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Dubai, 28th August 2010
Dubai, 28th August 2010
The Pilipino night of the Ramadan Forum organized by Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) under the title "Gathering to Succeed” witnessed a great surprise to the audience and organizing committee. 122 ladies and 3 men embraced Islam after attending the lecture of Shaykh Omar Penalbar, Islamic propagator from Phillipines who spoke about the message of Islam, its tolerance and lenience pointing out that Islam is the last Heavenly message and its followers must believe in its Messengers and Prophets.
Shaykh Omar Penalbar said: "About 99 people embraced Islam in one night after I gave a lecture in Philippines but tonight is the biggest achievement for me. I was asked by the ladies tent to talk more about Islam to fulfill the desire of some ladies in getting more acquainted to Islam. The lecture took more than 2 hours although it was supposed to be 45 minutes only. At the beginning of the lecture about 67 people wanted to embrace Islam but by the end of the night the number reached 125."
Mohammad Al Hashemi, Head of the Ramadan Forum assured that he expected that the lecture will witness the embracement of some people into Islam but not exceeding this number pointing out that when they began listening to the lecture they were very touched with the lecture and wanted to embrace Islam in groups. Delivering a lecture during the Ramadan forum in Tagalog language had a great impact on the audience.
With regards to the gifts of the Ramadan forum to the New Muslims, Al Hashemi stated that valuable gifts are given to the new Muslims in celebration of their embracement to Islam including several books about Islam in their language to help them get more information about Islam, its rituals and general concepts and we also communicate with organizations and authorities to give more advocacy and religious services to these people.
"Thanks to the Emirati families who have Pilipino workers and maids for encouraging them to attend the Ramadan forum and getting acquainted to Islam. Our staff and guides will communicate with the new Muslims to increase their awareness of the new religion", he concluded.
Meanwhile Emanuel, also known as Manu, a new Pilipino Muslim, who came with one of the media members out of curiosity and to cover the event in Ramadan, had no intention to embrace Islam at all but amazingly did not stop crying all along the lecture. After the lecture, the audience was surprised to see him step to Shaykh Omar Penalbar with tears in his eyes asking for embracing Islam.
Emanuel who arrived in the UAE five years ago never thought of embracing Islam but today is his new birth date after spending 47 years away from Islam; Emanuel began crying and could not hold his tears after attending the lecture.
“When I heard about the lecture, I was very keen to come and listen, but I did not know how to go as I am staying in Jumeirah. Unexpectedly, Allah sent me an Arab friend who offered me a lift to and from the forum,” he said. Manu, who has been working in a TV channel since 2006, felt blessed to have this chance. “I feel different. All my sins are washed up and all my ‘black points (bad deeds) have become green (good deeds). I am born anew,” he told Khaleej Times. “I am no longer alone. My new brothers in Islam are all around me. I am very happy to know the true religion. This adds more responsibility on me to tell my family and friends about this merciful and tolerant religion. There is still hope; we can start a new chapter of our life again,” he said.
The DTCM has organized the non-Arabic version of the 9th Ramadan Forum titled "Gathering to Succeed”, for the first time as part of their efforts to bringing better understanding of the heritage and culture of Dubai. It ended on 27th August 2010 with the Pilipino night.
Administrator of Ramadan Forum, Mohammed Al Hashemi, said Pilipino people are very kind-hearted. “Knowing about Islam, they convert individually and in groups. Valuable gifts and books on Islam are then given to all new Muslims to know more about the teachings of their religion.” The Ninth Ramadan Forum concluded on Saturday night with an Arabic lecture titled "Sulaiman Hoopoe" by popular Saudi scholar Dr. Sheikh Mohammad Al Uraifi.
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Ma'ssalaamah.
AbuMustafa Arshad Khan.
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