DUBAI – More than 3000 people from 69 nationalities converted to Islam in 2017 at the Emirati philanthropic and charitable organization Dar Al Ber Society, the organization’s annual report revealed.
“Up to 2,785 of these became Muslims at the main center in Dubai in comparison to 229 fresh Muslims at the Ras Al Khaimah branch,” unveiled Rashid Al Junaibi, director of the center in an interview with Khaleej Times on Monday.
The organization, founded in 1978 to promote the authentic teachings of Islam, has four headquarters in Dubai as well as two branches in Ras Al Khaimah and Ajman.
“Special programs are being held round the year to develop people’s awareness about Islam, leave alone the diverse courses organized to rehabilitate the new Muslims and enlighten them about their new religion in a simplified way,” Al Junaibi pointed out.
The center programs are open to both male and female converts, he continued.
“The new Muslims, hailing from 69 nationalities, originally come from six continents; 17 from Asian, 15 Africa, 27 Europe, two North America, and seven from South America and Australia,” he said.
“The center, committed to its sacred mission, organized 3,798 religious and cultural lectures for foreign communities last year, Al Junaibi disclosed. “These included 3,275 in Dubai and 523 in Ras Al Khaimah.”
Moreover, the center also got engaged with over 1,100,000 cultural issues, distrubuted into more than 20 languages nationwide.
“These were distributed over 150 sites mostly visited by foreigners, like the museums, shopping centers, malls, bus and metro stations all over the country,” the director added.
Al Junaibi indicated that the center then issues a unified certificate to authenticate the conversion of any new Muslim in association with the Dubai Courts, and the Department of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities in Dubai.
“Should anyone have interest in embracing Islam, they need to bear witness that there is no God but Allah, and Mohammed is his messenger. They have then to fill in a special form, and submit certain documents, such as a passport copy, a valid residence permit, and a photograph,” he said.
It also offers introductory lectures and courses to new Muslims to help them understand the teachings of Islam. They are also provided with simplified brochures and booklets on Islam in their own languages.