UNDERSTANDING ISLAM AND
MALAY-MUSLIM CULTURE AND PRACTICES – SINGAPORE
The
pulsating rhythms of life within the Muslim community in Singapore are as wide
as their social customs and traditions are rich. The understanding of this ethnic community begins with an
understanding of their social fabric and the principles that shape them.
There
are about 500,000 Muslims in Singapore. They represent about 15% of the
population in Singapore. Almost majority are Muslims with the Malays form the majority.
They are also Indian, Arab, Chinese and Eurasian Muslims.
Members
of the Muslim community share a common Malay culture and a unifying Islamic
faith. The 5 pillars of Islam dictate
the personal conduct and social behaviour of the Muslim. These 5 pillars are:
§
A declaration of faith or
‘syahadat’
§
Prayer
§
Fasting
§
‘Zakat’ or Almsgiving and
§
Pilgrimage
The
Muslim faith is one that encompasses core teachings including those of
goodness, kindness, fair treatment of others, filial piety, honesty and
respect. Therefore, in addition to the
5 pillars of Islam, a Muslim’s upbringing is infused with these important
lessons as well as those of courtesy, tolerance, humility, unity, loyalty and
responsibility towards others and the nation.
Ethnic communities and identities have
always been a key feature of Singapore life.
A peaceful co-existence is achieved when we are aware and sensitive to
the cultures, customs and traditions of an ethnic community different from our
own. This allows us to adjust our
behaviour, code of courtesy, manners, even dress as a sign of respect.
For
instance, shoes should be removed when entering a Muslim home. This is because any part of the Muslim home
may be used for individual or group prayers.
Cleanliness is therefore of paramount importance.
In
Islam, a Muslim is called to prayer 5 times a day. These times are:
§
At dawn, that is ‘subuh’ or
‘fajar’
§
At mid-day -‘zuhur’
§
Late afternoon - ‘asar’
§
At sunset - ‘maghrib’
§
At night - ‘isyak’
Every
Friday, at mid-day, during zuhur, male Muslims are required to listen to
sermons and perform congregational prayers at the nearest mosque. There are 73 mosques all over the island.
When
praying, Muslims face the direction of the Ka’abah, the focal point of faith of
every Muslim the world over. Ka’abah is
in the holy city of Mecca. This is the
direction in which Muslims face during prayer.
‘Halal’
food is food that has been prepared according to Islamic rites. Food that has not been so prepared are
considered ‘haram’ or prohibited. It is
also important for non-Muslims to note that it is a misconception that when
food has ‘no pork and no lard’, it means that the food is halal. This is not so. ‘Haram’ food includes liquor, pork, snakes and frogs.
When
bearing gifts to Muslim friends or neighbours, avoid giving liquor or foodstuff
that are not marked ‘halal’.
The
Muslim handshake is called ‘salam’. A verbal greeting of ‘Assalamualaikum’
follows the salam. This means Peace be
upon you’. Peculiar to most Malays,
after the salam, each person brings the hand to touch the left chest where the
heart is. Placing the hand over the
heart symbolises the sincerity of the handshake. Very often, both hands are extended and clasped to reinforce the
sincerity.
When extending a hand to shake
that of a person of the opposite sex, a non-Muslim should not be alarmed if the
handshake is not taken. This is not a
rude gesture. Rather, the Muslim is abiding
by the Islamic requirement that discourages physical contact between opposite
sexes.
Within
the Muslim community, handshaking between a younger and a respectable older
person such as his father, mother or teacher goes a step further. The younger person offers the ‘salam’ first
by clasping the hand of the elder and then kisses it as a sign of respect.
Muslims
also believe that the right hand is better than the left. Therefore, all good and polite deeds are
done using the right hand. It is
considered rude to either hand over or receive something with the left
hand. This hand is associated with
cleansing.
Prior
to eating meals, Muslims offer ‘Bismillah’, a short ‘doa’ or ‘prayer’ which
means “In the name of Allah.” Muslims use their right hand to eat their
meals. Eating with their right hand is
encouraged by Islam and is part of the Malay culture. It also signifies humility.
Unlike
other communities, a Muslim who belches after a meal is not being rude. It is normal for a belch to be followed by
the words ‘Alhamdulillah’, which means ‘Praise be to God’. He is simply giving thanks to God for His
bounty.
Within
the Malay social etiquette, it is also wise to be aware of the act of
pointing. Muslims consider it rude to
point with the forefinger. The polite
way is to make a soft fist with the right hand and use the thumb to point.
Traditional
Malay dressing is strongly dictated by Islam’s teaching on dress code. The emphasis is on modesty.
The
traditional Malay costume for women is the ‘baju kurung’. This is a loose tunic or ‘baju’ worn over a
long cloth or ‘sarung’. During
funerals, a white ‘baju’ is a sign of respect. The ‘baju kurung’ is often worn
by Muslim ladies during wedding receptions, Islamic religious classes and Hari
Raya gatherings.
When
a Muslim girl reaches puberty, she should be encouraged to cover her whole body
except her face and hands. At this
point, she may decide to don a piece of head scarf. This is called the ‘tudung’.
Although this is used in accordance to an observance in Islam of what
should be concealed and what can be exposed, donning the tudung is very much a
personal choice. Some Muslim women wear
the tudung only at a much later age.
As
for the Muslim lad, he must not expose the areas between his navel and his
knees.
The
traditional outfit for Malay men is the ‘baju Melayu’. This is a loose shirt worn over a ‘sarung’
or a pair of trousers. Occasionally a
‘kain samping’ is tied around the waist.
The outfit is completed by a ‘songkok’, a traditional headdress normally
made of velvet material.
Islam encourages a man who can afford
to marry to do so and set up a family. Islam takes marriage as sacred with the
husband to show justice to his wife in every aspect of life, from protection to
love and companionship to maintenance. Polygamy in Islam is not an
encouragement or an obligation but merely an allowance, so that, is and when it
has to take place, the marriage is still valid and within the fold of Islam.
Polygamy can
only take place respectfully in a situation where a husband can deal justly
with each of his wives in such matters as family protection, love,
companionship and maintenance. This restriction, though difficult, is not
impossible for some people. It is seen as a means to meet an exigency of an
unexpected development. It should be a solution to a problem.
The
Malay wedding can clearly be divided into 3 main segments:
§
The Betrothal
§
The ‘Akad Nikah’ or
solemnization
§
The ‘Bersanding’
The
Betrothal process begins with a meeting between a representative of the groom
and the parents of the girl to discuss the marriage proposal. If the proposal is accepted, the discussion
will proceed with the value of the dowry, the venue and the date of the wedding
are discussed. This could happen as
early as a year in advance.
The
‘Akad Nikah’ or solemnization ceremony is held on the eve of the wedding day at
the bride’s home, in the mosque or at the Registry of Muslim Marriages or ROMM.
A
verbal and written agreement to marry is made between the groom and the bride’s
father or guardian. This agreement must
be declared in the presence of 2 witnesses.
The
ceremony is presided by a religious official from the ROMM, called the
‘kadhi’.
The
agreement is sealed with a small sum of money called ‘mahar’ or the ‘mas
kahwin’. This gift is to acknowledge
the sanctity of marriage and encourages marriage even among the poor.
The
‘akad nikah’ ceremony is a family affair, attended by relatives, close friends
and guests. The groom sends a
‘hantaran’ or exchange of gifts to the bride.
The gifts are then displayed in the bride’s room. In return, the bride’s side is also
encouraged to reciprocate.
The
‘Bersanding’ ceremony takes place the next day and guests are invited to join
in the celebrations in a ‘kenduri’. A
‘kenduri’ is a feast that has been prepared in the Malay tradition of
‘gotong-royong’ or ‘cooperation’.
Often, kenduris are held at void decks to accommodate the large number
of guests.
A
raised dais or ‘pelamin’ is prepared for the bride and groom. This signifies their ‘thrones’ as the
wedding couple is treated as ‘king and queen for the day’. Relatives are invited to sprinkle flower
petals and rice on the couple. These
are fertility symbols with wishes for a fruitful union.
The
excitement and joy of the wedding is enhanced by the presence of a tambourine
or ‘hadrah’ troupe who accompanies the groom on his journey to meet his
bride. To add colour to the procession,
a visible array of ‘bunga manggar’ is commonly used. The hadrah troupe also sings praises to God and good wishes to
loud ‘kompang’ beats.
A
silat performance marks the welcome of the groom. Usually 3 silat persons will perform.
Other
characteristic features of a Malay wedding include:
§
the ‘berinai’ or henna
application ceremony, whereby the bride’s palms and feet are decorated with dye
from henna leaves;
§
the ‘tukar pakaian’ or
costume change ceremony, where the bride & groom change outfits for
photography sessions;
§
the use of ‘sireh’ leaves
to signify virginity of the bride; and
§
‘bunga manggar’ or palm
blossoms made from tinsel paper accompanying the groom when he fetches his
bride
At
the end of the kenduri or feast, guests are given eggs or ‘bunga telor’ as a
sign of a fertile union and the hope that the marriage will produce many
children.
As
the younger generation of Malays become increasingly cosmopolitan, some of
these traditional practices may no longer be adhered to. Nevertheless, they continue to form a vital
characteristic of the rich Malay custom.
Among
the 4 major races, the Malays appear to have the least number of restrictions
imposed on the mother after delivery.
For the Malays, confinement lasts 44 days.
Some
Malay mothers who have just delivered often take a special drink called
‘jamu’. It is believed that the pores
on the body are opened during labour and ‘jamu’ has properties that can keep
the body warm. If the body is not kept
warm, the Malays believe that cramps and rheumatism will crop up later. This also means mothers are discouraged from
drinking cold water. Fruits such as
guava, green bananas and pineapples are also to be avoided because of their
cooling effect.
Seafood
is discouraged because it inhibits recovery of the wound. Chilli intake also needs to be reduced to
prevent constipation.
During
this confinement period, a female masseuse is engaged to help the mother regain
her figure or at least to keep her extended tummy trim.
The birth of
a newborn is an occasion to be celebrated.
The father customarily whispers the prayer call or ‘azan’ into the
newborn’s right ear and the ‘iqamat’ into his left ear. This signifies that the first thing the baby
hears is the call to God, thus pointing the way for him to the chosen path.
A week
after his birth, the infant’s hair will be shaved and a sacrifice of a sheep,
called the ‘aqiqah’ is performed.
Muslims believe that this sacrifice shows gratitude to God. The meat is later cooked and distributed to
family members, friends, neighbours as well as the poor and needy.
Male
circumcision is a tradition that dates back to the days of Prophet Abraha. The act is carried out on all Muslim males
and is for hygiene purposes.
Circumcision is carried out a week after the birth of a male baby or at
least before the boy reaches puberty.
In Islam, puberty marks the transition from a boy to a man or a girl to
a woman.
To
the Muslim community, life and death is determined by God. The Muslim funeral is a solemn affair.
The
deceased is bathed by family members, dried and wrapped in between 3 to 5 pieces of unsewn cloth from top to toe. This white cloth is called the ‘kain kafan’. Sweet smelling atar oil and powdered
sandalwood would be sprinkled on the body.
Burial
often takes place as quickly as possible. This is done to respect the dead and
to avoid decomposition. Muslims do not
use coffins. The body is laid to rest
with the cheek touching the earth, on its right while at the same facing the direction
of Mecca.
Islamic festivals are celebrated
according to the Islamic or Hijrah calendar.
The Islamic calendar is based purely on lunar cycles and was first
introduced in 638 AD. The reference
point for the calendar is the ‘Hijrah’ which chronicles the migration of
Prophet Muhamad from Mecca to Medina.
Since the Islamic calendar is purely lunar, the Muslim year is shorter
than the Gregorian year by about 11 days.
This also marks the difference between the Islamic calendar and the
Gregorian calendar used by non-Muslims.
In
Singapore, the main festivals are Hari Raya Puasa, Hari Raya Haji, Awal
Muharram and Maulud Nabi.
The month of Ramadhan is one of the
holiest months in the Islamic calendar.
During this month, all healthy Muslims are required to fast. From sunrise to sunset, Muslims are not
allowed to eat, drink or smoke. They
are also to abstain from carnal thoughts and acts and devote themselves to God.
During Ramadhan, Muslims partake 2
meals a day:
§
‘sahur’ – meal before dawn, to ensure sufficient nourishment for
the day; and
§
‘iftar’ – meal after sunset
In addition to the mandatory 5 prayer
times, during this month, Muslims perform one more special prayer called the
‘terawih’ mostly in the mosque in the evening.
During Ramadhan, Muslims also pay
‘zakat fitrah’ or alms tax, which is then distributed to the poor and needy.
Contrary to common belief, Hari Raya
Puasa is not the Muslim New Year. Hari
Raya Puasa or Hari Raya Aidil Fitri is the celebration of a successful
completion of a month of fasting and marks the end of Ramadhan.
On the other hand, the Muslim New Year
is known as the Awal Muharram. It is
marked by the migration of the Prophet Muhamad from Mecca to Medina. The date of the New Year is decided by the
Islamic calendar.
During Hari Raya Puasa or Hari Raya
Aidil Fitri, Muslims begin the day with congregational prayers at the
mosques.
On this day, Muslims seek forgiveness
from relatives and friends for past wrongdoing. It is also a time to renew and reaffirm relationships.
Of course, the preparation for Hari
Raya begins much earlier, with the excitement of shopping for new clothes,
decorations for the home and the preparation of Raya goodies. Dishes like ‘ketupat’ or rice cooked in
packet of coconut leaves and ‘rendang’, a spicy beef dish, are the staples of
every Hari Raya occasion.
Hari
Raya Puasa is marked by an air of great joy and celebration, with Muslim
families holding open houses and hosting visits from their non-Muslim
friends.
Hari
Raya Haji or Aidiladha on the other
hand, commemorates the sacrifices of Prophet Abraham. During this month, Muslims perform the ‘haj’ in the Holy Land of
Mecca in Saudi Arabia. This is a
journey that Islam requires every healthy Muslim to perform at least once in
his lifetime, if he has the means.
The
most significant event at the Aidiladha, after the congregational prayers, is
the sacrifice of the lambs called the ‘korban’. The practice of ‘korban’ unifies all Muslims in an act of sharing
and giving, especially to the underprivileged.
1/3 of the meat is given to the individual who supplied the lamb and 2/3
is distributed to the poor and deserving relatives. In Singapore, the slaughtering is done in the mosque.
Upon
completion of the ‘haj’, the men earn the title of ‘haji’ and women the title
of ‘hajjah’.
Hari
Raya Haji or Hari Raya Aidiladha is marked by congregational prayer at the
mosque, after which the day is spent observing the ‘korban’ and visiting
relatives.
Maulud
Nabi
Another significant festival in the
Islamic calendar is the ‘Maulud Nabi’.
This is the celebration of the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad, the
messenger of Islam. The day is marked
by the commemoration of the life of the Prophet and his contributions to
mankind.
Usually on this day, activities such
as religious talks are held in the mosques. Celebrations are also held for
orphans and other underprivileged children for Prophet Muhammad himself was
born an orphan.