By Rosli Abidin Yahya
Muhammad Ruzy, Abdul Aziz
and Nur Hidayah embracing Islam in the presence of religious
officials
Abdul Aziz in a ceremony
called 'Majlis Menabur Bunga Rampai'
Three more people, including a
Filipino couple, decided to adopt the religion of Islam as their
new way of life in a moderate ceremony yesterday morning at the
Pusat Da'wah Islamiah in Berakas.
Filipino husband and wife, Lino
Aricheta Ortanez and Estrelita R Mendoza, embraced the religion
and took up the Muslim names of Abdul Aziz Abdullah and Nur
Hidayah Abdullah.
Another local Dusun, Ruzy bin
Rintong, also embraced Islam and adopted the Muslim name of
Muhammad Ruzy bin Abdullah Rintong.
The ceremony was officiated by
the Acting Assistant Director of the Pusat Da'wah Islamiah,
Ustazah Hajah Hasnah Hj Omar.
The new converts received
souvenirs from the chief guest and they were treated to the
religious activity of Dikir Merhaban by those attending the
ceremony.
Abd Aziz, 44, an architect who
had been working in Brunei Darussalam for 15 years narrated the
events that lead to his conversion.
"Months ago, I was
approached three times in my dreams by a shadowy white figure
advising me to embrace Islam. I told the figure that I would
embrace Islam if I could get back my architectural calculator,
which I lost during a fire at my rented accommodation in
Bengkurong few years ago.
"I was not actually
serious because never in my wildest dream that I would one day
embrace the religion Islam. But the calculator definitely had a
sentimental value because I had it since I started my job in
Brunei Darussalam as a consultant for Asasreka Arkitek at
Halimatul Saadiah Building in Gadong about 15 years ago,"
he said.
He did not think much about it
because in reality he knew he would never get back the
calculator as "I lost everything in the fire except for the
clothes I wore on that fateful day".
However, when he opened the
drawer of his table a few days later, he was shocked to find the
calculator lying there.
"I could not believe it
because I am now at my new job as a consultant at another
office. When I lost the calculator to the fire I did not have a
steady job and moved from one career to another," he said.
He said the figure came again
for one last time in his dream two nights after he found the
calculator and reminded him about the promise.
"I talked to my wife as
this had become a serious matter. I did not want to break my
promise which could prove disastrous. By now it looked like that
my mother-in-law in the Philippines may stood in the way as she,
being a devoted Christian, could object to our intention,"
he said.
However, when he called the
mother-in-law, instead of objecting, she congratulated them.
"Here I am fulfilling my
promise this morning. My wife and I had been learning Islam for
the past few weeks and I found Islam is in fact a way of life
that promotes tolerance, stability and success," he said
yesterday.
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