Discussion and debate have always been part of the Islamic scholarly tradition. Muslims differ in their jurisprudence, political views, solutions to modern problems, and theological matters such as the role of reason in knowing and experiencing God. Within Sunni Islam, the major schools of thought are Shafi’i, Hanafi, Maliki, and Hanbali. Within Shi’i Islam, you have the Twelvers, the Seveners, and the Fivers, who are all named after the number of Imams each branch recognises. Perhaps one of the biggest debates within Islamic discourse is who succeeded Prophet Muhammad (peace […]
Read More >Imad Alatas
Social Context and One’s Religious Experience
Today, around two billion people identify as Muslims across the world. They live in various parts of the world, from North America to Southeast Asia, in addition to regions we may not associate with a Muslim presence, such as Eastern Europe, South America, and North Asia. The cultural expressions of Muslims in the world are as varied as their geographical distribution. One element of cultural expression is language. A Malay Muslim in Singapore and a Muslim in Pakistan may share the same faith but may not necessarily understand one another (unless the two of them are accomplished polyglots in Urdu and Malay).
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Staying Sane in an Insane World: Performance and Academics
THE PHD FACTORY
When I first heard the term ‘PhD factory’, it took me a few seconds to realise what it meant and was immediately privy to the precarity of academia. A Doctor of Philosophy or PhD degree connotes a certain level of prestige. It is the pinnacle of learning. You might make friends for life, and friends who challenge your way of thinking. You get to meet and work with professors whose interests align with yours. Securing an opportunity to do a PhD is not easy.
Different in Jurisprudence but not Values: A Snapshot of Sunni-Shia Marriages in Singapore
Most Muslims today belong to the Sunni sect, with a significant minority of Muslims comprising Shias. Intra-faith relations within Islam is a topic that has sparked polemical debates within Muslim communities. In some Muslim-majority countries, anti-Shia sentiment is prevalent and propagated by hardline politicians and religious Sunni conservatives. Raids against gathering Shias during Ashura, a day when Shia Muslims mourn the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), are not unheard of.
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“Thomas Stamford Raffles: Schemer or Reformer” and Singapore’s Bicentennial
This year will mark 200 years since modern Singapore was founded by Sir Stamford Raffles, an English colonial administrator. A small city-state, Singapore is sure to celebrate this feat with pomp and fanfare. A few arrangements are already on the horizon. First, 2 million more pieces of commemorative S$20 notes will be issued by October to meet the growing demand. The pioneering dollar bills are meant to symbolise Singapore’s tribute to nationhood and pay homage to those who helped in the founding of modern Singapore.
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A Singaporean’s Perspective on Fostering Inter-Religious Relations in Malaysia
Interfaith relations are perhaps one of the most visible barometers one could use to assess a country’s state of social harmony.This is because of the difficulty entailed in administering a country where individuals who have different religious beliefs literally live side by side. With a population comprising 68.6% bumiputras, 23.4% Chinese and 8% of other ethnic groups, Malaysia is one such country[1].
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Religious Terrorism and Toxic Masculinity
Former president of the American Sociological Association, Cynthia Fuchs Epstein, remarked in 2006 “that the boundary based on sex creates the most fundamental social divide”. Therefore, scholars should take this divide into account when studying a social phenomenon. The statement was bold, and still is, as it suggests that gender is at the root of social ills (and hence the solutions to them).
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