ALOR STAR: Despite struggling in the beginning, in just three weeks, a new convert, Abdullah Yong proved with sheer determination he could fast the whole day.
"It was challenging at the beginning but I eventually got used to it," said the 45-year-old store assistant when asked about his first Ramadan fasting experience.
Abdullah said he was advised to take it easy in the first week and learnt to fast until noon only.
"It was hard at the beginning but in the second week I managed to fast until the afternoon.
"Alhamdulillah, in this third week, I was able to fast until Maghrib like other Muslims," he said with a broad smile when met at a Ramadan iftar organised by the Hidayah Centre Foundation (HCF) at a hotel here yesterday.
"I am also making progress learning how to read the Quran. Being academically challenged, I have always struggled but it feels easier now after I converted," he added.
Abdullah who was born with learning difficulties said he had found peace after converting to the religion last year.
"Growing up academically challenged was very tough and I am used to others belittling me. But that all changed after I converted, I feel more secure and safe as a Muslim," he said.
During the programme, the foundation also presented a business grant worth RM2,000 each to three Muslim converts.
One of the recipients, Farezkka Abdullah, 28, said she was grateful for the support by the foundation.
Farezzka, who hails from Sabah said she has been a Muslim officially for 10 years, after she converted through marriage.
However the marriage did not work out and she broke up with her former husband after eight years before moving to Kedah, where she began to fully embrace and practice the religion.
"I actually started to learn more about Islam after my second marriage and I am very grateful for all the support I have been getting from people around me here," she said.
Meanwhile, HCF director of operations, Abdul Rahim Abdul Hamid said that the programme was an annual event organised by the organisation.
He said the objective of the programme was to bring newly converted Muslims closer, to encourage them to form a tight-knit community while inspiring them to contribute to society.
HCF Kedah manager, Noorhafizzuddin Md Zin, said besides welcoming the new converts, the foundation also presented tokens of appreciation to its volunteers who had been supporting its charity works.