Condolence Letter from SM Lee Hsien Loong on the Passing of Former Mufti Shaikh Syed Isa Semait

Dear Madam Sharifah Muznah

I am deeply saddened by the passing of your beloved husband, former Mufti, Shaikh Syed Isa Semait. Please accept my deepest condolences.

I have known Shaikh Syed Isa for many years. He served as Singapore’s Mufti from 1972 till his retirement in 2010. He also served on both the Presidential Council for Religious Harmony and the Presidential Council for Minority Rights.

The first time I met Shaikh was in 1988. Parliament was deliberating the proposal to create group representation constituencies to ensure minority representation in Parliament. I was a member of the Select Committee considering the Constitutional amendment. Shaikh, who was then the Mufti, appeared at a public Committee hearing to present his views. He impressed the Committee as someone with a clear view of Islam’s teachings, and of how religious obligations should be applied in our multiracial context. His steady and thoughtful answers to the Committee’s questions showed the depth of his convictions and insight on these sensitive and crucial issues.

My many subsequent interactions with Shaikh confirmed this impression. In nearly four decades of distinguished service, he handled many delicate matters, including citizenship duties, extremism, and the preservation of social harmony. His calm and steady leadership was instrumental in guiding the Malay/Muslim community, and strengthening the trust and cohesion between different races and faiths in Singapore.

Shaikh’s leadership put MUIS at the forefront of Islamic thought and practice in Singapore. He advocated for research on and modernisation of religious thought, and sought to upgrade our religious institutions and strengthen Islamic education. He wanted Muslims in Singapore to rely on sound principles and guidance in responding to new and complex issues, in order to live as faithful Muslims in a harmonious multireligious country. The establishment of the Asatizah Recognition Scheme (ARS) and the upcoming Singapore College of Islamic Studies were built on the strong foundations he laid.

Following the arrest of Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) members in Singapore, Shaikh Syed Isa, as Mufti, closely guided the formation of the Religious Rehabilitation Group (RRG) in 2003. His unstinting support enabled the RRG volunteers to take on the challenging tasks of rehabilitating the detainees and integrating them back into society.

For his contributions, Shaikh was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal in 2011.

I had the honour of launching the book “Keeping the Faith” in 2012, which recounted Shaikh’s story and his rich life experiences over many years of dedicated service to community and country. I was happy to chat with him again and to meet you and the family. I witnessed and was deeply moved by the immense pride he took in the success of his children and grandchildren, who had grown up in and been shaped by the nation he helped build.

Shaikh Syed Isa touched the lives of people of all races and faiths, and made a quiet but important contribution to the racial and religious harmony and Singaporeans enjoy today. Singaporeans owe him a debt of gratitude.

Shaikh Syed Isa will be deeply missed. I wish you and your family comfort in this time of grief.

Yours sincerely

LEE HSIEN LOONG

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