Filipina Muslim convert blessed by first Ramadan in UAE

Last August, April Manipis, who was raised as a Roman Catholic, registered as a Muslim at the Shariah Court in Abu Dhabi, where she recited the shahada, or the testimony of faith.

April Manipis is newly converted to Islam. She took the Muslim name Aisha Dahab. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National

ABU DHABI // When April Manipis heard the adhan call to prayer for the first time, it stirred something in her heart.

“I felt deep inside that I was the one being called,” said Ms Manipis, 27, a sales executive from the Philippines who arrived in the UAE in March 2010.

“The melodious sound of the adhan resonated throughout the surroundings that day and the succeeding days, weeks, months and years, bringing a peaceful feeling to my heart.”

From her balcony, she saw men flocking to the mosque with their prayer mats.

“They looked fresh and clean as they hurried towards the mosque,” Ms Manipis said. “I was amazed by these God-fearing men prostrating during their prayers.”

Raised as a Roman Catholic, she has made a conscious effort to understand Islamic teachings and way of life. Last August, she registered as a Muslim at the Shariah Court in Abu Dhabi, where she recited the shahada, or the testimony of faith.

Conversion to Islam requires converts to profess their shahada in front of two witnesses. This is the first pillar of Islam. The other four are prayer, fasting during Ramadan, giving to charity and going to Mecca at least once for Haj pilgrimage.

She took the Muslim name Aisha Dahab. Aisha is the wife of Prophet Mohammed and Dahab is the Arabic word for gold.

“Society is continuously facing issues such as violence against women and children, while Islam has a high regard for women, worth more than gold,” Ms Manipis said.

Her parents and siblings are Catholic but have accepted her new faith, while her colleagues, friends and clients found the move intriguing.

“Most people were assuming I got married or was about to get married,” Ms Manipis said. “I’m single and proud to be a Muslimah.”

She had long been looking forward to her first Ramadan.

“I’ve been praying for a successful fasting,” she said. “This blessed month helps us deepen our faith, gain piety and strengthen our relationship with Allah.”

This upcoming Eid, Ms Manipis plans to visit the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and watch the sunset while waiting for the call for maghrib prayers. “I’ll have dinner at my favourite place after and head to the mall for some Eid shopping for my family back home,” she said.

As she does not speak Arabic, she is keen on improving her language skills to read and recite the Quran correctly and strengthen her faith by participating in lectures at the New Muslim Centre in Abu Dhabi.

“After gaining considerable knowledge, I would like to share it with those seeking to understand Islam and Muslims,” she said.