7 October 2023: a new date that has become significant in our human history. It is also the day that marked the start of many social media posts and reposts with hashtags such as #freepalestine and #fromrivertothesea widely used not only by content creators but also by our family and friends. Following the announcement of the prohibition of public gatherings on the Israel-Palestine issue amid public safety concerns, local activists in Singapore began leveraging online platforms to express support for the Palestinian cause[1], with most of them being Gen Zs. […]
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Generational Shifts in Unpaid Care Work
Social reproduction goes beyond the traditional conception of labour as being solely limited to the creation of goods. It involves the process by which capitalist societies maintain and reproduce the conditions that are necessary for the capitalist system to continue functioning. Originally proposed by Karl Marx, this idea contests the limited perspective that only acknowledges market-productive labour (paid work) as real “work” and broadens the definition of labour to include the familial, communal, and societal efforts that allow people to join the force.[1] Theorists argue that the different processes required […]
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From Passion to Action: The Transformative Power of Youth Volunteerism in Singapore
INTRODUCTION In 2020, psychologists Adam Waytz and Wilhelm Hofmann embarked on a study with a fundamental question at its core: Does focusing on oneself or others contribute more to happiness? During the study, 263 American participants received instructions on their smartphone daily for 10 days, to perform one of three activities: Moral Deeds: One group was assigned to engage in moral deeds such as giving to charity or helping someone else; Moral Thoughts: One group had to think “moral thoughts” such as thinking about someone else or hoping for someone […]
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Bridging the Cultural Divide and Promoting Intra-Faith Unity Between Muslim Ethnicities
Islam has witnessed an ever-growing plurality in ethnicity and culture since its beginnings. History has taught us that wherever there are differences present, a dark doorway to divide is conjured. In Singapore, we have allowed the cultural differences present between Muslim ethnicities to play a primary role in the prevalence of intrafaith division between Muslims, and hostility towards one another is slowly being etched deep within the veins of our Muslim community. The primary question that requires addressing is: “How do we close this doorway and walk in the pathway […]
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Prophet Muhammad and Emotional Intelligence: Lessons for Interfaith Relations
Goodwill and cooperation between different faith communities are hallmarks of successful plural societies. Towards this end, strong leadership plays a crucial role in directing and guiding communities towards building bridges of mutual trust and respect for others. In a world of rapid change and unpredictability, interpersonal skills as embodied by emotional intelligence are a cornerstone of robust interfaith relations. This article highlights the importance of emotional intelligence in interfaith relations. It discusses the value of emotional intelligence as exemplified by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) through his interactions with […]
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