i remember that previously, when i commented on a more secular element in madrasa education, you seem very against it. You mentioned that PERGAS was unhappy that the government wanted to include secular education. You expressed a lot of unhappiness that MUIS allowed this.

You seem to take a different stance now.

I believe the Irsyad model is a very good one, “shoosan” #44.

It makes me so proud of our Muslims and our leaders for trying so hard to project a good image for Islam, and to trying making Singapore be noticed throughout the world.

May Allah be greatly praised!

It makes me so proud of our Muslims and our leaders for trying so hard to project a good image for Islam, and to tryn making Singapore be noticed throughout the world.

May Allah be greatly praised!

In the Quran, God warns “Laa ikraha fiddeen” There is no compulsion in religion. Instead of speculating on whether MUIS or SIngaporean Muslims should be or should not be trying to export the Irsyad formula, energies are better spent in making things better. The Irsyad model is not perfect but there is no harm in working towards perfection.

If we believe this system is a good one, it should be worth our support. Make the madrasah system better, not just Irsyad. There are others too in Singapore that have co-existed peacefully alongside the MOE-sponsored education system. Everyone deserves a chance to shine under God’s sun.

Here is another point that I wish to add. Lets face it. The majority of Malaysian and Indonesian Muslims will NOT accept Singapore’s model of the madrasah. For goodness sake – PAS is on the rise in Malaysia. And the thousands of pesantren in Indonesia are quite conservative in their outlook.

The one major problem Singaporean Muslims face – is precisely getting recognition and acceptance from Malaysian and Indonesian Muslims.

For as long as Malaysia and Indonesia thinks that Singaporean Muslims are not Muslim enough (too diluted) – then we shall always have problems.

Its not easy being a Singaporean Muslim. You are deemed to Islamic by the Non-Muslim majority here – and you are deemed as being too UN-Islamic by Malaysians and Indonesians in particular. Damned if you do and damned if you don’t ……

Best Regards
Dr Syed Alwi

No – I do not think that we can learn much from Turkey. Ours is a very multi-cultural, cosmopolitan environment. Turkey is not as secular as it may want you to believe. And it is not as diverse as Singaporean society.

Frankly – the best case-study for us to look at – is American Muslims. And even then – there are pronounced differences due to the large Middle Eastern & South Asian influence.

Best Regards
Dr Syed Alwi

Turkey is considered to be secular Islamic nation. Is there anything that can be learnt from them? What are your views?

That is interesting, Dr Syed! Must have more knowledgeable Muslims like you here to raise on sensitive issues like that, to let non-Muslims like me know what is happening behind the headlines. That’s why I really like and highly respect our Muslim leaders and great intellectuals like you.

May Allah bless all of you and your loved ones! May Allah be greatly praised!!

Ameen!!!

while in the middle east,especially those oil rich nation if u noticed it’s a ‘laidback’ life.

In singapore,generally i noticed that the changes that comes out from our madrasas here is due to the changing of environment and also due to the secular government..

To be frank,If u are ‘just’ an islamic graduate’here in singapore..will u be able to adapt to the demand of the ‘job skills’ in the market..??

The truth is the real teaching of Islam have to varie accordingly to one’s needs.

First of all – Singaporean Muslims are in a very unique situation. We are a minority in a very multi-cultural, multi-religious environment – where the majority are Non-Muslims. Ours is a high-technology, meritocratic, secular society.

Therefore there are many instances where we face quite unique problems.

Do we – for example – say that working in the IR is Haram ? Or do we accept that working in the IR is Halal ? Our Hota for example – is quite unique. What about the Hijab ban in secondary scools and JC ? And so on. Indeed – there are those who even ask whether its OK for Muslims to be led – politically – by Non-Muslim politicians and parties !! Can a Muslim follow the leadership of Non-Muslims ?

So – yes – there are many issues which MUIS has to deal with – which may be unique to Singapore. But MUIS is tied down by the practices of Muslims in other parts of the world. MUIS cannot say that working in the IR is Halal – but MUIS cannot also say that working in the IR is Haram !! After all – MUIS cannot provide alternative jobs by the thousands…..

Its a very difficult situation………..

Best Regards
Dr Syed Alwi

I wonder why you think that MUIS have views different from the rest of the Muslim world.. MUIS are muslims too right??

Praise be to Allah!

First of all – its only 2 or 3 madrasahs in Indonesia, Phillipines, Thailand etc etc that is adopting the Singapore model. The thousands and thousands of madrasahs in these countries plus the millions elsewhere – do NOT accept Singapore’s model.

I firmly support the Singapore model of the madrasah – but I know that MUIS has very little influence elsewhere in the Muslim world. In fact – it is the opposite. MUIS cannot promote views which the rest of the Muslim world rejects. We are held back by the rest of the Muslim world. Its not nice – but thats the reality.

Best Regards
Dr Syed Alwi

SINGAPORE: Two madrasahs in Indonesia have adopted Singapore madrasah Al Irsyad Al Islamiah’s curriculum and management.

According to a New York Times’ article, the Indonesian madrasahs said they were attracted to Al Irsyad’s progressive model of Islamic education that is in tune with the modern world.

Al Irsyad’s 900 primary and secondary students follow the national curriculum while taking religious instruction.

Al Irsyad is the top academic performer among Singapore’s six madrasahs, and that is the reason why the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) gave the school a central spot in its new Islamic Centre.

Al Irsyad said it is in talks to export its model to madrasahs in the Philippines and Thailand.

Do not expect too much from this madrasah. Remember – the rest of the Muslim world may not accept this type of madrasah education. Always remember that MUIS cannot espouse views that are contradictory to what the rest of the Muslim world believes in.

We are – held back – by the rest of the Muslim world. And thats an unpleasant reality……

Best Regards
Dr Syed Alwi

Approaches may be different – the Middle East jump starts….pushed perhaps by the volatility of the oil markets.

Here in South East Asia, perhaps it is more of a gradual and graduating process
to international standards of education.

I think there are a lot of views on this matter… some people prefer the less religious madrasah… some prefer the traditional madrasah that focus most on religious issues…

both are good to me… both can play a role in the society and can meet the differing goals of a parent in the interest of his/her child’s development…

some may want a slightly religious environment for their kids but still want their kids to be “normal” people like me and you… teachers, lawyers, engineers and etc… some may want their kids to be religious leaders…

but importantly there must be a path between the two so that the kids can change their “major” depending on their interests when they are slightly older..

What you’ve mentioned is exactly what I’m trying to get at. I am aware of the many Muslim scholars that were at the forefront of science and philosophy a long time ago. But, I also realise that Islam now (at least the fundamentalist strain) isn’t at all the same as the Islam we used to see. Devotion to this form of Islam in the present day is one which involves much disdain for “wordly pursuits”, among other things. Hence, I think that this present form of Islam doesn’t seem to foster equal interest in secular subjects?

I’m also not sure if we can say that it isn’t a “zero-sum game”. Even if we assume that students are able to put in enough extra time now to compensate for their additional (secular) workload, I would say that the very fact that secular subjects are taught alongside religion changes the dynamics entirely, in a more insidious way. The curriculum is now such that religion, plus other subjects such as science, math, etc are vying for a student’s attention and co-constructing their worldview. In the past, religion was the centre, and other subjects were either taught through the lens of religion (i.e., they built on religious themes and perspectives), or not taught at all. Given this, I would say that even if they spent the same amount of time on religion, the very fact that other subjects are now being taught alongside it would relegate religion to the status of “one among many”, and I think the intensity of religiosity that emerges is very much lessened.