Taken from Daily Post North Wales
STUART Williams and his wife Kate are expecting their first baby.
Like many young couples on the brink of this life-changing event, they are full of anticipation. But Stuart and Kate are especially excited because they believe their baby will be the first white Muslim born in Wales.
The couple, who live in Port Talbot, are part of a growing UK trend of white Islam converts, and a new BBC Wales show, New Nation: White, Welsh and Muslim, follows their experiences.
The documentary also meets Stuart’s older brother Omer – formerly known as Owain – who converted to Islam at the age of 17. Omer feels when religious relations are so delicate, he’s in a unique position to challenge racism and stereotypes.
“Just the way I look, I could quite as easily be a Hell’s Angel,” says Omer of his beard, the only visible clue to his faith.”
Omer lives near Newport with his wife Shereen, who is originally from Singapore and embraces multiculturalism. Together with Omer, she hosts radio programme Salaam Shalom, an innovative idea aimed at bringing Jews and Muslims together.
The arrival of Stuart and Kate’s baby, named Adam, is joyful for the whole family. “This little one is born Welsh and Muslim from the start,” says Omer, a proud uncle. “Home-grown Muslims like little Adam will be able to bridge the gap even better than we’ve done. There’s a lot of hope, I think, in the younger generation.”
The documentary was broadcasted on BBC One, 10:35pm Monday 19th January 2009.
Narrated by Siwan Morris.
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Saturday, February 21, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Number of people adopting Islam rises by 71% in Dubai
Taken from The National, 29.01.09
ByRasha Elass
DUBAI // The Government said yesterday that 2,763 people converted to Islam in Dubai last year, 71 per cent more than in 2007.
The Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department said the converts, from 72 countries, included 1,869 women.
Dr Hamad al Shaibani, director general of the department, said: “We are delivering our message properly by spreading Islamic culture. ... We are lending special care to new Muslims, providing them with all they need from audiovisual materials, books, lectures and training programmes in all languages so as to become true Muslims.”
Conversion to Islam is a simple process that requires the convert to say the shahada in front of two witnesses. He or she must then adhere to Islam’s four other pillars, including prayer, fasting during Ramadan, giving an annual percentage of net worth to charity and going to Mecca at least once for pilgrimage.
Non-Muslim men who marry Muslim women are required by Sharia law to convert to Islam. Non-Muslim women, however, do not need to convert to marry Muslim men, though many do.
The Dubai Islamic authority did not say how many converted for the sake of marriage. But the report indicated that all those who converted did so willingly.
“The converts last year came to us by their free will, and showed a sincere desire to embrace Islam out of personal conviction that it is the true way,” said Ayesha al Kash, the head of education and training at the department.The Quran has been translated into almost all languages and the authority gives it free to anyone who is interested.
Zayed House in Al Ain also provides services to new Muslims, including helping them with Arabic, Islamic jurisprudence and Quran memorisation. and teaching them how to worship.
Last year Zayed House extended such services beyond the country by inviting delegations of non-Arabic-speaking Muslims, including a group of American women and Malaysian government employees, to teach them about Islam.
ByRasha Elass
DUBAI // The Government said yesterday that 2,763 people converted to Islam in Dubai last year, 71 per cent more than in 2007.
The Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department said the converts, from 72 countries, included 1,869 women.
Dr Hamad al Shaibani, director general of the department, said: “We are delivering our message properly by spreading Islamic culture. ... We are lending special care to new Muslims, providing them with all they need from audiovisual materials, books, lectures and training programmes in all languages so as to become true Muslims.”
Conversion to Islam is a simple process that requires the convert to say the shahada in front of two witnesses. He or she must then adhere to Islam’s four other pillars, including prayer, fasting during Ramadan, giving an annual percentage of net worth to charity and going to Mecca at least once for pilgrimage.
Non-Muslim men who marry Muslim women are required by Sharia law to convert to Islam. Non-Muslim women, however, do not need to convert to marry Muslim men, though many do.
The Dubai Islamic authority did not say how many converted for the sake of marriage. But the report indicated that all those who converted did so willingly.
“The converts last year came to us by their free will, and showed a sincere desire to embrace Islam out of personal conviction that it is the true way,” said Ayesha al Kash, the head of education and training at the department.The Quran has been translated into almost all languages and the authority gives it free to anyone who is interested.
Zayed House in Al Ain also provides services to new Muslims, including helping them with Arabic, Islamic jurisprudence and Quran memorisation. and teaching them how to worship.
Last year Zayed House extended such services beyond the country by inviting delegations of non-Arabic-speaking Muslims, including a group of American women and Malaysian government employees, to teach them about Islam.
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