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The Singaporean Muslim
A Conversation with Haji Mohd Alami
Musa, President of the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore
(MUIS)
In a world where ethnic and religious tensions
can run rife, Singapore’s unique blend of multiculturalism
within a secular state has been a foundation of national stability.
In an interview with Ethos in July 2006, Haji Mohd Alami Musa
shared his views on the integration of the Malay Muslim community
in Singapore and its role in furthering social cohesion.
Singapore’s model of integrating
the Muslim community within a secular state has been sought
after by European countries, such as Spain. What do they find
interesting about Singapore’s experience?
Like Singapore, Spain is a secular
state with a minority Muslim population and they wanted to
learn how we manage the religious life of the minority Muslim
community in Singapore’s secular context. I spent a
week in Spain interacting with their religious leaders, NGOs
and government agencies.
Spain finds it interesting that in a secular
state like Singapore, there is an Act of Parliament enacted
to establish MUIS, an Islamic religious council, for its minority
Muslim population and that the state also allows for the practice
of Muslim family law. This is a development unique to Singapore.
| Spain wanted to learn more
about: |
| i |
Singapore’s secular model (of governance) because
our model is not “irreligious” and allows
freedom for the practice of religion in the private domain
of the community, family and individual; |
| ii |
Singapore’s “religion friendly” secularism
that clearly demarcates public and private space; |
| iii |
The interaction between state and religious communities
in Singapore and how the leaders of each religious community
balance their religious life with responsibilities as
citizens of Singapore. |
Singapore’s social context is unique.
Singapore is a multi-racial, multi-religious, multicultural,
globalised, cosmopolitan, secular state. It is important,
therefore, for a Singaporean Muslim to shape his ethos and
develop his social consciousness according to the unique social
context of Singapore.
Muslim community leaders and religious leaders
play an important role in leading and educating their community
so that they do not feel any less of a “Muslim”
in secular Singapore.
What does it mean to be a Singaporean
and a Muslim at the same time? Is this the same as being a
Singaporean Muslim?
Being a Singaporean Muslim means that as a citizen of Singapore,
a Muslim participates and contributes to the nation while
upholding his or her Muslim faith and values. Hence, it does
not mean that a Muslim has to agree with everything. For example,
we have made a clear stand about building of a casino in Singapore.
At the same time, MUIS has also clarified with the local Muslim
community that having a casino in Singapore does not make
them less of a Muslim because they can continue to live by
their Muslim beliefs by not participating in the casino’s
activities (i.e., by not gambling).
Three years ago, as part of its role to
shape Islamic life in Singapore, MUIS developed the concept
of the Singaporean
Muslim Identity (SMI). At that time MUIS was reflecting
on the next stage of growth for the local Muslim community:
how can MUIS continue to shape the religious life of Singapore’s
Muslim community and to what end? We want the local Muslim
community to be adaptive, progressive and inclusive. A Singaporean
Muslim Identity will further reinforce the role of Muslims
as participants in the development of Singaporean society
and state.
However, it is important to note that the
Singaporean Muslim Identity is still “work in progress”,
because identity-building is a long process. The SMI concept
is now being discussed in Friday sermons at mosques in Singapore
to reinforce the process of forging the SMI.
II |
