Bisme Radio is once again deeply concerned and saddened to learned about the latest news about a Singaporean young Muslim male who had been self-radicalized through the exposure to controversial online videos of foreign preachers. His parents had advised him against watching such videos. However, he did not heed their advice and had intended to kill non-Muslim men during the September school holidays in Tampines.
We commend the courage of parents who report their self-radicalized children to the authorities. Though it is emotionally daunting, these righteous Muslims have done the right thing for the greater good of humanity. As Singaporeans and Muslims, it is crucial that we remain calm and united, embracing vigilance in protecting our society from extremist influences.
In current day and age, we all play various roles of a parent, a guardian or role-models to our younger generation. Islam is never about promoting or supporting violence or harming any of God’s creations. Thus, it is our responsibility to educate and guide our younger generation carefully.
One of the many lessons from Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) clearly highlighted that Islam is not only a religion of peace and tolerance, but also a religion where all Muslims have mutual acceptance of people from other faiths.
In addition, one of the lessons from Prophet Musa’s journey, is to seek knowledge with the correct attitude and mindset, that is to be humble and to acknowledge that there is always somebody more learned than us. Hence, we should have an open mind in seeking knowledge and it is also important to always seek guidance and clarification along the way from the authentic sources, particularly when it comes to religious aspects. As we are increasingly connected to the internet in today’s world, it serves as a strong reminder that anyone can be vulnerable, especially our youth.
Let’s continue to stand in solidarity with the nation on its fight against any forms of violence and terrorism. We remain committed to this cause and will continue to play a much stronger role in promoting better understanding, greater inter-religious cohesion, mutual respect, and harmony towards a peaceful Singapore.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/isd-teenager-terrorist-attack-tampines-hdb-isa-4684741
