-- As the moon of Muharram marking the start of a new Hijri year appeared in the sky, a new life was blooming for Badri Mo'min and his family.
“It's a new journey for us (as Muslims),” Mo'min told The Brunei Times Saturday, December 19.
His six-member family reverted to Islam Friday on the first day of the new hijri year, which marks the immigration of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him) and his followers from Makkah to Madinah.
“As we are berhijrah (moving) to our new house, we are also berhijrah to Islam,” said Badri, a firefighter at the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA).
The family decided to postpone their reversion ceremony to avoid harming the feelings of their in-laws.
“Today is a memorable day for us, to become members of the Muslim society in Brunei on this very important Islamic day,” Badri said.
“Also holding it (the ceremony) at our new house, I think it's a blessing.”
Muslims make up nearly 67 percent of Brunei's population of less than half a million according some estimates. But other estimates put the number of Muslims at nearly 90 percent of the total population.
Blessing
Not far from Badri’s house, another Bruneian embraced the Islamic faith.
“I pray that I will be a good Muslim," Muhammad Khairi, a primary school teacher, said.
Showing a growing interest in Islam two years ago, Khairi, formerly Herry Markineh, attended religious events to know more about the faith.
Backed by his Muslim fellows, he finally decided to embrace the faith.
“They led me to the path that 1 am walking today,” Khairi said.
Khairi was impressed that his reversion day coincided with the new hijri year.
“I suppose it is a blessing for me,” the 23-year-old said.
“I cannot wait to perform the daily prayers.”
Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world with Muslims making up around one fourth of the world’s population, mostly concentrated in Asia.
Source: IslamOnline.net
