Insight: Spreading word about Islamic teachings

The New Muslim Centre Sharjah is playing a pivotal role in educating Muslim converts in addition to encouraging others to adopt Islam. Free classes in Arabic, Islamic studies and fundamentals of Islam are held at the centre to educate the new Muslims.

The centre's learned Islamic scholars also deliver Friday sermons in English at Al Qasbah Mosque, which attracts hundreds of people. It also publishes books, pamphlets and other reading material in various languages to facilitate both new Muslims as well as non-Muslims.

One of its major activities is to conduct lectures at the shopping centres and hospitals to foreigners and also to non-practising Muslims.

The New Muslim Centre, which was established in 2000, aims at providing all possible facilities to new Muslims and non-Muslims in order to help them learn the basic teachings and practices of Islam. It provides guidelines English, Russian, Tagalog and Malayalam.

The centre was set up following the directives of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, to promote and spread Islam amongst the non-Arabic speaking community, especially non-Muslims and the new Muslims.

"We provide basic Islamic education to new Muslims in addition to social services and courses in Arabic, Islamic studies and fundamentals of Islam," said Tahir Khalid, director. Separate classes are held for men and women.

He said the staff and the volunteer Islamic scholars attached to the centre also regularly visit hospitals to enquire after patients.

"This practice inspires the patients and a number of them, impressed by our religious values, convert to Islam," he said, adding that teams of the centre also visit Sharjah Central Market and other shopping centres every Thursday to conduct lectures for non-Muslims, including the visitors.

"We also visit various other places, on invitation by different companies, offices and even homes, to deliver lectures and organise courses, both for non-Muslims and new Muslims," he added.

Some 60 to 100 people accept Islam every year through the centre. Most of those who have accepted Islam over the last couple of years are Filipinos, followed by Indians, and people from Europe, Eastern Europe, the CIS and Russia.

He said the teams also visit offices and companies to offer Dawaa and the response has been very positive.

"Recently, over 35 people working in an American company in Sharjah embraced Islam, and we have been holding regular classes for them at their company premises," he said, adding this was the largest number of individuals from any single company to convert to Islam.

"Some of the people convert to Islam after encouragement by their colleagues at offices, some at shopping malls, while housemaids accept Islam inspired by the good attitude and Islamic values of the Muslim families they work for," he said.

Islam, by very definition of the word, is the religion of peace, love and tranquillity, he said. Interaction of non-Muslims with righteous Muslims encourages them to study the religion.

Khalid, who was born in New York and embraced Islam in 1981 in Kochi, India, said the centre remains in touch with the new Muslim converts.

"Either we ask one of our volunteers to be in touch with the new Muslim to guide him whenever necessary, or we ask some of his neighbours to help him practise Islam and guide him in case of any confusion," he said, adding the centre also provides them with books and pamphlets, in addition to holding courses for them.

Khalid said the number of people embracing Islam, especially from Europe and the U.S., has increased since the September 11 incident.

"More people have got interested in Islam, they ask for information, read it and then accept Islam," he said, and observed that the number of single women accepting Islam and migrating to Gulf countries has also increased as they feel free to practise Islam here.

One of the most popular programmes is undoubtedly the Friday sermon in English. The centre started holding English Friday sermons at Al Qasbah Mosque last year and these have since proved very successful.

"Non-Muslims have also been invited to attend the English sermon on Friday," Khalid said.

In addition to English sermons, special lectures covering various issues are delivered by Islamic scholars who are available after the Juma prayers at Al Qasbah Mosque to answer any queries on various issues relating to Islam.

"We are also encouraging non-Muslims and especially the new Muslims from the non-Arabic speaking communities to attend the Friday sermon in English because it is aimed at helping them understand Islam," said Khalid.

He said people who are interested in Islam or have any questions or want to get information should come to Al Qasbah Mosque on Friday as bilingual Islamic scholars are available there to guide them on Islamic issues. Or they can visit the New Muslim Centre.

"The response to the English sermon has been so overwhelming that over 600 people, including a large number of women attend it. But the mosque has a capacity of less than 300 people," he said, adding a number of people offer their prayers in the open area outside, while a number of others find it difficult to find space during the sermons.

"The main objective of starting the English sermon was to help non-Arabic people understand what the Imam says during the Friday sermon because many people who go for prayers do not understand the sermon, which covers various social and Islamic issues."

On his future plans, Khalid said a proposal to hold a conference here is in the pipeline.