MUSCAT – As spirituality reached its peak during Ramadan, seventy-two people reverted to Islam during the holy month in Oman, feeling the blessings of fasting and Qur’an.
Reverts pronounced their shahada or declaration of faith during several events organized during the holy month by the Ministry of Endowment and Religious Affairs.
The events gave non-Muslims the chance to learn about the religion and clarify their doubts about certain aspects of the religion.
“Some of them came to Oman with a previous knowledge of what Islam was like. Of course most of them think it is harsh and tough (like on media) but they were amazed by the amount of love and respect we have for one another,” Sheikh Abdulrahman Al Khalili, head of the Department of Islamic Knowledge and Cultural Exchange, told Times of Oman on Monday, July 11.
“Some of them tried to understand the religion better before deciding to convert to Islam or they would come to us and declare that they wanted to convert,” he added.
The reverts came from different nationalities including, 21 Filipino women and one Filipino man, 11 Ugandan women, 10 Sri Lankan women and 29 people from other nationalities.
“After they convert, we will give them books to learn more about the religion to make them better Muslims and for them to understand the religion,” said Al Khalili.
“The converts will receive a certificate and documents to prove they are Muslim, which the ministry processes during their conversion,” he added.
Ramadan is the holiest month in Islamic calendar.
In Ramadan, adult Muslims, save the sick and those traveling, abstain from food, drink, smoking and sex between dawn and sunset.
Muslims dedicate their time during the holy month to become closer to Allah through prayer, self-restraint and good deeds.
Around the globe, Muslims observe Ramadan with a set of traditional rituals including family gathering at iftar, religious lessons, special evening prayer and helping the poor, Muslims and non Muslims alike.
The rate of non Muslims who embraced Islam this year month of Ramadan has increased.
During this Ramadan, 250 expatriates reverted to Islam in Kuwait according to the Islam Presentation Committee (IPC).
In 2015, about two hundred and twenty Philippine nationals in Saudi Arabia reverted to Islam a few days after sharing iftar with the Islamic Guidance Office in Makkah.
The same month saw twenty expatriate workers from the Philippines reverted to Islam in a Riyadh mosque after worshippers concluded taraweeh prayer.
The expats, most of them from the Philippines, all work at King Abdulaziz University Hospital in Riyadh.