Ramadhan and The Alarm Bells of Mordenism

I would put it like this: that the Muslim is dynamic, is active in relation to existence - and the kafir in fact is passive. The Muslim is constructive in relation to existence and the kafir is destructive. From where did this come? Because at the heart of the Muslim's condition is that he is locked into a system, as I said a very complicated system, which is the glorification of Allah swt, and looked at the intricacy of it: there are five fard prayers; there is a number of nawafil prayers; there are prayers for the dua; there are prayers for the night; there are prayers for the funeral; there are prayers for the rain - each has its procedure, each has its rhythm - there are times where you may not pray; there are times when you must pray.

It all is a very sophisticated system and the Muslim takes it with him in the most ordinary way. But it means he is active! Because, and this is all again by the modernists who have really gone a long way to destroying Islam in our time, for example: the time of prayer is not by a clock - the time of prayer is not by a clock! - the time of prayer is by the sky!

Rasul s.a.w has explained it himself! Allah has, he said, has put the sun and the moon in the sky to be a measure for you of the time of salat. You're plugged into a cosmic time system which is existential, which you see with your eye and you verify. Fajr is because of the line that delineates, the thread that delineates that first hint of the sun is on the way and you have that, from that delineation, until the point where the sun is about to appear - that is the time of fajr and subh. And, it's second that time: and then the minute the sun rises, then you can not - you can nót make up fajr. It's gone! (They must be done) In its time: prayers are in appointed times. There is no such thing as making up a prayer. So that, what is the fajr and what is the magrib, is magrib is also on a time frame. But that time frame is by verification. It is by verification, not by a clock.

Ramadan is not by "27 minutes passed" and "23 minutes passed" and so on. This is not Islam. This is another invention of mankind. It is by verification of the magrib, and then the adhan and the breaking of the fast. The sighting of the moon, all of these things, are existential: they are by verification, and in the case of that, it's by verification with amal. It is not a democratic thing of everyone going onto the beach and looking for the moon. The correct shariat of that is: two witnesses have to identify the moon within the domain that is to go under the rule of Ramadan.

They have to then go before a qadi and the qadi verifies the character, like character references: they've got to be sound; they've not to be crazy; they've not to be people who be emotionally disturbed and make up a story. Once they have that ijaza, then that goes to the amir. And the amir takes the confirmation from the witnesses and the authorizing qadi, and then he gives the authority, gives the order, for Ramadan. Now, that only, to my knowledge, is performed now by the king of Morocco."

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 23 — Like two young girls relating tales of their first love, Siti Sara Phang Abdullah and Nur Balqis Elaine when recounting their conversion into Islam. This month of Ramadan, the two recent converts are also excited about fasting.

Raised in a Christian home, Sara, 19, was at first fascinated by Muslim culture. She was enamoured by traditions like head scarfs, and how her Muslim friends all seemed to have a prayer constantly on their lips – like right before eating or going to the bathroom.

“But it’s not that my friends converted me, I had many Muslim friends but they didn’t talk about Islam. I fell in love with the beauty of Islam myself,” she added.

Elaine, 20, who is half-Chinese and half-Kenyah from Sarawak, talked about how she first came to know about, and then embrace Islam in secondary school.

“I had many Malay friends in school, and my heart was captured by Islam. It was a completely new and a great feeling,” she said in fluent Malay. Her mother is a Roman Catholic and so she was only exposed to Islam at school.

Smiling, she added that she felt a lot calmer now after embracing Islam. Dressed modestly, the two young women blended in with the crowd at Perkim, an Islamic welfare organisation established to help Muslim converts adjust to new lives as Muslims, which was holding a buka puasa for new converts.

“When I wake up during sahur, I am happy to fast,” Sara said but added that she was a little tired and thirsty in the afternoon. “If I can stand it, I'll go on but if I have gastric pain then I'll buka (puasa).

Elaine, on the other hand, had a “trial fasting” at one of the schools for religious studies in Kedah. She told The Malaysian Insider that she fasted every Monday and Thursday during her four-month there.

“My stomach hurt a bit because of the air inside,” she admitted. Elaine added that fasting makes her very happy; she feels at peace and is reminded of humility and patience. Even though their stories were told with much joy, it was not a smooth journey into Islam for them.

Sara and Elaine both live at Perkim’s shelter for girls, after their families rejected their conversion. Sara said that her family disagreed with her conversion and questioned her sudden decision. “Suddenly I fell in love with the Islamic way,” she said, adding that she couldn’t really explain it.

“My father noticed I had more baju kurungs, Islamic books and other religious things, so he asked,” she explained. Sara, who grew up as a Protestant, had converted in May but only had the courage to inform her family a month later. She said that her mother and sister were accepting but her father had given her the ultimatum to choose between staying at home or to be a Muslim. She chose the latter and is now staying at the shelter with Elaine.

Elaine said her Buddhist father had accepted her new religion while her Roman Catholic mother was less than enthused. She said her mother who resides in Puchong found out about her conversion from others and they had not been in contact since October last year.

“Since I'm a Muslim now, it's a different lifestyle from my mother's... it is easier to live outside anyway,” she added.She admitted that it was “rather peculiar” how she got interested in Islam. “Every time I hear the azan, it moves my heart,” she said with a sparkle in her eye.

She explained that Islam is not a foreign religion to her family. Her sister had converted through marriage, so has her brother, for different reasons. “Islam is more calming. I'm more at peace now,” Elaine said.The girls explained that they do not have to pay for the accommodation at the shelter but merely kept the house clean. The shelter is actually a terrace house in Gombak with two rooms, and two girls to a room.

One of the housemates is a graduate student at USM and is currently doing her practical at Perkim. She is also in charge of the girls while the other housemate is from the Philippines and works at Perkim.The girls are allowed to stay at the shelter for six months at most, but if they cannot find an alternative, they would not be forced to move out.

There is also an 11pm curfew and they have to inform the girl in charge of their whereabouts.The girls survive on a small allowance of RM50 every two weeks. They would take the bus to Perkim every day and the journey takes about 20 minutes.

Native Inuit Eskimo Muslim From Canada

As a young Inuit woman, Maatalii Okalik-Syed is exceptional in many ways.

From a very early age, the 21-year-old native of Pangnirtung, Nunavut committed herself to helping others. She’s worked with several grassroots Aboriginal and Inuit organizations, all the way up to the Government of Nunavut. And now she’s set to graduate from Carleton University with a Human Rights and Political Science degree, minoring in Aboriginal Studies.

But an impressive resume is not the only thing that sets Maatalii apart. Maatalii is a Muslim, one of a small but growing number of Indigenous women in Canada converting to a religion most associate with the Middle East.

It’s not known exactly how many have converted, but some Indigenous Muslims report seeing more and more people like them praying at Ottawa-Gatineau mosques. People like Linda Soliman. A Cree woman originally from Fort Albany in northern Ontario, she credits Islam with strengthening her parenting skills and improving the relationship with her parents.

Note: May Allah bless her with stronger iman and islam in her life journey !

Haji Abdul Halim Chua, Haji Abdul Rahim Pui

Macma pusat pada tahun 2010 telah menerima kunjungan delegasi Macma Kelantan diketuai oleh Pengerusi Hj.Abdul Halim Chua untuk membantu projek penyelidikan USM peringkat Ph.D mengenai peranakan Cina Kelantan dan dakwah islamiah.

Johari Yap -From Chung Hwa High School To Islam

Johari Yap was born in Kelantan, embraced by Islam in 1996 witnessed by Malaysian Army Brig.General Dr.Mohd Shukor. He had studied in Royal Military College of Kuala Lumpur (secondary level), Chung Hwa High School, Kota Bharu and one of his grandparent was Seventh Day Adventist Christian.

He served as Macma Secretary General in 2003 and Macma Kelantan State Branch in 2005 before accompanying his wife Dr.Noshila of Universiti Sains Malaysia, Medical/Kelantan Branch undertaking a Master Degree in UK and Ph.D in New Zealand in 2007. He was blessed with 2 kids- Mikael and Misha, a mixed dragon blood and malay javanese nusantara spirit.

Photo : Johari Yap (tengah) sekeluarga bersama keluarga kandungnya. Ibu bapanya (dua dan tiga dari kanan) reda dengan pengislaman anak sulung mereka.( With his chinese parent and 3 sisters)

DUGAAN dan cabaran adalah lumrah dalam kehidupan setiap insan di muka bumi ini, apatah lagi bagi mereka yang bergelar saudara baru atau mualaf. Hakikat ini turut diperakui Pegawai Perhubungan di Yayasan Orang Kurang Upaya (OKU) Kelantan, Jalan Padang Tembak, Pengkalan Chepa, Johari Abdullah @ Yap Guan Kheng atau lebih dikenali dengan panggilan Johari Yap.

Menurut anak kelahiran Wakaf Bharu ini lagi, beliau tidak menghadapi masalah sebelum pengislaman memandangkan tinggal berjauhan daripada ibu bapa. Namun selepas memeluk Islam bermulalah episod peritnya, kira-kira 10 tahun lalu.

“Saya terpaksa berhenti kerja di Kuala Lumpur dan tinggal dengan bapa saudara di Batu Pahat, Johor selama lebih kurang setahun. Setelah keadaan agak reda, saya kembali semula ke Kuala Lumpur. Pada masa itu, walaupun tidak timbul ketegangan namun hubungan dengan keluarga kandung sudah tidak semesra dahulu.

“Sungguhpun keluarga tidak lagi memberi tekanan kepada saya, bahananya beralih kepada kedua-dua ibu bapa saya. Mereka dituduh tidak pandai mendidik satu-satunya anak lelaki sehingga sanggup bertukar agama. Ini kerana, saya adalah anak lelaki sulung daripada empat adik-beradik.

“Sementara itu, orang Melayu Islam pula cuba ‘meMelayukan’ saya. Apabila saya cuba mengekalkan identiti Cina, akan dituduh tidak Islamik. Jika terlebih keMelayuan pula, keluarga dan rakan-rakan Cina yang lain menuduh kita sudah masuk Melayu, bukan masuk Islam.

Dilema inilah yang menyebabkan saya seringkali serba salah,” katanya bersyukur berjaya mengharunginya dengan adanya Persatuan Cina Muslim Malaysia (Macma). Pun begitu, tegas Johari Yap, 31, sebagai seorang saudara baru, dugaan dan cabaran yang timbul merupakan asam garam dalam menempuh hari-hari yang mendatang.

Beliau cuba berkongsi situasi genting yang dihadapinya acap kali tibanya sambutan Tahun Baru Cina di mana acara ‘makan besar’ bersama keluarga menjadi kemestian. Tambahan pula, kebiasaannya salah satu menu penting pada malam tersebut adalah daging khinzir.

“Tetapi jika tidak hadir, kesannya lebih besar seolah-olah saya cuba membelakangkan keluarga. Akhirnya saya tawakal dan menghadirinya. Pada malam itu, saya hanya menyentuh juadah berasaskan sayur-sayuran atau ulaman sahaja.

Alhamdulillah, apabila pakcik menyuruh saya menyembelih ayam kampung untuk dimasak, saya dapat mengagak bahawa keadaan akan berubah. “Sangkaan saya benar apabila pada majlis makan besar itu, tiada daging khinzir yang disajikan. Sama ada mereka menyorok ataupun langsung tidak ada, itu tidak penting. Yang pasti, mereka menghormati saya sebagai orang Islam.

“Selain itu, ada pula orang Islam yang memberikan nasihat seperti: “Kalau balik rumah, jangan minum air yang disediakan ibu kamu kerana bimbang gelas yang digunakan itu pernah diisikan dengan air arak”. Cuba bayangkan perasaan ibu apabila anak sudah tidak mahu minum air yang disediakannya hanya kerana berbeza agama. Kalau begitu, lebih baik tidak balik ke rumah, kalau akan menyakitkan hatinya.

“Sebenarnya, mereka yang memberikan nasihat-nasihat seperti ini, ramai berada di luar sana. Mungkin mereka yang memberikan nasihat ini tidak mempunyai saudara mara yang bukan Islam atau tidak mempunyai rakan-rakan yang bukan Islam. Mereka ini lebih mementingkan fikah berbanding uslub dakwah,” kata Johari Yap dalam balasan e-melnya kepada penulis.

Berkongsi pula kisah ‘penghijrahan’ akidahnya, cerita anak kepada pasangan Yap Beng Chui dan Goh Sa Huay, selama enam tahun bersekolah di SRK Wakaf Bharu, beliau tinggal dengan nenek yang beragama Kristian Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) yang mana daging khinzir adalah haram.

Sejak kecil, Johari Yap sudah tidak menjamah daging khinzir lagi. Manakala, ibu yang beragama Buddha dan bapa yang berfahaman Kristian, memberi pilihan kepadanya untuk memilih antara dua agama tersebut. “Apabila melanjutkan pelajaran ke tingkatan satu di Maktab Tentera Diraja (RMC) Sungai Besi, Kuala Lumpur pada 1988, saya mula belajar berpuasa walaupun untuk separuh hari demi menyahut cabaran seorang rakan. Saya berjaya berpuasa penuh sewaktu di tingkatan tiga walaupun banyak rintangan yang ditempuhi seperti latihan kawad dan ketenteraan.

“Tidak kurang juga cemuhan daripada rakan-rakan Muslim yang mengatakan saya membuang masa kerana tidak dapat pahala kecuali lapar dan dahaga. Walau bagaimanapun, saya hanya berpuasa di RMC, apabila pulang bercuti, saya tidak berkesempatan berpuasa,” katanya.

Penghayatan Islam semakin serius dengan galakan seorang rakan yang juga seorang Cina Muslim generasi ketiga, Zubir Lee Yew Weng. “Saya berjaya berpuasa penuh sebulan Ramadan pada 1992 semasa di tingkatan lima di RMC. Saya mengikuti Zubir Lee ke kampungnya di Kuching, Sarawak selama seminggu sempena Hari Raya Puasa. Di situlah, buat pertama kali saya diajar makan ikan menggunakan chopstick dan melihat cara hidup Cina Muslim di sana.

“Sebagai seorang Cina yang berasal dari kampung di Kelantan, makan dengan menggunakan tangan adalah satu kebiasaan dan bukan pelik untuk melihat orang Cina Kelantan tidak pandai menggunakan chopstick,” terang Johari Yap yang mendapat bimbingan secara tidak langsung daripada salah seorang guru di RMC, Hafizul Ong Abdullah.

Selepas Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), beliau melanjutkan pelajaran peringkat Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM) di Sekolah Menengah Chung Hwa, Kota Bharu. Sebaik tamat peperiksaan STPM, beliau ke Kuala Lumpur untuk membantu rakan, Zubir Lee yang membuka cawangan perniagaan bapanya di Kuala Lumpur pada 1995. Sewaktu di Kuala Lumpur, beliau mengambil kesempatan berkhatan biarpun masih belum berani bergelar Muslim.

Setahun kemudian, barulah beliau menyuarakan hasrat memeluk Islam. Tarikh 2 Mac 1996 adalah detik keramat dalam diari kehidupan Johari Yap kerana hari itulah beliau melafazkan syahadah di pejabat Jabatan Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan (Jawi). Beliau ditemankan Zubir Lee dan Brig. Jen. (B) Datuk Mohd Shukor, yang juga merupakan bekas pelajar RMC.

Akui Johari Yap lagi, boleh dikatakan minatnya terhadap Islam timbul apabila dapat merasai nikmat berpuasa lebih-lebih lagi dirinya adalah jenis orang yang tidak boleh menahan lapar.

Selepas bergelar Muslim, akuinya, perasaan gementar masih wujud kerana tidak pasti kemampuannya menjadi seorang Muslim yang baik. Persoalan yang sentiasa bermain di benaknya ketika itu ialah, “Bolehkah aku menunaikan sembahyang lima kali sehari sedangkan sejak 21 tahun lepas aku tidak pernah bersembahyang?"

Alhamdulillah dengan bimbingan ustaz-ustaz di Pertubuhan Kebajikan Islam Malaysia (Perkim) Wilayah Persekutuan ketika itu serta Ustaz Zainuddin dari Masjid Shah Alam, perasaan gementar itu hilang dan digantikan dengan perasaan tenang. Malah beliau juga bersyukur kerana menerima pendidikan Jawi sepanjang bersekolah rendah dan ini banyak membantu dalam pengajian al-Qurannya.

“Tiga minggu selepas pengislaman, saya telah bertemu Dr. Norsila Abdul Wahab di Hospital Seremban. Perkenalan itu berakhir ke jinjang pelamin. Kini kami dikurniakan sepasang anak yang masing-masing berumur 6 dan 3 tahun, Mikhael dan Misha. Isteri dan anak-anak adalah hadiah terbaik anugerah daripada Yang Maha Kuasa.

“Sebelum memeluk Islam, saya amat rapat dengan ibu. Keadaan menjadi agak renggang setelah saya memeluk Islam tetapi pulih setelah saya mendapat anak. Semuanya bermula sewaktu mengikuti isteri yang melanjutkan pelajaran di London.

“Kami kembali ke Kelantan pada 2002, Mikhael diajar untuk memanggil ‘Akong’ kepada datuknya dan ‘Ama’ pada neneknya. Cucu lelaki sulung inilah merupakan pengikat kepada hubungan anak dan ibu bapanya,” katanya.

Kini Mikhael bersekolah tadika di Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (Cina) Peir Chih, Kota Bharu.Sekarang, keadaan menjadi lebih baik kerana Islam menyuruh umatnya menghormati ibu walaupun berlainan agama. Beliau cuba memberikan kasih sayang kepada ibu bapa melebihi daripada sebelum memeluk Islam.

Beliau ingin menonjolkan nilai-nilai murni dalam Islam melalui contoh yang baik ataupun dakwah Bil-Hal. Malah isteri yang juga pensyarah Pergigian di Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Kampus Kesihatan, Kubang Kerian banyak membantu memahami sekali gus membina hubungan rapat dengan mentua.

Di samping itu, ibunya amat berhati-hati mengenai makanan sehinggakan akan mencari logo halal jika ingin membelikan makanan untuk cucu-cucunya apabila berkunjung ke rumah Johari Yap. Jarak rumahnya di Kampung Beris Kubur Besar, Bachok dengan rumah keluarga di Kampung Chabang Empat Tok Mek Ngah, Tumpat ialah kira-kira satu jam perjalanan.

Nasihatnya kepada saudara baru, hormatilah ibu bapa kandung. Sayangilah mereka sebagaimana mereka membesarkan kita.“Ibu bapa mana yang tidak sedih dengan pengislaman anak mereka. Terdapat kes di kampung saya di mana mereka yang memeluk Islam memutuskan hubungan sehingga berpuluh tahun lamanya dan ada juga yang terus menghilangkan diri.

Ada pula yang berasa jijik untuk pulang atau makan minum di rumah sedangkan di situlah dia membesar. “Ada pula menjadi terlebih ‘alim’ sehingga tidak mahu berbahasa Cina kerana itu adalah bahasa tidak Islamik berbanding dengan bahasa Arab ataupun Melayu.

Ini adalah contoh yang tidak sihat dan tidak membantu dalam usaha dakwah Islamiah kepada bangsa Cina. Jika bukan disebabkan oleh sebab-sebab itu, mungkin keluarga saya tidak menentang atau mereka sekadar sedih sahaja,” katanya yang turut aktif sebagai Ahli Majlis Kebangsaan Perkim, Perkim Kebangsaan, Setiausaha Kehormat Macma, Cawangan Kelantan dan ahli jawatankuasa (AJK) Unit Hal Ehwal Saudara Baru, Islamic Outreach ABIM Kelantan.

Kini, Johari Yap bercita-cita mempelajari bahasa Mandarin dan memberi kefahaman Islam kepada seramai mungkin orang Cina yang bukan Islam. Mereka tidak menentang Islam atau memusuhi Islam, cuma mereka kurang faham mengenai Islam. Bahasa Hokkien yang digunakan ini hanya digunakan di Kelantan sahaja.

“Saya menjadi ahli Perkim dan Macma sejurus memeluk Islam. Di dalam persatuan ini saya dapat ramai kenalan Cina Muslim untuk bertukar-tukar pendapat serta berkongsi masalah.

Saya banyak memberi kaunseling kepada mereka yang ingin memeluk Islam serta baru memeluk Islam. Hubungan sesama ahli Macma di Kelantan amat rapat dan pada 31 Ogos lalu, kami mengadakan program Hari Keluarga Macma di Pulau Perhentian yang melibatkan 85 ahli dan keluarga.

“Peristiwa paling manis ialah diberi tanggungjawab mengIslamkan seorang gadis Cina oleh Jabatan Hal Ehwal Agama Islam Kelantan pada Ramadan tahun ini.(2003)

Elsie Jian -Bidayuh Chinese Muslim

(Nur Athirah Elsie Jian sacrificed her job in the hotel industry just to learn more about islam after syahada at the age of 32. Coming from Sarawak, east Malaysia from a mixed chinese-native -Bidayuh may be-she also left christianity and firmly faced her family reaction. Alhamdulillah, she was helped by good teachers and friends, then met her future husband to complete her beautiful deen and life journey !)

NUR Athirah termenung panjang. Fikirannya menerawang mengingat kepada lima remaja Islam yang baru dilintasi tadi.

Entahlah, hatinya jadi tidak keharuan. Pelbagai perasaan silih berganti dalam sanubarinya. Ada rasa geram, marah dan sedih. Kadang-kadang dipujuk hatinya supaya banyakkan beristighfar dan mohon perlindungan Allah Yang Maha Pengasih Lagi Maha Penyayang. Namun, ada ketikanya, perasaan itu datang kembali.

Begitulah rintihan hati Nur Athirah Elsie Jian, 37, lebih-lebih lagi semenjak mengucap dua kalimah syahadah kira-kira lima tahun lalu. Bukan kehendak hatinya untuk menyinggung perasaan mana-mana pihak terutamanya mereka yang dilahirkan Muslim. Tetapi itulah hakikatnya.

Nur Athirah selalu bermonolog di dalam dirinya. Mengapa ini berlaku? Tidakkah mereka sedar perbuatan mereka memberi imej buruk kepada agama Islam? Tak takutkah mereka kepada Allah dan hari pembalasan? dan apa yang mampu aku lakukan, Ya Allah? Semuanya rentetan daripada sikap alpa serta mengambil kesempatan terhadap rahmat dan nikmat yang Allah kurniakan selama ini.

Sedangkan telah banyak dilihat daripada lipatan sejarah umat terdahulu tentang bala yang Allah turunkan akibat kemungkaran yang dilakukan. Lantaran itu, anak kelahiran Serian, Sarawak ini meletakkan syarat untuk tidak memeluk agama Islam selagi belum mengenali dan memahami agama tersebut.

Meskipun akui Nur Athirah, agama Islam bukanlah asing bagi dirinya kerana sebagai anak seorang anggota tentera, pergaulan dengan masyarakat Melayu Islam sedikit sebanyak mendedahkannya kepada agama anutan majoriti umat Islam di negara ini. Apatah lagi, beliau tidak mahu dituduh bergelar Muslim kerana hendak berkahwin atau pelbagai tohmahan yang lumrah dilemparkan kepada golongan mualaf.

Sebenarnya, Nur Athirah tertarik dengan agama Islam sejak dahulu tetapi pada masa yang sama beliau aktif dengan kerja-kerja di gereja sebagai pengikut setia agama Kristian. Sayangnya, mungkin tidak bertemu dengan orang yang dapat menerangkan tentang Islam secara tepat dan betul menyebabkan minatnya berkubur begitu sahaja. “Namun pada 2001 apabila mula berkenalan dengan suami, kami mula mengikuti kelas pengajian Islam di Pertubuhan Kebajikan Islam Malaysia (Perkim).

“Alhamdulillah, tidak sampai setahun segalanya jelas kini. Bagi saya, Islam itu cukup lengkap dan amat cantik. Yang merosakkan imej agama Islam ini adalah segelintir umat Islam yang tidak memahami dan menghayati seterusnya mempraktikkannya,” katanya.

Sebab itulah beliau sanggup melepaskan pekerjaan tetap dalam bidang perhotelan demi menumpukan sepenuh masa menimba ilmu fardu ain dan fardu kifayah. “Sekurang-kurangnya, dengan ilmu yang sedikit yang ada di dada dapat dikongsikan bersama keluarga dan masyarakat Islam,” cerita Nur Athirah semasa ditemui di Pusat Islam, Kuala Lumpur baru-baru ini.

Nur Athirah yang mendirikan rumah tangga dengan bapa tunggal beranak dua, Mohd. Ramli Jelani, 43, pada 2002 bersyukur diketemukan jodoh dengan pasangan hidup yang begitu memahami, sentiasa menyokong dan memberi restu untuknya menuntut ilmu. Di samping itu, keluarga mentua, teman-teman dan tenaga pengajar di kelas juga banyak membantu.

Malah katanya lagi, mereka pernah bersama-sama belajar agama di Perkim. Cuma apabila mula mengikuti kelas agama di Jabatan Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan (Jawi) di Pusat Islam, Nur Athirah lebih serius memandangkan dia sudah berhenti kerja.

Dr.Yulduz Emiloglu : Malaysian Chinese Uighur Muslim

WHEN Taiwanese-born writer Yulduz Emiloglu was a child, her father Abdullah Emiloglu instilled in her the need to help others.

Abdullah, a former Taiwan legislator and professor in Central Asian history, told Yulduz, the eldest, and his other three daughters, to become medical doctors specialising in different areas so that they could collectively open a medical centre to provide treatment to the poor and needy.

As it turned out, none of them became doctors, but Yulduz has held dear to her father's dream and she now helps people in different ways – through seminars and her everyday life.

'My father once told me that in the eyes of Allah, the world only has good or bad people so we should be good to others. This is the most important thing.' — Yulduz Emiloglu

“My father always says that I am a very blessed person as my parents are still alive, I have a lovely husband and three filial and devoted children. Allah is very kind to me so I should contribute to the society,” she said.

Yulduz, who is married to Malaysian businessman Javet Tay Yee Wet, moved to a small village in Semerah, Batu Pahat, about 30 years ago.

Due to her status, she could not work then so she contributed articles to Chinese newspapers and read to the blind.

Her articles were well received and soon she was writing on social and family issues in major Chinese newspapers.

Today, she is acknowledged as a prominent writer, columnist and speaker in Malaysia.

“In the early years, I gave seminars on the relationship between father and daughter as many Chinese fathers still prefer sons to daughters. I hoped to change their mindset and improve their relationships,” she said.

Yulduz said she was able to use her father’s experience of raising an all-girl family.

“My father once told me that in the eyes of Allah, the world only has good or bad people so we should be good to others. This is the most important thing,” said Yulduz.

Later on, Yulduz, who has written several Chinese school textbooks, also conducted seminars on social, youth and family issues based on her 10 years’ experience running her five Yulduz Educational Care Centres in the Klang Valley. She set up the centres to help look after children whose mothers have to work during the day

“I like children and I like to spend time and read stories to them. I have looked after thousands of children during the past 10 years, so usually the seminars will be based on my experiences with the children.”

When youths go astray, she said, it is not solely because of the individual, but often because of family reasons and the environment.

As Yulduz is well recognised and highly respected in the Chinese community, she often gets calls from depressed people, who seek her help.

“Once there was a woman who called me up at home while I was preparing my dinner. I felt bad cutting her off as she was crying so I continued to cook while talking to her,” she said.

She was still talking to the woman when members of her family started to eat, she said.

“For me, the most important thing is to be able to help the people. Most of the time, they just need someone to listen,” she said, adding that she would then refer the cases to her friends, who are trained counsellors.

Her appointment to the Wanita MCA central committee came with the responsibility of helping single mothers and promoting family values.

“My 87-year-old father has a big influence in my life. My father told me that the happiest thing in the world is to be able to help the needy. So by joining the party, I believe that I am able to help more people.

“My father always told me that Allah has given everyone a mission. So after we take care of ourselves as well as our families, we should serve our community,” said Yulduz, who is currently teaching Malaysia Chinese Literature at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman.

Yulduz, who has a doctorate in Malay literature from Universiti Malaya, was approached by several political parties before she decided to join MCA last August.

“At that time, I still did not know what I could do for the party and the people, and I was not ready to bear the responsibility due to my family commitments.

“But now my children have grown up so I can devote my time to society. Besides that Datuk Dr Ng (Yen Yen) is very sincere and she has a heart to help the people. I hope that within these three years, I can contribute in educating the women, youth and children,” she said.

However, her decision to join the MCA drew two extreme responses from her friends.

“Some friends said I should not join any political party. They think a scholar should not get involved in politics, as they will not be objective on certain issues.

“But another group of friends was very happy that I joined a political party. They think I am able to help more people through the network of the party,” she said.

“Politics is everybody’s business. We are involved in politics every day but the difference is whether you are a member of a political party or not.”

Yulduz has travelled extensively throughout the country in the past 30 years to conduct her seminars, including to many villages most Malaysians have never heard of.

“I found a lot of interesting people and places. At the beginning, some Taiwanese friends wondered how someone who comes from a rich family in Taipeh could stay in this country for over three years. Now I have been here for over 30 years and I still enjoy discovering every little thing in this beautiful country,” she said.

Yulduz has published a book titled The Beauty of Malaysia, which is a compilation of her articles in China Press. The book will be in major bookstores soon.

“I chose the picture of Ubudiah Mosque in Kuala Kangsar for the cover of my book as I fell in love with the design of the mosque and its surroundings when I visited the town with my family 20 years ago,” she said.

Has the 55-year-old scholar ever decided to retire from writing as well as her social work?

“It has never crossed my mind. I will continue to do my work and serve the community if I still have the ability.

“Like what my father says, to be able to help others is the happiest thing in the world. Why should I give it up?” she said.