muslim convertsÛ association of singapore...assalamuÛalaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh edwin...

BRIDGINGCOMMUNITIES

Muslim ConvertsÛ Association of Singapore

ANNUALREPORT 2 0 1 5


32 Onan Road, The Galaxy, Singapore 424484

Tel: +65 6348 8344 Fax: +65 6440 6724

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.darul-arqam.org.sg

Registered with Registrar of Societiesunder the Societies Act

UEN: S80SS0037D

Registered with Registrar of Societies under the Societies ActUEN: S80SS0037D


[email protected] √ www.darul-arqam.org.sg

Muslim ConvertsÛ Association of Singapore (MCAS) is a registered charitableorganisation dedicated towards public education, social welfare and religiousenhancement of the community. The cross-cultural fabric of our membersand community indeed represents the essence of harmonious living in amulti-racial country that transcends global boundaries.

√ To provide religious guidance and render assistance to members as maybe necessary

√ To organise religious, literary, and/or recreational activities and to publishIslamic articles and/or literature

√ To participate and provide welfare services for the community wherenecessary, and

√ To represent the interests of all Muslim Converts residing in Singapore

ourobjectives

muslimconvertsÛ

associationof singapore

Propagate my teaching even if it is only one sentenceÒú Prophet Muhammad (SAW)


44social support

& welfareservices

60volunteers

list

contents

06corporate

profile

04presidentÛsmessage

20conversion

24religious guidance

& daÛwahactivities

51recreational

& socialactivities

54literature

59appendix

PresidentÛsmessage

assalamuÛalaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuhassalamuÛalaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh

Edwin Ignatious M @ Muhammed FaizPresident


04 / PresidentÛs Message

In the name of God,the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

Peace!Ò— a Word (of salutation) from a Lord Most Merciful.(Translation of Surah Ya Sin, 36:58)

The past year was a memorable milestone in our questto share and uphold IslamÛs message of peace. Withthe celebration of SingaporeÛs golden jubilee, MCASalso marked its 35th year of serving the community.The festive, national atmosphere injected a refreshingspirit into our cause, evident in the new initiativesthat helped strengthen bonds and build the bridgesbetween communities, including our diverse groupof Converts.

The assimilation of people with various backgrounds,languages, and cultural values at MCAS, throughprogrammes such as social bonding and welfare, broughtforth the sense of cohesion that is symbolic of the

MCAS is truly grateful for the support and help renderedin its cause for the past 35 years. Moving forward,united as one, we seek AllahÛs compassion, mercy, andguidance to help us in our efforts to continue buildingthe bridges between communities, in our path towardsAllah (SWT). Your doÛa (supplication) for MCAS is alsoimportant for us, as we hope for the blessings of ourcause and our work to spread as wide and as furtheras they could, thoughtfully and beautifully as howProphet Muhammad (SAW) had shown us.

As we continue bridging the communities, InshaÛAllah,we shall remind each other:

And even if you have to turnaway from them in pursuit ofthe mercy from your Lord whichyou do expect, yet speak to thema word of easy kindness.Ò(Translation of Surah Al-IsraÛ, or The Night Journey, 17:28)

national harmony we experience in Singapore.Furthermore, through this integration, the support andgrowth for the new Muslims are fortified, thus bolsteringour efforts to add vigour into the Muslim communityat large.

Parallel to the efforts, MCAS is also galvanised byits aspiration to continue being relevant and reliableas provider of holistic education with English as themedium of instruction. Alhamdulillah, in 2015, MCASis blessed to have organised several more educationalcourses and daÛwah programmes that encouragedthe culture of learning, observing, and sharing themerits of Islam. These actions are fundamental stepstowards projecting the face of Islam that is oftenovercast due to the shadows of its misconceptions.Together with the progress in our understanding ofIslam, our shared values as a community of variouspeoples will become evident in practice and,InshaÛAllah, will prevail over the refuted opinionson Islam.

wassalamuÛalaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuhwassalamuÛalaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh

PresidentÛs Message / 05

06 / Corporate Profile

corporatePROFILE

council 2014 - 2016Abdul Jalil Md TahirAbdul Razak IsaAriff Sultan s/o Yousoff SultanChew Wan Koon @ Nur Shafiqa ChewEdwin Ignatious M @ Md FaizFatimah AbdullahHafidz AbdullahIlyas Yeow Shih YehIman Wong Sai FungJay Prakash S Rajoo @ IshaqJohari Abdul Aziz (Co-Opted 20 February 2015)Joy Joanne Shalome Bikarmjeet Singh @ FarahLily Khoo @ Shahira AbdullahMd Ridzuan Ng

The Council members for the term 2014 to 2016 were as follows:

Moiz TyeballyMd Imran Kuna AbdullahNur Sumaiya TanRadhiah Md SalimRazees Abdul KarimRidzuan Wu Chia ChungAisha Bernice PengSyed Ismail Ahmad AlsagoffThompson Andrew Colin @ Md Remy (Co-Opted 31 January 2015)Wang Yingyu (Co-Opted 31 January 2015)Zin Bo Aung Md Ali YacobMd Azhar Abdullah Cheah — resigned 24 November 2015Nazryn Azhar Samat — resigned 25 November 2015Nur Fitrah Teng @ Teng Chai Ling — resigned 24 November 2015Philip Hidayat Ngay — resigned 24 November 2015

Corporate Profile / 07


executiveCOMMITTEE

2

3

4

6

5

7

8

10

9

11

12

1 Edwin Ignatious M @ Md FaizPresident

2 Md Ridzuan NgDeputy President

3 Abdul Jalil Md TahirVice President of Corporate Affairs

4 Ilyas Yeow Shih YehAsst Vice President of Corporate Affairs

6 Radhiah Md SalimAsst Vice President of Finance

8 Nur Sumaiya TanAsst Vice President ofConvertsÛ Development

10 Zin Bo Aung Md Ali YacobAsst Vice President of Education

12 Abdul Razak IsaAsst Vice President of DaÛwah

5 Aisha Bernice PengVice President of Finance

7 Md Imran Kuna AbdullahVice President ofConvertsÛ Development

9 Hafidz AbdullahVice President of Education

11 Ariff Sultan s/o Yousoff SultanVice President of DaÛwah

1


INTERNAL AUDITORS 2014 - 2016 Sallim Abdul Kader and Dalya Fong

EXTERNAL AUDITOR Deloitte & Touche LLP

BANKS CIMB Bank (Singapore) Habib Bank LimitedDBS Bank Maybank Singapore OCBC Bank

o r g a n i s a t i o n a l C H A R T

COMPLIANCE WITH Based on the requirements by the Commissioner of Charities, MCAS hasTHE CODE OF GOVERNANCE fulfilled the Code of Governance as at 3 August.

TRUSTEES MCAS Trustees are Hj Sidek Saniff, Hj Ridzuan Wu, and Hj Kamar Lim.

RISEAP (REGIONAL ISLAMIC MCAS is an ordinary member of RISEAP.DAKWAH COUNCIL OFSOUTH EAST ASIA AND THE PACIFIC)

CORPORATE AFFAIRS(CA)

EDUCATION(ED)

FINANCE(FD)

CONVERTSÛ DEVT(CDD)

DAÛWAH(DD)

GENERAL MANAGER

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

PRESIDENTCouncil

management& STAFF

2 Iskandar Yuen AbdullahDeputy General Manager,Head of Converts' Development

4 Zulkifli Md IsaHead of Education

6 Hanim YahyaAsst Head of Finance

8 Murshida M KadirActing Asst Head of Da'wah

1 Zainal Abidin NordinGeneral Manager

3 Norsiah SaadDeputy General Manager,Head of Corporate Affairs & Finance

5 Siti Maryam Malinumbay S SalasalAsst Head of Converts' Development

7 Md Meeranudeen M SidiqueAsst Head of Education


1

5

6

4

7

8

2

3

As at 31 December 2015, the total staff strength of MCAS was 38.

PRESIDENTÛS & Aishah M Hussein Executive OfficerGENERAL MANAGERÛS OFFICE Suhaila Ismail Senior Management Support Officer

— Personal Assistant

CORPORATE AFFAIRS Razali Tompang Executive OfficerKhadijah Abdul Rahman Executive Officer

Norzaah Musa Senior Management Support OfficerAbdul Shukor Sarip Management Support Officer

Shaik Muhammed Ismail Shaik Abdul Kader Management Support OfficerMd Sameer Shahul Hamid Maraicar Management Support Officer

Nuradilah Sari Management Support Officer

FINANCE Faeza Hamzah Executive OfficerSiti Munirah M Ezar Management Support Officer

Jeanie Eliza Sulaiman Management Support Officer

CONVERTSÛ DEVELOPMENT Rusmini Komzari Executive Officer — CounsellorAnis s/o Madarsa Maricar Executive Officer

Noormala Saleh Senior Management Support OfficerIrwani Asad Senior Management Support Officer

Md Farhan Md Shah Management Support OfficerMd Yusuf Ali Abdullah Management Support Officer

EDUCATION Md Fadhlullah Daud Executive OfficerMaung Kyaw Zin Tun @ Omar Ma Executive Officer

Siti Wahidah Redzwan Executive OfficerJalil Ashraf Jeeva Senior Management Support Officer

NorÛashikeen Abdullah Senior Management Support OfficerMd Khidhir Idris Management Support OfficerFirdaus Ahmad Management Support Officer

Nur Shafiqah Paimun Management Support Officer

DAÛWAH Junaidi Ali Executive OfficerNuraisyah Shamsudin Executive Officer

Qurrah Shumar Management Support OfficerMd Syazwan El Rani Muhammad Management Support Officer


MCAS35open houseThe MCAS35 Open House washeld on 10 October (Saturday)

from 9am to 4pm.The Guest-of-Honour,

Associate Professor MuhammadFaishal Ibrahim, ParliamentarySecretary, Ministry of Education

and Ministry of Social andFamily Development,

was guided for a tour of MCAS,spent some time joining in thevarious on-going programmes

during the event, launched theMCAS35 celebrations, delivered

a speech, and had lunch withMCAS Council members.

There were 95 volunteers whocame forward to be our SmileAmbassadors, helping us hostthe guests and supporting the

staff in the various areasneeded. Overall, an estimatednumber of 1,300 people came

to the MCAS35 Open House.



List of the programmes executed during MCAS35 Open House:

Ground Floor FoyerMini display on the beginnings of MCAS, Photo Booth,Collection of goodie bags, Sale of MCAS35 Coupons

AuditoriumYODA Cultural Exchange, In-house Talk on Marriage — Love & FaithÒby Ustadz Yusri Yubhi and Ustazah Raihanah Halid

Room A (for kids)Drawing Competition, Storytelling, Tote Bag Design Workshop

TentFree Health Screening by NHG, Healthy Cooking Demonstrationby Singapore Halal Culinary Federation, Carnival Treats redemption,Stage games and quizzes

Second Floor FoyerMini exhibition on Muslim Scientific Heritage, Writing Names in Arabicby Ustadz Syed Aqil and Ustadz Hanafi

Room BKnowing Islam session by Dr Rafi

Room CIn-house Talk on Prophetic Medicine by Ustadz Imran and Md Meeranudeen,A Health Talk on Chronic Disease by Dr Elly Sabrina

Room E & FHijab Styling Workshop, Craft Making (Soap)

Al-Mawrid Resource LibraryMandarin Book Sharing session, Amazing Library Race


MCAS35anniversary

dinner

The MCAS35 Anniversary Dinnerwas held on 11 October (Sunday)from 6.30pm to 11.10pmat East Coast Room,Grand Mercure Roxy.The Guest-of-Honour,Mdm Halimah Yacob,Speaker for the SingaporeParliament, delivered a speech,launched the Islam4All mobileapplication, and presentedtokens of appreciation tothe Trustees of MCAS:Hj Sidek Saniff, Hj Ridzuan Wu,and Hj Kamar Lim .A total of 313 of the guestswho accepted our invitation,attended the dinner.


List of the programme during MCAS35 Anniversary Dinner:

Welcome Address by President of MCAS

Speech by Guest of Honour

Launch of Islam4All mobile application by Guest of Honour

Presentation of Video consisting of well-wishes for MCAS35

Presentation of Video consisting of photo slideshow of MCASduring its beginning, especially at Pheng Geck Avenue

Table Games by Emcee AB Shaik

Performance by JamiyahÛs Percussion of Joy

Quizzes by Emcee AB Shaik

Presentation of Token of Appreciation to Trustees of MCAS

Performance by Siti Khadijah Cana (Ruby)

Quizzes by Emcee AB Shaik

Performance by Tasnim

Performance by Douglas Oliveiro

Doa led by Zulkifli Md Isa


Membership stood at 2,244 as at 31 December.

Converts represent more than two-thirds of theOrdinary/Life Membership which is in compliancewith Clause 4 (f) of the Constitution.

The membership privileges include:√ receiving The Muslim Reader√ discounts on books at The English Islamic Bookshop√ discounts on courses offered by MCAS

MEMBERSHIPMEMBERSHIP FROM 2013 - 2015

2013

2014

2015

2269

2334

2244

MEMBERSHIP BREAKDOWN

CONVERTS74%

BORN MUSLIMS25%

NON MUSLIMS1%

100%

MEMBERSHIP IN 2015

ORDINARY1580ASSOCIATE364LIFE289STUDENT11

2,244

RENOVATIONRenovation of several offices and classrooms werecompleted on 31 December over two phases.A total cost of $510,908.89 was awarded tothe contractor, MAIA + Design, through anopen tender.

Location Floor

Training Room A 1st

Counselling Rooms 1st

Corporate Affairs and 2ndFinance Divisions office

Education and DaÛwah 2ndDivisions office

Boardroom 2nd

Meeting Room 1 2nd

Meeting Room 2 2nd

Training Room C 2nd


INFORMATION TECHNOLOGYWEBSITEThe new website was launched in September 2013.By 31 December 2015, we have reached over 2 millionvisitors. In 2015, we have 114,979 registered usersand a total of 806,359 Page Views.

ERP SOLUTIONOn 22 November 2014, Ex-Co approved the awardfor the tender of the Enterprise Resource Planning(ERP) solution covering Accounting Software, Bookshopand Membership System, to AFON Technologies Pte Ltdfor a project amount of $150,000 excluding GST.The Association had been awarded a grant of$35,299.83 from National Council of Social Service forthis project.

The Executive Committee also appointed PKF-CAPIgnite Pte Ltd as the project manager to overseethis project. A Council member, Abdul Razak Isa,a director of PKF-CAP Ignite Pte Ltd was not presentwhen the Executive Committee deliberated anddecided on this appointment. The contract sum was$29,700.

IT AUDITThe Executive Committee approved to appoint Deloitte& Touche Enterprise Risk Services as the IT Auditvendor for a fee of $17,550.00 on 28 February.

WEBSITE VISITS

900000

600000

300000

2013

505435

2015

832263

2014

737042

WEBSITE BREAKDOWN

NEW VISITOR60.70%

RETURNINGVISITOR39.30%

100%


INCOME & EXPENDITURE STATEMENT

FINANCIAL SUMMARY

Income 2015 2014(Exclude Revaluation Gain) ($Û000) ($Û000)

Donations 3,932 3,952

Rental Income 384 369

Grants 329 285

Course Fees 285 292

Bookshop 149 154

Others 428 360

Total Income 5,507 5,412

% Breakdown of Income2015 2014

71% 73%

7% 7%

6% 5%

5% 5%

3% 3%

8% 7%

100% 100%

Expenditure 2015 2014 ($Û000) ($Û000)

Salaries & CPF 1,713 1,517

Financial Aid 1,177 1,190

DaÛwah 559 583

Admin Charges 334 288

Depreciation 379 382

Building Maintenance 345 252

ConvertsÛ Welfare 355 229

Property Tax 90 85

Bookshop 91 113

Other Courses 112 106

Others 175 186

Total Expenditure 5,330 4,931

% Breakdown of Expenses2015 2014

32% 31%

22% 24%

10% 12%

6% 6%

7% 8%

6% 5%

7% 5%

2% 2%

2% 2%

2% 2%

4% 3%

100% 100%


ZAKAT DISBURSEMENT BY ASNAF

Fakir & Miskin32%

100%

Riqab, Ibnissabil & Gharimin1%Amil9%Muallaf26%Fisabilillah32%

20 / Conversion

conversions at MCAS201520142013

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

514453

495843

606357

605362

656568

788662

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

555260

545352

576258

505267

515347

407157

Total 670712686

ONE-STOP CENTREFOR CONVERTS (OSCC)

In 2015, MCAS as a One-Stop Centre for Converts continued to facilitatethe issuance of the following:

— Conversion Card— Conversion Kit— Reimbursements of fees for

√=transport√=circumcision√=charges incurred upon insertion of Muslim name in identity card for Singaporeans

All Converts and prospective Converts were encouraged to attend theKnowing Islam Session, BeginnersÛ Course on Islam and Solat Tutorialprior to making an appointment for conversion.

On the day of conversion, the Converts were personally invited to participate in the upcoming activities and attend thetalks that would be organised by MCAS. This was part of the efforts to build a strong relationship with the Converts as wellas encouraging them to continue attending more classes that were made available for them in MCAS.

Conversion / 21

PROJECT TOUCHINGHEARTS (PTH)(BEFRIENDING SCHEME)

The PTH was a support programme piloted by the CDD for potentialConverts attending the BeginnersÛ Course on Islam (BCI). All Befrienderswho signed up for PTH underwent specialised training to help on issuesregarding conversion right through the process of embracing Islam.

In 2015, PTH conducted 3 weekday and 3 weekend Befriending Cycles.The weekend cycles saw positive and active participation from the BCIstudents. Befrienders assisted with the slide presentations and groupdiscussions.

PTH paved the way for the Befrienders to establish good rapport withthe students as it aimed to ensure that the prospective Converts andpartners have good social support at MCAS. It also encouraged themto attend other classes and workshops to benefit their journey in Islam.

PASTORAL CAREPROGRAMME (PCP)

The PCP was a Úpersonalised support systemÛ for thenew Converts that linked the Converts and the Muslimcommunity at large. When a Convert embraced Islam,a Befriender (also known as Mentor) was assigned toa new Convert to guide and to facilitate the ConvertÛsjourney as a new Muslim.

The Mentors channelled the Converts to theestablished resources of MCAS including: educationalservices, social events, financial assistance, counsellingservices, enrichment programmes, legal advice, andmore. The Mentors were empowered to lead basedon clusters: North Sector, East Sector, South Sector,West Sector, Central 1 Sector and Central 2 Sector,depending on the ConvertsÛ residence.

The Mentors, within their respective sectors, organisedsocial activities and bonding sessions in Mosques.The PCP programme hoped that these Convertswould extend their support to the other new Convertsin future.

In 2015, a total of 417 (62%) out of 670 Converts optedto be in the PCP.

Date: 15 FebruaryEvent: Pastoral Care Clusters MeetingParticipants: PCP LeadersVenue: MCAS

Date: 21 MarchEvent: PCP North East Cluster (NEC) MeetingParticipants: 12Venue: MCAS

Date: 28 MarchEvent: PCP NEC MeetingParticipants: 15Venue: MCAS

Date: 18 AprilEvent: PC NEC Get TogetherParticipants: NEC Befrienders (25 Converts)Venue: MCAS

Date: 25 AprilEvent: Befrienders Recruitment�s BriefingParticipants: 75 (20 Converts)Venue: MCAS

Date: 06 JuneEvent: Calling of Azan during IftarParticipants: 4 ConvertsVenue: MCAS

Date: 24 JuneEvent: South West Cluster Iftar Event, Tazkirah & Terawih PrayersParticipants: 15 (8 Converts)Venue: HYFY Charity Org

22 / Conversion

Conversion / 23

Date: 31 JanuaryEvent: Tayammum Workshop

Venue: East Coast ParkParticipants: 70

Converts: 56Born Muslims: 14

Date: 24 MayEvent: Mosque Visit & Azan Workshop

Venue: BaÛalwie MosqueParticipants: 60


Date: 6 JuneEvent: Azan Workshop

Venue: MCASParticipants: 20


Date: 10 & 11 JulyEvent: Qiyam ul Layl (Late Night Prayers)

Venue: Khalid MosqueParticipants: 21


Date: 6 SeptemberEvent: Mosque Visit

Venue: Omar Salmah Mosque & Al Islah MosqueParticipants: 80


Date: 1 NovemberEvent: Mosque Visit

Venue: Malay Settlement Sembawang MosqueParticipants: 80


WELCOME TO ISLAMPROGRAMME (WTI)

The WTI programme was developed to facilitateinteraction amongst new Converts and othervolunteers.

Its overall aim was to allow new Converts (and family)to be comfortable with Islam through socialising,networking and interactions.

In the WTI programme, Converts were introducedand invited to MCAS educational classes,social visits to Mosques/Islamic organisations,participate in Islamic workshops and other enrichmentactivities.

There were also several up and close discussionsorganised for the Converts, known as the In-Conversationseries with Converts, where they had dialogues withlearned scholars, such as the Mufti of Singapore,Dr Fatris Bakaram.

24 / Religious Guidance & DaÛwah Activities

Religiousguidance

&daÛwah activities

Religious Guidance & DaÛwah Activities / 25

In 2015, ED embarked onThe New Learning Pathway, which offersa clear and progressive learningopportunity to all students, primarilythe Converts. With this initiative,ED restructured all lessonsÛ content.Marketing initiatives, such as anintroductory video, posters, andcourse information booklet, had beenmade available for dissemination.

Referring to this, students now canchart their progress of learning aboutIslam and participate in the coursescorresponding to their level of knowledge.

Below are the courses offered according to the levels of learning at MCAS.

FOUNDATION LEVEL COURSESLearners would acquire foundational knowledge on Islamic faith and its main ritual practices.

1 Knowing Islam Session (KIS) 6 Islamic Belief System (Tawhid) 12 BeginnersÛ Course on Islam (BCI) 7 Islamic Rulings & Practices (Fiqh) 13 BeginnersÛ Course on Islam Express (BCIX) 8 Quran Recitation (Phonetics) 14 LetÛs Pray 1 (LP 1) 9 Five Pillars of Islam5 LetÛs Pray Express (LPX) 10 Advice to a Son (Ayyuhal Walad)


ENHANCEMENT LEVEL COURSESLearners would deepen previously acquired knowledge from the Foundation Level.

1 LetÛs Pray 2 (LP 2) 6 Quran Recitation (Reading) 22 Sunnah Prayer Course 7 The Ideal Muslim3 Islamic Belief System (Tawhid) 2 8 Understanding the Quran4 Islamic Rulings & Practices (Fiqh) 2 9 Fiqh for Ramadan5 The Life of the Prophets (Sirah) 1 10 External Classes

INTERMEDIATE LEVEL COURSESLearners would appreciate extended knowledge in various tenets of Islam.

1 Islamic Creed (Tawhid) 3 7 99 Beautiful Names of Allah2 Islamic Rulings & Practices (Fiqh) 3 8 Stories of the Prophets (Peace Be Upon Them)3 The Life of the Prophets (Sirah) 2 9 77 Branches of Faith4 Quran Recitation (Tajweed) 3 10 The Rightly Guided Caliph (Khulafa Ar-rashidun)5 Legacy of the Prophet (Hadith) 1 11 Hajj & Umrah Course6 Beginning of Guidance (Bidayatul Hidayah) 12 Fiqh for Ladies

ADVANCE LEVEL COURSESLearners would develop analytical understanding of Islam as well as appreciate the knowledge seeking traditionof the scholars.

1 The Life of the Prophets (Sirah) 3 7 Faith in Divine Unity & Trust in Divine Providence2 Legacy of the Prophet (Hadith) 2 8 Marriage Guidance Course (MGC)3 Quran Recitation (Talaqqi) 4 9 Funeral Management Course4 The Sealed Nectar 10 Islam & Astronomy5 Fiqh on Purification 11 Characteristics of Prophet Muhammad6 Purification of the Heart (Peace Be Upon Him)


KNOWING ISLAM SESSION (KIS)Frequency: Single session

(Every Weekend except Public Holidays)Duration: 2.5 hoursDescription: Introduction to Islam and served as the basis

for other courses at MCAS.Total Participants: 1,506

√ 45% Non-Muslims√ 7% Converts√ 48% Born-Muslims

KIS ENROLMENT (2013 - 2015)

2013

2014

2015

1457

1595

1506

BEGINNERSÛ COURSE ON ISLAM EXPRESS (BCX)Frequency: 2 weeks (4 day-sessions per week)Duration: 2 hours per sessionDescription: BCX was designed for those who were

working outside office hours or having a shortstay in Singapore. This might have preventedthem from attending the usual weekly BCIlesson. BCX was conducted on four consecutivedays per week for the duration of two weeks.Course contents of BCX were similar to BCI.

Total Participants: 352√ 50% Non-Muslims√ 25% Converts√ 25% Born-Muslims

BCI ENROLMENT

2013

2014

2015

1302

1477

1423

BEGINNERSÛ COURSE ON ISLAM (BCI)Frequency: 10 weekly sessionsDuration: 1.5 hour per sessionDescription: This course explained the fundamentals of

Islam (Islam, Iman and Ihsan tenets) basedon recommended text, The Essence of IslamÒ.Course content includes learning of mosqueetiquette and concludes with a visit to themosque. Mosques that were selected forvisits were Khalid, Sultan, Jamae Chulia andAn-Nahdhah Mosques.

No of Cycles: 34 (English, Mandarin & Filipino)Total Participants: 1,423


BCX ENROLMENT

2013

2014

2015 352

424

495


LETÛS PRAY 1 (LP 1)LETÛS PRAY EXPRESS (LPX)Frequency: 6 weekly sessions (LP1)

4 daily sessions (LPX)Duration: 1.5 hour per session (LP1)

2 hours per session (LPX)Total Participants: 1,216 (LP1: 867; LPX: 349)Description: Solah courses were offered as a concurrent

or as a follow-up course to BCI / BCX.This course offered practical lessons on thefive daily prayers. To ensure a conducivelearning environment, the course wasconducted in small separate groups for malesand females respectively.

ATTENDEES FOR LP1 / LPX

BORN MUSLIMS43%

NON-MUSLIMS37%

CONVERTS20%

100%

LETÛS PRAY 2 (LP2)Frequency: 6 weekly sessionsDuration: 1.5 hour per sessionTotal Participants: 221Description: This course acted as a follow-up to LP1 / LPX.

The course emphasised the Sunnah orsupererogatory aspects of the 5 daily prayers.

ATTENDEES FOR LP2

BORN MUSLIMS55%

NON-MUSLIMS20%

CONVERTS25%

100%

SUNNAH PRAYER COURSE (SPC)Frequency: 6 weekly sessionsDuration: 1.5 hour per sessionTotal Participants: 161Description: This course introduced participants to various

forms of Sunnah (non-obligatory) prayerssuch as Eid, tarawih, witr, masbuk, jamaÛand qasr, and janazah.

ATTENDEES FOR SPC

BORN MUSLIMS65%

NON-MUSLIMS6%

CONVERTS29%

100%


ENGLISH ISLAMIC STUDIESPROGRAMME (EISP)EISP comprised of Fiqh, Quran Reading, Sirah, Tawhid andHadith modules.Total Participants: 1695


EISP ENROLMENT (2013 - 2015)

2013

2014

2015

863

1940

1695

ENRICHMENT PROGRAMMEApart from offering elementary and core courses on Islam, additional courses for enrichment purposes were also provided.In 2015, the following were conducted:

1 The Rightly Guided Caliphs 12 Tawhid in Mandarin2 The History of Muslims 13 Quran Phonetics in Mandarin3 Understanding the Quran 14 Quran Reading in Mandarin4 Jewels of The Quran 15 The Characteristics of The Prophet5 Faith in Divine Unity And Trust in Divine Providence 16 Fiqh On Purification6 The Beginning of Guidance 17 Fiqh For Ramadan7 77 Branches of Faith 18 Umrah Course8 The Treaty of Mutual Counselling 19 Hajj Course9 Stories of The Prophets 20 Funeral Management Course10 Tafseer of Surah Yasin 21 Fiqh For Ladies11 The 5 Pillars of Islam 22 Islam & Astronomy Series 1 & 2

MARRIAGE GUIDANCE COURSE (MGC)Frequency: 2 Sunday sessions / 1 weekday session (Express)Time: 9.30am — 6.00pmDescription: The course offered marriage guidance to

Converts and their partners, and preparedthem for their new roles and lives in newfamilies. The express course met demands ofthose who were on a short stay in Singaporeor work on Sundays.

Total Participants: 390

MCAS is constantly in communication with the Ministry of Socialand Family Development (MSF) in its efforts to improve the course.

MGC ENROLMENT

BORN MUSLIMS56%

CONVERTS44%

100%


COURSES @ EXTERNAL VENUESED held some courses at selected local mosques to make our classes more accessible for students, especially Converts,staying in the Western and Northern parts of Singapore.

ED conducted religious classes in English at five mosques, with the hope of reaching out to more Converts that live acrossthe island:

1 Al-Iman Mosque (North-West) 2 Al-Khair Mosque (Central-West)3 Darussalam Mosque (South-West) 4 As-Syafaah Mosque (North)5 Jamae Chulia Mosque (Central)

Through this initiative, 16 courses have been successfully organised throughout the year, reaching out to 218 students.

DACCnDAYSStudents: Children (between 7 to 18 years old)Fees: $50 per monthFrequency: WeeklyVenue: Madrasah Al-MaÛarifDescription: Curriculum included circumstances that

children of Converts are likely to experience.Experiential learning and community serviceto improve the studentsÛ connection withAllah (SWT), e.g. the Meals on Wheels Project,brought the older students to visit less well-off Muslims and to supply provisions for them.

DACCnDAYS TOTAL STUDENTS

2013

2014

2015

210

237

264

Date DACCnDAYS Activities11 January TeachersÛ Briefing18 January ParentsÛ & StudentsÛ Orientation24 May Lower Level Experiential Learning:

Trip to Hay Dairies Farm30 & 31 May Upper Level Experiential Learning:

Qiyamulail Camp & Meals On Wheels8 November Experiential Learning: Amazing Race

at SBG & Trip to Garden Kids Asia15 November Prize Giving Ceremony,

Leaving Certificate Ceremony &ParentsÛ Teacher Meet

22 November VolunteersÛ Academic YearPlanning & Retreat


RAMADHAN CAMPAIGN Collaborating with Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS),ED participated in the Ramadhan Campaign by organising Solat RefresherCourses at three mosques and at MCAS, reaching out to 300 students.

DIPLOMA INISLAMIC STUDIESPROGRAMME (DISP)

The DISP was conducted by the International Islamic University ofMalaysia (IIUM) and had been organised in Singapore by MCAS sincethe year 2000. The programme was offered with English as the mediumof instruction, and all the lecturers were from IIUM. Opened to bothMuslims and non-Muslims, its objective was to provide quality contentto the overall concepts of Islam and an exposure to the Islamicoverview. All participants, who successfully completed the courseand fulfilled its requirements, received a diploma awarded by IIUM.The 15th intake started in 2015 with 47 students, including 7 Converts,and they were expected to complete the course in October 2016.

INDIVIDUAL PERSONALCOACHING (IPC)

The IPC was provided for students who had irregular working hours,travelled frequently, and required a language other than Englishas the medium of instruction, or were on a very short stay inSingapore. The IPC was conducted at the mutual convenience ofthe teacher and the student. In 2015, 206 students had been assigneda teacher for IPC.

STAYING MARRIED —STAYING IN LOVE

This programme helped participants to rekindle the passion intheir marriage and introduced the fundamentals towards amplifyingtheir love, simplifying their differences and applications on

how to strengthen their bond. In 2015,21 couples attended the programme on14 April, 1 August and 12 December.


There were 45 participants (couples with their families) who attendedthis workshop that guided them through concerns in inter-racialmarriage. They learnt to understand and respect family culture,upbringing and traditions, as well as customs of their partnersÛ andfamilies, as Islam celebrates diversity and mutual love. The workshopswere conducted on 14 March, 30 May and 19 September.

BUILDING INTERFAMILY TIES

This interactive workshop provided theoretical and practical tips onhow to be an effective communicator. Ust Saif-ur-Rahman conductedthe workshop for 70 participants, half of whom were Converts.Other participants included students, befrienders and volunteers,who gained knowledge on effective questioning skills, emphaticlistening abilities as well as proper articulation of situationalresponses. The workshop was conducted on 13 June.

COMMUNICATING &BEFRIENDING IN ISLAM

This workshop covered topics on how to impart the skills ofcommunication, develop more confidence, and be more articulatewhen discussing issues within the Islamic community at large.Ust Saif-ur-Rahman shared his experiences with 60 participantswho attended the workshop on 14 February.

EFFECTIVECOMMUNICATION SKILLS

INTERNALISING &UNDERSTANDING ISLAM

Two sessions were held respectively on:ÚRefreshing My Relationship with AllahÛ and ÚJourneys into IslamÛ.A total of about 180 participants attended both sessions deliveredby Ust Saif-ur-Rahman, on 21 March and 6 June. It had attractednon-Muslims - 30% of attendees - who were interested to knowabout Islam before embracing it.

This workshop examined the essence of Islam and what makesit a beautiful way of life. This is especially important as we arefaced with many unpleasant reports about Islam through the media.It was held on 17 October and attended by about 50 participants(56% Converts).

THE BEAUTY OF ISLAM

PUBLIC TALKS & PUBLICFORUMIn 2015, there were 3 Public Talks and 1 PublicForum organised at various public venues. Theobjectives of these talks were to engage, createawareness and convey the message of Islamwith astuteness and in an appealing mannerto the non-Muslims, new Muslims and bornMuslims, who were seeking deeper knowledgeon the faith. Prominent international speakerswere invited to deliver talks aboutcontemporary issues affecting theunderstanding of Islam as well as the universalmessage of Islam.

The first public forum on the topic of Islam:Religion of HopeÒ was organised on 30 Maywith a panel of speakers including Mufti IsmailMenk, Dr Muhammad Salah, and Ridzuan Wu.The forum aimed to dispel misconceptions ofIslam and highlighted examples from acrossthe globe where Muslims and non-Muslimshad co-existed peacefully and helped oneanother. The forum also aimed to inspire theparticipants to do good deeds, to reflect thetrue values of Islam, and to counter mediastereotypes of Muslims and Islam in general.

An estimated of 10,000 people attended thepublic talk, public forum and In-House Talksorganised by MCAS.


7 FebruaryShaykh Afeefuddin Al-JailaniProphet Muhammad (pbuh): The Last Messenger of GodÒ

30 MayMufti Ismail Menk √ Dr Md Salah √ Ridzuan WuIslam: Religion of HopeÒ

17 OctoberShaykh Abdul Aziz Ahmed FredericksThe Healing HeartÒ

20 NovemberShaykh Ahmed SaadIs God A Delusion?Ò

34 / Religious Guidance & Da’wah Activities

IN-HOUSE TALKS There were 10 In-House Talks conducted in 2015 to provide lecturesprimarily to the members and the students of MCAS on varioustopics or issues that were of importance and interest to the localMuslim community.

26 FebruaryShaykh Ahmed Saad“ The Case for God: Is Faith Relevant Today?“

22 MayNuruddeen Lemu“ Discover Yourself: Know Your Lord“

27 MarchUst Fizar Zainal“The Other 5Cs: Making the Singaporean Muslim Lifestyle“

12 JuneHaji Noor Deen Mi

13 JuneFatimah Yiying Cao

14 JuneHaji Noor Deen Mi | Fatimah Yiying Cao | Kartina Poh

28 AugustUst Anwar Hussain“The Path to Paradise”

18 SeptemberUst Syed Mustafa Alsagoff“Hajj & Sacrifice”

15 OctoberShaykh Abdul Aziz Ahmed Fredericks“A Good Life”

16 OctoberShaykh Abdul Aziz Ahmed Fredericks“Emptying The Vessel”

“Paint My Life: The Beauty of Islamic Art”

“Muslim Women: The Disadvantaged Gender?”

“Trials of Life & Test of Faith”


ISLAM4ALL WORKSHOP:SEEKING THE PEARLS OFWISDOM

RAMADHAN SHORTTALKS

Weekly talks were organised on Saturdays during Ramadhan to aidthe new Muslims towards understanding and appreciating thereligion as well as the blessings of Ramadhan.

20 JuneUst Tirmizi WahidThe Beauty of Sacrifice & StruggleÒ

27 JuneUst Bani AliMonth of MercyÒ

4 JulyUst Saif-ur-RahmanBeyond The ChaseÒ

11 JulyUst Fizar ZainalThe Spirit of EidÒ

The annually organised ISLAM4ALL workshop was held on5 and 19 September. The theme for the workshop was Seekingthe Pearls of WisdomÒ. The theme reflected a revisit of the IslamicSciences to better appreciate and learn from this rich heritage.Thirty paid participants across the ages registered for the workshop.Topics discussed ranged from Islamic Worldview to ComparativeReligion and Misconceptions in Islam. The training was intended toequip participants with fundamental knowledge of Islam to developa strong identity, integral in discussions on Islam and world religions.

5 SeptemberUst Nuzulul QadarIslamic WorldviewÒ

Ust Anwar HussainWhy We Do What We Do: Wisdom behind Islamic PracticesÒ

Ust Saif-ur-RahmanMisconceptions in IslamÒ


ISLAM4ALL WORKSHOP:SEEKING THE PEARLS OFWISDOM

19 SeptemberImran KunaExplaining Islamic Beliefs Across Cultures (Hinduism)Ò

Ariff SultanExplaining Islamic Beliefs Across Cultures (Buddhism)Ò

Ridzuan WuExplaining Islamic Beliefs Across Cultures (Christianity)Ò

Ust Bani AliHow Islam Spread Across The Asian RegionÒ

TRAINING &WORKSHOPS

7 and 8 March36 Hour Training & ConsultancyDynamic Presentation WorkshopÒ

23 and 24 MayNuruddeen LemuThe Art of DaÛwah: Sharing The Beauty Of IslamÒ

23 AugustUst Fizar ZainalYouth Motivational Workshop:One Step Backward, Two Steps ForwardÒ

21 NovemberHijazi from Jauhari Bilingual Toastmasters ClubPublic Speaking Workshop: The Messenger & The MessageÒ


SHARING SESSIONS 14 AprilRabbi Adam SteinThe Co-Existence of Judaism & Islam in the Contemporary WorldÒ

26 SeptemberUst Saif-ur-RahmanA Brief Background of Other Religions & ConvertsÛ Journeys to IslamÒ

17 OctoberUst Fizar ZainalThe People We Meet, The Lessons We LearnÒ

INTER-FAITH INITIATIVES On 25 April, 20 participants comprising of staff and volunteers visitedthe Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum at Chinatown. Thisvisit was intended to expose the participants to inter-faith practicesand engagement. The visit also shed light on the architecturalinfluences the Tang dynasty had on the design of the temple.

On 12 December, 15 participants visited Sri Mariamman Templeat South Bridge Road. One of the purposes of the visit was tobuild healthy, constructive and positive relations with friendsof other faiths in SingaporeÛs plural society.

Both visits were filled with information about the religions andtheir practices.

38 / Religious Guidance & Da’wah Activities

ISLAMIC INFORMATIONCORNER/CITY CORNERPROJECTThe City Corner Project was intended towardsmaking MCAS free Islamic brochures andliterature available to the public at locationswhere non-Muslims, including tourists, mayfrequent.

City Corner Stands Location

Malabar Mosque Victoria StreetPristine Ilm Dental Clinic KembanganSultan Mosque Arab StreetPinoy Express Lucky PlazaZay Yar Restaurant Peninsula PlazaAl-Mutaqqin Mosque - New Ang Mo Kio Ave 6Abdul Ghafoor Mosque - New Dunlop StreetKoh Nang Kam Thai (Jalan Keledek) - New Jalan Kledek

D’APPRENTICE - YOUTH DA’WAHWORKSHOPDa’wah Apprentice was held on 29 to 30 Augustin collaboration with Association of SingaporeStudents in International Islamic UniversityMalaysia (ASSIIUM). Fifty youths from varioustertiary institutions participated in theovernight camp cum workshop at Darul AmanMosque. It was geared towards buildingconviction in Islam and imparting Da’wahtechniques.

29 & 30 August

Speaker: Ust Saif-ur-Rahman Speaker: Ust Taufiq Radja Nurul Bahri

Tagline: Confidence in Faith

Theme: Islamic Worldview Challenges in Faith: Religion in a Secular Country Faults in Da’wah

14 February to 7 AugustCoffee TalksA new initiative that engaged youths in a series of conversationson current affairs that affect the Muslim community.Topics include:1) Responding Responsibly (February)2) Our Islam: UnveiledÒ (March)3) Sincerity in Faith (May)4) Syawal Edition Ó Celebrating Success (July)

28 March to 18 April The Singapore Muslim Youth Debate (SMYD)A series of debates at the national level to encourage activesocial participation and instil skills in intellectual discourse,critical thinking and creativity. There were 13 participating teamsand 6 individual youths from various organisations, tertiaryinstitutions and mosque youth wings. This national level debateawarded the champions with a trophy and a cash prize of $4,500,and $1,500 for group and individual category respectively.The grand finale was held at MDIS Auditorium with AssociateProfessor Hussin Mutalib as the guest of honour. SMYD 2015had crowned the team SufairaaÛ Al-Sagoff as the champion forthe group debate category and Khairul Ashraf as the championfor the first ever individual category.

6 JuneSports FiestaÚYODA: The ChallengeÛ took place at Bedok Reservoir Park.Activities included various ball games and an intensive dragonboat race. The event aimed to enhance the understanding ofIslam through social integration via sports.

26 SeptemberYODA RetreatThe various sub-committees of YODA evaluated and reflectedon the programmes of 2015, and brainstormed on newprogrammes to continue to engage and inspire youths.The retreat was held at Punggol Waterway where YODA membersbonded over cycling activities.


YOUTH OF DARULARQAM Ó YODA


YOUTH OF DARULARQAM Ó YODA

10 OctoberCultural ExchangeIn conjunction with MCAS 35th Anniversary, YODA organised acultural exchange event which explored the cultures of Malay,Indian and Chinese, specifically in the festivals each culturecelebrates. The exchange was meant to enhance appreciationof diversity and highlight commonality amongst cultures.Seven speakers across faith and ethnicities spoke about theircultures. Among these, five of the speakers were Converts andnon-Muslims and they shared about how cultures often influencethe practice of religions.

24 OctoberCrossroads 2.0For the second consecutive year, YODA presented a skit titledÚCrossroads 2.0: The AcceptanceÛ, which portrayed the challengesthat Nathan, the protagonist faced as a new Muslim Convert.Amidst the daily struggles adapting to a new lifestyle,Nathan also found solace in his new faith. The skit was followedby a forum to discuss issues pertinent to youths. The forumspeakers were Ust Fizar Zainal, Maryam Veen and Dawud Bilal.Maryam and Dawud shared their experiences as Muslim Convertswhile Ust Fizar Zainal discussed on how Converts can contributeto society.

5 and 6 DecemberYODA Youth CampForty youths between 12 Ó 19 years old participated in a campentitled ÚThe Hadith HuntÛ at Al-Amin Mosque and took partin activities such as ice-cream making session, archery tag,and amazing race around the heartlands of Mount Faber.A short sharing session with a motivational speaker was heldto impart important Islamic values to the youths. Participantswere tasked to perform a skit on the final day to show whatthey have learnt throughout the camp.

COLLABORATIONWITH OTHERORGANISATIONS/CENTRES


DAÛWAH AND BOOK SALEAT FAIRS/EXHIBITIONS

With the main purpose of sharing Islam to both Muslims andnon-Muslims, MCAS participated in the Annual Singapore BookFair Exhibition. The Singapore Book Fair Exhibition was held atSuntec City Convention and Exhibition Centre from 3 to 9 June.With the help from the Mandarin speaking volunteers,MCAS responded to questions about Islam posed by the visitorsat the booth. About 10 cartons of Quran translations and MCASfree publications were distributed during the event.

MCAS featured the world-renowned calligrapher, Haji Noor Deen Mi,at the book fair to showcase the art of Chinese and Arabic Calligraphy.During the exhibition, Haji Noor Deen Mi delivered a talk on thehistory of the Chinese and Arabic calligraphy that intertwined withthe Islamic Art.

30 MayAl Fawzaan CentrePublic Forum featuring Dr Md Salah, Mufti Ismail Menk, andRidzuan Wu

8 SeptemberMujahidin MosquePresentation of Pillars of Islam to visitors from Nexus InternationalSchool Singapore


KINETIC TYPOGRAPHYVIDEOS

DD produced short animation videos to highlight the key messagesfrom the public talks we organised. The three-minute videos areuploaded onto our YouTube channel and shared across the socialmedia platforms. Some examples of the videos produced in2015 were:

The Greatest Man AliveÒBy Various Speakers

Can God Be Three in One?ÒBy Dr Zakir Naik

Is there a God?Ò

One Minute Dawah Promo

MCAS Presentation Video


ONE MINUTE DAWAHCAMPAIGN

Launched in October, the One Minute Dawah Campaign aimed topromote simple yet effective actions that showcase the true valuesof Islam. Through these good actions, we hope to dispelmisconceptions and highlight the kindness and beauty of Islambeyond media stereotypes.

To enhance outreach, aside from the social media platforms,campaign collaterals were also given to Al-Muttaqin andAsyaakirin Mosques, as well as to NUS, NTU and SMU MuslimSocieties. In total, there were about 2,800 engagements on thecampaigns via the website, Facebook page and YouTube channel.

ISLAM4All MOBILEAPPLICATION

Islam4All Application allowed users toaccess videos of past public talks and readselected titles from our Free Publicationsonline, via their mobile platform. Users couldalso view the kinetic typography videosand one minute dawah campaigns viathe application. In addition, MCAS memberswere able to view paid videos of past publictalks for free with the access code givento them. Officially launched during theMCAS35 Anniversary Dinner in October,the application was available on both iTunesand Google Play stores.

Be Courteous Be Open Minded Be Generous Be Considerate

44 / Social Support & Welfare Services

Socialsupport & welfareservices

Social Support & Welfare Services / 45

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCEDISBURSEMENTA total of $1,040,222 (inclusive of the Zakat Disbursementin Ramadhan) was disbursed to 1,060 families. The monthlydisbursement included the provision of Fidyah of about$87,450, including the Ramadhan Fidyah Disbursement.

201520142013

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

303298237

296298220

303298220

315306240

331309268

318296290

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

330290303

326288311

311271326

301279312

311291312

298295305

Monthly Disbursements(no. of families) for Year 2013 to 2015

3000

3400

3200

2013

3344

2015

3743

2014

4000

3800

3600

3519

ZAKAT DISBURSEMENT INRAMADHAN


RELIGIOUS TALKS FORFAKIR MISKIN (FM)CLIENTS

On 5 July, the yearly Zakat Disbursement was conducted, benefiting552 families, each receiving $255 in cash and $70 in NTUC vouchers.The Guest of Honour was Heng Swee Kiat, Minister for Education.A total of $179,400 was distributed ($140,760 from Zakat funds and$38,640 from Fidyah).

RAMADHAN CHARITYBOOTH

The Ramadhan Charity Booth was a new initiative by CDD, whichgave away clothes, books, toys, bags and other articles to theRamadhan Zakat Recipients.

There were four religious talks organised for the FM clients toencourage them in remembering their duties and responsibilitiesas Muslims and other subjects pertaining to Islam. A total of82 participants took part in these talks held on 25 January, 26 April,15 October and 29 November respectively. The speaker wasUst Hanapi Kassim.

BUDGETING BOARDGAMES FOR FM CLIENTS

This workshop, in the form of board games, was organised with thesupport of South East CDC. The objective was to educate FM Clientson how to handle their finances wisely. There was participation by9 families for the session that was conducted on 22 March.


PROJECT REACHING OUT(PRO) Ó HOME VISIT

PRO, a new initiative by CDD, aimed to forge bonds with FM Clientswho were Converts by visiting them at home. It was intended to letthe clients know that MCAS cared and remembered them.Befrienders, mainly Converts, were hand-picked to lead the project;all befrienders underwent specialised trainings before being assignedfor home visits. A total of 95 families were visited, of which 65%were Convert families. FM families were visited on 9 and 10 May,9 June, 18 October, 15 November and 13 December.

PROJECT REACHING OUT(PRO) Ó TRAININGS &WORKSHOPS

Date: 8 SeptemberEvent: Skills in Engaging & Dealing with ClientsParticipants: 32Converts: 20Speaker: Maimunah Mosli

Date: 9 SeptemberEvent: Networking & FacilitationParticipants: 27Converts: 19Speaker: Ishaq Jay

Date: 10 SeptemberEvent: Understanding Process & AdministrationParticipants: 27Converts: 19Speaker: Noormala Saleh

WOMENÛS WING The WomenÛs Wing was inaugurated in 2015 by CDD with theprime object of reaching out to female members and empoweringthem through various programmes. The WomenÛs Wing on 7 Marchheld its first collaboration with South East Mosque Cluster (SEMC)WomenÛs Wing to organise International WomenÛs DayÒ withthe theme, Women: Pillar of StrengthÒ. Dr Elly Sabrina andMaryam Helena Veen (Convert) were speakers at the event.

WOMENÛS WING


Date: 7 MarchEvent: International WomenÛs Day Ó Women: Pillar of StrengthSpeaker/GOH: Assoc Prof Dr Fatimah LateefVenue: SingPost Auditorium

Date: 23 MayEvent: Muslim Women: Challenges They Faced TodaySpeaker/GOH: Prof Dr Kamar Oniah KamaruzamanParticipants: 40Converts: 32Venue: MCAS

Date: 6 JuneEvent: The Art & Significance of HijabSpeaker/GOH: Norseha SaniParticipants: 46Converts: 40Venue: MCAS

Date: 7 JuneEvent: Anxiety & DepressionSpeaker/GOH: Dr Radiah SalimParticipants: 47Converts: 34Venue: MCAS

Date: 8 JuneEvent: Managing Stress & Building A Resilient MindSpeaker/GOH: Dr Radiah SalimParticipants: 79Converts: 57Venue: MCAS

Date: 18 DecemberEvent: In Conversation with Nation Builders:

Aura Hawa Featuring Singapore Inspirational Muslim WomenSpeaker/GOH: Aishah SamadParticipants: 42Converts: 20Venue: MCAS


BURSARY GRANTApplicants for the grant were assessed by the Bursarysub-committee to ensure their suitability for the grant.MCAS awarded a total of $39,800 to 23 eligible applicantsin 2015.

LEGAL CLINICOur volunteer lawyers offer free legal advice to individuals,who do not have access to legal representation. The legal clinicwas held on every first and third Saturdays of the month.This service was provided to members of MCAS and the public.The Legal Clinic handled various cases including marital andcivil matters.

In 2015, the Legal Clinic handled a total of 56 cases.

LEGAL CLINIC CASES

DIVORCE29

FINANCE3

OTHERS24

COUNSELLING SERVICESIn 2015, ShariÛah Court (SYC) referred 271 cases to MCAS;254 cases were closed, and, 17 cases were brought forwardto 2016. There also were 138 walk-in counselling casesattended to.

On 14 August, ShariÛah Court hosted the Appreciation Eventat the ShariÛah Court premises. Minister-in-charge ofMuslim Affairs, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, graced the occasion andpresented the certificates to MCAS and other partners.

COUNSELLING SERVICES

SYC CLOSED254

SYC B/FORWARD17

DA WALK-IN138

CULTURAL DIVERSITYPROGRAMMES


Date: 4 JanuaryEvent: Myanmar National DayParticipants: 150Converts: 20Born Muslims: 120Non-Muslims: 10Venue: MCAS

Date: 30 AugustEvent: Celebrating Filipino CultureParticipants: 180Converts: 120Born Muslims: 60Venue: MCAS

Date: 27 SeptemberEvent: Understanding Chinese CultureParticipants: 80Converts: 50Born Muslims: 30Venue: MCAS

In 2015, CDD launched Understanding Cultural DiversityÒ underthe Multi-National Clubs (MNCs). Three main ethnic groups:Myanmar, Philippines and Chinese were showcased.

On 4 January, the Myanmar MNC presented Celebrating MyanmarHistory & CultureÒ. It was held at the MCAS Auditorium and wasalso attended by some non-Muslims of the Myanmar community.

On 30 August, the Mabuhay MNC organised the Celebrating FilipinoCultureÒ. The event was attended by the various MNCs.The First Secretary/Consul and the three Attaches of the PhilippinesEmbassy came to lend their support to the Filipino community.

On 27 September, the Mandarin MNC celebrated the event titledUnderstanding Chinese CultureÒ. The event was attended by theMandarin-speaking members, and various MNCs such as theIndonesian, Myanmar and Mabuhay.

Recreational &social activities

Recreational & Social Activities / 51

22 JanuaryDelegates from RISEAP

17 AprilIslamic WomenÛs Council of New Zealand (IWCNZ)

28 AprilDelegates from Pejabat Qadhi Kota Tinggi

8 MayHidayah Centre Foundation

2 OctoberIntegrated Islamic School Network Thailand

7 OctoberShaikh Ali Omar Yacoub Abbasi,

Chief Imam of Masjidil Aqsa

16 OctoberDr Wesam Ahmed Al Madhoun

(University of Gaza)

GUESTSMCAS received 178 official visitors in 2015 fromvarious bodies, both overseas and local.

MONTHLY DISCUSSIONMonthly discussions were held for the Converts,members and non-Muslims in variouslanguages. These discussions were conductedby volunteers and scholars who speak theparticular languages and were conducted onSundays. Once a year, all the different groupscongregate to forge better bonds with oneanother.

52 / Recreational & Social Activities

TAHLILThe session comprised the recitation ofshort verses from the Quran, Dzikrullah(remembrance of Allah) and Salawat (prayerfor Prophet Muhammad [SAW]). It is hopedthat the merits of their prayers were acceptedby Allah (SWT) for the souls of the believerswho had passed away.

Frequency Average Attendance Facilitator

Every last Thursday 20 - 25 Md Fauziof the month

Language: EnglishTotal No of Session: 14Average Attendance: 45Facilitator: Ust Zhulkeflee Hj Ismail

Language: TamilTotal No of Session: 02Average Attendance: 20Facilitator: Moulana Haja Mohideen

Language: MandarinTotal No of Session: 10Average Attendance: 11Facilitator: Ust Omar Ma

Language: BurmeseTotal No of Session: 12Average Attendance: 60Facilitator: Ust Jamal U Soe Thein

Language: Bahasa IndonesiaTotal No of Session: 11Average Attendance: 120Facilitator: Ust Masrohan Kyai Choteb

Ustazah Shameem Sultana Abdul Gaffoor

Recreational & Social Activities / 53

IFTAR The four Iftars were held on Saturdays, 20 and 27 June, 4 and 11 Julyduring the month of Ramadhan. The attendance for every Iftarranged between 550 to 700 guests. On 5 July, an Iftar was organisedfor the volunteers who helped with the Iftar preparations,such as setting up of the tables and chairs, collection of food,and crowd management.

The official iftar was held on 27 June, coinciding with the SingaporeJubilee Celebration. MCAS was one of the venues selected to hostthe SG50 Kita Iftar. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for Communicationsand Information and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs, wasthe Guest of Honour.

54 / Literature

The titles in 2015 were as follows:1 Islamic Worldview - An Introduction2 What Every Christian Should Know About Islam3 LetÛs Pray (male)4 LetÛs Pray (female)5 Muqaddam - LetÛs Recite the Quran6 Understanding Islam (Mandarin)7 Understanding Islam (English)8 Muhammad Pocket Guide

The Ú35 Fun Facts About Ramadhan & FastingÛ booklet was launchedon 17 June, as part of the promotion of MCAS35 Open House.This booklet was a compilation that featured 35 interesting factsabout the month of Ramadhan and about the benefits of fasting.An ISBN was applied and approved for the booklet in hard copyand e-book versions. A total of 10,000 copies of the bookletwere published for free distribution at various mosques, events,and several strategic locations throughout Singapore. By 10 July,almost all the copies have been allocated and distributed at theselected locations.

FREE PUBLICATIONS (FP)

35 FUN FACTS ABOUTRAMADHAN & FASTINGBOOKLET

Literature / 55

The Muslim Reader (TMR), MCAS flagship magazine, providedrelevant information to the new Muslims, who were in tune to learnmore about their faith, and to the English-speaking members of theMuslim community. TMR was distributed to members of MCAS, aswell as to the participants of selected events and programmes.

The magazines were also available for subscription and sale at theEnglish Islamic Bookshop. In mid-2015, the frequency of the magazinewas merged from three times a year to become an annual magazine.This was due to MCAS subscribing and distributing the Vizier magazineevery month to MCAS members. The 2015/2016 edition of TMR,with a circulation of 5,000 copies, was scheduled for release inMarch 2016.

THE MUSLIM READERMAGAZINE

In conjunction with MCAS35 celebrations, the Galaxy Beat magazinefor zakat payer was revived, replacing the Zakat Brochure. Themagazine contained a message by the President of MCAS, six articlesin both English and Malay languages, and info graphics on Zakat,such as benefits of Zakat, conditions for Zakat, Zakat calculation,and Zakat distribution. There was also a donation form and a businessreply envelope included. A total of 7,000 copies of the Galaxy Beatmagazine were printed. About 6,000 copies were mailed to existingZakat payers in our database, and the remaining 1,000 copies weregiven to new Converts.

GALAXY BEAT MAGAZINE

56 / Literature

MCAS collaborated with Wazir Media to distribute the Vizier magazineto our members, visitors, students attending classes at MCAS and tothe general public at various events and designated locations fromJanuary to August. The Vizier issues distributed were:

√ Issue #21 (January 2015): Rumi, An Unfulfilled Prophecy√ Issue #22 (February 2015): Russia and the Prophecy of the Great War√ Issue #23 (April 2015): Nightingales from the Cape of India√ Issue #24 (May 2015): Gharatullah, The Invading Forces of Divine Help√ Issue #25 (June 2015): Video-Watching√ Issue #26 (July 2015): The Delusion of Randomness√ Issue #27 (August 2015): Sign of All Signs

VIZIER Ó COUNSEL FORMUSLIMS MAGAZINE

Number of visitors in 2015: 1,190AL-MAWRID RESOURCECENTRE

COMPETITIONSORGANISED

1) Speed Writing Competition 2015 (25 April)Titles to be chosen from:-1) Forgiveness is the key that unlocks peace into our heart2) Overcoming resentment, Understanding others3) Loving Prophet is to practice his Sunnah

Age: Youth (15 - 18)Participants: 23

2) Al-Mawrid Amazing Race (10 October)Participants were given a list of 20 questions related toAl-Mawrid and books found in Al-Mawrid. Participants weregiven 30 minutes to answer all questions.

Age: Open to allParticipants: 24 (6 groups of 4 pax each)

Literature / 57

BOOK REVIEW SESSIONS

Date: 15 MarchReviewer: Ust Abdul Hakeem in Tagalog LanguageTitle: DonÛt be SadParticipants: 64

Date: 18 AprilReviewer: Ust Hafeezuddin Ma in Myanmar LanguageTitle: Tibyanul QuranParticipants: 60

Date: 19 AprilReviewer: Ust Hafeezuddin Ma in Myanmar LanguageTitle: Education in IslamParticipants: 90

Date: 23 MayReviewer: Nurudeen Lemu in English LanguageTitle: Laxity, Moderation and Extremism in IslamParticipants: 40

Date: 10 OctoberReviewer: Aisyah Chen in Mandarin LanguageTitle: Muhammad (peace be upon him) The Prophet of IslamParticipants: 30

Date: 18 OctoberReviewer: Shaykh Abdel Aziz Fredericks in English LanguageTitle: Educating ChildrenParticipants: 130

Date: 19 SeptemberReviewer: Ust Firdaus Yahya in English LanguageTitle: Cosmic Creation TheoryParticipants: 106

58 / Literature

WORKSHOPS ORGANISED

1) Title: Sunnah in TodayÛs ClassroomÒ Ó TeachersÛ Training OnlineTrainer: Maulana Jahangir MahmoodDate: 23 MayParticipants: 29

2) Title: TeachersÛ Training on Creating Cooperative Learning (CL)& Problem Base Learning (PBL) Lesson Plan

Trainer: Khairiana Zainal AbidenDate: 25 MayParticipants: 23

3) Title: Arabic Calligraphy in Chinese Tradition Book Reviewand Workshop

Trainer: Haji Noor Deen MiDate: 10 JuneParticipants: 40

4) Title: Arabic Writing for BeginnersTrainer: Ust Ismail AhmadDate: 13 June to 4 July, SaturdaysParticipants: 68

5) Title: Community of Practice Ó Al-Quran TeachersÛ Sharing SessionTrainer: Fathul AriffinDate: 3 OctoberParticipants: 8

6) Title: Voice Projecting Training for TeachersTrainer: Carina Tien, the Founder of The Voice RoomDate: 14 NovemberParticipants: 29

HONORARIA TOVOLUNTEERS

Appendix / 59

appendixHonoraria was paid to volunteers as reimbursement for out of pocketexpenses incurred such as transport, meals, materials, etc fortheir services rendered in teaching, duties as registrar or evaluator,counselling, etc. The following are the names of Council Members whoreceived honoraria and the sums received in 2015:

Name Division Course Total

Abdul Razak Isa CDD Registrar $220.00

$220.00

Hafidz Abdullah ED Solat Tutorial 1 $1,350.00Sunnah Prayer $37.50

CDD Befrienders $180.00Welcome to Islam $50.00

$1,617.50

Johari Abdul Aziz ED Solat Tutorial 1 $225.00KIS $900.00

CDD Registrar $410.00Befriender $80.00

$1,615.00

Iman Wong CDD Building Bridges $200.00

$200.00

BRIDGINGCOMMUNITIES


ANNUALREPORT 2 0 1 5



Tel: +65 6348 8344 Fax: +65 6440 6724

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.darul-arqam.org.sg

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muslim convertsÛ association of singapore...assalamuÛalaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh edwin...

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