When you’re nearing the end of your job, the urge to do something stupid gets to be unbearably strong. The want to go out in a blaze of glory, shouting YOLO as you go down in flames. If you’re the soon to be ex-head of MUIS like Mohammed Alami Musa , that urge is probably super strong.
That’s why he made the alarmingly controversial statement that he foresees a fracturing of the Muslim Community in Singapore in the future.
He sees Muslim splintering into 3 group; the first will belong to the super pious with extremist views and intolerant of other races, the second the more liberal Muslims who view modern social issues like LGBTQ should be embraced by Islam and lastly, the mainstream who want more freedom on how Islam is practiced in Singapore.
Needless to say, it pissed off pretty much everybody in the Muslim Community.
MUIS already has a fragile relationship with most Muslims, who view it as an archaic and outdated organization, out of touch with the community it supposedly represents. All talk and barely any worthwhile action.
This doesn’t help matters at all.
Anger at MUIS stems from multiple sources, some logical, some not.
Some view MUIS as not being as helpful as they could be with Muslims of low societal standing, such as the poor or uneducated. Some think MUIS is too intertwined with the government instead of being independent as it should be.
Comments like this are viewed as MUIS talking crap when they should be focused on helping the community or settling outstanding current issues, such as whether nurses should be allowed to wear the tudung at work.
One even makes the mention that MUIS seems to be lowering their standards for Halal Certification, which has allowed more Chinese operated businesses to be deemed Halal. It’s certain discriminatory at best, racist at worst because there’s no proof at all that’s happening.
The pushback against MUIS is real and varied but all are united in their thinking that MUIS is useless.
MUIS does seem to get some love, though it’s from a very small number.
In the above comment, the poster laments how MUIS has to cater to the various whims and wants of local Muslims. She bemoans about how tiring it must be and how tough it’ll be for the new, upcoming head of MUIS.
Being a religious topic of discussion, most of what’s being talked about is all theological. Talk about how the Quran says this, how various Prophets say that. Scripture quoting left and right for what posters see as predetermined destiny. Frankly it’s nothing of major substance and reading through the comments is like wading through thick sludge.
There are however nuggets of interesting comments amid the deluge of quoting of the Quran.
Some are saying that Islam’s already been fractured and this sundering of the Muslim Community in Singapore is nothing new.
Another commenter says that there’s more than the 3 groups that’s been put forward and it has always has been that way. The commenter also mentions that grouping Muslims into either of these groups is controversial at best, and does nothing for the community.
I have to agree with this.
Forcing labels and then chucking people into them is foolish and I sort of get the feel that Mohammed Alami Musa saying these things is a last hurrah to see his name up in the lights one last time before he fades into obscurity. Controversy for the sake of controversy.
It’s a view that I’m not alone in having.
Netizens too think along the same lines; Mohammed Alami Musa is only speaking out because he’s quitting the job and wants to make a splash. Commenters are of the mind that Musa’s comments are what will splinter Muslims, not their beliefs.
In other words, they think Musa can take his predictions and shove it where the sun don’t shine.
Thankfully, there are quite a number of commenters to seem to be able to cut through the bullshit.
The way they see it, if you’re Muslim, you’re all one big family in Islam.
No sub-groups, no division in the ranks. You’re either Muslim or you’re not. Conversely, Islam is up to the individual on how to interpret it and that no other Muslim should be judging another for how they believe.
Perhaps that’s the best and most harmonious way forward.
Definitely worth a think.