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Leadership begins from within: A heartfelt guide for Muslim changemakers in Singapore

Introduction: The Muslim Changemaker’s Challenge As changemakers in Singapore’s diverse society, we face the unique challenge of revitalizing Islamic faith while contributing positively to our multi-racial and multi-religious nation. The recent Friday sermon from Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS) titled “Leadership Begins from Within” offers profound wisdom for those of us striving to be agents … Read more

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Lessons from Today’s Friday Sermon for Muslim Activists

Reflections on “Attaining Divine Assistance Through Serving Others” – Friday Sermon, 15 August 2025 The Reality Check I Didn’t Know I Needed Here’s the thing about being a changemaker – everyone expects you to have it all figured out. You’re supposed to be the perfect Muslim (five prayers, check), the model citizen (contributing to racial … Read more

Superalloys, Careers and Activism

Introduction Alloying is the art of mixing metals to create a material with specific desired properties. Mixed in the precisely right proportions, the resulting material can be of better quality than the sum of the individual components. An example from the field of aeronautical engineering: nickel-based aluminium superalloys, used to make super-efficient jet engines in … Read more

Of Toes and Blessings

There was once I met with a minor but freak accident on an escalator in Bedok. As a result, the big toe on my right foot received 5 stitches and I went to work for the next 7 days in sandals. As it turned out, the incident and the entire process of recovery was a … Read more

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Running as a Scaffold for Developing Habits

For some years now, running 5 km regularly has been a milestone that has eluded me. I have theorised on the many reasons: my regular once-a-fortnight running route is usually only 4.4 km, my brain is not yet geared to prime my body to run for 30 minutes, my children’s voice pops into my head … Read more

8 Lessons from the Tragedy in Gaza

Prelude We have seen in the past 8 weeks via news channels and social media how 20 000 Palestinians have been killed, and 1.7 million of them have been displaced and lost nearly everything that they had. We saw heart-wrenching images: a 9-year-old brother reading syahada to his dying 5-year-old brother; the targeted killing of … Read more

A Moment With Allah

A moment with AllahSends surges of passionate emotionsThe feeling of great repentanceFrom the deeds known and unknownFrom the past and present moment. A moment with AllahBrings the spirit up highYearning to meet HIMLonging for HIS greatest love and empathyStriving to be the intended good self HE wants us to be. A moment with AllahCreates overabundance … Read more