love, tolerance and acceptance of other’s beliefs are. You cannot use the “my right to free speech” card and then cry foul when we use our “my right to be offended” card. I don’t need laws or a Sedition Act to chart my actions. I need only listen to my mother’s timeless advice: “If you’re not prepared to face the consequences of your actions, don’t do it.”
Why now? Why provoke when we have tirelessly built our nation to be one of love and acceptance? Everyone has a part to play to ensure that Singapore continues to be a place of peace and harmony. Just look at the unrest and racial/civil strife in other nations and tell me if you’re willing to let what we have go to waste only because of “free speech”.
I love my country and I love the peace that we have enjoyed thus far. And I definitely love my friends regardless of their faith or ethnic background, a thousand times more than I love my right to free speech.
I pray God fill your heart with much more love.
Together, we need to combat intolerance of any kind and put our nation’s peace above ourselves.
To the three of you, and anyone else who has any doubts or concerns about Islam and Muslims, please feel free to browse our website for the articles that we have, or to drop us an email so that we may address them.
To the Muslim readers, please read this: An Open Letter to All Muslims in Singapore.
I think the problem is tolerance. All we’re taught with regards to our multi-cultural society is to tolerate. Yes, the Chinese 7th month they burn their hell notes we tolerate the ash and the smell. Thaipusam we tolerate the noise. Friday prayers they tolerate the cars parked alongside the road. Just tolerate, but don’t understand. There’s a dangerous line that may be crossed when you teach religion in secular schools – the line between pure pedagogy and proselytising. But I think the time is nigh for students to learn about and understand from a young age what the major religions are about, so we can move away from mere tolerance, to a place of understanding and respect. I know of some Muslims who may have problems with this, but when you live in a multi-cultural, multi-religious society like ours you just have to accept that respect begets respect. If you want to be respected, you have to be respectful.
Also, while I love Islam and I wish people would stop posting things like the three men in question, I think that we Muslims should be less over-sensitive and stop being so complain-y. I read the comments on articles posted by Yahoo! and theonlinecitizen and I feel so embarrassed by some of the things my fellow Muslims are saying. It’s not helping our cause in the least.
Indeed. All these years we have been “tolerant” towards the issue of cars parked by the roadside during Friday prayers. In fact, it does not bother me that much, if not at all, as it has already become a norm on Fridays. What bothers me is that why aren’t Christians given the same “privilege” on Sundays? I have seen people from my church being issued with summon tickets for parking their vehicles along the roads, the exact same way how Muslims would park theirs on Fridays.
I have a few Malay (Muslim) close friends too. And I have posed this question to them before. The only probable explanation they could give me was “aiya, parking attendants also Muslims (Malays) mah.” Now, albeit that being a casual remark or comment, what if it is indeed true? Is that discrimination, or what?
Now, don’t get me wrong here; I love my mee-siam, lontong, mee-rebus, nasi padang, and all my (Muslim) friends but that is 1 thing I cannot understand, and also, cannot “tolerate”.
Yet again… I’m surprised that trivial issue such as parking tickets is of greater importance than something that could rock the stability and harmony of the country.
Is there not a better platform than this?
But nevermind… let me indulge in this… although very briefly.
Please be informed my tolerant countryman– Vehicles parked illegally on roadside during Friday prayers have been summoned. This is a fact contrary to your Muslim friends’ belief.
I’m sorry my Christian brothers have also been summoned for the same offense. Would you like the Muslim brothers to fight for your cause (parking tickets) while we defend ourselves against the like of Neo, Ratnam and Tan?
Meantime, please inform your “close Muslim friends” that Muslims are not treated with any form of favoritism even if the parking attendants are “brudders”… These guys are already incentivized to summon. The color of money does not recognize the color of skin.
While we learn that our tolerant countryman’s favorite dishes are mostly Malay dishes and presumably not limited to them… one can’t help but wonder if his tolerance extends to the ashes during the 10th month? And if he has made it a public?
My tolerant countryman… live and let live. The parking tickets are not a something part of a conspiracy by the Muslims to reap in revenue from the Christians for the folks that run this country.
Would think if any Muslim involved in something like this could be considered myopic and even juvenile. Please tell this to your close Muslim friends.
My friend nawaz, I went into the issue of illegal parking only because shah mentioned it… Yes, trivial it might be indeed but from small things, big things grow, don’t you agree?
I thank you for letting me know that there are indeed cases of Muslim brothers getting fined for not illegal parking because this is definitely something new to me. Perhaps I have been ill-informed on my part and I hope I haven’t offended you, have I? My apologies if I have but I still would like hear this from someone whom I personally know.
“one can’t help but wonder if his tolerance extends to the ashes during the 10th month? And if he has made it a public?”
With the above quoted, I supposed you meant 7th month? So, what about the 7th month?
And lastly, we are definitely on the same side against the Neo, Ratnam and Tan alike… but sad to say, racism is here to stay; we can never eliminate it, not even in football.
Glad we are in agreement Re: Neo, Ratnam and Tan.
Cheers bro.
Just because racism is “here to stay” doesn’t mean we can go harping about it or extended it to every corner of our life and post it all over the media. This incidents (Neo, Ratnam and Tan) at the very least is an unfortunate one and at the most could be the tip of an iceberg. Well the authorities are on it, so let them get on with it. The Christians are entering their festive season, so all the joys to them. Bonuses are on the way, so are the taxes…there’s so much for us typical Singaporeans having to face through, so let’s get on with our life and try to be contented…of course that exclude the morning ride on the MRT…sigh
Very well answered. And very classy, the way you ignored the burning of ashes issue which our very “well informed” (by friends) friend here doesn’t seem to have any clue about. Peace to you!
masanya akan tiba…
kitapun sudah “terpedaya”.
kita tak mungkin dapat mengubah mereka tetapi kita yang sebenarnya sudah hilang identiti. sungguh benarlah firman Allah “Syaitan itu musuh yang nyata “
Maybe you could also explain why “tolerant” Muslims like you don’t condemn “honour” killings in Islamic countries, the blasphemy laws in Pakistan where Christians and HIndus are hounded and often killed? Or why Muslims are mainly responsible for the gang-rapes of white girls in the UK and the Scandinavian countries? Or is it maybe “tolerant” Muslims like you only see what you want to see, the same way that most Catholics close their eyes to pedophile priests?
We do condemn “honour killings” in “Islamic” countries, we just didn’t write an open letter for that. Honour killings are not part of Islam, it is a cultural phenomena.
As with your other accusations, just because adherents to a religion behave the way they do, that is not a reflection of what the religion is about. Rape IS a sin in Islam.
We don’t “close our eyes” to what we don’t want to see. We are perfectly aware that there are ‘bad’ Muslims, just as there are ‘bad’ Catholics, and ‘bad’ people everywhere. But we know that it is not the religion to be blamed, but that remiss person who calls themselves “Muslim” or “Catholics” etc.
Its funny how a faith that has been unduly attacked and ridiculed has to defend the actions of some people within the faith…and that too someone not even in the country.
Is it not the slandering of innocent children or making judgements by uninformed and ignorant individual/s, or religious provocation by blatantly defacing an identity of the faith the very issue at hand.
Perhaps some questions need to be directed at Neo, Ratnam and Tan , who are rocking the very stability and harmony this country worked for so hard for decades.
The very stability and harmony, Neo, Ratnam and Tan is most certainly enjoying in this country. Perhaps we should do something to strengthen this harmony that we strongly desire. How? Charles, Perhaps focusing it on the guys that started the problem.
Like most faith, Muslims believe its faith is the perfect car driven by imperfect drivers. And like most other faith, perfect cars are sometimes driven by drunken drivers.
Are we required to defend every single drunken driver or the perfect car driven by a drunken driver?
On that note… I’d like to thank Muzlim buzz for this article as well as point out to readers that “jihad” is not a Holy War as we (you) would traditionally understand it to be. It means to strive to the will of God… even in the midst of all the prejudice around us.
Oh…BTW… folks working for the “garmen”… we’d like to see how you’d handle this?
Fact #1:
For the last ten years the ISA in Singapore has only been used against Islamic militants.
Fact #2:
Lee Kuan Yew had publicly said that the only group of people who will never integrate fully into Singaporean society are the Muslims.
Fact #3:
Many religions are mocked everyday on the internet, but the Sedition Act has only been used against allegedly anti-Islam offenders.
Perhaps the Muslim need to examine themselves before quick to write open letters denigrating other citizens.
Response #1: Evidence?
Response #2: When did Lee Kuan Yew become infallible? He “stands corrected” and it is sad that you need to take someone else’s words for it instead of finding out and forming your own opinion.
Response #3: Evidence?
For the last ten years the ISA in Singapore has only been used against Islamic militants.
These are terrorists who will use violence against civilians. Whether they are Islamic, Christian or Communist does not matter insomuch they are prepared to use violence.
Lee Kuan Yew had publicly said that the only group of people who will never integrate fully into Singaporean society are the Muslims.
And you accept it without thinking why he said so. What is his standard and measure of ‘integration’? What has he said all along about the Malay-Muslim community?
Many religions are mocked everyday on the internet, but the Sedition Act has only been used against allegedly anti-Islam offenders.
Yet it’s still insensitive and offensive to mock religions in the first place, since they form an integral part of a person’s identity.
Perhaps the Muslim need to examine themselves before quick to write open letters denigrating other citizens.
You need to examine your brain.
Not sure of the factual accuracy of:
“Many religions are mocked everyday on the internet, but the Sedition Act has only been used against allegedly anti-Islam offenders.”
But for a moment if we were to believe that the sentence holds the truth… does it not reflect the prejudice that exist against the faith?
Or is it an implication that the establishment running this country is on a witch hunt against those alleged “anti-Islam offenders”?
In this country, and perhaps many others, you can be a Muslim, so long as you don’t really, REALLY, believe in it.
Well I think there is nothing wrong with any religion at all..
The majority just believe what the media portray about Muslims. Make friends with a Muslim and you will know what I’m talking about.
The problem is really the media as it shapes what people think and feel about things..
Hi everyone. I’m a Chinese. I used to be a Buddhist, then Christian, and now pretty much a deist practicing Taoist/Buddhist beliefs but above all that, I’m a human being.
I apologize in advance but I don’t really agree not favour the comments above.
For a start, on level of the HDB flat that I’m living in, there’s a Malay family, an Indian family, and 4 Chinese families. There’s a family that believes in Islam, another in Hinduism, one with Christian’s belief, one with Buddhist, a family of free thinker, and my family of Taoist-Buddhist belief.
Regardless of their race or religion,I tolerate none of their practices because I live WITH them. Their practices are a part of me.
It’s one thing to attempt to allow everyone of all race and religion to enjoy similar, if not the same, privileges etc but it’s another if these differences come to make us divided through comparison.
I’m not a speaker and I’m unable to articulate my points well but nonetheless, I sincerely and wholeheartedly do seek everyone’s understanding to make this world, not just Singapore, a better place for everyone. Live and let live. For every single argument there is, there’s another counter argument to it that would probably work as well, with or without evidence.
Let’s not compare or anything along those lines and simply acknowledge that we are one, yet different; acknowledge that we are different, yet similar.
I end this short comment with hoping everyone well, regardless of race, language, and religion and I sincerely do hope the next comment can be one that moves as forward as a species of human beings.
Well said.
Like I have mentioned earlier in my previous comment, racism is here to stay, like it or not. You and I, and all those who are on our side, just do our part.
It’s naive to say racism doesn’t exist.It exist and has existed for a long long time here. But it is how we deal with its existence is what matters. So far we have kept it at level whereby everyone can tolerate it and let it just passes by. But in an internet age, social networking lifestyle, small issues can be overblown like never before. Thus a certain level of understanding and co operations among us citizens are needed to prevent things from getting overboard. We existed in this tiny island as one, we should progress as one. Everyone should practice their beliefs and culture without having to be put on trial. Respect and be responsible is the way to go….
As a practising and devout Christian, I say God bless you for your calmness, wisdom and forbearance. For the silent majority, many may privately harbour their own negative opinions but that doesn’t mean they approve of unkind and unnecessary actions like these. It’s like Aesop’s fable about the Sun and the Wind’s challenge to find who was mightier.
Wondering if MUIS or ministry of muslim affairs had issued a statement with reference to this issue? Please share.
Shah, Ray & Eric – I take my hat off to you all, fine examples of respect, understanding and being human.
We have too many people sweating the small stuff , be it religion/politics/daily life etc. Instead of always looking for/at differences why not start looking at/for similarities between us. Our Borders/segregation are man made, the media is wild and will publish anything which will sell – also man made and opinionated. Everyone makes too much noise now about everything- adding fuel to fire and inciting hatred, but the media or the next person cannot be blamed. As an intelligent being on this earth, we all have the freedom to choose, think, question and not follow blindly. There are many who are ignorant of the Race/Culture/Religion/Faith issues. Faith is very personal and no one can/ should argue with your beliefs, but know that it is for you and may not be for others. As you have chosen and would not like to be judged, so has others. If you choose to read and belief everything in the media and get cross and seek revenge/justification for it, then it will never end because you are playing someone elses game and may not even fully understand what it is all about.
Start with caring for yourself>family>neighbours>community>country>the world, not the other way round. If everyone starts with themsleves and work outwards, everything else will work just fine. Why worry about something going wrong somewhere else when you/your family may be/ are in turmoil.
I grew up in a village in Singapore – visited Chinese Temples,visited mosques/ read the Quran, went to sunday school/Church and helped to make the garlands for the Gods/rang the bell in our Hindu Temple. I consider myself very lucky and had a fantastic childhood.
To this day ( I am nearly 59years old now) i feel a part of everyone and everything and at the same time nothing.
I wish that more of our young Singaporeans would be better at integration and understanding, considering all the expensive education/world exposure at their feet. Open your eyes and see the world and how beautiful it is. Look within and consider your blessings. We all have something to teach each other and learn from each other. We are each a gift from God (if you believe in God) /the Universe to each other.
When you say the ‘We the citizen of Singapore………. think of the words, dont just repeat it parrot fashion and blindly!
This is not a clever post but a rambling one and I wish all of you peace,love and all good things in this beautiful world of ours and beyond.
Finally, I would like to share this with anyone who have not read/seen it before, because we need this today more than ever:-
DESIDERATA – by max ehrmann
Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love, for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is perennial as the grass.
Take kindly to the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
Max Ehrmann c.1920
The advent of technology has made the world smaller. We have become closer, sometimes too close for our comfort. Information flows so fast and rapidly now that it is beyond control. As they say “SEX” sells, therefore the media is main culprit……they need to sell newspapers! There is nothing wrong with news, but the media must be socially responsible. Look…..when I get to know someone, I do not ask for his or her religion. Religion is between you and GOD. I am a Muslim, I was from a mission school and I make friends with anyone, but please do not preach to me! Evil exists whether you are a Muslim, Christian/Catholic, Taoist, Buddhist…..let reiterate….! It’s the person not the religion! I have always respected other faiths, so please respect mine.
I think this is a beautiful and peaceful and intelligent reply. It promotes understanding which most of Singapore’s multiracial policies fail to do. Rather, the Singaporean ideal is “tolerance”. From my point of view, to tolerate something is to allow something you dislike or don’t understand to carry on. That does not solve the problem in any way because it does not erase the dislike or increase the understanding.
So kudos to you for writing this. And thank you for sharing. And if you find nothing positive from some of the remarks, then at least know that I for one have been touched by the sentiments behind your open letter and I leave this page a little more educated and more at peace with the world around me.
Dear All friends in Singapore as well as wherever your are reading from,
we cannot classify people who are bad by their religion, race or any other forms of social identity. these people choose their actions, they choose their wrongdoings and they bring a bad name to others.
whoever that bothers to do the classification of terrorist as linked to a religion are now truly the terrorist.. not through physical harm, but by emotional and mental harm. this is unnecessary trouble. we should be sympathetic that there are people out there who use what they believe in as an excuse for their insanity. Is is fair to say that all males are rapist just because there are some who do it?
it is the same concept. and remember, the true terrorist is the one that is stupid enough to actually take a form of social identity or a religion to blame for one idiot’s stupid actions.
We can live in harmony, because we have for a long time and will for a long time. Dont take life and people for granted, we only see what we want to, so see beyond race, religion and we will be fine.
Dear comrades, congratulations for those of you who are trying hard to complete the missing jigsaw puzzles. You take the steps to throw away your egos, emotions, ill-feelings, hatred etc and tune it with great melodies; unity, strength, peace, harmony and love.
Ignore those who ignore the good deeds irregardless of their race, religion and ethnics. Great mind think alike…..therefore weak minder think alike too…
Those who do not love those around you would not be loved by the Creator whom create everything.