Sixteen Filipinos reverted to Islam at the headquarters of Princess Al-Anood Philanthropic Foundation in Riyadh on Sunday (September 2). The new reverts pronounced the Shahada testimony before Prince Saud bin Fahd, declaring: “I bear witness that there is no God but Allah and Muhammad is His messenger,” reports Abdul Hannan Tago, in Arab News.
Prince Saud, who is the Foundation’s vice president and executive committee president, officiated the ceremony. The 16 Filipinos pronounced the testimony together after him.
The Foundation’s Secretary-General Youssef bin Othman Al-Huzaim and a number of scholars belonging to the Al-Batha Cooperative Office for Call and Guidance were among those present.
As many as 28,000 expatriates reverted to Islam at the Batha centre, which gets support from Princess Al-Anood Philanthropic Foundation, with 80 of them in the first 10 days of this blessed month, according to the report.
Speaking on the occasion, Prince Saud said: “It was really a great pleasure to be here at this evening to witness this event. Last year, I witnessed some of your colleagues who became Muslim. I would like to tell you that your decision today to embrace Islam is really the best in your life.”
He observed: “Choosing the right religion is very important. I think our colleagues here have explained to you many things about Islam – its greatness, its simplicity, and also it being the last religion that God revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him).
Asked why so many of the new entrants were from the Philippines, the Sheikh said that many parts of the country are still upholding the Islamic identity. The capital of the country, Manila, was once known as Amanullah, he said, which explains the origin of the Philippines and its historical link with Muslims. “We don’t call those new entrants as new Muslims, but as reverts to Islam.”
One of the reverts from Cavite, Philippines, explained what attracted him about Islam while living in Saudi Arabia, saying that people here are closer and more devoted to their religious duties. They treat people alike regardless of their country of origin and their faith affiliation.