Almost two weeks of Raya visitings, blissful days spent with beloved family and friends, and this Raya might be one of the memories you won't ever forget!

Why not share with us ur Raya memories and the beauty of this festive month??

Send in your photos, especially photos with these themes:

1- My 1st Raya : Post photos of your 1st hari Raya as newlyweds/ with a new sibling/ in a different country and many more!

2- Kenangan Raya : Post photos of Hari Raya in the past! How did you parents/ grandparents/ family members celebrate Hari Raya in the 60s?

3- My Hari Raya Overseas : Post photos of your celebrating Hari Raya away from Singapore!

Send in your photos with a short paragraph to explain why you chose the moment as special to you!

 

Email them to : norainah@screenbox.com.sg before 24th October! :))

Aidilfitri, is meant to be a day for rejoicing to celebrate our achievement at completing our fast. However, in our eagerness to make it such a special day, many of us fail to appreciate and capture its true significance. Instead of celebrating the event in moderation and with modesty, we often go overboard, turning it into a day of fiesta when we overindulge ourselves, spend beyond our means and attempt to showcase our success/ wealth to others (with many doing it under false pretense…) 

It is for this very reason that we find ourselves exploited by commercial companies eager to make money and earn high profits. Just turn on the radio especially as Syawal approaches and you will hear jingle that runs along these lines………… “ Perabut buruk?? Almari usang?? Carpet yang perlu diganti???... Tapi Tiada wang tunai....Jangan Bimbang....   Tawaran Istimewa sempena Hari Raya…. Ambil dulu bayar kemudian... sila hadir di showroom kami di......”.  Such advertisements are not only encouraging the culture of spending beyond your means, but are also misleading because they deliberately fail to warn the audience of a possible trap…  that the payment will be expected very soon after and that the interest rate can be very high. Another trap that customers are often unaware of is that as soon as they are unable to pay up the installments for these items, it will be repossessed and the customer runs the risk of being declared a bankrupt. (a very common phenomenon indeed)

A quick check will also reveal that such advertising gimmicks spread through our mass media are most rampant during the fasting month. Turn on the television and you will also be bombarded by a myriad of advertisements ranging from clothing and accessories to ones promoting car sales or encouraging customers to renovate their house for the “Hari Raya”. Go to most public places and you will be greeted by billboards with pictures/ animation enticing customers to purchase items and clothing for Hari Raya (often at “discounted prices” and with “easy” terms of payments).   

And of course, TV audience remains the prime and favourite target of commercial companies. A discerning viewer would have noticed that the more exciting and interesting Malay programmes are often shown in the evenings during Ramadan, especially between the

8 pm to 10.30 pm timeslot. It is obvious too that during this “special” time slot, the audience would be heavily exposed to a wide range of commercials (usually shown during the breaks) to encourage them to spend more for the festive season. (It may thus be fair to assume that is the “peak” period for advertisers and sponsors).  

So what is the end result ?? ( other than the fact that perhaps such “attractive” shows may have contributed to a reduced number of jemaah for solat terawih..). I think it is fair to say that as a result, there had been cases of audience who are naïve enough to be taken in by the commercial gimmicks and ended up getting “burnt”. It is not a common sight for us to see new furniture, new dining tables, new curtains or new television set as well as new clothes worn by many of our hosts during Hari Raya visits?? We probably know that some of these people cannot afford such luxuries and would also realize that they are only using these items on “borrowed times”.

What are we to do then and is there a remedy in sight.? The future appears to be bleak looking at further evidence. The constant jingles on the radio and advertisements on television are now reinforced by posters at bus stops and MRT stations. Even the public transport is not spared as advertisements are displayed on TV panels as well as at the back of public buses. 

Commercialism, it seems, has even invaded our common practices (“adat”) and tradition for Hari Raya. “Duit raya” which started as a gift or sedekah from very well to do families for children visiting them is now something that is “compulsory” regardless of the economic status of the hosts. Also, while children used to be presented with coins ranging from ten cents to one dollar, it is now handed in green packets (which in turn often carries the logo of commercial companies (again advertisements)  or had to be purchased at an average rate of a dollar per packet…..  pakai duit lagi…).   

Even the rate of “duit raya” itself has gone up. Nowadays if a person tries to be frugal and hands out one dollar coins to children visiting his house during the festive season, he will probably be frowned upon… not only by the child but perhaps also by the parents.  Furthermore, if he is of a certain economic status (especially professionals such as lawyers, businessman, engineers, even teachers) and “dare” to insert  “only two dollars” in each packet.…. he runs the risk of “losing face” and be labelled “kedekut” by his “visitors”. But what many fail to realize is, $ 2 multiply by an average of 300 relatives, clients’ and friends’ children (and for the much maligned teachers maybe an additional 100  of their Muslim students) is a hell lot of money and could come in very handy for emergencies .  But in this frenzy mood of Hari Raya, logic takes a back seat while commercialism takes over and people  become caught up by the culture “Spend now , Worry later ”…… a truly worrying trend.  

I am unable to cover many other aspects of this issue in this short article but I would like invite you my brothers and sisters to give your inputs and share your experience on how this “commercialization” of Aidilfitri have impacted your life and that of your loved ones. Assalamu’alaikum

Khazm- Invoke Writer

During the three-days RYC Camp, participants had a ball of a time learning the relevance of kitab Al-Quran in their lives

 

Dalam bulan Ramadhan yang mulia ini, everyone is saying ‘let’s take this time to do good deeds. It’s a month to start over and become a better Muslim so let’s do it!’ It’s really easy to say, but hard to do when you’re a typical stuck in-between loving dunia while also trying to mengejar akhirat youth like me. Many questions popped into my head, ‘where, what, how?’

 

So it was fortunate that during the Ramadan Youth Challenge Camp finale on 7 September, I learnt of similar (and way younger) youths who are just like me. The difference – they had the courage to participate in the camp, to contribute in one way or another. They took the step forward, I did not (well besides the fact that I was way too old/work commitments…I know, excuses) And well, if I did learn a lot just by being there a few hours, I’m pretty sure I missed out a lot on what the participants had learnt during the three-days camp. So here go my questions for the floor:

 

INVOKE: Why did you join this camp? Did your parents ask you to?

HANIF: Tak. Sendiri nak join. (Nota Pendek: He’s only 10!)

NURULHUDA: I graduated from part-time madrasah in 2004 so this camp is like a good refreshment for me. Plus, I made new friends here.

 

INVOKE: What did you like about the camp?

HANIF: Rock-climbing.

 

.....more at http://invoke.sg

YDO YDO YDO

Who art thou?

 

No, this is not a lesson on Shakespeare or theatres, but an attempt to appreciate the People Behind the Scenes. With the buzz on Ramadan Youth Challenge this noble month, and Cakap Pasal Remaja, the monthly infotainment sharing sessions since early this year, and ok, ok, let’s have a short list of youth events organized so far : MySpex, NightCyclings, Archery trips, camps, visits to neighbouring countries. Hmm, we cannot help but wonder who are the people behind the scenes~

 

Stationed in different mosques with unique niches, these charismatic young leaders separated by distance around the island, are nevertheless united in their aim and dreams.

With the drive to engage young Muslims to the mosques and organizing activities close to young hearts, these leaders are equipped with the knowledge, skills and ability to touch people.

 

What would we do without you YDO? Oh by the way, YDO stands for Youth Development Officer. So the next time, you go to a neighbourhood mosque, and looking for someone to chat with, just ask for the YDO. Really, it’s a ‘magic’ word.

 

*not in picture: Ustaz Sofyan Yadi, Ustaz Aminuddin, Ustaz Faisal, Ustaz Nuzhan, Ustaz Hafiz

What can one expect when attending the launch of Ramadhan Youth Challenge 2008?

Berikut tertera perkara-perkara yang tentu Tidak Akan (sekali-dua kali-berkali-kali!) anda Jangka:

(a)   Didicazli going down on his knees (literally!) serenading to a makcik.

(b)   Ustaz Taufik mencabar Didicazli to compose a love song for men (challenge testosterone level ke?)

(c)   Didicazli doing dikir barat with Kelana Purba

(d)   Presence of 130 Mat-Motor-in-Black in full force (steady la. tabik respect!)

(e)   Ustaz Taufik and Taufik Batisah are related!

(f)     AJ. Didicazli did the AJ. Mat-Motor-in-Black did the AJ. When’s your turn?

When the event started, I had my misgivings on the hosts’ chemistry: Shahrin and Ustaz Taufik. Plus, setting kat mosque. So, mesti semua very proper-proper kind, maybe sedated? Eh but my doubts were unfounded! They were spontaneous and at times, kelakar-seram pun ada. I was so relieved when I saw the exhibits available. Defilnitey not the typical exhibits with pamphlets what have you. They had Quran exhibits. Now before you groan. Lemme give you this. They had Ancient (and we’re talking 1661) Qurans from Indonesia, Istanbul and Singapore. AND they ARE Handwritten. So there you have it, the first handwritten Quran in Singapore, which took 2 years to complete it. Can you imagine, we take 2 years to complete our JC education? Effort beb.

The best part was yet to come - the performance bit! Kelana Purba was solid. And you certainly Won’t miss Didicazli amidst the whole bright pink and purple-clad group. Hee2. Macam matching je bang colour dengan belon. After the whole Didicazli doing the dikir barat and yes, Singapore talent amacam multi-faceted, no? – we had Didicazli do what he does best. Love songs la. Macam magic... more and more gurls AND makciks suddenly crowded round. Didicazli actually went down to the audience and serenaded to one very lucky makcik. Lepas tu, macam magic jugak makcik tu disappear when Shahrin wanted to interview her.

Oh pasal how Ustaz Taufik and Taufiz Batisah are related. In name only la. Heh. And no worries, about Ustaz Taufik’s challenge to Didicazli to compose a love song for men – it’s about brotherhood love. And last I heard to quote, Didicazli masih dlm ‘perjalanan yang lurus’.

So when’s your turn to do the AJ? The Amal Jariah. Eheheh.

And don’t say I didn’t tell ya there’s a whole list of FUN ways to do it – go easy and choose from the RYC’08 programmes!

 

from http://invoke.sg

Ramadan Youth Challenge is back!!

Holding on to the theme Al-Qur'an: Our Life Manual.

This year, it promises more exciting activities and community services, participated by more than a 1000 Muslim youth islandwide. such as RYC camp held almost at the same time by some 17 mosques on the first week of Ramadan.

Expect to receive messages from God....eh...smses from your RYC mates via hp! :) and spread them more to Muslims in Singapore (overseas also can~~)

Cakap Pasal Remaja team will also join in the RYC wagon and have a special talk in one the days.

We will update you more on RYC and in the mean time, start to warm up peeps. Prepare for the coming Ramadan, not only physically but mentally and spiritually.

To peeps out there, you don't want to miss this RYC!

 

A skin competition for budding and professional web designers!

invoke.sg is yearning for a new look, and everybody else is excited to welcome a fresh, vibrant and youthful look!

invoke.sg serves the youth, therefore we want you(th) to design for us.

send in your designs to affini@screenbox.com.sg!

Father’s Day has just passed us by and in stark contrast to Mother’s Day a month back, this time around there was no celebration in a rah-rah fashion or even a celebration at all. I didn’t even buy my dad a present, save for the souvenir shirt I bought for him when I was overseas recently. Pardon me, it’s not that I love my dad any less, it’s just that well, with my Mum being a full time doting housewife, it’s just that I felt well, she deserved to have her Mother’s Day celebrated more. Therein lies the dilemma I believe all children face – why do we care to show our love more to our mums than our dads. Here, I shall raise two points I believe why we tend to tell Mama we love her (sings to the tune of Spice Girls ‘Mama I love you, Mama I care’) 

Firstly, being brought up in a generation where we were taught to believe our fathers are the sole breadwinners of the family, the guy who fixes everything that’s broken in the house except broken bones/hearts, that is – our unsung hero. As Islam also teaches us, our fathers are the pillars of the household, the man of the house who ensures that we, as a family, are brought to the correct path to Allah SWT insyallah. As someone who is the head of the family – the one who is wajib not only to provide shelter and protection but also teaches the family hukum hukum agama Islam and other regulations He is in short, THE MAN so to show any emotions or love towards him would be so unmanly, so demeaning (a.k.a weak) to his ‘manly’ status so tak payah la, he well, he should know we children love him (because we do) even though we don’t have to shout it out loud to him, right?

Secondly, growing up, our father is not just The Man of the house but is also the discipline master of the house. So if we children ever steps out of line…*cringes* you get the idea. Then again, someone’s gotta do it right so why not Dad? It’s not that they love us differently or any lesser – we children still remain the apple of their eyes no matter what and we children know that they will continue loving us above all. I guessed it’s just the way they expressed their love to us differently that makes us children more inclined to celebrate either Mother’s Day or Father’s Day with more or less hype – depending who’s less likely to instill that “fear” in us, right? Then again, I know of fathers who hardly raise his voice at his kids no matter how out of line the latter can be and I’m proud to say these fathers (increasingly) really do exist.

What about those fathers who as ‘pillars of the households’ crumbles or disappears altogether or at some point from his child’s life especially of those with broken families? Do we just dismissed them as ‘failures’ and for not being there for us and not even giving us nafkah zahir atau batin, or both? Do we remain angry at them just because their weaknesses ‘ruin’ our lives and our mothers? Do these so-called fathers deserve to have their father’s day celebrated – or to a far extent, fit to be called our ‘fathers’? What do you think? Share with us stories of your dad and you. Insyallah, it’ll be a much beautiful tale to tell than mine.