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Straits Times
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
S'pore asatizah must be able to guide the practice of Islam in modern societies: Faishal Ibrahim
Acting Minister-in-Charge for Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim speaking at the inaugural Advisory Panel meeting of the Singapore College of Islamic Studies on June 24. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG S'pore asatizah must be able to guide the practice of Islam in modern societies: Faishal Ibrahim SINGAPORE - It is important for Muslim religious teachers in Singapore to understand the principles of their faith, as well as the unique multi-racial, multi-religious fabric of their society, said Acting Minister-in-Charge for Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim. These teachers, known as asatizah, must be thought leaders who can effectively guide the practice of Islam in modern societies, uniting sound religious scholarship with contemporary needs, he added. Associate Professor Faishal said such leadership is increasingly important as evolving social norms and global interconnectedness have created complex problems that require fresh approaches to religious education. 'Our asatizah play a crucial role in this journey to provide guidance for the Muslim community in navigating these challenges,' he said. Prof Faishal was speaking at the first meeting of the advisory panel for the upcoming Singapore College of Islamic Studies (SCIS), which is expected to take in its first cohort of 60 students in 2028 . The June 24 meeting was held on the sidelines of the International Conference on Cohesive Societies, a three-day conference on multiculturalism. Prof Faishal said the 10-member panel's international perspective and scholarly insights will be invaluable in shaping SCIS's research and academic programmes. Panel members will help identify emerging global trends affecting Muslim communities. They will also shape the college's research focus , educational standards, and international collaborations, Prof Faishal added. The panel is made up of international scholars such as the Grand Mufti of Egypt, Dr Nazir Mohamed Ayyad; Dr Salama Dawood, the president of Al-Alzhar University; and Professor Driss Fassi Fihri, vice-president of Al-Qarawiyyin University. It is chaired by Prof Faishal, who took over as Minister-in-Charge for Muslim Affairs from Masagos Zulkifli in May. The Islamic College , which has been in the works for eight years, was formally announced in August 2024 during Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's National Day Rally speech. Mufti of Singapore Dr Nazirudin Mohd Nasir, who is also on the advisory panel, elaborated during the meeting on the importance of developing future religious leaders in Singapore. He said Singapore's asatizah who return from studying overseas have noticeable gaps in their ability to contextualise knowledge against cultural diversity here. There are programmes meant to bridge the gap - such as the Postgraduate Certificate in Islam in Contemporary Societies by the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) - but one wonders whether this is the best approach, he added. 'We recognise a high degree of religious and spiritual interconnectedness and commonalities in the Islamic way of life between many Muslim communities, and that is why we have always been supportive of our students to study in renowned Islamic institutions,' he said. 'But we also acknowledge that there is an equally significant degree of uniqueness in our traditions and experience that needs serious attention.' (From left) Al-Qarawiyyin University Vice-President Driss Al-Fassi Al-Fihri, Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim, Islamic Religious Council of Singapore Deputy Chief Executive Khairul Anwar, translator Bouchaib Silm and Grand Mufti of Egypt Dar al-Ifta Nazir Mohammed Ayyad before the start of the inaugural Advisory Panel meeting of the Singapore College of Islamic Studies on June 24. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG If this difference is not carefully addressed in the way that Islam is studied and taught, it will become a big challenge in matters of religious leadership, Dr Nazirudin said . 'This will be one of the most major contributions of the college - to be able to find the right balance and to reduce divergence... and rework what normative Islam is where social context truly matters,' he added. Ustazah Farah Aljunied, senior director of higher education and research at Muis, said another driving force behind the college is the evolving aspirations of students, who want broader career opportunities and more technology-enhanced learning. Security concerns due to the volatile situation in some overseas study destinations have also led to increased interest in having a local option, she said. Currently, more than 460 students from Singapore are pursuing tertiary Islamic education overseas. Close to 70 per cent are in schools in the Middle East and North Africa, in countries like Egypt, Jordan, and Kuwait. SCCI's steering committee is currently looking into areas such as human resource management, corporate and academic governance, and curriculum development to firm up the setup of the college, Ms Farah said. After engagements with religious teachers, Ms Farah said senior asatizah have expressed support at the direction that the college is taking. Around 50 per cent of madrasah leaders and teachers expressed interest in contributing to the college's development through curriculum development, administrative matters, and research, she added. She said e ngagements with madrasah students also yielded excitement and support, with 76 per cent of students expressing trust in the college's expertise. Prof Faishal said: 'Seeing this institution come to life means a lot to me and the community here in Singapore. It fulfils a long-standing community aspiration to have our own Islamic institute of higher learning, something we can all be proud of as Singaporeans.' 'I'm very confident that we will be able to develop not only a unique institution with programmes that are contextualised to our setting, but something that can value-add to what is available globally.' Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
CNA
21 hours ago
- Politics
- CNA
Singapore College of Islamic Studies advisory panel holds first meeting
SINGAPORE: The advisory panel for the Singapore College of Islamic Studies (SCIS) gathered for its inaugural meeting on Tuesday (Jun 24), bringing together scholars from global institutions. The panel comprises leading academics and experts who have developed various programmes worldwide, said the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS). "Their collective expertise spans decades of scholarly excellence in both traditional Islamic sciences and contemporary education," it added. In his opening remarks at Swissotel The Stamford on Tuesday, Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim said the SCIS is a 'longstanding aspiration' of the Singapore Muslim community and a key milestone in the country's Islamic education landscape. "It will offer a distinctive pathway that seamlessly integrates Islamic scholarship with contemporary disciplines, underpinned by robust pedagogical foundations," said Associate Professor Faishal, who is also chairperson of the advisory panel. With the rapid advancement of technology, evolving social norms and global interconnectedness creating increasingly complex problems, fresh approaches to religious guidance and education are required, said Assoc Prof Faisha. Therefore, graduates from SCIS need to become religious scholars and professionals who are deeply anchored in Singapore's multiracial and multireligious context, as well as thought leaders who can effectively articulate and guide the practice of Islam in modern, plural societies, he added. 'Looking ahead, our success will be measured not just by the institution we build, but by the impact our graduates will have on society - as religious scholars who understand both their faith and their context, as thought leaders who can guide our community through challenging times, and as bridge builders who can foster understanding across communities.' PRODUCING SCHOLARS AND LEADERS Mufti of Singapore, Dr Nazirudin Mohd Nasir, said that at the undergraduate level, many religious teachers and scholars who study abroad have gaps in knowledge, skills and competencies. There are knowledge gaps in understanding Singapore's 'unique context', not only because of its cultural and religious diversity, but also the broader way of life, he added. As for skills and competencies, Dr Nazirudin said shortcomings are mostly work, language and technology related. 'We've always been supportive of our students to study in renowned Islamic institutions – Al Azhar, Jordan, Morocco and many others. But we also acknowledge that there is an equally significant degree of uniqueness in our conditions and experience that needs serious attention," he said. He added: "If this uniqueness is not carefully addressed in the way Islam and its cultures are studied and taught, or it's not given enough attention in terms of how to deal with the unique challenges that this brings, eventually it will grow to become a big challenge in matters of religious leadership for a community that is almost impossible to overcome." The SCIS needs to strike the right balance between the focus of tradition and the emphasis on context, Dr Nazirudin said. "This is a balance we must continue to work on. And in fact, if anything, this will be one of the most major contributions of the college – to be able to find the right balance and to reduce the divergence between the two." Joining Assoc Prof Faishal and Dr Nazirudin on the advisory panel are eight other members: Professor Tan Tai Yong, president of the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) Professor Lily Kong, president of Singapore Management University (SMU) Professor Mona Siddiqui, professor of Islamic and Interreligious Studies at Edinburgh University Dr Nazir Mohmaed Ayyad, the grand mufti of Egypt Dr Salama Dawood, president of Al-Azhar University Professor Driss Fassi Fihri, vice-president of Al-Qarawiyyin University Professor Dr Abdul Rahman Alkilani Professor Koutoub Moustapha Sano, secretary-general of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy The new Islamic college will offer a full-time undergraduate degree programme allowing students to major in either Islamic Studies or Social Sciences, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said in November 2024. The Islamic studies track will enable graduates to be fluent in the application of Islamic traditions and principles that are appropriate for the modern world and contextualised to Singapore's society, said MUIS. The Social Sciences route will allow students to develop competencies in vocational skills, such as social work and counselling. MUIS has partnered SUSS to develop the social science track, and with three foreign Islamic institutions to develop the Islamic Studies track. SCIS will take in its first cohort of 60 students in 2028, with classes held at MUIS' learning campus near Bencoolen Mosque. "I'm confident our graduates will emerge as religious scholars who understand both Islamic principles and Singapore's unique social fabric," Assoc Prof Faishal said. "Together, we will ensure SCIS serves the religious needs of Singapore's Muslim community and contributes towards Islamic thought leadership, and at the same time, help to develop our nation," he added.
Irish Examiner
7 days ago
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Home Q&A: What's the best way to use farm buildings for their solar energy potential?
Question What are the best ways to use solar-photovoltaic panels on farm buildings or sheds? Answer Whether you have a smallholding or a large dairy enterprise, farm buildings offer huge potential for positioning solar-PV systems. The Government has financial supports and tax incentives in place to help farmers to make use of this renewable energy source. Solar-PV can provide free kWs of power to contribute to the running of milk bulk-tanks, lighting and more, and it can also gift vital credits against electricity bills by returning surplus wattage to the grid (micro-generation). The Tams 3 Solar Capital Investment Scheme (SCIS) opened for business in January 2023 and is set to run until 2028. The Government advises that the scheme 'Provides grants to farmers to build and/or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holding. The solar scheme is grant-aided at the enhanced rate of 60% (net cost). Most rooftop installations on agricultural buildings are exempt from planning permission, except near airports where restrictions apply. Ground-mounted systems also enjoy exemptions, provided they stay within specified size limits.' This aid amounts to twice the percentage help ever offered to domestic installers, and unlike domestic SEAI solar-PV grant aid, it also covers batteries and water heating. Farm-generated solar power is fully tax-deductible at 100% in the year of installation, and upgrades to a farm's grid connection are made by ESB Networks at no charge. It's estimated that most installations can pay for themselves within three years. For more information on Tams 3, go to
