Kempen Let's Read The Quran (LRTQ) 2016

Kempen “Let’s Read The Quran (LRTQ) 2016”

Dari 1 Mac hingga 31 Mac 2016

Versi Bahasa Inggeris

LATARBELAKANG

Kempen Let’s Read The Quran telah dimulakan pada tahun 2009 oleh sekumpulan rakan. Ketika kempen itu dijalankan, kami telah menerima pelbagai tarikan dan penyertaan di mana lebih daripada 50 penulis blog telah menggunakan logo dan artikel-artikel kami.

Kempen ini adalah untuk menggalakkan orang ramai untuk membaca Al-Quran di dalam bahasa yang difahami. Ia bukanlah terhad kepada orang Islam sahaja. Kami menggalakkan sesiapa sahaja untuk menyertai kempen ini.

Pada 2016, kami ingin meluaskan lagi kempen ini. Kami telah menyenaraikan pelbagai aktiviti untuk menarik minat orang ramai untuk membaca Al-Quran. Walaupun ia berpusat di Malaysia, kami merancang untuk meluaskan kempen ini di peringkat antarabangsa.

Visi kami adalah untuk membuat kempen ini sebagai kempen tahunan dan akan membuat orang Islam dan orang lain untuk membaca dan memahami Al-Quran.

Walaupun rakyat Malaysia sentiasa menganjurkan pertandingan Tilawah Al-Quran, kami berharap Malaysia akan menjadi ketua dalam menggalakkan seluruh dunia untuk memahami dan menghayati Al-Quran juga.

VISI

Untuk menggalakan  orang ramai membaca dan memahami Al-Quran

MISI / KENAPA?

1.    Untuk mendemokrasikan Al-Quran

2.    Untuk menggalakkan orang yang beragama Islam mempelajari Al-Quran

3.  Untuk menggalakkan orang yang bukan beragama Islam untuk melihat Al-Quran sebagai sebuah buku yang universal

4.   Untuk menggalakkan orang yang beragama Islam menerapkan nilai-nilai yang terkandung di dalam Al-Quran dalam kehidupan seharian mereka

5.   Untuk menggalakkan orang ramai untuk membaca Al-Quran setiap hari, walaupun satu ayat setiap hari

6.  Untuk mengajak orang yang bukan beragama Islam untuk menyertai orang Islam berbincang tentang Al-Quran.

BILAKAH KEMPEN INI AKAN BERMULA DAN BERAKHIR?

1 Mac 2016 – 31 Mac 2016

SIAPAKAH YANG TELAH MERASMIKAN MAJLIS INI?

YABhg. Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad

BAGAIMANA?

Berikut adalah beberapa aktiviti yang akan dijalankan ketika kempen ini:

1.    Melalui media sosial seperti Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, dll

2.    Perkongsian artikel melalui blog

3.    31 poster daripada 31 individu yang terkenal seperti ahli politik, aktivis sosial, selebriti, atlet, ketua perniagaan dan ketua agama, termasuk orang yang bukan beragama Islam

4.    “Sedekah” ayat Al-Quran melalui Whatsapp dan media sosial

5.    Menggalakkan semua orang untuk berkongsi ayat Al-Quran kegemaran mereka

Berikut adalah beberapa aktiviti sokongan ketika kempen ini:

1.    Memuatnaikkan poster bersama ayat Al-Quran di media sosial

2.    Berkongsi Indeks Al-Quran bersama keluarga dan rakan-rakan

3.    Memuatnaikkan maksud ayat Al-Quran di Facebook

4.    Berbincang mengenai Al-Quran melalui kumpulan perbincangan

5.    Membuat forum atas talian untuk berbincang mengenai Al-Quran

6.    Mencetak kad ayat Al-Quran yang berwarna-warni

7.    Mencipta penanda buku ayat Al-Quran

8.    Memasukkan satu ayat Al-Quran setiap hari di media sosial

9.    Memasukkan gambar di Instagram bersama ayat Al-Quran dan penghuraiannya

10. Menulis, memasukkan dan berkongsi ayat-ayat Al-Quran atau artikel-artikel yang pendek; artikel yang asal dan artikel yang telah dibaca

11. Bertanya soalan mengenai mesej-mesej yang terkandung di dalam Al-Quran, berfikir secara mendalam dan menyuarakan fikiran dan perasaan anda

12. Berbincang mengenai Al-Quran bersama rakan-rakan dan kenalan melalui kumpulan perbincangan

13. Mencipta laman web untuk berbincang mengenai Al-Quran

14. Mereka pelekat ayat-ayat Al-Quran

SKOP KEMPEN

1.    Kempen yang dimulakan oleh rakyat Malaysia

2. Berdasarkan media sosial dengan orang ramai menggalakkan, berkongsi pendapat mengenai Al-Quran dan bagaimanakah cara-caranya untuk mengaplikasikan mesej-mesej Al-Quran di dalam kehidupan mereka

3.    Disasarkan kepada semua orang, tanpa mengira posisi

4. Hashtag #LRTQ2016 digunakan di Facebook, Twitter dan Instagram ketika kempen dijalankan

SIAPAKAH YANG BOLEH MENYERTAI KEMPEN INI?

Semua orang – lebih ramai, lebih baik!

LAMAN MEDIA SOSIAL

Facebook: 

https://www.facebook.com/letsreadthequranlrtq/

Instagram:

letsreadthequran

Twitter:

@LReadTheQuran

Blog:

www.letsreadthequranlrtq.blogspot.com

Sila gunakan hashtag #LRTQ2016!

Let's Read The Quran Campaign (LRTQ) 2016

Let’s Read The Quran 2016 Campaign

From 1^st March to 31^st March 2016

Bahasa version

BACKGROUND

The Let’s Read The Quran campaign was initiated in 2009 by a group of friends. We received good traction and participation during the campaign where more than 50 bloggers carried our logo and articles.

This campaign is to encourage people to read the Quran in a language they understand. It is not confined to Muslims. We encourage everyone to join this campaign.

In 2016, we want to bring the campaign to a larger audience and take it a notch higher. We are outlining many interesting activities to attract and excite people to read the Quran. While centered in Malaysia, we plan to make the campaign known internationally.

Our vision is to make this campaign an annual effort and after that, it will be a recognized campaign that will spur Muslims and others to read and understand the Quran.

While today Malaysia leads in the Tilawah Al-Quran competition, we hope Malaysia becomes a leader in encouraging the world to read, understand and appreciate the Quran at the grassroots, too.

VISION

To make the Quran read and understood.

MISSION / WHY?

1.    To democratize the Quran

2.    To make every Muslim a student of the Quran

3.    To encourage non-Muslims to look at the Quran as a universal document

4.    To bring the Quranic values closer to the day-to-day living of Muslims

5.    To encourage people to read the Quran daily, even if it is one verse per day

6.    To invite non-Muslims to join Muslims to discuss the Quran.

WHEN WILL THE CAMPAIGN START AND END?

 1^st March 2016 – 31^st March 2016.

WHO LAUNCHED THE CAMPAIGN?

YABhg Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad

HOW?

Here are the main activities during the campaign:

1.    Through social media such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.

2.    The sharing of articles through blogs

3.    31 posters of 31 well-known people such as politicians, social activists, celebrities, athletes, religious and business leaders including non-Muslims

4.    “Sedekah” a translated Quranic verse through Whatsapp and social media

5.    Encourage everybody to share their favourite Quranic verses

Here are the supporting activities during the campaign:

1.    Post posters with Quranic verses in social media

2.    Share Quran Indexes with friends and family

3.    Post the meaning of Quranic verses on Facebook

4.    Create discussion groups on Facebook

5.    Create online forums to discuss the Quran

6.    Print out colourful cards with Quranic verses

7.    Make bookmarks with Quranic verses

8.    Post a Quranic verse per day on social media

9.    Post pictures on Instagram with Quranic verses and explanations

10. Write, post, share Quranic verses or short articles; both original and articles you have read

11. Ask questions about the Quranic message, ponder, reflect and suggest your thoughts and feelings

12. Create discussion groups to discuss the Quran with friends and acquaintances

13. Create websites to discuss the Quran

14. Create stickers with Quranic verses

SCOPE OF THE CAMPAIGN

1.    A Malaysian initiated campaign.

2.    Based on social media with people encouraging, sharing their opinions of the Quran and how can the Quran be applied in their daily lives.

3.    Targeted at all levels right down to the lay people.

4.    A hashtag #LRTQ2016 to be used on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram during the campaign period.

WHO CAN JOIN?

    Everyone – the more the merrier!

SOCIAL MEDIA SITES

Facebook: 

https://www.facebook.com/letsreadthequranlrtq/

Instagram:

letsreadthequran

Twitter:

@LReadTheQuran

Blog:

www.letsreadthequranlrtq.blogspot.com

Please hashtag #LRTQ2016!

Have A Meaningful Chinese New Year - Thursday in The STAR

"Moderates in this nation have to continue to speak up more strongly to retain a moderate and constitutional nation," Tan Sri Yuen Yuet Leng (1927 - 2015)

Let us be Moderate:

 Let’s practise diversity and inclusion

In our Christmas message, we elaborated the seventh point of the Ten Principles for a Moderate Malaysian. For Chinese New Year, we would like to share the eighth principle. Do look forward to the upcoming two.

Principle Number Eight.

I will embrace and practise diversity and inclusion. I will believe with all my heart that diversity is one of God’s greatest signs and gifts.

1.   What is diversity and inclusion (D&I)?

When we practise diversity, we consciously decide to respect and appreciate the differences in ethnicity, gender, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, education and religion. When we practise inclusion, we consciously focus on the needs of every individual and ensure that the right conditions are in place for each person to achieve his or her full potential.

    2.  Why is diversity and inclusion important?

   When we practise diversity and inclusion, we ensure that all individuals are treated fairly and respectfully, have equal access to opportunities and resources, and can contribute fully. We allow for positive differences to exist and be appreciated. Rather than being intimidated or prejudices by those differences, we encourage people to accept the fact that there are diverse interests, diverse values, and diverse physical and emotional characteristics present in the world. This will create an environment that brings out innovation, creativity and productivity.

3.   How can moderate Malaysians add value through D&I?

    Moderate Malaysians practise diversity and foster inclusion. They understand that D&I is the key to building an innovative and productive nation. They respect, welcome and treat others as how they expect to be treated. With D&I as part and parcel of their way of life, moderate Malaysians apply it as a tool to bring forth the best in the nation; both socially and economically.

Dear Malaysian Leaders (business, government, social, education and politics), - Monday in The STAR

“What gets measured gets improved”

-       Peter Drucker

Re: Let’s agree on what is and what is not performance.

Let us be candid. 2016 will be a really challenging year. We have to step up our act. There are many things to do. First, we need to identify the one action that when done right, will give a major impact.

I suggest we focus on PERFORMANCE.

1.     Many Malaysians have a twisted idea about performance. The majority who perform at a mediocre level perceive themselves as excellent performers. They rate themselves as Excellent Performers (A/5) when they clock in at 9 and go back at 5. This is performing as expected. In reality however, most would at best be performing at a C minus level.

2.     We are a nation who lies to each other. Superiors evade managing tensions and stay away from unpleasant conversations. They avoid taking tough actions to manage performance and subordinates’ weaknesses are not communicated and corrected. Many sugar coat poor performances simply because they want to be seen as nice bosses.

3.      We give bonuses to almost everyone each year, making everybody believe that they walked the extra mile for performance. To be nice, we distort reality. We created a workforce that simply does not know how to self-analyze. A workforce where the idea of self and reality is as far apart as Kangar is to Kota Kinabalu. This distortion is even more serious within the younger workforce, namely the Generation Y.

As leaders, our duty is to fix this. We must establish yardsticks and communicate them to our people. Clarity of goals and its measurements are crucial factors that determine the performance of the organization and every worker in it.

We at Zubedy have drawn a simple and easy to understand description of what is and what is not performance. We would like to share it with you as we have done to many of our clients.

What is considered as Excellent Performance (Rating A/5)

• You perform work extraordinarily well and you stand above the rest of your peers.
• The next person is too far away from you. 
• You are like the Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, P Ramlee, Nicol David, Lionel Messi, Michael Schumacher or Michael Jackson of your work.
• You finish the job well before the deadline.
• A good example is like in a marathon, you are the first few who broke away and leave behind the thousands to finish first.

What is considered as Above Average Performance (Rating B/4)

• You perform more than 100%, but not that extraordinary yet.
• You can teach or coach people, you know how to do it.
• Your quality and performance is higher than the rest of your peers.
• Your superior relies on you and does not see a need to monitor you.
• You finish the job given before the deadline.

What is considered as Performing as Expected (Rating C/3)?

• You perform at 100%.
• You fulfil the need of the job on your own without the need for supervision.
• Your superior does not need to chase after you or monitor you.
• You finish the job on time at the quality required.
• The moment he has to chase you or show you how to do it, you are no longer a C performer.  You are at best a C minus.

What is considered as Performing Below Average (Rating D/2)

• You perform at or below 99%.
• You need to be supervised and trained for the job that is expected of you.
• You need to upgrade your knowledge, skills and abilities.
• You often fall short of the desired result.
• Your superior has to chase you and monitor you.
• You do not finish the job on time.

What is considered as Poor Performance (Rating E/1)?

• You have not performed 50% of your job.
• You do not have the basic knowledge, skills and abilities to do your job.
• You are perhaps new to the job, learning and unable to deliver what is required.
• You do not finish the job.
• You require training, re-training and specific supervision.
• You are likely to have an attitude issue if your performance is consistently at this level.

We have been selling the idea of correcting performance to our customers via our Making A Difference (MAD)*, Managing Across Generation (MAG)* and Managing For Performance (MFP)* programs. But, this is a national concern. To move Malaysia forward, we need to re-calibrate performance in all spheres, all organizations, be it in the business, government, social, education and political.

Let’s make Malaysia great. Let’s start the conversation about performance, making it a daily topic. Until we re-calibrate on what is and what is not performance, we will not be able to do things right.

Call us. Let’s talk. Let’s set our performance standard right.

Thank you.

let us add value

Anas Zubedy

Managing Director

Zubedy (M) Sdn Bhd

*MAD is about getting people to want to change.

*MAG is about getting people to understand how each generation perform.

*MFP is about how to lead and manage performance.

ETHNIC SLURS AND THE QUEST FOR NATIONAL UNITY - DR CHANDRA MUZAFFAR

Once again, a member of one ethnic community has used an ethnic slur against a member of another ethnic community. What is perhaps different this time is the widespread condemnation of the man who uttered the slur from within his own community and the praises showered upon his target especially in the new media. This could be because his target, a medical doctor, was actually trying to help the man injured in a road accident when he resorted to that derogatory epithet. In spite of his insult to her ethnicity, she remained by his side until medical assistance arrived. It is her deep sense of duty and her magnanimity that impressed a lot of people.

But Malaysians have to go beyond condemnation and praise. It is so important to understand why ethnic slurs, negative ethnic stereotypes and ethnic misconceptions are so pervasive in our society. It is true of course that there is perhaps no community on earth where negative perceptions of ‘the other’ do not exist. In some places they have hardened into deep-seated prejudices transmitted from generation to generation.

Ethnic slurs evolve from different historical and sociological circumstances. The term directed against the good doctor was not always derogatory. Centuries ago, it was used as a descriptive term to denote people who had come to Southeast Asia from a certain region in India, or sometimes, from South India as a whole. This explains why the term is employed widely as a place-name in various parts of the Malay Peninsula and Singapore.

Its connotation changed when under British colonial rule a huge influx of Indians from South India began working as rubber-tappers in plantations and as laborers building roads, railways and colonial offices. It was their low socio-economic status, characterized by exploitation and marginalization, which shaped public perceptions of the community. A neutral term used in the past to describe the Indian community became pejorative from the 19th century onwards. Socio-economic and socio-political factors sometimes impact upon the meanings attached to words.

Likewise, one’s limited experience with individuals or families from another community may be responsible for the growth of negative stereotypes. Based upon such experience, one concludes erroneously that community X is greedy or community Y is niggardly or community Z is lazy. One may not realize that there may be a lot of people within the stereotyped community who are just the opposite of what the community is supposed to be. This is why simplistic generalization of the character of a community or a people is not only wrong but also unfair and unjust. Negative ethnic generalization is the bane of inter-ethnic harmony in a multi-ethnic society.

Negative stereotypes are closely linked to yet another formidable barrier to inter-ethnic harmony. When ethnic misconceptions abound, building bridges among communities becomes a major challenge. A common misconception is that since the Constitution provides for the ‘Special Position of the Malays’ all political power is concentrated in the hands of the Malays. A cursory review of the composition of Parliament, the State Assemblies, Federal and State Cabinets and of all those forces that influence the actual exercise of political power in a society like ours from big business to the media, will reveal that the truth is something else. Similarly, just because the vast majority of the billionaires in Malaysia are Chinese, it is wrong to assume that the community monopolizes the nation’s wealth. An analysis of the ownership of big banks, of public and private sector corporations and of land and other natural resources will show that the wealth profile of the nation is more complex than that. Though political and economic realities tell a different story, gross misconceptions about Malay power and Chinese wealth have had a tremendous impact upon the nation’s political discourse. Consequently, they have contributed to the deterioration of ethnic relations.

How do we stem this deterioration? How do we ensure that ethnic misconceptions, ethnic stereotypes and ethnic slurs do not continue to hamper and hinder the quest for national unity? Apart from elites demonstrating through deeds that the dignity of everyone who resides in this land is priority and that justice for the weak and vulnerable takes precedence over their own power and wealth, all sectors of society should focus upon two goals. One, there should be a systematic, organized effort to raise awareness about the pitfalls of ethnic misconceptions, stereotypes and slurs. Research findings from some of our universities on these issues should be widely disseminated through the media. Our principal target should be the Malaysian family since a lot of ethnic misperceptions are spawned within the family setting. If within five years of vigorous education of the family, a significant portion of Malaysians develops a more rational, balanced, empirically based understanding of ethnic realities, we would have moved a few steps forward in our journey towards unity. Two, this journey would become more meaningful if there is also a parallel attempt to create opportunities for greater interaction among the various communities. It is when people continue to live in their own ethnic silos that misconceptions about the other gain more adherents. Exposure to one another in a positive environment is one of the most effective ways of combating ethnic stereotypes.

Dr. Chandra Muzaffar is Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Yayasan 1Malaysia.

Petaling Jaya

BUILDING BRIDGES, DISMANTLING WALLS - By Prof. Shad Saleem Faruqi

Devotion to religion does not require hating others who love God differently.

IT is a sad reality that around the world many people of faith nurture the mistaken belief that true devotion to their religion necessitates hatred for followers of other faiths.

The extremists in all traditions believe that their religion is the only true way. They have a monopoly over God and salvation and everyone else is condemned to eternal damnation.

This should not be so. There are many paths to the Truth. Worshipping God in a certain way does not require hating others who love God differently or fail to see God at all.

The character of faith is not a sense of superiority over others because of what you have and they have not. The character of faith is not violence towards and vitriol for “the other”.

The character of faith is to recognise that love of God and fidelity to religion are manifested in kindness towards all humanity. A truly religious person must reject hatred, ill-will and prejudice.

At least this is the message of Islam that I was brought up in.

Religious tolerance: In innumerable passages, the Holy Quran recognises religious pluralism. In 2:256, it states: “There is no compulsion in religion.”

In 109:6, there is the exquisite passage: “Unto you your religion, unto me mine.” In Surah 11:118, it is declared: “If thy Lord had so willed, He could have made mankind one people: but they will not cease to dispute.”

In Surah 10:99, there is this admonition: “Had your Lord willed, those on Earth would have believed, all of them together. Will you then compel people against their will to believe?” In 18:29, it is commanded: “Let him who will, believe; and let him who will, disbelieve.”

“Allah alone is the One who will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection” (2:113).

Places of worship: All places of worship are sacred and must be defended. In Surah 22:40, the Quran speaks of monasteries, churches, synagogues and mosques “as places in which God is commemorated in abundant measure”.

Respect for other religions: Islamic civilisation is not hostile towards previous religions. The Prophets of all revealed religions are regarded as brothers. Muslims are obliged to believe in them all. Every nation has its messenger (10:47). “Nothing has been said to you save what was said to the messengers before you” (41:43).

In Surah 2:136, it is stated: “We believe in Allah and that which has been sent down to us and that which has been sent down to Ibrahim (Abraham), Ismail (Ishmael), Ishaq (Isaac), Yaqoob (Jacob), and to Al-Asbaat (the offspring of the 12 sons of Yaqoob), and that which has been given to Musa (Moses) and Esa (Jesus), and that which has been given to the Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and we are Muslims in submission to Him.”

The Hebrew prophets and Christ are deeply respected by Muslims. The tombs of the Hebrew prophets are revered by Muslims. The Virgin Mary is given an exalted spiritual position in the Quran; a whole chapter is named after her.

All Christians and Jews are given the special status of ahle-kitab (believers in a book). In some schools of Islamic thought (but not in Malaysia) inter-marriage with Christian and Jewish girls is permissible without any need for conversion.

Peaceful co-existence: In Islamic history, the clergy in the churches were given full authority over their flocks with regard to all religious and church matters. When the Muslims conquered Egypt, they gave the Coptic churches back to the Copts and restored their rights.

In the early history of Islam, Muslims and Christians often prayed simultaneously in many churches, for example, the Cathedral of Saint John in Damascus. Likewise, Prophet Muhammad allowed the Christians of Najran to pray in Muslim mosques.

When Prophet Muhammad migrated to Madinah, one of the first affairs of state that he dealt with was to establish a treaty with the Jews, according to which their beliefs were to be respected and the state was obliged to ward off harm from them.

Prophet Muhammad’s Message to the Monks of Saint Catherine in Mount Sinai is a shining example of religious tolerance.

Duty of civility: The book Civilisation of Faith by Mustafa as-Sibaa’ie states that the Quran obliges the Muslim to believe in all the Prophets and Messengers of Allah, to speak of all of them with respect, not to mistreat their followers, to deal with them all in a good and gentle manner, speaking kindly to them, being a good neighbour to them and accepting their hospitality.

“And do not argue with the People of the Scripture except in a way that is best” (29: 46). “And insult not those who invoke other than Allah, lest they should insult Allah wrongfully without knowledge” (6:108).

Cooperation with and courtesy towards other religions is recommended (5:5, 6:108). There is no bar to visiting non-Muslim places of worship. It all depends on the purpose of one’s visit.

If the purpose is aesthetic or to seek knowledge or to negotiate goodwill, there is no religious bar.

Allah is everywhere and Muslim texts exquisitely state that “the whole earth is a mosque”.

Differences of religion should not make people fight one another or commit aggression, rather they should cooperate in doing good and warding off evil (5:2, 5:5).

The Malaysian Constitution honours this spirit. Article 3 states: “Islam is the religion of the Federation; but other religions may be practised in peace and harmony.”

In this spirit I wish all Christians, here and abroad, a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

May this season bring love and laughter, health and happiness and a Christmas of the heart.

May there be peace on earth and goodwill towards all men.

Let us pray for an end to terrorism and the terrorism of the Western-inspired wars in Syria, Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and Yemen.

May the spirit of Christmas spread to all other crucibles of conflict in this world.

Shad Faruqi is Emeritus Professor of Law at UiTM. The views expressed are entirely the writer’s own.