The passing of Shaikh Syed Isa Semait

1. The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) is deeply saddened by the passing of a senior religious scholar and leader, Shaikh Syed Isa Semait. His demise is a great loss to the Singapore Muslim community and the nation.

2. Shaikh Syed Isa was a dedicated leader who served as Mufti of Singapore from 1972 to 2010, making him the longest-serving Mufti to date. His unwavering commitment and tireless efforts to promote a confident and progressive Muslim community have left a lasting impact on Singapore and beyond.

3. Shaikh Syed Isa saw the establishment of many key institutions that had helped propel the religious life of the community. This included the establishment of a system for determining the Islamic calendar, development of the institution of zakat collection and disbursement, social development programmes for the poor and needy and the Mosque Building Fund. He also oversaw the management and growth of our wakaf properties and the establishment of an internationally credible and reliable Halal Certification system. He also supported the formation of the Harmony Centre to promote greater interfaith engagement and harmony as well as the Rahmatan Lil Alamin Foundation which shines as a ray of hope for charitable and humanitarian causes.

4. He also led the Fatwa Committee to work out solutions for challenging and contentious issues. He presided over difficult issues such as the Human Organ Transplant Act (HOTA) where he was able to rally the authorities and community to accept a unique solution for the community before we fully embrace the HOTA system in 2007. In addition, Shaikh Syed Isa also led efforts to deal with the arrest of the Jemaah Islamiah groups and supported the effort to establish the Religious Rehabilitation Group in rehabilitating the detainees and their family among many others.

5. Being a strong advocate for education, Shaikh Syed Isa believed that seeking knowledge is a religious obligation. He recognised the importance of religious teachers continually updating their skills and knowledge to guide the community in a rapidly changing environment. The Syed Isa Semait Scholarship (SISS), established in his honour, is a testament to Shaikh Syed Isa’s commitment to education and vision of cultivating promising talents dedicated to leading and serving Singapore’s religious sector.

6. Shaikh Syed Isa was also a key figure in promoting inter-religious harmony in Singapore. He was a council member of the Inter-Religious Organisation of Singapore (IRO) in 1975 and subsequently became its life member. He became President of the IRO in 1993. He was also a member of the Presidential Council for Religious Harmony from 1992 to 2010. He was known amongst the interfaith leaders’ circle as playing a significant role in providing leadership and inspiration in enhancing bonds of relationship among the many faith communities for the greater good of Singapore and beyond.

7. For his exceptional leadership and significant contributions to public service, Shaikh Syed Isa was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Bronze) in 1982 and Public Administration Medal (Gold) in 2009. In addition, he received the IRO Lifetime Award in recognition of his efforts to strengthen interfaith harmony in Singapore. In 2011, Shaikh Syed Isa was also awarded the prestigious Meritorious Service Medal.

8. Shaikh Syed Isa’s wisdom and leadership have been instrumental in shaping a forward-looking and self-confident Muslim community. With his passing, the community has lost a dedicated community leader who worked tirelessly to uplift the community and promote interfaith harmony. It is our hope that his legacy will continue to inspire future generations of community and religious leaders.

9. MUIS would like to express our heartfelt condolences to the family of Shaikh Syed Isa for their loss. May Allah s.w.t. shower His blessings for all his great deeds and contributions towards the well-being of both the community and nation.