SHAH ALAM: After nearly three decades of waiting, Dec 20 marked the happiest moment for Datuk Mohd Daud Leong Abdullah as his 101-year-old mother, Lee Bee Har, embraced Islam.
The moment was even sweeter as Mohd Daud, 59, personally witnessed his mother reciting the Shahada with the help of independent preacher Firdaus Wong, who is also the president of Multiracial Reverts Muslims.
Mohd Daud said that he and his family were overjoyed by his mother's conversion, a moment they had long prayed for.
"Previously, my mother was ready, and I tried to help her embrace Islam, but she couldn't pronounce the Shahada correctly at the time. Perhaps it wasn't the right time then. Last Friday, Ustaz Firdaus came to our house to assist. Ustaz said he would try his best to help because everything is by Allah's will. Alhamdulillah, when she recited the Shahada, her pronunciation was fluent. The moment she officially became a Muslim, I immediately hugged and kissed her because it was a moment I had been waiting for so long," he said when contacted by Harian Metro.
Mohd Daud said convincing his mother to accept Islam was no easy task, but he remained persistent, trying to spark her interest in the faith through his actions and good example.
"Actually, ever since I converted to Islam more than 28 years ago, I've been trying to encourage my mother to follow suit. Initially, it was challenging to convey the teachings of Islam to her, and she was hesitant every time I brought up the subject. It wasn't easy because she's the one who gave birth to me, and she also had the misconception that converting to Islam meant becoming Malay, whereas only the religion changes, not one's ethnicity. But I followed the advice of Ustaz, showing through actions by being a more loving, caring, and dutiful child. Over time, she noticed the change and gradually softened, becoming more open to the teachings I shared. Her interest in learning about Islam grew, especially over the past four years," he said.
As a son, Mohd Daud, who is also a lawyer, vowed not to abandon his mother but to continue guiding her in learning Islam.
"My mother looks so happy after embracing Islam, smiling even in her sleep. Her joy is evident, as we live together. Besides guiding her, I also plan to take her to perform Umrah in the Holy Land one day. I pray that this dream comes true, and I also hope that I can enter paradise with my mother and reunite with her there," he said.