the 58th NUS Muslim Society
Editorial team Editor-in-chief: Huda Ilyasa, 58th Honorary General Secretary Editor: Siti Mariah, 58th Assistant General Secretary Editor: Qystina Darwyshea, 58th Public Relations Officer Supervisor: Muhammad Shauqat Ali, 58th President nus mUSLIM SOCIETY collaborations: [email protected] enquiries: [email protected] instagram: instagram.com/nusms twitter: twitter.com/nusms facebook: facebook.com/nusms Images were taken at different phases of Covid-19 Safety Management Measures
Bismillahirrahmaanirrahim. Allahumma Solli wa sallim ‘ala Sayyidina wa Habibina Muhammad Assalamu’alaikum Warrahmatullahi Wabarakatuh Dear beloved readers, May Allah SWT mercy and blessings envelope you and your families and may the light of Sayyidina Muhammad PBUH illuminate you replacing any heaviness with light and peace. Alhamdulillah, if you are reading this it means that, yet another NUSMS term has concluded signifying the beautiful start of another. How apt for it to fall in the blessed month of Muharram, a month of renewal and rejuvenation. May Allah SWT grant us it’s full benefits and may we be blessed with spiritual elevation. All praise and glory to Allah SWT the Most Generous, Most Compassionate who has allowed us to continue the publication of ‘Yours Truly’, an initiative started by the 57th NUSMS executive committee. It serves to compile beautiful memories of what has happened in the academic year that has recently passed in amazing excerpts prepared by members of the society themselves. ‘Yours Truly’ was born from the idea that NUMS should keep an archive of the achievements and contributions of our members. Th archive serves as a repository that can be referred to by future generations, and hopefully, one day, it can be considered as a form of intellectual heritage left behind by those who came before us. The name Yours Truly, is near and dear to the editors' hearts as it symbolizes the friendship, love and camaraderie that have blossomed for the past year for the Exco members. Yours Truly, culminates the feeling of comfort that one dearly seeks from another person as one goes about their everyday life as an undergraduate student in NUS. The sense of belonging and relief that engulfs us as we meet our companions on campus for the first time, before making our way to dinner together, or even to that one religious talk organised by NUSMS. Yours Truly, aims to be that source of happiness and joy that one receives when they read the publication, reminiscing the times that they have spent together with their companions while attending the plethora of events and activities that NUSMS organizes in that year. At the same time, it is hoped that the publication will serve as a reflection point for those who succeed us and may it be beneficial and pave the way forward for them and society.
What readers can expect from this publication is a summary of the events, activities and initiatives organized by all ad-hocs, Ground up initiatives (GUI) and Exco for the academic year of 21/22. It has been a challenging year for all of us as we strived to readjust as the pandemic situation improves and we move back to physical events and gatherings. With restrictions still present and the safety of our society in mind, the 58th NUSMS family worked tirelessly to continue their initiatives for the society. This year, the Exco committed their time and energy to revisit, streamline add and improve processes as well as initiatives with the future of NUSMS in mind. It was definitely a challenging, tedious and bittersweet journey. However, we hope, ‘Yours Truly’, serves as a beautiful reminder of our service and the fruits of our hard work. Finally, our deepest appreciation and gratitude to the 58th NUSMS Exco, for accompanying the society through this difficult year that has left us. It has been a year filled with ups and downs, but we made it through together as an Exco, and as a society. Thank you to our ad-hocs: Islam Awareness Series (IAS), Peace Be Upon Him (PBUH), Rihlah, Project Link, Valour, Arcadia (FOC), and our GUIs: Guide2Goodness (G2G), Qur'an The Immense Ocean (QTIO), Fitdeen and NUS Nisaa' for the wonderful line-up of events and activities organised for the community. May Allah s.w.t accept all our efforts, ameen Ya Rabb! To the 59th NUSMS Exco, your time is now. The stage is yours and the path ahead for you to pave. Make our Beloved Prophet PBUH as your beacon and through that may you be guided always on this path towards Allah SWT. Taqabbalallahu Minna Wa Minkum Yours Truly, the 58th NUSMS General and Public Relations Secretariat
Contents 7 Organisational structure 8 the newest member of our family... 58th executive committee 9 EXCO-LED EVENTS 12 EXCO-LED collaborations secondary committees CONTEXT-LENS 14 spiritual oasis project 16 adhoc committees islam awareness series peace be upon him 18 youth outreach 21 elderly outreach 25 sports outreach 28 freshmen orientation camp 32 35
Contents GROUND-UP INITIATIVES 38 QURAN: THE IMMENSE OCEAN 41 nisaa' 44 Fitdeen 48 GUIDE2GOODNESS
7 as of AY 2021/2022 58th Executive Committee finance general public relations secretariat secretariat secretariat Headed by president Headed by president Headed by president treasury marketing Programmes secretariat operations secretariat Headed by vice-president (programmes) Headed by vice-president (operations) publicity welfare logistics adhoc commitees Secondary committees islam awareness series context lens peace be upon him spiritual oasis project (musollah cleanup) youth outreach elderly outreach sports outreach freshman orientation camp Ground-up initiative committees advised by the president and vice-presidents guide2Goodness nisaa' (ladies) fitDeen qu'ran: the immense ocean consists of advises
8 the newest member of our family... fitDeen nisaa' qu'ran: the guide2Goodness immense ocean islam awareness peace be upon him youth outreach elderly outreach series sports outreach freshman orientation context lens spiritual oasis camp project
9 EXCO-LED EVENTS 58th executive committee e-SLF and welcome tea The E-Student Life Fair (SLF) is a platform in which participating bodies in NUS showcase and promote the NUS university life to all undergraduates. As with previous years, NUSMS took part in this year’s E- SLF in an effort to promote the society, its activities and how the undergraduates may contribute and serve the rest of the NUS Muslim community through various NUSMS intiatives and ad-hoc events. To introduce to NUSMS activities, we held the annual NUSMS Welcome Tea which serves to create a platform to foster and strengthen relationships between incoming freshmen and seniors. We aimed to spur interest and encourage them to undertake leadership positions and participate in NUSMS. adhoc induction When we have formed our adhoc committees, we help them settle into their roles through the Adhoc Induction. This allows adhoc leaders to get to know one another and the exco as well as to understand the direction of the Muslim Society. This event is also it aims to equip them with relevant information and skills that will substantiate their leadership term.
10 EXCO-LED EVENTS unlocking the door: a uni student's guide to god-consciousness This symposium was intended to provide tools for leaders within NUSMS to plan activities that are suited to the needs of the NUS student through the learning of God-consciousness and its application in their daily lives. We aimed to instill a sense of awareness among students, the perception of our daily lives as acts of worship via the spiritual-secular context. Our speakers, Dr Mardiana and Ustazah Amalina encouraged participants to have constant reflections and awareness of Allah s.w.t in every aspect of their daily lives on top of their daily acts of worship. RAMADHAN COMMUNITY SERVICE We wanted to provide a platform for NUS Muslim students to give back to the community during the blessed month while sharing with our online audience information about Ramadhan and how they could make this Ramadhan a fulfilling one. We hoped to reap the benefits of Ramadhan together as an NUS Muslim community, through breaking our fast together as a community.
11 EXCO-LED EVENTS muslims of nus instagram initiative Muslims of NUS is an outreach initiative by the NUS Muslim Society ExCo, to recognise and showcase the contributions of Muslim undergraduates in NUS in their various fields of expertise. In doing so, we hoped to strengthen relationships with other CCAs as well as Muslim students in NUS. secretariat bonding To follow-up on our initial contact with the committees since Adhoc Induction, we initiated meet-ups with members from the subcommittees that we advise respectively too create a strong network within NUSMS. We checked-in on their subcommittee and committee experiences, as well as their general wellbeing. KHALAST We hald an inter-committee bonding event to build a strong network of NUS Muslim Society members through bonding activities and to show appreciation for their efforts and hard work throughout the academic year.
12 EXCO-LED collaborations welfare pacK NUS x PBMUKS Welfare is an event held every semester that aims to provide support and encouragement to NUS Muslim or Malay students by distributing items that can be of benefit or comfort to them. Through the collection of the welfare pack, we aim to get to know more about the NUS Malay or Muslim in general and allow us to better plan for the future welfare pack events. empoweR 2022 eMpower 2022 is a three-part series jointly organised by the Malay language Society (PBMUKS) and NUSMS. We touched on topics such as Managing Anxieties in Navigating Adulthood, Managing Responsibilities and Managing Finances. Through this series, we aimed to empower undergraduates with the skills and knowledge as they enter life post-graduation. To complement the series, we provided an “Adulting Toolkit” as well. IFTArAWIH To inculcate a communal spirit in the month of Ramdhan, and in addition to the long absence of iftar events happening in our local mosques & bazaars, this event aimed to reminisce, rekindle and replicate the similar experience within our participants and ourselves of what it means to be in this blessed month.
13 EXCO-LED collaborations vcf grief This academic year, the Public Relations secretariat worked closely with NUS Varsity Christian Fellowship to collaborate on an interfaith small group discussion and an exhibition held at UTown. Delineated below are more details on how the collaboration unfolded and the takeaways that NUSMS participants had gained from them. Small Group Discussion and Exhibition on Pain and Suffering The invitation to participate in the interfaith dialogue where participants were divided into smaller groups and were encouraged to ask each other questions and share personal experiences as either a Muslim or a Christian. The mood of the session was cordial, light and was received well by all participants, who respectfully delved into the loaded topic without imposing their beliefs upon one another. Exhibition at University Town Plaza We presented a joint exhibition exploring ways in which members of the two different faiths reconcile and wrestle with the doubts, pain and questions that arise when thinking of the pain and suffering in this world respectfully and showcase some of the ways the two different faiths wrestle with the doubts that may arise in the face of so much adversity.
14 secondary committees context lens @contextlens.mp3 Context Lens (CL) aims to harness the potential of podcasts for discourse on contemporary issues that undergraduates are concerned about, through the lens of Islam. The primary aim of CL is to deconstruct the perception of a dichotomous relationship between Islam and contemporary issues by discussing these issues through an Islamic lens, thereby contextualising them. It is our belief that no concern falls outside the purview of Islam, stemming from the belief that Islam is a perfect and complete way of life. pilot episode CL’s vision and mission statements were reiterated in this episode, alongside its direction for the academic year. This episode was meant to be a light-hearted pilot episode for the A/Y, and to set the tone for the coming episodes and events.
15 secondary committees context lens @contextlens.mp3 Self-Love: There’s more than meets the ‘I’ This episode required consultation with Ustazah Hidayah who guided us through the concept of self-love in Islam. A focus group discussion was also executed to invite NUS Muslims to join the conversation and uncover our understanding and preconceptions of self-love in Islam. Hungry For Food and Change: A Muslim’s Struggle Part 1 covers the struggles of a Muslim in obtaining Halal food, reactions of a Muslim to such issues (i.e., concept of redha versus striving), and actions to take moving forward. Part 2 features an interview with Haira, the president of NTUMS, and Zalman Putra, the Director of Halal Development at MUIS.
16 secondary committees spiritual oasis project @nusms_sop Spiritual Oasis Project (SOP) is a secondary committee within NUS Muslim Society. Originally functioning as an adhoc named “Musollah Crew”, it was then converted into a secondary committee by the 54th NUSMS Executive Committee. SOP’s theme for AY21/22 is “Back to Basics”. On a community level, we hope to spread the importance of performing daily prayers, which is one of the pillars of Islam, as well as to empower the NUS Muslim community to care for public and shared spaces in campus. winter and summer clean-ups The winter mass cleanup was organised primarily to refurbish the prayer spaces on campus, and to standardise the conditions of all these prayer spaces. Additionally, it also served as a platform to involve the NUS Muslim community in the maintenance of these shared spaces. An initiative that was carried out as part of the winter mass cleanup was the designing and putting up of new musolla posters. These posters contain a variety of information regarding matters related to these prayer spaces, such as dos and don’ts at musollas, a compilation of supplications as well as access to various links and sites related to SOP (e.g. feedback form and Instagram page).
17 secondary committees spiritual oasis project @nusms_sop fortnightly musollah clean-ups We made improvements on the general conditions of the prayer spaces, and at the same time, refined the existing cleanup system that is being utilised by SOP. A checklist application was created containing a list of things to perform when committee members are doing their respective cleanups, as well as a section where they can note down any major damages or issues at their allocated prayer spaces. a reconnecting muslim's guide A compilation of du’as and supplications commonly recited by local asatizahs and Imams, this online booklet serves as an easy guide for musolla users to browse through and recite after prayerIt is meant to supplement the supplications poster that can be found on the musolla walls across campus. This booklet can be accessed via the supplications poster found at all musollas across campus via a QR code.
18 adhoc committees islam awareness series @nusms_ias Islam Awareness Series (IAS) is an annual series aimed to share knowledge and insights about Islam among NUS students and provide a platform for discourse about Islam for Muslims and Non-Muslims. The theme for this year's event is Hearth which refers to the area around a fireplace, and this represents a source of comfort, warmth and security. This year, IAS aims to help Muslims discover what their source of comfort within Islam is, and this is addressed by the overarching question “Where is your hearth in Islam?”
19 adhoc committees islam awareness series @nusms_ias finding the 'i' in islam We addressed the topic of reflecting on one’s religiosity, specifically by exploring what it means to believe in Islam. We aimed to help Muslim students affirm where they are at in their religious journey, and encourage them to continuously strive to be better Muslims. hearth-to-hearth Hearth-to-Hearth focused on the topic of spirituality based on insights from Ustazah Nur Hidayah Azman. After her sharing, fellow NUS Muslim students discussed their individual spiritual journeys in small groups. We wanted to create an inclusive and conducive platform for event participants to tap on the reflections, lessons, and experiences of one another on their path to God.
20 adhoc committees islam awareness series @nusms_ias different paths , one hearth We invited Muslim reverts to share their personal stories and journey towards Islam, as well as Darul Arqam's role in the process. Each of their stories provided various perspectives into reverts’ journeys. The session allows Muslims and non-Muslims to gain a deeper appreciation for Islamic principles such as Iman (conviction), Taqwa (God-consciousness) and the pursuit of knowledge from a revert’s perspective as well as understand the reversion process in Singapore. piecing the puzzle - men and women in islam This event is a forum on the significance of delegating different roles to men and women by exploring the idea of complementarity. We hoped that participants will better understand what these roles are and how they are able to support each other in different contexts, and why this is significant in Islam.
21 adhoc committees peace be upon him @nusms_pbuh PBUH (Peace Be Upon Him) is a yearly ad-hoc under the NUSMS. The ad-hoc was first started in 1436H, making PBUH 1443H the 8th batch for this ad-hoc. Through our events, PBUH aimed to increase in knowledge about the Prophet ﷺ, instil in ourselves and spread the love for the Prophet ﷺ in efforts to achieve closeness to the Prophet ﷺ. Our theme this year is Our Lifeline of Love, where we aim to spread the realisation of the Prophet ﷺ as our lifeline. Him ﷺ as essential and the only path to Allah SWT. The objectives the committee has set out for the programmes centred around the aim of strengthening our personal relationship with the Prophet ﷺ . We aimed to achieve this through learning about his relation to us ﷺ , learning about the benefits of connecting ourselves to the Prophet ﷺand learning about the sublime characteristics and traits of the Prophet ﷺ .
22 adhoc committees peace be upon him @nusms_pbuh Love Lines: in praise of our lifeline In this event, we aimed to introduce Maulid Ad-Diba'i through the recitation of selawat kawakkib ( )كواكبand to internalise the meaning behind it. This event seeks to allow the participants to immerse themselves in the beauty of the supplication, reminiscing his ﷺ stories and reciting salutations upon him ﷺ . Let's love telegram channel The channel was created as platform for the NUS community to share their personal experiences related to the Prophet ﷺ . We hoped to engage them in reflecting on our relationship with the Prophet ﷺ and learn from one another’s experiences and perceptions.
23 adhoc committees peace be upon him @nusms_pbuh day camp The camp was a day-long event that included fun and meaningful activities. The participants took part in talks and a gender-segregated 'cozy session' with local asatizahs to learn more on how we can strengthen our love and connection to our Prophet ﷺ. It made also us increasingly aware of the purpose of our existence and actions. This was followed by an amazing race to learn more about the Prophet ﷺthrough his sirah and hadith, while reflecting and considering how to inculcate the teachings in our own lives. The camp then concluded with the recitation of Maulid Ad-Dhiyaul Lami’ led by Habib Aydarus.
24 adhoc committees peace be upon him @nusms_pbuh the grand finale: our lifeline of love The intention for the grand finale was to connect ourselves and our participants to the Prophet ﷺ through the recitation of Maulid Ad-Diba’i and a selection of Qasidahs. Through this final event, we hope to be able to embark on the final stage of fulfilling our objective of strengthening our relationship with the Beloved ﷺby striving to love him ﷺ more than we love ourselves. The event was also aimed to bring together members of the NUS Muslim community, especially those new to Maulid, with the blessed gathering of knowledge to gain barakah.
25 adhoc committees youth outreach @nusms_valour Valour aims to serve the youth in our community. This year, Valour’s vision was to prepare youth to be future-ready and develop passion for lifelong learning. We worked with Muhammadiyah Welfare Home. Our objectives were (a) To equip youth with knowledge to take on and adapt to future challenges, (b) To instil positive values in youth to promote self confidence and awareness of their own abilities and (c) To inculcate the sense of giving back in youth
26 adhoc committees youth outreach @nusms_valour bonding day We held an online bonding session to set goals and build relationships between our members and the boys from Muhammadiyah Welfare Home. We intended to establish rapport with the youths at MWH, encourage adaptability when faced with new challenges, and inculcate communication and teamwork in the youths. preparation for the wokring world We conducted an online class to teach the boys how to prepare for the working world and manage relationships with other people. Contents included a working world preparation culture and interactive role playing games in a workplace setting. We hoped to equip them with the knowledge and skills in preparation for the working world
27 adhoc committees youth outreach @nusms_valour expectations of ns We were really excited to hold our first physical event discussing National Service (NS) expectations and how to prepare for it. We executed engaging games to simulate the respective NS vocations that helped to build teamwork. Our main objectives of this event were to give them an idea of what NS is like and to encourage teamwork and communication with one another. community service day - distribution of hampers Finally, we participated in a physical community event with People's Association Mesra where the boys helped to pack the goods and our members delivered them to the assigned houses. We wanted to inculcate the spirit of volunteerism in the youth and encourage them to give back to the community, through communicating with people of different backgrounds.
28 adhoc committees elderly outreach @nusms_projlink Project Link aims to foster and strengthen bonds between youths and the elderly. As Singapore’s ageing population continues to rise, we hope to encourage and instil acts of service to those in need. We often forget that our parents/ grandparents are too growing older as we continue to be independent. This year, our programmes focused more on giving back and offering our volunteer services with the ease of covid restrictions.
29 adhoc committees elderly outreach @nusms_projlink Pay-it-Forward NUS students and/or staff could purchase $1 magnets from respective drink stalls on top of their own drinks to pay for our elderly cleaners’ drinks. We ran this event for over 2 months from March to the end of Semester 2. Do-it-Yourself Care Pack Students could sign up for a free DIY/Welfare pack that they can gift to their grandparents at home. Medicated oil and relief patches were included on top of two paint-by-numbers kit. We wanted to make it a free initiative so that NUS students can spend more time with their loved ones without worrying about the cost of it hence we limited it to only 20 pax. Those who managed to post their completed paintings with their grandparents onto their Instagram story/page and tagged us received a $10 NTUC voucher.
30 adhoc committees elderly outreach @nusms_projlink Elders of NUS We distributed welfare packs to various canteens in NUS. It is a continuation of 2021 Project Link’s Marketing initiative however we managed to push it to become a main event that students wouldn’t need to pay for. We included Milo packets, Tea bags, biscuits, axe oil, relief patches in the welfare packs. Food Distribution with Masjid Masjid Jamiyah Ar-Rabitah This event was a collaboration between Project Link and Masjid Ar-Rabitah to distribute food at the Bukit Merah Estate. We managed to distribute 180 packets of food to the respective households within a short 2 hours. We also managed to raise funds for our adhoc as Masjid Ar-Rabitah had generously supported us by purchasing our food.
31 adhoc committees elderly outreach @nusms_projlink Ramadhan Re-Vamp + Volunteering at Jamiyah Home for the Aged Volunteering event at Jamiyah Homed for the Aged. As requested, we were to give their prayer room garden a makeover followed by an iftar session. It was mainly an interactive session whereby we get to head down to the home and interact with the elderly first-hand. Those who were fit enough joined us with the garden makeover. Welfare Packing & Distribution with Lion Befrienders Volunteered with Lion Befrienders to help pack and distribute mask boxes and raise awareness about the elderly daycare center that is open to elderly citizens around the neighborhood. We spent our time well with door-to-door visit trying to help raise the awereness of the residents staying around about the various activities that they offer for the elderly.
32 adhoc committees sports outreach @nusms_rihlah Rihlah 1443H aims to promote a physically and mentally healthy lifestyle while serving as a platform for participants to discover the ever-relevance of Islam in sports and fitness, and in the contemporary context through inculcating healthy eating and exercise habits that will be beneficial for their physical and mental well-being. This year’s theme of ‘The Journey Within’ is to take participants on a trip where they are able to learn more about themselves in their everyday lives. As this journey is not transient, we hope at the end of the day when the participants reflect on their journey, they will reap the benefit and be able to apply beneficial changes in their life.
33 adhoc committees sports outreach @nusms_rihlah #Myrihlah #MyRihlah is a one-month online event that advocates healthy living physically and nutritionally. In terms of the physical activities, there were two levels; ‘Fit’ and ‘Fitter’. Each level encompassed different types of exercise routines or challenges which included walking, running and calisthenics. Alternative physical exercises such as zumba and yoga were introduced as a side activity for the participants. rihlah cafe Rihlah Cafe also occurred simultaneously with #myRihlah. Rihlah Cafe is an online food programme that provides simple, quick and most importantly, healthy food recipes posted on our IG page. Food recipes were restricted to a few ingredients that are readily available, such that it was convenient for the audience to follow.
34 adhoc committees sports outreach @nusms_rihlah rihlah rekindles RihlahReflects is an online event that provides participants the ability to have their questions regarding health (physical and mental) as well as Islam answered. RihlahReflects encourages reflection amongst participants regarding the relevancy of maintaining ones’ physical and mental health in relation to Islam. night cycling With the easing of Covid-19 restrictions, we brought back Night Cycling in hopes to allow our fellow participants to attain a holistic view balance in the three aspects of Rihlah’s vision: physical, mental and spiritual. In addition to cycling, the event would consist of 4 stations with fun-filled and dynamic activities that are based on our vision of balance.
35 adhoc committees freshmen orientation camp @foc_arcadia Arcadia (NUSMS x PBMUKS FOC 2022) is the annual Freshmen Orientation Camp (FOC) organized in collaboration with NUS Muslim Society (NUSMS) and NUS Malay Language Society (PBMUKS). We hoped to introduce Malay or Muslim freshmen to the NUSMS and PBMUKS scene in NUS, to allow them to forge friendships with fellow freshmen and of course to let the freshmen have an enjoyable experience. Our camp theme is inspired by the movie “Ralph Breaks the Internet”, where Ralph and his best friend Vanellope intended to break the Internet in order to save the arcade game “Sugar Rush”. In this movie, we see different characters from different arcade games band together to save the arcade from being closed down due to the presence of Internet games. The phrase “Breaks the Internet” also represents our objective of easing the freshmen’s transition from an online to physical life on campus, being the first hybrid NUSMS x PBMUKS FOC since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
36 adhoc committees freshmen orientation camp @foc_arcadia arcadia carnival The Arcadia Carnival is a watered-down carnival for NUS students to help them ease back into physical life on campus. Held at the open space on Level 2 of the Techno Edge canteen, it also serves as a good stress-relief activity as students can take a break from studying for their midterms. For $12 per person, participants could play the various carnival games available and were also given goodie bags containing snacks and pastries; high scorers of each game were also given prizes. RAMADHAN IFTAR During the month of Ramadan, we organised a physical Iftar session for NUS students as well as a Ramadan food sale. For the Iftar session, participants pay an entry fee which entitles them to a meal, drink and dessert. We had also organised food sales for those who could not attend the Iftar session. We offered several types of meals, desserts and teh tarik for the orders, and also opened the food sales to the general public as we provided doorstep delivery for them.
37 adhoc committees freshmen orientation camp @foc_arcadia orientation camp We held our main event, the Freshmen Orientation Camp, on 4, 5 and 7 July 2022. The programme was held physically on 4 and 7 July, and online on 5 July. We decided to have a hybrid camp to stick to our theme and objective, which was to transition the freshmen from having online activities to a physical campus life. During the planning process, we did our best to organise a programme that would be a good start to welcome the freshmen to NUS and a physical campus life without making the freshmen uncomfortable. Similar to the previous camp, we also did not have a programme on 6 July, which lies between the second and the last camp day, to allow the freshmen to reset their social batteries or to bond with their OGs and OGLs with more freedom.
38 GROUND-UP INITIATIVES quran: the immense ocean @theimmenseocean Quran: The Immense Ocean aims to provide classes held within the university campus where students would be able to gain exposure and some knowledge of the Qur’an under the guidance of our local asatizahs. Our theme this year was \"Blossoming Barakah\". Insha Allah through our events we could create an environment where students can be close to the Qur’an through reciting, listening, reflecting and learning about the Qur’an in order to appreciate it and inculcate a deep sense of love for it.
39 GROUND-UP INITIATIVES quran: the immense ocean @theimmenseocean blossoming barakah: TAJWEED In this event, we covered the General Barakah of learning the Qur’an, Linguistic beauty of the sciences of Tajweed, practiced the pronunciation of the Quranic alphabets and letters, Learnt about the wisdom of reciting Surah Al Fatihah. this event focussed on the Do’s and Don'ts of recitation in Surah Al-Fatihah These sessions were well received as participants were able to improve on their recitation skills as well as develop a greater understanding and appreciation for Surah Al Fatihah. tadarus sessions - To create a conducive space for our brothers and sisters to come together and recite the Quran.
40 GROUND-UP INITIATIVES quran: the immense ocean @theimmenseocean blossoming barakah: surah al-mulk Ustaz Ahmad Faritz covered the benefits of reading Al-Mulk, the different traits of Allah S.W.T. found in Surah Al-Mulk, our dependence on Allah's Mercy and how we can use the Qur'an to help overcome issues we face. ramadhan instagram stories The Instagram (IG) Ramadhan Series was a first of its kind for QTIO. The aim was to engage our audience through a new medium as Ramadhan may be an extra busy period for everyone. This initiative was able to reach out to audience that may not have joined our sessions previously nor may have heard of QTIO, since some of them may not come from NUS. This light and unique approach gave both our participants and committee members more freedom to perform other forms of ibadah and tasks while still being able to gain valuable lessons and information through this initiative.
41 GROUND-UP INITIATIVES nisaa' @nusnisaa NUS Nisaa’ was established for ladies, by ladies in the year 2015! We serve as a platform for Muslim women in NUS to engage and interact with one another through various events organised throughout the academic year. welcome tea Nisaa’ Welcome Tea 2022 is an event to NUS Nisaa presented a 5-part series, specially welcome NUS Muslimah freshmen “Path to the Garden”, which seeks to into the wider NUS Muslim Community and guide and prepare Muslimahs in treading to bring together Muslimah students in NUS the path towards attaining Divine Love. as an effort to break barriers and Inspired by the hadith of the Prophet encourage sisterhood within the Muslimah s.a.w “Whoever takes a path upon which Community of NUS. It is also an to obtain knowledge, Allah makes the opportunity for Nisaa’ to recruit committee path to Paradise easy for him.” [At- members for this annual year. Tirmidhi] path to the garden series
42 GROUND-UP INITIATIVES nisaa' @nusnisaa sports day Through this event, we hope to instill a healthier lifestyle in every Muslimah, by focusing on both our physical and mental health! This Sports Day will allow each Muslimah to have fun and build new friendships through various team and individual games. We encourage Muslimahs to take a proper break this recess week, away from your stressful commitments for just a few hours. world hijab day campaign Nisaa’ approached World Hijab Day (WHD) this year by enriching ourselves and audiences about the history of WHD, and most importantly about the knowledge and history of the hijab. We will also talk about the models of modesty in the history of Islam, in commemoration of the birth month (JamadilAkhir) of the Beloved Prophet s.a.w’s daughter, Sayyidah Fatima Azzahra r.a,
43 GROUND-UP INITIATIVES nisaa' @nusnisaa majlis selawat An event to bring the sisters in NUS together for an evening of remembrance and strengthen our companionship & sisterhood during Ramadhan, with Iftar and Tarawih prayers. We will learn from our esteemed guest who will share with us how we can improve and remain consistent in our good deeds in this blessed month of Ramadhan. path to marriage workshop As part of a spin-off from Nisaa’s “Path to the Garden” series last semester, this mini-workshop serves for Muslimahs to be more in tune with preparing themselves for marriage emotionally and spiritually. An introduction to the fiqh of marriage, approaches towards marriage, companionship and motherhood through group discussions and individual reflections with Ustazah Farhana Munshi.
44 GROUND-UP INITIATIVES Fitdeen @nusfitdeen fitDeen is a Ground Up Initiative (GUI) under NUSMS seeking to bridge spiritual and physical exploration. We intend to be a medium to spark God-consciousness in the NUS community through engagement in activities which focus on the outdoors. fitDeen intends to provide a safe space and conducive environment for participants to reflect on their spiritual and personal growth. As fitDeen is an outdoor-based GUI, we aspire to push the participants out of their comfort zone and instil the spirit of adventure through our events. Kampong fitDeen is an initiative by fitDeen to build a community through engagement in recreational activities. Aside from fitDeen’s bigger events, Kampong fitDeen is meant to reach out to the larger community and to forge a stronger bond with one another, through the emphasis of getting to know fitDeen and the community in fitDeen better.
45 GROUND-UP INITIATIVES Fitdeen @nusfitdeen Companions Companions is the first event of our Human Interaction series, with activities focused around the Human-Human interactions. Companions was based at MacRitchie Reservoir, in which participants participated in a 8.5km hike. The hike included curated stops whereby participants were encouraged to think about the Human-Human interactions in their lives, be it with their loved ones or strangers through partaking in our activities. We ended Companions with our signature reflection session which was accompanied by fitDeen's reflection cards, with questions centred around the theme of this event, Human-Human interactions. Manar: A Guiding Light Manar: A Guiding Light brings participants on a cycling and hiking adventure at Pulau Ubin, where they explore the island and immerse themselves in nature, doing activities that allow them to reflect on nature and its connection with Islam. The event ends off with watching the sunset and a reflection session at Changi Beach. Our reflection session builds upon the first reflection session in Companions, with a special focus on reflecting on elements of nature and its meaning and purpose in our lives.
46 GROUND-UP INITIATIVES Fitdeen @nusfitdeen Guardians Guardians is a follow-up event of Human- Nature Interactions. While Manar focused on rekindling the love and appreciation for nature, Guardians takes a more active approach in giving back to nature through a kayak and clean up event, where they cleaned the reservoir at Jurong Lake Gardens. Arehna: When Hearts Find Rest The finale event of our Human-Interaction series, Arehna: When Hearts Find Rest allowed participants to experience nature as a means of reconnecting with the pillars of their Iman, through reflection and acts of worship as a community, all while building blessed companionships along the way. As our first overnight event, it offered participants a unique experience of performing Qiyam outdoors in nature.
47 GROUND-UP INITIATIVES Fitdeen @nusfitdeen Kampong fitDeen: The Beginning Kampong fitDeen is an initiative by fitDeen to encourage the community to get to know what fitDeen is about and in exchange allowing fitDeen to get to know the community better. This year, we released the first of our Kampong fitDeen events – Kampong fitDeen: The Beginning. Through this event, we invited participants to take a breather at West Coast Park from that mid-semester to end-semester hustle and kick off their Ramadhan goals. Our participants forged bonds as they watched the beautiful sunset and had their reflection session under the open night sky of West Coast Park together.
48 GROUND-UP INITIATIVES guide2goodness @guide2goodness Guide2Goodness (G2G) is a ground-up initiative of the NUS Muslim Society (NUSMS) that aims to provide classes held on campus which focuses on the sciences of Islamic Spirituality (taṣawwuf) and Islamic Sacred Knowledge. In semester 1, the theme was ‘Presence of the Heart’ where G2G seeked to make the participants more mindful of their spiritual state and provide guidance on self- rectification and growth. In Semester 2, the theme was ‘Presence of the Heart in Worship’ where G2G aimed to motivate us in our practice of taṣawwuf through studying the spiritual dimensions of worship, the lives of ʾawliyāʾ and the practice of ziyārah. We therefore hope that this series inculcates a greater presence of heart in our efforts to become good Muslims with a strong iman and good akhlāq.
49 GROUND-UP INITIATIVES guide2goodness @guide2goodness The Journey This 4-part series with Ustaz Nasrullah in semester 1 aimed to serve as a gentle and welcoming introduction to the concepts tasawwuf while also providing them with practical steps to take in their self-rectification and growth. The first topic was, ‘Cosmic Wonder: Grasping Reality’ where Ustaz shared more on how we can recalibrate ourselves and align our purpose even in secular situations and to understand and accept the trials in life. We should always have patience and strength in accepting it and to have husnuzhon of Allah swt. The second topic was, ‘The Orbit Within: Nurturing the Self’ where Ustaz addressed on how we can deal with stress and time management. He focused on sharing about the importance of ‘Ad-daimumah alal amal: consistency’. He also shared more on how one can start the journey and the 4 pillars of it.
50 GROUND-UP INITIATIVES guide2goodness @guide2goodness The Journey The third topic was, ‘The Milkyway: Mapping to our Eternal Abode’ which was a session purely dedicated to the audience asking questions and clarifying their doubts. It was a fruitful session as Ustaz managed to address all questions The final topic was, ‘The Full Moon: Our Guiding Light, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ which was a Maulid session to conclude the semester.
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