Solution to Poverty and the Global Crises

"In the name of God, most Gracious, most Compassionate"

Today in class we were supposed to think of solutions to the global crises that plague the world today. Most of these include people living in Third World developing countries who survive on less than $1-2 a day. These countries are also subjected to a debt regime in which the only way for their government to borrow money from IMF or the World Bank is at exorbitant interest rates and also with strict conditions for use.

These countries then become entrenched in debt because the money that they earn from their GDP is usually used to repay back ONLY the interest rates... and then they have to borrow more money to repay their previous loans... and they don't have any left to invest into their economy.

So it came as a surprise to me when one of my non-Muslim classmates suggested that the world should follow the Islamic Banking way of loans and business partnerships. He was then second by my Professor who is also a Muslim, who said that Islamic Banking practices take a shared responsibility approach with business entrepreneurs. As such, they do profit and lose together with their business partners.

It struck me then at that moment that if right from the start, we had followed the Islamic way of life; follow their banking system, their political system and everything... life would be more peaceful. Our Prophet Muhammad s.a.w had given us all the solutions to the problems that would come after his death and yet we are blinded and unguided in our practices.

Islam is NOT backwards neither is it progressive. What I mean is that it is always constant and applicable till the end of time. If only we stop to think and remember Him and his prophets.

Syukur Alhamdulillah for this application!

 

"In the name of God, most Gracious, most Compassionate"

I am thankful for the Azan application from SearchTruth because not only does it provide worldwide timing for prayers but it also tells you the direction of the kiblah.

It is very important for people like my dad who works on the ship for most times of the year. I am very thankful that I was able to download this app into his phone and I know that he has been putting it to good use. For example, the other time he was in Korea, it really helped him prepare for the sahur at 3am instead of the 5am Singapore time.


    

    

I really love the app and I really encourage others to download it too since it is for free! But even if it's not, I would definitely download it. May Allah reward the people who came up with this application and may they receive berkahs everytime we use it. Amin.

Wedding jitters fritters

"In the name of God, most Gracious, most Compassionate"

This is my first wedding discussion, although I am sure it won't be the last. Well, before I start, I just want to say that in Singapore, weddings have become such a big thing that on average, families spend about $25k for their whole wedding and that could just be on the female or male side of the couple.

I am thankful that at least me and Hubtobe do not wish to splurge so much on our wedding and see it simply as an opportunity to sedekah food and invite people to rekindle their bonds and ties to each other. But with that said, do you know how many people have already booked their caterer, clothes and everything else even when they're getting married in Dec 2011??? goodness! We haven't even started! In fact, Hubtobe hasn't even proposed to my parents! -laugh-

But seriously... this catering and wedding field is quite lucrative. In a month, surely there will be 3-4 weddings. And on the popular months like June and December... well, you can expect up to 8-10. Seeing how lucrative it is, I decided to look around for the pricing... and lo and behold, even my eyes are popping out!

1000 pax could fetch at least $9500 and at most $15k! That's very expensive. Then you add your decoration and your wedding gown and this and that and tada! You spend about $25k.

My only consolation is that we are having a combined wedding and at least we could share the cost. But $25k is almost like half the cost of my education in university!

Truth be told, I wish I could postpone this trivial spending to a few more years... but it would be right if we nikah first then have the whole hoo hah more than 1 year apart right? I don't get it. The purpose of a wedding is to make the couple halal... yet all these extravagance seems... so... over the top don't you think?

The meaning of عيد الفطر

"In the name of God, most Gracious, most Compassionate"

Contrary to popular belief, Eid ul Fitr, or Hari Raya Aidilfitri as it is known here in Singapore, is NOT the Muslim new year. I even saw this mistake in a scholarly paper written by a Malay whom I will assume is Muslim as well.

Many here are unaware just the same that the real Islamic new year is in the month of Muharram, not Syawal. Yet, the level of celebration our community devote to Aidilfitri is at times superfluous.

In retrospect, Eid ul Fitr should be celebrated at a smaller scale as compared to the 'Greater Eid' which is Eid ul Adha...

Eid ul Fitr simply marks an end to the month of Ramadhan... and although we celebrate it with joy, we must not forget that it is also a sad goodbye to the most beautiful month in Islam and also it is a sad parting for the souls who have to return back to the grave and face their continued punishments.

The reason why I'm bringing this up is because I was a little angry this morning when I heard the donation drive advertisement on radio. There was a small boy who was crying, saying that he wanted new clothes for the coming Hari Raya but his mom says they can't afford coz they're poor and their father is sick. Then the boy says that he too wishes to live a life of means like his friends. Then the DJ says that we should help these families so that they too can have a meaningful Aidilfitri.

The advertisement disturbs me on 2 levels:

First- Hari Raya does not equal to new clothes every year. Are you telling me that these people, who receive the donations every year desire to buy new clothes every year? Then they're much more well off than I am for I only buy a new set of baju kurung every 3-5 years. Astagfiruallah.

Second- It reminded me of a family I know whom, upon receiving alms, would spend quite a lot on new clothes...
The money that you receive from this donation drive is meant to cover you for a few months... but sometimes they blow it all on just Hari Raya. =(

When the boy says that he too wishes to be well off like his friends... I don't know if I should pity or feel upset with him. There is alot to be grateful for, even when you are poor. You should be grateful that Allah has willed you to wake up another day, so that you can strive to work or study hard for rezeki.

My mother used to say that we should not be jealous of our friend's wealth or wish to be like them. Instead we should be jealous of those who have more ilmu than us; especially knowledge in religion and we should try to learn as much as we can from them. That is what we should strive for... not compare ourselves to the financial status of others then lament at our own state and blame God for it.

I remembered a story about an Imam (I can't remember which one now) who would cry when he saw a poor person and also cry when he saw a rich person. He said that the poor person, being poor never stopped praying to Allah, asking for halal rezeki and seeking His protection. While the rich person, always prays to Allah, to give his thanks and show his gratitude for all that He has given.

So that is why, in the recent years, I begin to realise that Hari Raya is not a day to show off who has the most expensive or branded handbag or who has lost the most weight or who has the prettiest looking outfit. I am grateful to be covered in whatever baju kurung or abaya that I have and that the hijab covers me inside and out. I go to the elders house to seek forgiveness and meet my relatives... so for me... materials are possessions of this world.

And that... is enough for me.