The Reading Group, Singapore

20/03/2026

It is important to keep hope alive. Hope for a peaceful and just world.

🤲🏼 May this blessed month of Shawwal bring respite to the suffering and an end to violence all over the world.

Wishing friends, followers and fellow readers,
🌙 Eid Mubarak Minal Aidin wal Faizin.

🎆 Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri!

20/03/2026

Iftar Roundtable Discussion on 3rd March with Mohd Jamizal Zainol from Yayasan PEACE (Policy and Economic Affairs Centre of Malaysia).

Jamizal shared about vision for Malaysia based on conservatism, which he defined as the middle path between rigidity and liberality. His ideas are specific to the Malaysian context and while disagreements abound, the meeting point is on addressing real life concerns, such as economic disparity, corruption, gender-based violence, and erosion of values in society.

The discussion revolved around his two books: Falsafah Politik Malaysia (Malaysian Political Philosophy) and Melayu dan Konservatisme (Malays and Conservatism). We also discussed on the ideas of the late Professor Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas which had shaped much of the religious thinking in the era of religious revivalism of the 1970/80s, with its influence taking root in Malaysian political circles and higher learning.

19/03/2026

Thank you to friends who attended the 2-session Ramadan Reading Series on 'Saint or Insane? Exploring Mystical Philosophy in Early Islam', led by Adam H.

The sessions covered the socio-political context, major writings, and basic thoughts of key Sufi thinkers such as Rabi'a al-Adawiyya, Mansur al-Hallaj, Muhyiddin Ibn 'Arabi and Jalaluddin Rumi.

Some recommended readings:

📗Rkia Elaroui Cornell, Rabi'a from Narrative to Myth: The Many Faces of Islam's Most Famous Woman Saint, Rabi'a al-'Adawiyya
📗Margaret Smith, Rabi'a the Mystic and Her Fellow-Saints in Islam
📗 Louis Massignon, Hallaj: Mystic and Martyr (Abridged Edition)
📗 Louis Massignon, The Passion of al-Hallaj: Mystic and Martyr of Islam (4 volumes)
📗 Claude Addas, The Quest for the Red Sulphur: The Life of Ibn 'Arabi
📗 A.E. Afiffi, The Twenty-Nine Pages: An Introduction to Ibn 'Arabi's Metaphysics of Unity
📗William C. Chittick, Me and Rumi: The Autobiography of Shams-i Tabrizi
📗 Annemarie Schimmel, Rumi's World: The Life and Work of the Great Sufi Poet

Blessed Ramadan!

10/03/2026

𝐈𝐫𝐚𝐧 𝐘𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐧: 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐢 𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐢 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐦𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐲𝐚 𝐃𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐦 𝐏𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐚
(𝐁𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐚 𝐁𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐚 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐡𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐢)

Sesi online ini berniat untuk merungkai sejarah dan semangat anti-imperialisme yang jarang diketahui umum namun terus berakar dalam masyarakat Iran. Semangat anti-imperialisme ini terus mengiringi strategi dan ketahanan rakyat Iran dalam mendepani dan membalas serangan AS dan Israel. Hakikatnya, konflik yang berlangsung hari ini tidak terpisah daripada rentetan perjuangan melawan hegemoni AS dan Zionis di rantau Asia Barat sebelumnya. Isu-isu ini akan dikupas dalam bicara bersama Faisal Tehrani secara santai sekaligus memahamkan kita dengan lebih lanjut tentang aspirasi yang melatari penentangan Iran hari ini.

𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐤𝐡 : Selasa, 17hb Mac 2026
𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐚 : 2.00 PM - 4.30 PM
𝐓𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐭 : Zoom Meeting

𝐁𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧 (𝐙𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐧 𝐝𝐢𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐢 𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐥) : https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1IMqc8ITF-oCqXmUDmyMg5QLcE7MLE-6bKxxPbJp-pAc/edit

Penganjur : Citizens International, Kawah Buku, The Reading Group Singapore

07/03/2026

24/01/2026

Our Ramadan Reading Series 📖 is back! This time, we are exploring mystical philosophy in early Islam.📿

Join us as we introduce and discuss the life and thought of four Muslim mystics: Rabi'a al-'Adawiyya, Mansour al-Hallaj, Ibn 'Arabi and Jalaluddin Rumi.

Register here:
🎟 https://tinyurl.com/RGRamadan2026

15/07/2025

CIFU is doing a fundraising!

Come to our inaugural 📚 Booksale to raise funds for our activities.

Over 500 books, new and pre-loved, will be on sale for as low as $2!

Books include fiction and non-fiction, with topics ranging from religious studies, philosophy, history, sociology, politics, science, anthropology, and more!

🗓 Fri, 25 Jul: ⏰️ 6pm-9pm
🗓 Sat, 26 Jul: ⏰️ 10am-5pm

🏢 Mapex Building, 37 Jalan Pemimpin, #05-08, S577177

Open to public!

18/06/2025

We recognise Sisters in Islam as one of the most important reformist movements in contemporary Malay society, particularly in the field of women's rights and civil liberties. Throughout the decades, SIS has offered a progressive approach to religious thinking that challenges patriarchal norms with a focus on gender justice. Its pioneering work has inspired countless movements in the region and internationally.

Today, we stand in solidarity with SIS and its work to empower Muslim women and to promote a democratic culture that affirms the dignity and fundamental human rights of all.

We present here a Malay syair or traditional poetry by Dr Azhar Ibrahim, titled "Perempuan Adil Berkeramat" (Women's Sacred Justice).

30/03/2025

Indeed, in this month of Syawal, we celebrate with joy the overcoming of tests, with patience and perseverance. In Islam, one of the greatest triumphs is that of knowledge over ignorance. The Qur'an, which was revealed and completed in the month of Ramadan, began with the command of "Iqra'!", or Read!

May we grow in knowledge and persevere in deeds to live up to the humanistic values found in Islam and all of the world's living traditions.

Wishing Muslims a blessed Eidul Fitri and Selamat Hari Raya, Maaf Zahir Batin!



Picture: "In the Madrasa" (1890), by Austrian painter, Ludwig Deutsch, d.1935; displayed at the Islamic Art Museum, Malaysia.

25/03/2025

SESSION 3: "Christian and Muslim Humanism" by Mohamed Imran Mohamed Taib

Registration Link: https://tinyurl.com/RGRamadan2025

17/03/2025

SESSION 2: "Chinese and Malay Humanism" by Dr Azhar Ibrahim.

Registration Link: https://tinyurl.com/RGRamadan2025