Keynote speech by Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs, Assoc Prof Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim at the Singapore College of Islamic Studies (SCIS) symposium

Mr Sa’at Abdul Rahman, President of MUIS

Mr Kadir Maideen, Chief Executive of MUIS

Dr Nazirudin Mohd Nasir, Mufti of Singapore and Chair of Steering Committee for the Singapore College of Islamic Studies

Mr Abdullah Tarmugi, Chairman of the Singapore College of Islamic Studies Board of Governors

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,

1. A very good morning to all of you. I am delighted to join you today for the inaugural Singapore College of Islamic Studies symposium. Glad to see many of our community leaders and religious teachers who have contributed to the Islamic education landscape. And I am very happy to see our madrasah students. Welcome, it is a very important symposium, and we want you to benefit from it and help to shape and mould not only our community but our society. I am so happy to see friends from the various religious faiths who are also here because this is in Singapore’s interest and how we can contribute towards this initiative together that can serve as a reference globally.

2. Today’s symposium comes at a time of growing uncertainty, from geopolitical tensions to social division, and environmental concerns. These developments shape how communities live together, and how people make sense of change. In this context, faith should give our community confidence and clarity, grounded in Islamic principles and appreciation of Singapore’s multiracial, multireligious society. This is a reality that we live in, and we want to bring out the best of humanity in the place that we live in.

3. Many of us are here today because we have a shared commitment to supporting the development of future generations of asatizah and strengthening religious guidance for the Singapore Muslim community. Our madrasahs play an important role in forming future scholars and teachers. Our Islamic Education Centres and Providers (IECPs) complement these efforts by providing learners across different life stages access to Islamic education and deepen their religious understanding.

4. But to stay effective in a changing world, our Islamic education system must look at new ways to equip our future asatizah with relevant knowledge and skills, to effectively support the community’s spiritual development and most importantly we also want to progress. We must equip future asatizah not only with deep religious knowledge, but also the skills to engage contemporary issues with wisdom, empathy and relevance. This is how we build a strong and resilient community that can practise Islam confidently and contribute positively to the society where we live, we share and we belong together.

SCIS: Strengthening Singapore's Islamic Education landscape

5. It is in this spirit that MUIS is establishing the Singapore College of Islamic Studies, or SCIS. SCIS aims to be a leading institute of higher learning that will develop religious leaders who will not only possess deep Islamic knowledge, but also the capability to serve our Muslim community within the context of Singapore's unique multicultural landscape.

6. SCIS seeks to achieve this through its distinctive interdisciplinary approach, by integrating Islamic sciences with social sciences and the humanities. This will better prepare graduates to address modern socio religious challenges, and to pursue careers in adjacent sectors, including areas such as social work and community support.

7. The collaboration between SCIS and the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) exemplifies this commitment to interdisciplinary learning. The sharing of existing SUSS’ modules and co-developing of new specialised modules, will enhance religious curriculum with applied learning. This approach prepares our students to confront the complexities of modern society and broadens their understanding of real-world needs. I am glad that these efforts will be complemented by upcoming partnerships with respected international Islamic institutions in Egypt, Jordan, and Morocco. In doing so, we ensure that the SCIS curriculum maintains the depth and authenticity of traditional Islamic scholarship, while equipping students with capabilities to deliver social impact. What is key is that we want the impact to be significant, meaningful, and also relating to the context of Singapore’s society. What I am confident is Singapore will continue and I think significantly will increase to become one of the gems of the world - where people can be together in a multiracial and also in a setting that we embrace diversity, where in today’s world it’s getting more and more challenging, and you see things happening around the world. So, your role is very important, and I think we have made a good start.

Building a credible institution through strong partnerships

8. The establishment of SCIS represents a longstanding aspiration of our community. Like all meaningful efforts, initiatives and what we want to achieve, its success depends on collective support and commitment. I am thankful that many have stepped forward to build strong foundations for the SCIS.

9. I am glad to announce the establishment of the SCIS Board of Governors chaired by Mr Abdullah Tarmugi and the SCIS Steering Committee chaired by Mufti Dr Nazirudin Mohd Nasir. These bodies comprise representatives across the community, including senior asatizah, established academics, curriculum developers, and industry experts who will contribute diverse expertise to shape the development of SCIS. Together with the SCIS Advisory Panel, which was convened last June, they will provide strong guidance as we develop SCIS into a credible institution.

10. Together with SUSS and other partner institutions, I am confident that we are building something truly meaningful for Singapore's Islamic education landscape. One that strengthens religious thought leadership, supports our community’s needs, and contributes to social cohesion.

A call to community action

11. For the SCIS to grow into a credible institution and contribute meaningfully to the community, we must summon our collective spirit to bring this aspiration to fruition. I encourage all of you here to make the most of today’s symposium - engage actively with one another, ask critical questions, think deeply about the issues that we face as a community and offer practical solutions.

12. Whether you are a religious leader, academic, or a passionate member of the community, consider how you can contribute, with your expertise, networks, resources and mentorship. If we do this together, I believe that we can create an environment where Islamic scholarship can flourish and contribute to Singapore's continued success as a multicultural, multireligious society. I want you to dream big. I want you to explore areas where we can bring goodness to humanity. We must step up from where we are and bring more goodness. Show good examples; how the Muslims in Singapore are making the differences in a multireligious and multicultural setting. And if you look back from where we were, we have always believed in a multicultural and multireligious society. Muslims in Singapore must continue to be part of it and strengthen our journey to make Singapore a place for everyone regardless of race, language and religion, and be a beacon of hope for peace, prosperity and for all of us to live together, and bring more goodness for our future generation. This is a very important milestone for all of us. And I feel very happy that we are here today and we invite all the different stakeholders here to make this difference that we think will be meaningful for Singapore. So I urge you to participate actively, share your ideas because we want this to bring goodness to many many more people and humanity.

13. Allow me to say a few words in Malay.

14. Hadirin dan hadirat sekalian. Kolej Pengajian Islam Singapura, atau SCIS, bertujuan menjadi institut pengajian tinggi yang bakal melahirkan barisan pemimpin agama yang berupaya dan dapat membimbing masyarakat untuk maju ke hadapan bersama. Mereka bukan sahaja memiliki pengetahuan agama yang mendalam, tetapi juga keupayaan untuk berkhidmat kepada masyarakat Islam dalam konteks masyarakat majmuk Singapura.

15. SCIS berusaha mencapai matlamat ini melalui pendekatan antara disiplin (interdisciplinarity) yang tersendiri di mana kita dapat lihat bukan sahaja dari segi pelbagaian tetapi dengan adanya pendekatan kerjasama SUSS, kita dapat melihat ini adalah satu institut dan juga apa yang kita boleh dapat manfaat daripada institut ini – satu aspek yang sangat unik dalam pembangunan bukan sahaja di Singapura tetapi dalam arena antarabangsa. Sebagai contoh, para pelajar boleh menyertai program-program seperti Pengajian Fatwa, Pengajian Tafsir dan Hadith, Kerja Sosial dan Kaunseling. Melalui program-program ini, mereka boleh memperoleh kemahiran praktikal supaya dapat menyumbang kepada pembangunan sosio-keagamaan dan pelbagai lapisan masyarakat.

16. Seperi yang saya katakan tadi, kerjasama dengan Universiti Sains Sosial Singapura (SUSS) melambangkan komitmen SCIS kepada pembelajaran antara disiplin. Akses kepada modul-modul SUSS dan pembangunan bersama modul khusus yang baharu, dapat meningkatkan kurikulum keagamaan dengan pembelajaran gunaan (applied learning). Pendekatan ini mempersiapkan para pelajar menghadapi cabaran masyarakat moden dan memahami keperluan praktikal dalam kehidupan seharian.

17. Pembangunan SCIS memerlukan sokongan masyarakat. Saya berbesar hati mengumumkan penubuhan Lembaga Pengelola SCIS yang dipengerusikan Encik Abdullah Tarmugi, dan Jawatankuasa Pemandu SCIS yang dipengerusikan Mufti Dr Nazirudin Mohd Nasir.

18. Penubuhan SCIS mencerminkan aspirasi masyarakat kita untuk membina sebuah institusi pengajian tinggi Islam di Singapura. Seperti semua usaha, kejayaannya bergantung kepada sokongan dan komitmen kita bersama. Mari kita berganding bahu untuk memastikan SCIS menjadi institusi yang berjaya dan dapat melahirkan barisan asatizah yang terlatih untuk memenuhi keperluan masyarakat Islam Singapura yang kian berubah. Saya juga berkongsi dalam bahasa Inggeris tadi di mana saya harap semua akan mengambil peluang pada hari ini untuk berkongsi aspirasi, berkongsi pendapat. Saya syorkan ambil peluang. Saya dapat lihat rakan-rakan kita dari MUIS, SUSS dan badan-badan masyarakat, mereka telah bekerja keras terutama Mufti, saya dapat lihat dia mahu membangunkan SCIS yang bukan sahaja padat, bermakna dan juga bagaimana kita boleh mendatangkan manfaat kepada masyarakat kita. Kita mahu lihat ini sebagai satu wadah untuk mengukuhkan lagi ekosistem di Singapura – bagaimana kita boleh membangunkan negara kita sebagai sebuah negara yang di mana kita boleh hidup berbilang bangsa, agama, di mana pada hari ini kita melihat banyak kepelbagaian sebagai satu yang mendatangkan manfaat. Di Singapura kita melihatnya dengan kaca mata di mana kepelbagaian ini telah kita membentuknya, membangunkannya dan mengisikannya dengan nilai-nilai dan juga intipati yang bernas, yang baik, yang boleh membangunkan satu masyarakat dan negara yang istimewa, luar biasa. Dan ini adalah peluang bagi kita untuk kita teruskan bersama. Saya ucapkan terima kasih kepada semua yang pagi-pagi datang ke sini untuk meluangkan masa dan untuk menyumbang kepada pembangunan masyarakat kita di Singapura dan negara kita dan sama-sama kita mendukung usaha dan tanggungjawab ini.

Conclusion

19. I wish all of you a fruitful and meaningful inaugural symposium.

Thank you.