Converts from Singapore
1. Husband and Wife convert to Islam
This story was published in the "Galaxy Beat" by the Muslim Converts' Association of Singapore (Darul Arqam). Vol. 1 No. 1 Dec 1999-May 2000 www.darul-arqam.org.sg
Husband and wife, Miguelito Lopez and Maria Lourdes, both 37, embraced Islam together at Darul Arqam, Singapore on 21st November, 1999. The Filipino pair who met while working in Taiwan, married as Catholics in 1995 in the Philippines. They will soon register their Muslim marriage in Singapore.
The affable pair were excited to take their vows of faith.
For Miguelito, an engineer, it is a dream come true for he had feelings of wanting to be a Muslim as far back as the early 90s when he worked in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and had a Filipino Muslim room-mate.
"Then I was hesitant and needed to consider many things, my family's reactions, stability of the job, etc."
When he worked in Singapore, he was encouraged to learn more about Islam at the Association, through a young colleague. He encouraged his wife to learn about Islam too.
Said Maria, administrative counselor in a main agency, "I was hesitant at first but I know it was very important for a husband and a wife to share the same religious beliefs."
Having settled their conversion after first learning about Islam, the couple now looks forward to "a simple Muslim wedding" at the Registry of Muslim Marriages soon.
2. Cafeteria Service with a SmileThis story was published in the "Galaxy Beat" by the Muslim Converts' Association of Singapore (Darul Arqam). Vol. 1 No. 1 Dec 1999-May 2000 www.darul-arqam.org.sg
A first glance, Sitti Warda Abdullah, 29, who manages the Cafeteria at the Association may be mistaken for being of Malay-Arab parentage but the petite lady is a Filipino married to a Muslim Singaporean.
She met her husband in the Philippines and later followed him to Singapore. She refers to Darul Arqam as "a second home".
"I had no friends and relatives except my husband when I arrived. When he brought me to Darul Arqam, I had a feeling of security. The people here are very understanding and friendly and I had an ustaz to refer to whenever I had any doubts."
She said that despite the heavy workload of running the cafeteria and the limited income, she loves her job.
"With the help of Allah, I became a Muslim. Now Darul Arqam is like my second home. I love coming here."
3. Princess Diyana at Education DivisionThis story was published in the "Galaxy Beat" by the Muslim Converts' Association of Singapore (Darul Arqam). Vol. 1 No. 1 Dec 1999-May 2000 www.darul-arqam.org.sg
At work, she is aptly nicknamed Princess Diyana: Diyana in Arabic means religious. The 32 yr. old, relatively new convert, embraced Islam after having left her long time faith, Hinduism.
"I was exposed to Islam at the age of 12 when my sister converted to Islam. I found in Islam what was lacking in Hinduism and Christianity. It took me many years - till the age of 30, by which point I had given up idolatry practices, going to temples and eating non-Halal food."
Her conversion to Islam in April 1998 brought the end of her marriage to a Hindu who did not accept or follow her change in faith. This was the biggest challenge for her.
"I did not regret being a Muslim for this is what I want and where I feel absolute peace. There is nothing I want more than to die as a Muslim. On the other hand, I regret being unable to convince my husband of this wonderful faith."