Brunei has been seeing a surge in conversion ceremonies, according to the Islamic Da’wah Centre (PDI) statistics. The majority of converts are from the ethnic Dusun and Iban communities.
Among those embracing Islam from the Iban community are siblings Muhammad Nur Aniq Zaquan bin Siliman, Nur Arianna Delisha binti Siliman, and Muhammad Aniq Anaqi bin Siliman.
Muhammad Nur Aniq Zaquan, the eldest of the three siblings, shared that their decision to convert to Islam was influenced by their exposure to the practice and the support of family members and relatives who had already embraced the religion.
“Growing up in an environment where we were surrounded by Muslim friends and colleagues at school and work, we frequently witnessed their devotion to their religious obligations. This included daily prayers and fasting during Ramadhan.
“These experiences led us to our decision to embrace Islam ourselves,” he explained.
The parents of Muhammad Nur Aniq Zaquan also endorsed their children’s decision to convert.
“We prepared ourselves spiritually and mentally, pledging to fulfil our duties as Muslims to the best of our abilities.
“With our readiness and sincere commitment to Islam, everything went smoothly. We are forever grateful to our foster family for hosting us during our conversion,” he added.
The three siblings firmly believe that Islam is the true and pure religion, which further solidified their intention to convert.
On the other hand, born and raised as an Iban, Liwany anak Linggat chose to convert to Islam after gaining knowledge about the religion’s history and practices during her school years.
“Alhamdulillah, some of my family members embraced Islam before me. This helped me to gain a deeper understanding of Islam. In our community, my friends and neighbours shared information about Islam, which further prepared me for the path,” she shared.
Nur Liwany, who is now known as Nur Liwany Daania binti Linggat, grew up surrounded by friends who shared their knowledge about Islam. From a young age, she was exposed to fasting and Hari Raya celebrations.
Nur Liwany was the second to convert. Her parents had known of her intention to convert to Islam since she was a child.
“My parents gave us the freedom to choose our paths in life and faith, so it was not difficult for me to express my wish. I pray that all my family members will soon follow me and my sister in embracing Islam,” she said.
Member of the Gurkha Reserve Unit Lance Corporal Muhammad Osman bin Abdullah Yancha under the Ministry of Defence is another Iban man who has chosen Islam as his faith.
“My first exposure to Islam was during my childhood. For 30 years, I lived in Kampong Bukit Beruang in Tutong. My friends belonged to the Malay community, and I was exposed to the religion since primary school,” he shared.
Muhammad Osman found peace in hearing the call of prayer (azan) and even memorised it by himself. He also used to watch Zikir programmes aired on Radio Television Brunei (RTB), expanding his interest in the religion and enabling him to recite and memorise Surah Al-Fatihah. However, he acknowledged that his pronunciation still needs some improvement.
“I used to observe my friends and schoolmates perform their prayers and fast. I voluntarily joined them in fasting without being asked. I began to understand the meaning of fasting,” Lance Corporal Muhammad Osman stated.
The strong sense of community and the emphasis on helping others, regardless of their race or religion, are some of the aspects of Islam that attracted him to learn more about the religion.
“Islam is a religion that teaches us the meaning of a peaceful, harmonious, clean and moderate life. It stresses the importance of helping others, regardless of their backgrounds,” added Muhammad Osman.
“I am grateful to have understanding and supportive parents who accept my decision,” he proudly smiled.
The recitation of the Syahadah, or the Islamic declaration marks the official conversion and signifies the beginning of the converts’ new journey as Muslims.
According to PDI, between January and May this year, 158 individuals had converted to Islam comprising those from various ethnic backgrounds, including Iban, Dusun, Murut, Chinese, Bisaya, Filipino, Europeans, and others.
The Brunei-Muara District recorded 66 adult and 10 child converts, Tutong with 42 adults and six children, Belait with 24 adults and two children, and Temburong with seven adults and one child.
Statistics also revealed that 97 of them were Bruneians, 21 were permanent residents, and 40 were green IC holders. – Lyna Mohamad
