BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

A FILIPINO helper’s desire to convert to Islam was finally fulfilled in a ceremony held yesterday afternoon at a residence in Kampung Tanah Jambu, Jalan Muara.

Khairun Nida Jabian Abdullah, formerly known as Caroline Chua Jabian, said she was happy to finally become a Muslim after years of waiting.

“I wanted to convert quite a while ago but some of my friends stopped me,” she said.

“Then one day I had a dream where I told my late employer that I wanted help converting to Islam. I woke up the next morning and told her daughter that I wanted to convert.

“She thought I wanted to learn about Islam first and we both went to the Islamic Da’wah Centre to ask about the procedure. Officers from the centre told me that I can convert first then learn along the way.”

Before this, Khairun Nida Jabian was a Roman Catholic. She has been interested in Islam since 1997.

“Everytime I returne to the Philippines, I always ensure that I use separate plates and stopped eating non-halal food because I wanted to learn more about Islam,” she said.

The 47-year-old has been in Brunei since 1990.

The conversion ceremony was hosted by Pehin Datu Penglima Colonel (R) Dato Paduka Hj Abd Jalil Hj Ahmad.

According to statistics from the Islamic Da’wah Centre, the number of new Muslim converts in the Brunei-Muara district as of June this year is 120.

Tthe total number of converts in the country from January to June this year is 240.

The Brunei Times