بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Professor Hamka in his book Life’s Philosophy says, “Dignity refers to dignity of the soul ever struggling to escape from the realms of inferiority and slavery in pursuit for a brighter and meaningful future”.

Sheikh Muhammad Abduh in his AlUrwatul Wutsqa said “Dignity is the pride of the soul, expressing feelings and sights”. The radiance of this pride evolves actions defining good impressions to societies, religious communities and humanity as a whole. Dignity synonymies the act of rebuilding the ummah so much destroyed, exposing all forms of stupidities, reminding the soul of the emptiness, negligence and carelessness in the quest of unifying voices, elevating spirits”.

It is through this realisation and motivation to “return self dignity to those who have once fallen in life” that has prompted the formation of the Prison Muslim Fellowship as a community outreach program by the Singapore Islamic Scholars and Religious Teachers Association, PERGAS.

I used to emphasize “to fall in life” is not a problem, but to “courageously rise again from falling” is a glory in life. Dignity is one’s own internal readiness and courage to stand up again from all the many falls in the various phases of one’s life. 

In realizing this, Pergas Outreach Department echoes PMF slogan – Changing Liabilities to Assets.

My message to all ex-inmates, not to continue imprisoning yourselves with the shackles of past mistakes in tandem with an old Malay proverb “to return to the starting line” which is parallel with the concept of repentance in Islam. This truly is the real meaning of self-dignity.

Let us all pray - “….. and give us the grace to lead the righteous”.(AlFurqan 25:74) and create an explosion in our motivations and actions in changing the face of our community in the days ahead.

Congratulations to all PMF activists, continue burning the spirits of rebuilding self-dignity for those who have once forgotten and fallen in life.

Mohd Jakfar bin Hj Embek  

Head, Outreach, Training and Human Development Department 

Singapore Islamic Scholars and Religious Teachers Association 

PERGAS