Latest:
Long Article – The Model Muslim Minority: Wasatiyah (Justly-Balanced) as a Counter-Ideology Tool in Singapore
July 20, 2022 By Muhammad Haniff Hassan
In the post 9–11 world, Muslims have had to grapple with various challenges, which often involved justifying their faith to others within secular contexts. The matter is more acute, if not existential, for Muslim minority populations. This paper analyzes attempts by the Singaporean Muslim community to deal with a post 9–11 world, through a development of the concept of wasatiyah (justly balanced). It investigates key initiatives by two important players – the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS), and the Singapore Islamic Scholars and Religious Teachers Association (Pergas) – that had significant influence in shaping the wasatiyah vision in Singapore. We make two arguments: (1) The wasatiyah discourse represents a longstanding effort by Muslims to contextualize and appropriate traditional Islamic concepts to make them relevant to the contemporary world; and (2) The two approaches adopted by the organizations in question highlight the strengths and weaknesses of initiatives being propagated by state-affiliated and non-state bodies respectively. The study is situated within the literature on religion and politics, counter-ideology and state-Muslim relations.
My Books:
Book Review – Countering Islamic State Ideology: Voices of Singapore Religious Scholars, by Sheikh Mohamed Farouq, in Wasat, August 2021
August 2, 2021 By Muhammad Haniff Hassan
Click here to read the review. Click here for more information about the book.
Short Articles:
Article – Six Excellent Attributes of Muslim Activist
June 1, 2022 By Muhammad Haniff Hassan
This article was published in Wasat, no. 44 / Jun 2022 at here. By Muhammad Haniff Hassan Introduction Islam recognises the importance of social activism and works to change society for the better. Islam regards them as part of a da`wah work (sharing teachings of Islam to all) which is enjoined upon all Muslims. Thus, Muslims are […]
Dakwah@AlQuran:
The Quran on those who have not received the true message
January 15, 2013 By Muhammad Haniff Hassan
“And so it is that thy Sustainer would never destroy a community for its wrongdoing so long as its people are still unaware [of the meaning of right and wrong]:” (The Quran, 6:131) Points of Reflection 1. God will not punish a community or person for not living in accordance to His religion until His […]
Ramadan Advice:
Towards A Better Life After Ramadhan: What Ramadhan Can Do For Us
July 9, 2015 By Muhammad Haniff Hassan
(Note: I would like to thank bro. Hafiz Kusairi for translating this article. The original Malay version is available here.) Muhammad Haniff Hassan Ramadhan should change ourselves for the better. At least, it should be the platform that catalyses changes in us. Below are 10 ways in which Ramadhan can help us engineer changes within […]
Long Articles:
Long Article – The Model Muslim Minority: Wasatiyah (Justly-Balanced) as a Counter-Ideology Tool in Singapore
July 20, 2022 By Muhammad Haniff Hassan
In the post 9–11 world, Muslims have had to grapple with various challenges, which often involved justifying their faith to others within secular contexts. The matter is more acute, if not existential, for Muslim minority populations. This paper analyzes attempts by the Singaporean Muslim community to deal with a post 9–11 world, through a development of the concept of wasatiyah (justly balanced). It investigates key initiatives by two important players – the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS), and the Singapore Islamic Scholars and Religious Teachers Association (Pergas) – that had significant influence in shaping the wasatiyah vision in Singapore. We make two arguments: (1) The wasatiyah discourse represents a longstanding effort by Muslims to contextualize and appropriate traditional Islamic concepts to make them relevant to the contemporary world; and (2) The two approaches adopted by the organizations in question highlight the strengths and weaknesses of initiatives being propagated by state-affiliated and non-state bodies respectively. The study is situated within the literature on religion and politics, counter-ideology and state-Muslim relations.
Dakwah@Sunnah:
Make religious practice easy, embrace diversity
December 28, 2012 By Muhammad Haniff Hassan
Narrated ‘Abdullah bin Amr bin Al ‘Aas: Allah’s Apostle stopped (for a while near the Jimar) at Mina during his last haj for the people and they were asking him questions. A man came and said, “I forgot and got my head shaved before slaughtering the sacrificial animal).” The Prophet said, “There is no […]
Other Articles:
Long Article – An Analysis of Bai`ah Al-Mawt (Pledge of Death) in Jihadist Groups’ Practice and Islamic Tradition (CTTA, vol. 14, no. 3, June 2022)
June 14, 2022 By Muhammad Haniff Hassan
Click here to read or download the article. Synopsis “Dr Muhammad Haniff Hassan examines the notion and practice of Bai`ah Al-Mawt (pledge of death) among contemporary jihadist groups through the lens of Islamic Sunni intellectual tradition and security studies. His work has three important implications for the Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (P/CVE) initiatives. The […]
Links:
My article – Sexuality Education in Islam: Between Apprehension and Permissiveness
November 28, 2016 By Muhammad Haniff Hassan
(This article was translated from Malay titled Beberapa Pandangan Mengenai Pendidikan Seks. This English version was first published in Wasat no. 11/October 2016. Click here.) (c) Muhammad Haniff Hassan, 2016 Islam is a religion of fitrah because it comes from Allah, the Creator of mankind and the whole universe. It seeks to guide Man in all aspects […]
My book – The Father of Jihad: `Abd Allah `Azzam’s Jihad Ideas and Implications to National Security (2014)
May 8, 2014 By Muhammad Haniff Hassan
To purchase, click here. Read review here. Book Synopsis: This study revolves around the jihad ideas of ‘Abd Allāh ‘Azzām — an iconic figure in the study of militant jihad in the 20th century, history of Afghan jihad against the Soviet Union, Al-Qaeda and current threat of terrorism. This study has several objectives: […]
Countering violent extremism in Singapore (video presentation)
March 19, 2013 By Muhammad Haniff Hassan
Video of my presentation at Imam Reference Group Workshop held by National Centre of Excellence for Islamic Studies, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, 4-5 December 2012. See the video here
