Regulatory Framework
The Constitution is Singapore’s supreme written law. It entrenches basic freedoms of the individual and minorities including freedom of religion and religious education and sets out the structure and organization of Singapore’s Executive, Legislature and Judiciary. Any Singapore law enacted after the Constitution that is inconsistent with the Constitution is void to the extent of the inconsistency.
Code of Governance
Framework with detailed steps and checklists for system of internal controls and best practices for charities in Singapore
Registry of Societies
Rules applicable to JMAS as a registered society
Media Development Authority Singapore
Rules applicable to us as muslims and JMAS as a muslim organistion re web based activities such as creating religious websites and facebook accounts.
AMLA Act
The 1966 Administration of Muslim Law Act (“AMLA”) is the primary statute that sets out the provisions for regulating Muslim religious affairs and the framework of how Islamic law in Singapore is applied. As such it affects all of us as muslims living here and JMAS as a muslim organisation in Singapore. AMLA sets out the powers and ambit of the key Muslim institutions in Singapore in outlining the structure and authority of three key Islamic institutions: the Islamic Religious Council (Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura or “MUIS”), the Registry of Muslim Marriages, which administers marriages under Muslim law, and the Syariah court system. Of special interest is the interpretation of the term “Muslim law” with its emphasis on Sha’fi madhab, permissibility to apply rules of other madhabs, reliance on specific text books: s 1) the English translation of the Quran by A. Yusuf Ali or Marmaduke Pickthall; 2) Mohammedan Law by Syed Ameer Ali; 3) Minhaj et Talibin by Nawawi, translated by E. C. Howard from the French translation of Van den Berg; 4) Digest of Moohummudan Law by Neil B. E. Baillie; 5) Anglo-Muhammadan Law by Sir Roland Knyvet Wilson, 6th Edition Revised by A.Yusuf Ali; 6) Outlines of Muhammadan Law by A. A. Fyzee; and 7) Muhammadan Law by F. B. Tyabj
The Amman Message
” In accordance with the fatwas issued by the Honourable Grand Imam Shaykh Al-Azhar, the Grand Ayatollah Al-Sayyid ‘Ali Al-Sistani, the Honourable Grand Mufti of Egypt, the Honourable leading Shi’i clerics (both Ja’fari and Zaydi), the Honourable Grand Mufti of the Sultanate of Oman, the Islamic Fiqh Academy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Grand Council for Religious Affairs of Turkey, the Honourable Grand Mufti of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Respectable Members of its National Fatwa Committee, and the Honourable Shaykh Dr. Yusuf Al-Qaradawi;
And in accordance with what was mentioned in the speech of His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, during the opening session of our conference;
And in accordance with our own knowledge in sincerity to Allah the Bounteous;
And in accordance with what was presented in this our conference by way of research papers and studies, and by way of the discussions that transpired in it;
We, the undersigned, hereby express our approval and affirmation of what appears below:
(1) Whosoever is an adherent to one of the four Sunni schools (Mathahib) of Islamic jurisprudence (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi’i and Hanbali), the two Shi’i schools of Islamic jurisprudence (Jafari and Zaydi), the Ibadi school of Islamic jurisprudence and the Thahiri school of Islamic jurisprudence, is a Muslim. Declaring that person an apostate is impossible and impermissible. Verily his (or her) blood, honour, and property are inviolable. Moreover, it is not possible nor permissible to declare whosoever subscribes to the Ash’ari creed or whoever practices real Tasawwuf (Sufism) an apostate. Likewise, it is not possible nor permissible to declare whosoever subscribes to true Salafi thought an apostate. Equally, it is not possible nor permissible to declare as apostates any group of Muslims who believes in God, Glorified and Exalted be He, and His Messenger (may peace and blessings be upon him) and the pillars of faith, and acknowledges the five pillars of Islam, and does not deny any necessarily self-evident tenet of religion.
(2) There exists more in common between the various schools of Islamic jurisprudence than there is difference between them …… ”
“GRAND LIST OF ENDORSEMENTS OF THE AMMAN MESSAGE AND ITS THREE POINTS (July 2005–July 2006)
Total number of signatures: 552 * from 84 countries”…… see full list here
Signatories include:
“ REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE – Dr. Yaqub Ibrahim § Minister of the Environment and Water Resources, and Muslim Affairs ”