Focus on kindness motivates 18 to turn to fold of Islam

Islam is a religion of peace, love, respect and kindness toward others and does not discriminate against other religions. This important message persuaded 18 people to revert and embrace Islam. They were accorded a warm reception by Maulana Hifzur Rahman Seoharvi Academy, an organization that aims to preach and spread Islam. The 12 men, including 10 from India and six from the Philippines, were warmly welcomed at the reception on Friday.   The program began with a recitation of the Holy Qur’an by Mohammad Kareem who introduced two newly reverted Indians, Ali and Othman. They were formerly Ram Babu and Pushpinder. Likewise, the Filipino nationals, Shinand Austria, Nelson Erna, Orly Balbastro, Boyet Sayson Rhiman changed their names to Faisal, Yousuf, Ali and Abdullah. They had all accepted Islam a few months ago. Ali and Othman shared their views on accepting the new faith, their struggle, the problems they encountered following their reversion to Islam and their joy at finding the right path. Ali and Othman who both work at a printing firm were inspired by Sheikh Muhammed Al-Aidroos to revert to Islam. Ali explained that he was from Fatehpur, in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh where he has Muslim friends who taught him about Islam and the emphasis was on purity and kindness to others. “I felt immense peace and satisfaction when I offered prayers with them for the first time,” Ali said, adding that he hadn’t accepted Islam till then. But it made him keen in his quest for Islam which brought him here. “Alhamdulillah, I have chosen the right path,” he said. However, he said because of his decision, he has been ostracized by his family but he is resolute because he believes he has found the right path. Othman, on the other hand, said that he didn’t have any Muslim friends back in the desert state of Rajasthan but it was when he arrived in Jeddah that he got to know about Makkah and Madinah. “There are a number of holy places for Hindus to visit to please their gods, but for Muslims there is only Makkah and Madinah. I was very curious about these holy cities but was told that non-Muslims aren’t allowed to visit them,” he said. He added that he then started to learn the Qur’an. “That was when I found peace of heart and mind and accepted Islam,” he said. The Filipino reverts work at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital where the kind and cordial behavior of Muslim workers and doctors motivated them to take another look at Islam. At the event, Maulana Hifzur Rehman Seoharvi Academy’s services for preaching and spreading Islam by distributing free CDs, literature and audiocassettes were praised. Bahjat Ayub Najmi, founder of the academy and grandson of the late Moulana Hifzur Rehman Seoharvi, thanked all the guests, members, and attendees. Arab news