Critical Thoughts

I have to admit that the Sukuk Simpanan Rakyat currently being issued by Bank Negara Malaysia has really caught my interest. According to the press release:

Ministry of Finance wishes to announce the issuance of Sukuk Simpanan Rakyat 01/2009 amounting to RM2.5 billion on 14 May 2009. This is the first issue of the two series of 3-year RM2.5 billion sukuk each in 2009. Bank Negara Malaysia has been appointed to issue the sukuk on behalf of the Government.

The sukuk, which will be scripless and based on Shariah principles, is an additional investment instrument for Malaysian citizens who are 21 years and above. The RM2.5 billion sukuk, which has a 3-year tenure, offers a return of 5% per annum and provides the flexibility for early redemption before the maturity date.

Those wishing to subscribe may apply for Sukuk Simpanan Rakyat 01/2009 during the sales period, commencing from 14 April to 13 May 2009.

I think I will dump around RM3,000.00 for the purpose of the Sukuk as a long-term investment. I have already downloaded and printed out the application form and I plan to apply for the Sukuk at Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN). For Malaysians who are interested in applying for the Sukuk Simpanan Rakyat, you can download the form (in .pdf format) at this link.

Sometimes I come across the most weirdest of polemics ever when it comes to attacks on Muslims and Islam on the Internet. Recently I came across a ridiculous assertion regarding the salaah (Islamic prayer). An Islamophobe stated the following:

I have worked with enough muslims to know that time is taken out of their working day for prayers, As do you. And as such this activity will reduce their productivity. it’s common sense and a factual reality, Don’t embarrass yourself by denying it.

I really don’t think that this person knows what he/she is talking about. I pointed out that during the standard working hours , which is between 8am – 5pm (taking the Malaysian working hours here, I suppose it varies by country), there are only two prayers out of the five that Muslims are supposed to perform. Each do not usually take more than 5 – 6 minutes. How is that going to have any impact on productivity, I asked?

The person then made up a convenient “cover” to get away from his misadventure:

It doesn’t matter how much time they have off, on their knees, wailing to some imaginary god[...]it’s a mathematical fact that working for 7 hours will produce less than working for 8 hours.

Yes, its confirmed. He/she is an Islamophobic atheist. How misinformed this person truly is to say that Muslims “wail” in their prayers! And apparently this guy does not know maths either because even if we total up the amount of time needed to do the prayers, it takes only a fraction of that “one hour” he/she is bitching about.

This is probably one of the few times you will see me appear in a tuxedo in public. After all, how many times have you seen a Muslim blogger and self-confessed Islamist in a western suit?

Now if anyone thinks he (or she) can get away with calling me a “Taliban”, “towel-head”, “sand-nigger” or any derogative remarks that one is bound to hear from a bigoted, regressive and backwards-looking Islamophobe, all I have to do is sit back and laugh while I swagger in my new tuxedo outfit. By the way, the full suit costs RM950 in total, so what was that again I hear about yours truly being “unemployed”?

One certainly cannot claim that there are no suitable clothing for Muslim women as this Islamic clothing online store provides various kinds of Muslim clothes for women, more evident in the modern designs of the Abaya as well as the Muslim veil, Jilbab AND Jelbab. Now not only does one is able to fulfill their religious obligation to cover their hair, they are also available to look their best with a great-looking and beautiful modern design. By visiting this online store, various requirements for your Muslim fashion needs can be fulfilled, and the existence of such providers of good Muslim clothes in Asia and in Europe shows that they believe in the viability of offering products catered to a Muslim market.

It is evident that every day, the requirement for Muslim clothes will always increase. Such clothes can be worn for all kinds of occasions, such as the Formal Dress/Gown for official agendas or if one is in the office. There are also all kinds of Caftan/Kaftan which I find very attractive for wearing, and there is certainly a wide range of styles for one to choose from in accordance with female tastes in contemporary times. Also, various female clothes with nice embroidery are available with several Caftan/Tunic & Blouse products. Do check out Desert Store for your various personal requirements and your family’s Islamic needs.

The Taliban were an Afghan student movement (from Arabic “at-taalibun“, plural for”students”) who rode on populist support and overthrew the mujahideen government at the time who were fighting among themselves and causing divisions in the country. Once the Taliban came to power, they implemented the Shariah and united the various provinces in the country, except for the northern regions. Because of their policies of upholding Islamic laws and their defiance against the “norm”, such as destroying the Bamiyan Buddha statues, they were regarded as “fanatics” and “lunatics”. Such is the stigma associated with the Taliban that even the Islamic movement is not spared from being labelled “another Taliban”, which is rather ironic since such movements mostly stem from the Ikhwaan al-Muslimun in Egypt and are closer to them ideologically, not the Taliban’s. This blogger was himself branded a “Taliban” several times around 2002 – 2003, when the issue was still hot, and even more recently in 2008.

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