Image: Flickriver

To commemorate National Day in Singapore today, Muzlimbuzz has come up with a list of 9 reasons why its a huge blessing to be a Singaporean Muslim! Read on and add on if you have some more, or object if you disagree!

9. It is easy to get halaal food in Singapore.

Unlike places like the West where Macdonalds isn’t even halaal, we have an array of choices of halaal food here. In all major shopping malls, there is bound to be a fast food chain or even Banquet to satisfy your hunger.

8. No Islamophobia here.

Muslims do not have to fear having to be brought aside to be checked “randomly” at our train stations. Our women can wear long black robes without getting stared at. Since the birth of Singapore, Muslims have always lived alongside the other races and religions.

7. We have 68 mosques and our youths aren’t banned from going to one.

Our mosques are clean, well-run and even if you are too far from a mosque to do your prayers, we have quite a number of musollahs in our Singaporean buildings. In places such as Palestine, your entry into mosques are decided by soldiers. Here, we can walk into any mosque freely and in peace.

A lot of mosques too have their own Youth Development Officer and Mosque Youth group. This is a huge blessing because unlike Tajikistan, their youths are banned from mosques altogether. Can you imagine not being able to step into a mosque?

6. Our leaders let us practice our faith in peace.

Despite Minister Mentor’s retracted comments about Muslims needing to be “less strict”, we are actually given quite a free rein to perform all our 5 pillars. Muslims in Uighur are banned from fasting in Ramadan, their women are not allowed to cover up, their men not allowed to keep a beard! Not only are we allowed to fast, we can do tarawih, qiyam, maulid processions, invite international scholars to hold lectures and so much more.

5. Our country is still one of the safest places to be.

We can walk to the mosque or school or nearby shop without any real fear.

4. Our tertiary Muslim societies are active, dynamic and contribute to society.

Not only the tertiary Muslim societies, but a lot of local Muslim organizations are doing a great deal of work to cater to all segments of society. Not all nations are as blessed to have the resources and ability to form such religious groups.

3. We do not have to ever experience a 17hour fast.

Since we are located close to the Equator, our fasting never go beyond 14 hours, unlike the people in the West who have to fast for much longer in the summer.

2. For most of us, all our basic needs are met.

While a segment of our society are in financial difficulties, Singapore is far from famine-stricken Somalia. In the past 3 months alone, 29,000 children have died in the Horn of Africa. Singapore has been blessed and protected from major humanitarian crises like these. We are blessed to have the extra wealth to help out other nations and as individuals, we should donate however much we can – at least to give thanks to Allah for protecting our country all these time.

Image: New York Times

Our children are also given the chance to pursue both secular and religious knowledge. We have full-time madrasahs, and weekend ones. And our local religious organizations are abound with adult night classes for anyone who would just sign up or sit in for one.

1. Unlike the cruelty, injustice and blatant torture shown in this Al Jazeera documentary on the revolution in Bahrain,

Singapore’s leaders are now opening up channels to further connect with us and listen to our concerns. We will insyaAllah never go the way of Bahrain or Syria in terms of having tanks in our neighbourhoods, and having our Police Force or the Army injure and kill our own people. Below is a clip from the full documentary to give you an idea just how far we are from such situations alhamdulillah.

What else are you blessed with as a Muslim in Singapore? If you disagree with this article, why? Let us know your thoughts and have a happy National Day!