Assalamualaikum my brothers and sisters in faith.

Bismillah irhaman irhahim…

I. INTRODUCTION:

Commissioner Taha Basman, thank you for encouraging the promotion of moderate Islamic insights, especially in today’s chaotic world—of violence and destruction. We long for peace. But before we can achieve any sense of peace, there must first understanding, first amongst fellow Muslims, then by other faiths.

Please allow me also to take this opportunity to thank CMM for the Ten outstanding Muslim Youth award I received last year. I am humbled by this honor and only hope aand pray that I can live up to this title, with Allah’s grace. Inshaallah. Alhamdulillah.

To our special guests, Muslim leaders all, thank you for your insights and wisdom. From your words today, I have grown richer and stronger in my faith.

This day reminds me of a passage I read in “ The Life of prophet Muhammad, Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him and his Moral Teaching,” compiled by Ustaz Ilyas Ismail:

When asked what is better, knowledge or wealth, Ali, the fourth Caliph of Islam who lived with the prophet replied:

1.        You are to guard your wealth, but knowledge guards you. So knowledge is better.

2.        Knowledge is better because it increases with distribution, while wealth decreases by that act.

3.        Knowledge is better because it cannot be stolen, while wealth can be stolen.

4.        Knowledge is better because it is boundless, while, wealth is limited and you must keep account of it.

5.        knowledge is better because knowledge illuminates the mind, while wealth is apt to blacken it.

6.        knowledge is better because knowledge induced the humanity in our Prophet in saying to God: “ We worship Thee as we are thy servants”.

The Prophet himself was a great lover of knowledge, that he frequently prayed ato Allah for it, and advised others to pray in the same way. Hence today, our collective prayers are answered. We are gathered here to listen, to share and to learn. Mashallah.

II. BODY

It was seven years ago when I first sensed the calling unto Islam. Although I was baptized a Roman Catholic, the more I read about Islam, the more I felt that I am Muslim in my heart. I believed in One God. I am obedient to One God. I prayed and worshiped one God. I am a Muslim.

My official reversion to Islam, though was in 2004. Or ‘balik-Islam’ as we say here in the Philippines. Naturally, many of my friends, even family were concerned and curious as to why I decided to turn to Islam, in my heart I say: ‘Whoever Allah chooses to guide, He leads to Islam, the one true religion…’

But to those concerned, I gently try to explain that my reversion to Islam was deliberate one. My father himself is ‘balik-Islam’. But I also took the initiative to study and read Islamic teachings and books, and listened to Islamic scholars. And my conclusion was: the simplicity and discipline of Islam brings me closer to God—praying five times a day, fasting during the month of Ramadhan are only some aspect of Islam that helps me think about God every moment of the day, to give thanks and ask forgiveness, as well as strengthens my will, my fortitude.

Furthermore, with no human intermediary, say a priest or one superior in faith, I feel a more personal relationship with God. I am accountable for all my actions and all my deeds, may it be good or bad, is between Allah and me. Allah who is All-Knowing, All-Merciful, knows what is in my heart, my niyat.

This is Islam. It is not terrorism as illustrated and depicted by some sectors in society today. Islam means peace. And this is one challenge we face in the growing suspicion towards Muslims, due to world events and bad press.

I dare not misrepresent myself a scholarly Muslim. I have a lot more to learn both from reading and from you my brothers and sisters, and certainly a long way to go before I am confident to perform Da’wah through teaching. But a brother in faith, Doctor Sherjan Khalim once told me that the best Da’wah is trough example, by living out the Muslim faith, and showing others what a good Muslim is.

Allah explained in Surah Al-Baqarah: verse 117 the characteristics of a good Muslim:

1.        One that has strong belief in Allah, the day of Judgment, the Angels, the Holy Book Qur’an and the Prophet.

2.        Willingness to give part of his/her wealth to the orphans, the poor, the travelers, and the slaves.

3.        Performing obligatory prayers five times a day.

4.        Giving Zakat to the poor and needy.

5.        Fulfilling his/her covenants when they are made.

6.        Having patience in facing difficulties during extreme poverty, sickness and doing battles.

It is simple. But as well all know, not necessarily easy.

Yet I believe there is even more to life than striving to be a good Muslim… it is BECOMING an EXCELLENT MUSLIM… brother, daughter, father, teacher, athlete, student, friend…being. We should strive to be excellent creatures of Allah. The life we are given may be a gift from God but what we make in our lives is OUR gift to God.

During a recent youth activity I helped facilitate amongst 50 plus out-of-school youth, public and private high school kids, I challenge them to do only thing: I challenged them to dream. As I would challenge the Muslim youth of today.

We each have one voice. May it be roar or a whisper…no one voice, no one dream is more important than another’s, at least not in God’s eyes, which is the only one that matters. Whatever our stature in life, rich or poor, weak or strong, educated or illiterate we each have a purpose, a mission to be fulfilled. And it is not to live and die, without making a difference in this world…our mission is to give glory to God every moment we can… To leave this world a little bit better than how we found it…

This is why God plants seed of dreams in our hearts.

Like a seedling of an acacia tree that can grow to a hundred feet with branches spread out towards the heavens, our dreams, once planted in our hearts and in our minds, had been placed there by Allah for a reason. It is up to us to heed to that call, to take action.

The most important lesson I have learned as an athlete is that with hard work, dedication, discipline, and determination, and God’s blessings through prayer, any goal can be achieved…the seed will grow like the acacia tree, cultivated by the hand of a farmer and nurtured by nature’s bounty of sunshine and rain, will grow manifest the splendor of God.

“So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seen improbable, and then when we summon the will…and with God’s grace, they soon become inevitable.”

III. CONCLUSION

I dare the Muslim Youth today to dream… to make a statement…to put a stamp in the world that you had LIVED and LABORED and DREAMED… all in the name of Allah.

When we stand in the direction of Allah, Allah will provide for all. As written in Surah 17 verse 30: “ Verily thy Lord doth provide sustenance in abundance for whom he pleaseth.”

Let no one say to you, you are not enough because you belong to a marginalized sector of society… let no one say to you, you cannot achieved, you cannot become or you cannot dream.

Heed the call… have courage amidst the difficulties. Both obstacles and adversaries are there to make us stronger and wiser; Be thankful for them… Rise to the challenge my brothers and sisters and their to dreams. Allah will provide.

Allahu Akbar! Shukran Jazilan

“ if I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain; if I can ease one life the aching, or cool one pain, or help one fainting robin unto his nest again, I shall not live in vain” - Emily Dickinson