By Loke Kok Fai, Channel NewsAsia, 11 Feb 2017
The first compilation of Singaporean fatwas – the religious rulings from Islamic authorities that provide guidance – that provides both text of the fatwas and their accompanying commentaries, was launched on Saturday (11 Feb) at the inaugural Conference on Fatwa in Contemporary Societies.
The volume gathers 29 fatwas issued by the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore’s (MUIS) Fatwa Committee on the subject of science, medicine and health, and is the first of a planned series that would document the development and socio-historical background of the 577 fatwas issued since October 1968 to 2015.
Speaking at the conference, Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Dr Yaacob Ibrahim said Singapore’s Muslim community should take pride in the sustained efforts of the Fatwa Committee to find meaningful solutions to concrete and real human problems. He also spoke on the need to ensure the relevance of such rulings, in a world where the speed, scale and volume of social and technological change grows ever greater.
“The issues facing Muslim communities will only become more complex and multi-faceted. At times, novel issues may arise from which no precedents exist,” said Dr Yaacob.
“The Fatwa Committee has therefore taken a multi-disciplinary approach. In deliberating on issues, the Fatwa Committee invites experts and professionals from diverse fields such as biomedicine, social sciences, finance and civil law to provide inputs. This process reflects a desire to embrace knowledge and enables the Committee to have all the necessary information before issuing a fatwa.”
The Mufti, Dr Mohamed Fatris Bakaram, echoed Dr Yaacob’s view in his keynote address at the conference, saying that finding the answers to modern-day questions “is not as straightforward as conveniently saying ‘let’s go back to Qur’an and sunnah’”.
“The days of divine revelation have long been concluded. Nor can we feel contented by classical scholars, however excellent these intellectual treasures might have been,” said Dr Fatris.
“This is the era of fatwas, where answers and guidance given in response to specific issues faced by individuals and communities should constitute the major source for the consecutive development of al-fiqh (Islamic positive law). The inability to progress in this regard will only cause Muslims to repeatedly seek legal inspiration in the classical treatises that were written in a time and context totally different from theirs.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic and Social Policies Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who officially launched the first fatwa compilation, acknowledged the contribution of the Fatwa Committee to the Muslim community – and by extension Singapore’s harmonious multicultural society. He added that the publication of the volume in Malay and English was “an important contribution to scholarship”, as well as “a source of public education for Muslims and non-Muslims alike.”
The volume gathers 29 fatwas issued by the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore’s (MUIS) Fatwa Committee on the subject of science, medicine and health, and is the first of a planned series that would document the development and socio-historical background of the 577 fatwas issued since October 1968 to 2015.
Speaking at the conference, Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Dr Yaacob Ibrahim said Singapore’s Muslim community should take pride in the sustained efforts of the Fatwa Committee to find meaningful solutions to concrete and real human problems. He also spoke on the need to ensure the relevance of such rulings, in a world where the speed, scale and volume of social and technological change grows ever greater.
“The issues facing Muslim communities will only become more complex and multi-faceted. At times, novel issues may arise from which no precedents exist,” said Dr Yaacob.
“The Fatwa Committee has therefore taken a multi-disciplinary approach. In deliberating on issues, the Fatwa Committee invites experts and professionals from diverse fields such as biomedicine, social sciences, finance and civil law to provide inputs. This process reflects a desire to embrace knowledge and enables the Committee to have all the necessary information before issuing a fatwa.”
The Mufti, Dr Mohamed Fatris Bakaram, echoed Dr Yaacob’s view in his keynote address at the conference, saying that finding the answers to modern-day questions “is not as straightforward as conveniently saying ‘let’s go back to Qur’an and sunnah’”.
“The days of divine revelation have long been concluded. Nor can we feel contented by classical scholars, however excellent these intellectual treasures might have been,” said Dr Fatris.
“This is the era of fatwas, where answers and guidance given in response to specific issues faced by individuals and communities should constitute the major source for the consecutive development of al-fiqh (Islamic positive law). The inability to progress in this regard will only cause Muslims to repeatedly seek legal inspiration in the classical treatises that were written in a time and context totally different from theirs.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic and Social Policies Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who officially launched the first fatwa compilation, acknowledged the contribution of the Fatwa Committee to the Muslim community – and by extension Singapore’s harmonious multicultural society. He added that the publication of the volume in Malay and English was “an important contribution to scholarship”, as well as “a source of public education for Muslims and non-Muslims alike.”
“To deepen our resilience as a society, we must deepen the multiculturalism that makes us Singaporeans. We must keep each of our cultures alive, but also develop a keener interest in each other’s cultures, and build stronger friendships and interactions” said Mr Tharman.
“The absence of ethnic conflict in Singapore, despite being one of the most religiously and culturally diverse countries in the world, is in fact an oddity. It is something precious in today’s world.”
The English version of the compilation can be downloaded on the MUIS website at www.muis.gov.sg/officeofthemufti/fatwa-book.html.
The Conference of Fatwa in Contemporary Studies saw over 300 Islamic religious teachers, scholars, academics and professionals among others in attendance.
The English version of the compilation can be downloaded on the MUIS website at www.muis.gov.sg/officeofthemufti/fatwa-book.html.
The Conference of Fatwa in Contemporary Studies saw over 300 Islamic religious teachers, scholars, academics and professionals among others in attendance.
Tharman: Fatwa committee has helped build social harmony
Muslims guided to understand their religious and civic identities, and balance obligations
By Nur Asyiqin Mohamad Salleh, The Sunday Times, 12 Feb 2017
A committee of senior Islamic scholars in Singapore has, through its fatwas or rulings over the years, helped Muslims here understand their religious and civic identities, and balance their obligations.
In doing so, the Fatwa Committee has helped build a harmonious multicultural society over the years, Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said yesterday.
"The committee's independent thinking, guided by their ethical and moral commitments and a keen eye on public interest, augurs well for the future of Islam in Singapore, and also for our multiculturalism," he said at the first conference on fatwa in contemporary societies organised by the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS).
Mr Tharman noted that since its formation in 1968, the Fatwa Committee has tackled complex issues, including biomedical developments such as stem cell research and therapeutic cloning. It has also helped strengthen families, and CPF and insurance nominations are now accepted as valid ways of transferring wealth within Muslim families.
He commended the Fatwa Committee for its "progressive outlook, and its courage to offer solutions that are meaningful and practical".
The committee has also engaged the Muslim community to discuss the objectives and rationale behind its fatwas, and explain why it may, at times, depart from the positions of religious bodies elsewhere. Such engagement, Mr Tharman noted, is "how our Muslim religious leaders help engender trust and confidence in fatwas that are suited for Muslims living in Singapore".
Mr Tharman, who is Coordinating Minister for Economic and Social Policies, spoke about Singapore's active and inclusive brand of multiculturalism, which he noted was unlike the "live and let live" passive approach many societies take. "Live and let live has not worked," he said, pointing to how generations of minorities in some European nations still feel like outsiders.
In Singapore, multiculturalism involves an entire system of laws, an activist government, committed religious and community leaders, and values and norms that have been shaped over the years, Mr Tharman told 300 Islamic religious teachers, scholars, and legal and medical professionals at the one-day event.
Muslims guided to understand their religious and civic identities, and balance obligations
By Nur Asyiqin Mohamad Salleh, The Sunday Times, 12 Feb 2017
In doing so, the Fatwa Committee has helped build a harmonious multicultural society over the years, Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said yesterday.
"The committee's independent thinking, guided by their ethical and moral commitments and a keen eye on public interest, augurs well for the future of Islam in Singapore, and also for our multiculturalism," he said at the first conference on fatwa in contemporary societies organised by the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS).
Mr Tharman noted that since its formation in 1968, the Fatwa Committee has tackled complex issues, including biomedical developments such as stem cell research and therapeutic cloning. It has also helped strengthen families, and CPF and insurance nominations are now accepted as valid ways of transferring wealth within Muslim families.
He commended the Fatwa Committee for its "progressive outlook, and its courage to offer solutions that are meaningful and practical".
The committee has also engaged the Muslim community to discuss the objectives and rationale behind its fatwas, and explain why it may, at times, depart from the positions of religious bodies elsewhere. Such engagement, Mr Tharman noted, is "how our Muslim religious leaders help engender trust and confidence in fatwas that are suited for Muslims living in Singapore".
Mr Tharman, who is Coordinating Minister for Economic and Social Policies, spoke about Singapore's active and inclusive brand of multiculturalism, which he noted was unlike the "live and let live" passive approach many societies take. "Live and let live has not worked," he said, pointing to how generations of minorities in some European nations still feel like outsiders.
In Singapore, multiculturalism involves an entire system of laws, an activist government, committed religious and community leaders, and values and norms that have been shaped over the years, Mr Tharman told 300 Islamic religious teachers, scholars, and legal and medical professionals at the one-day event.
This includes laws preserving the freedom to practise one's religion and protecting race and religion from denigration, and policies to promote the common space in schools and offices.
The absence of ethnic conflict in Singapore, one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world, is a precious oddity. But while Singapore's approach means it starts from "a position of strength", society must go further, he said. "We must deepen multiculturalism in our next phase of nation-building."
This does not mean diluting or weakening various cultures to forge a single culture. Neither is it about only strengthening each culture separately - for this will make Singapore "more vulnerable to the winds of religious and ethnic conflict that are blowing across the world".
This does not mean diluting or weakening various cultures to forge a single culture. Neither is it about only strengthening each culture separately - for this will make Singapore "more vulnerable to the winds of religious and ethnic conflict that are blowing across the world".
"To deepen our resilience as a society, we must deepen the multiculturalism that makes us Singaporeans. We must keep each of our cultures alive, but also develop a keener interest in each other's cultures, and build stronger friendships and interactions, starting from young," he said. "Multiculturalism must become something we cherish in our hearts, not just something we accept in our minds."
New book on local fatwas
By Nur Asyiqin Mohamad Salleh, The Sunday Times, 12 Feb 2017
Can a Muslim man donate his sperm? Can cadavers of Muslims be used for medical research? Can pig skin be used to treat a heart defect? These are among the questions answered in a new book explaining the rationale behind 29 fatwas on science, medicine and health.
The first volume in MUIS' Fatwas Of Singapore series was launched by Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam yesterday. He said he hoped the book would be a source of education for Muslims and non-Muslims alike. It is available in both Malay and English, with an e-book version of the English edition available for download from MUIS' website.
Since its inception in 1968, the Fatwa Committee has issued 577 fatwas. As MUIS turns 50 next year, Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim said "it is timely to showcase how our fatwas have evolved, and take stock of the development of Islamic jurisprudence in our country". The series explains the socio-historical context behind some fatwas.
Dr Yaacob explained the importance of developing fatwas with society in mind, adding this is recognised in Singapore's Administration of Muslim Law Act, which allows the Fatwa Committee to follow the tenets of various accepted schools of Muslim law.
And to safeguard public interest, the committee is allowed to re-examine rulings in new circumstances. Dr Yaacob cited a 2007 fatwa that revised an earlier ruling excluding Muslims from the Human Organ Transplant Act. The committee concluded that amending the Act to include Muslims would ultimately promote public interest and welfare.
Speakers at yesterday's conference included Singapore Mufti Fatris Bakaram, who currently chairs the Fatwa Committee, and Professor Quraish Shihab, a prominent Islamic scholar from Indonesia.
As for the above questions, Singapore's Fatwa Committee ruled that a Muslim man cannot donate his semen to a sperm bank, and its chairman in 1972 permitted the use of cadavers in certain cases. And while pig skin can be used to treat life-threatening illnesses, there are certain conditions.
By Nur Asyiqin Mohamad Salleh, The Sunday Times, 12 Feb 2017
Can a Muslim man donate his sperm? Can cadavers of Muslims be used for medical research? Can pig skin be used to treat a heart defect? These are among the questions answered in a new book explaining the rationale behind 29 fatwas on science, medicine and health.
The first volume in MUIS' Fatwas Of Singapore series was launched by Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam yesterday. He said he hoped the book would be a source of education for Muslims and non-Muslims alike. It is available in both Malay and English, with an e-book version of the English edition available for download from MUIS' website.
Since its inception in 1968, the Fatwa Committee has issued 577 fatwas. As MUIS turns 50 next year, Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim said "it is timely to showcase how our fatwas have evolved, and take stock of the development of Islamic jurisprudence in our country". The series explains the socio-historical context behind some fatwas.
Dr Yaacob explained the importance of developing fatwas with society in mind, adding this is recognised in Singapore's Administration of Muslim Law Act, which allows the Fatwa Committee to follow the tenets of various accepted schools of Muslim law.
And to safeguard public interest, the committee is allowed to re-examine rulings in new circumstances. Dr Yaacob cited a 2007 fatwa that revised an earlier ruling excluding Muslims from the Human Organ Transplant Act. The committee concluded that amending the Act to include Muslims would ultimately promote public interest and welfare.
Speakers at yesterday's conference included Singapore Mufti Fatris Bakaram, who currently chairs the Fatwa Committee, and Professor Quraish Shihab, a prominent Islamic scholar from Indonesia.
As for the above questions, Singapore's Fatwa Committee ruled that a Muslim man cannot donate his semen to a sperm bank, and its chairman in 1972 permitted the use of cadavers in certain cases. And while pig skin can be used to treat life-threatening illnesses, there are certain conditions.
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