MYIS Synonimity of Malays and Muslims?

Guest speaker: Assoc Prof Syed Farid Al-Atas

Dept of Malay Studies, NUS

Synopsis: The Relationship between Islam and Being Malay

This talk steers discussion away from the “problem” of Malay identity and suggests that the real problem has to do with one of the religious orientation of the Malays. While Malays are Muslims, there are a variety of ideological orientations to be found among the Malays. Some are progressive, some are not. Prof Farid will discuss the criteria that can be used to assess the various orientations and where Malay identity comes in.

Readings:

You may pick up relevant readings specially prepared for you from the desk of PBMUKS, Yusof Ishak House (Student Societies’ Area). Available Wednesday (tomorrow) onwards. Reading updates will be posted on the blog.

Readings - Gender Interaction

Dear readers,

Here is the list of recommended readings to supplement your knowledge for the upcoming Gender Interactions Discussion Circle. Please do note that the discussion:

1) Would avoid discussing halal/haram issues with regards to premarital relationships
2) Would discuss the validity of the claim that love before marriage is a psychological delusion
3) Would assume on the premise that premarital relationships are haram (which of course is debatable but will not be debated during the discussion)
4) Would discuss the social impact of youth marriages as an alternative to premarital relationships, on the assumption that premarital relationships are haram

Romantic Love- Does It Exist?
http://www.tc.umn.edu/~parkx032/CY-HOAX.html

Social Interaction
http://www.mwlusa.org/topics/gender_relations/socialinteraction.html

Abstain Now, Enjoy Life Later. Don't Date, So Marriage You'll Appreciate
http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1158321445433&pagename=Zone-English-Youth/YTELayout

Pro youth marriages

http://www.inter-islam.org/Actions/marriagey.htm

Against (Minister's Speech on rising young marriages and the negative social implications)

http://app.mcys.gov.sg/web/corp_speech_story.asp?szMod=corp&szSubMod=speech&qid=1622

Is teen marriage a solution?
http://www.clasp.org/publications/teenmariage02-20.pdf

rgds
Admin

Muslim Youth Intelligentsia Series 2008- Gender Interactions

Muslim Intelligentsia Series 2008

Project Name

Muslim Youth Intelligentsia Series.

Project Background

1. The task of deconstructing and reconstructing Muslim societies had been a continuous process in Muslim experience. Locally, the task has never been more urgent than now. In this aspect, we must be aware of the important role our intelligentsias play in charting the progress of society. By intelligentsias, we meant, in particular, those who occupy (or will occupy) important positions in society and are able to exert direct or indirect influence upon thought, policies and decisions that will affect the community at large. Thus, the education and re-education of our intelligentsias is crucial to the development of society.
2. Muslim intelligentsias today need to be aware of their role and responsibilities in confronting societal and community issues. In order to effectively carry out this task, they must prepare themselves with the right mindset and equipped with proper knowledge and tools.
3. There has been a previous 2 Runs of the programme and it’s constantly under revision. The proposal is for the 3^rd run to take into account the lessons learnt from the previous runs.

Methodology

Andragogy – Focus on various adult learning methodologies customized to ensure relevance and interest of participants. Activities could involve discussions, dialogues, debates, role play, case study, independent reading assignments, and visits to relevant organizations.

Project Objectives

This programme hopes to inculcate in participants the following characteristics:

1. A reformistic mindset in order to identify and acknowledge problems.
2. A diagnostic mindset in order to be able to dissect problems and issues at hand.
3. A critical mindset in order to effectively think through an issue or problem.
4. A historical mindset in order to inculcate a contextual, non-anachronistic and non-atomistic approach to issues.
5. A pluralistic mindset in order to recognize the different strands of religious manifestations in individuals and social groupings.
6. A sociological mindset that will be able to apply and incorporate the tools of social sciences in diagnosing the conditions of society.
7. An Islamic mindset to complete the holistic mindset to be achieved. To incorporate the fundamentals of Islam in our diagnosis of social issues.

Introductory Lecture- The Dynamism of Shariah