When I first read the front-page article on Allahyarham Rafiq in Berita Harian, I cried for a man that I never knew. Reading about his life, his work & his passing inspired me despite never having met the man himself.

Right now, as I am tasked with writing about the Rafiq Endeavour Award, I am honoured and at the same time, fearful that I may never paint a clear picture of who Allahyarham really is and the depth of his dedication & duty towards Islam.

Allahyarham Muhammad Rafiq Bin Yahya was an exemplary young man who displayed immense selflessness and enthusiasm in helping others and he especially personified values such as learning, giving, caring, striving and embracing. He had previously served organisations such as Fellowship of Muslim Students Association (FMSA), Huda Educational Services and Masjid an-Nur, amongst others. He was particularly keen on making a connection with youths and this is exactly what the Award is about.

The Rafiq Endeavour Award (REA) is a humble effort by family members and close friends of Allahyarham Muhammad Rafiq bin Yahya to

* encourage and support young Muslims' efforts to pursue Islamic studies

* give young Muslims a second chance to excel in other areas
of studies

* recognize good efforts and contributions by youths to the community.

More details can be found at the Rafiq Endeavour Award official website.

If you are a Singapore citizen or a permanent resident under the age of 25 and are thinking of or is already pursuing Islamic studies (locally or overseas), you can apply for the REA (Rafiq Endeavour Award) or nominate someone that you think is deserving of the award. The application form can be found at the official website.

The closing date for application and nomination is 30 Aug 2008. Applications and nominations are open from 1 Aug 2008.

Applicants should keep in mind that this award is most deserving to youth or students who display similar values and virtues that Allahyarham strived to uphold such as resilience, courage and selflessness in giving back to society.

May Allah SWT forgive all his sins, grant him the highest level of Jannah, raise his ranks and aid his family in their efforts. Al-Fatiha.

	Written by: Ameera Occupation: Student Web/Blog:http://alfaqeer.wordpress.com/