1,400 embrace Islam in Qatar in 2009
Latest Update: Monday12/10/2009October, 2009, 01:10 AM Doha Time
A total of 1,400 people converted to Islam at the Qatar Islamic Cultural Centre (Fanar) this year, according to a recent report issued by the centre.
The 2008-2009 annual report, which highlighted the Fanar’s achievements, said that the new Muslims were from 20 different nationalities and religions.
About the reasons behind their acceptance of Islam, the report cited marriage to a Muslim, the Muslims’ way of life, reading about Islam, unconvinced about the previous faith among other reasons.
Aisha, a 51-year-old Russian expatriate, was quoted as saying that she converted from Christianity after reading about Islam in Qatar, while Sally, a Lebanese expatriate, said her decision to get married to a Muslim was a main factor and that she was more convinced of accepting Jesus Christ as a prophet of God rather than a son.
George, who became Abdullah, said his colleagues at work helped him to understand Islam, while Moaz said he was a Hindu and decided to embrace Islam to escape from the stigma of being branded as Dalit in his previous faith.
Fanar seeks to motivate non-Muslims to become more informed about Islam, by diffusing Islamic culture through multiple styles and means.
The centre offers several programmes for non-Arabs as well as non-Muslims, including courses on the Arabic language, Arabic calligraphy and Islamic arts, Islamic Shari’ah.
A total of 1,400 people converted to Islam at the Qatar Islamic Cultural Centre (Fanar) this year, according to a recent report issued by the centre.
The 2008-2009 annual report, which highlighted the Fanar’s achievements, said that the new Muslims were from 20 different nationalities and religions.
About the reasons behind their acceptance of Islam, the report cited marriage to a Muslim, the Muslims’ way of life, reading about Islam, unconvinced about the previous faith among other reasons.
Aisha, a 51-year-old Russian expatriate, was quoted as saying that she converted from Christianity after reading about Islam in Qatar, while Sally, a Lebanese expatriate, said her decision to get married to a Muslim was a main factor and that she was more convinced of accepting Jesus Christ as a prophet of God rather than a son.
George, who became Abdullah, said his colleagues at work helped him to understand Islam, while Moaz said he was a Hindu and decided to embrace Islam to escape from the stigma of being branded as Dalit in his previous faith.
Fanar seeks to motivate non-Muslims to become more informed about Islam, by diffusing Islamic culture through multiple styles and means.
The centre offers several programmes for non-Arabs as well as non-Muslims, including courses on the Arabic language, Arabic calligraphy and Islamic arts, Islamic Shari’ah.
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