THIRTY THREE PEOPLE CONVERT TO ISLAM IN HONGKONG

Wanchai, 16 Dzulqa’idah 1434 / 22 September 2013 ( MINA ) – There are 33 people from various countries gathered on Sunday ( 22/9 ) at the Masjid Ammar, Wanchai City, Hong Kong Island, to pledge the shahadah as a delarataion that they become Muslims.

The 33 people consist of 31 women and two men. “They come from different countries such as Hong Kong , Philippines, Canada, Nepal, and the majority come from Indonesia,” Sany Ajidin (one of the women who attended the event) told MINA ( Mi’raj News Agency )’s correspondent.

The event run well, started from two until four in the afternoon local time. The Islamic Union of Hong Kong as the event organizer said this event held regularly as a guidance for Mualaf (new Musllim) in Hong Kong, confirmed the rapid growth of Islam in the country.

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Sany Ajidin is an Indonesian Citizen who has been in Hong Kong for many years. She said the converters are the foreigners who are living and working in Hong Kong. The Islamic Union of Hong Kong also hold the gathering of Muslims regularly every year.

“Alhamdulillah , every year, there are dozens of people pledge shahadah to become Muslims in this place. So, it proves that Islam is growing rapidly in Hong Kong ,” said Sany .

According to Sany, previously, there were also many Arab and Asian people who found Islam and pledge shahadah in Hongkong. Now, they are still in regular guidance of The Islamic Union of Hong Kong.

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This year, the large Islamic organizations in Hong Kong purposely invites scholars from Egypt and Japan to guide the new converts and share their experience as a Muslim.

Sheikh Muhammad Salah from Egypt attended the event and give tausiyah to the new converts. While from Japan, Sheikh Sulaiman Wong joined and give guidance to the young converts.

Sany said that she was proud to join the events. ” Listening to the stories how they found Islam makes me feel more grateful because I was already a Muslim from my birthday. So, it strengthens the faith in my heart”.

The organization also regularly hold Islamic studies every week, usually it takes every Sunday or national holiday. Indonesian scholars often give Islamic lectures as well.

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According to a humanitarian NGO Dompet Dhuafa, the number of Muslims in Hong Kong in 2013 amounted to about 250 thousands. At least, 10 thousands of them are the native Hong Kong who embraced Islam and among others are immigrants from other countries from Asia, Europe, and Middle East . ( L/P03/P04/E1)

Mi’raj News Agency ( MINA )