Reflection 1

Being the generation who has easy access to an abundance of information, it is expected of us to not be ignorant regarding current issues. The majority of us usually have a lot to say regarding a situation and having our own social media platform makes it extremely easy to express ourselves. The act of supporting and protesting has shifted unto the internet as people rely on their virtual voices to make a change. Unfortunately, “spreading awareness” has become something trendy in today’s generation where a person could show their peers what they are standing for or going against without actually doing anything. Although it is comforting to know where we stand in an argument, are we really making a change by retweeting or reposting a post? Words mean nothing if not backed by actions.

Hence, after watching the pre recorded lectures, I was inspired by the objective and purpose of this course, Usrah in Action. One of the questions the lecturer left us to ponder on was- are we integrating what we learn into our lives? When he moved on to teach us about the 17 goals of Sustainable Development, my mind stayed on his question. I realized that since a very long time ago, I have only been studying with the intention of earning a high grade. It’s always the same process of stressfully cramming everything into my brain at once and blissfully letting it all out during the examinations. I did this specifically with the non core subjects that I took, one of them being a Sustainable Development class. I regarded the class as “not important” to my field of study and retained barely anything during the lectures. So the answer to the previous question was no, I was not implementing my knowledge regarding sustainable development with my life. Starting this course, I was excited to learn about a community outside my social bubble and now I am more excited as I could learn how to convert my knowledge into action.

The first time I heard of Rohingya was when my friends were discussing a video that has been circulating on Malaysia's Twitter. It was a video regarding a Rohingya boy who was aggressively asking for money from passersby. When reading the comments, I was shocked by the harsh words people were using to judge the boy. Did they not consider the upbringing and experiences this boy had to go through for him to react that way? To put it bluntly, they were being especially mean in the comments because of his race. It saddens me that people are still practicing blatant racism to a kid who probably rarely experienced the love and attention that most of us received. Thus when I saw the opportunity to engage with a community of Rohingya people who reside in Kuantan, I took it.

Furthermore, the concept of Fardhu Kifayah in Islam is also related with this course. Fardhu Kifayah is a Muslim community’s responsibilty from Allah SWT in regards to wordly matter and the Islamic Law. 

Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said, "A Muslim is a brother of another Muslim, so he should not oppress him, nor should he hand him over to an oppressor. Whoever fulfilled the needs of his brother, Allah will fulfill his needs; whoever brought his (Muslim) brother out of a discomfort, Allah will bring him out of the discomforts of the Day of Resurrection, and whoever screened a Muslim, Allah will screen him on the Day of Resurrection . "

This hadith further emphasizes the importance of helping another Muslim brother and sister out in the time of need. Even to non Muslims, by providing food, shelter, and services to someone who needs it, this could bring them peace and showcase the true meaning of Islam. 

This course is to further prepare us for community engagement. Being able to aid, influence or even talk to a community is a valuable skill to have. It is admirable for the university to prepare a course specifically to hone this skill. Universities shouldn’t be producing book smart graduates who are not equipped with interpersonal skills. Students need to be exposed to environments which allow them to practice the skills that are needed to move forward successfully in this world. The Covid-19 phenomenon has placed us in an unexpected situation where we cannot interact with one another. Although this might seem like an ideal scenario for introverts, it does not do our social skills any favors. Community engagement during this period is a good way to start building our social skills while adapting to the new norm. 

Subsequently, we intend to help the Rohingya people feel accommodated and create a welcoming culture for them. Treating humans like humans shouldn’t be hard, but the fear of immigrants taking over the country causes some people to act cold towards Rohingya people. They fail to realize that Rohingya could bring value to their country, in terms of ideas and culture. This further relates with sustainable development as to develop a country without compromising the future generation’s resources, a society has to work together and share the same values. For a society to work together, everyone must feel valued. This includes the Rohingya people. That is why it is important for us to embrace them instead of treating them like outsiders.

In short, I am looking forward to what this course will teach me in the near future.