My Brother’s Engagement

My elder brother, Khairin Ambia Putra just got engaged to his Filipino girlfriend, Putri Nur Marian, also known as Ann. Alhamdulillah, she converted to Islam a few months ago. My parents, my uncles and aunts and my brother went to Cebu, Philippines for the engagement. It was held two times on the same day at 25 June 2011. The first one, following the Malay tradition and the second one, the Filipino tradition. Me and my wife couldn't make it because of our little Noah, still being too small to travel long distance. My eldest brother and wife also couldn't make it due to work.

It was a great and new experience for them in Cebu. This is the first time, our family members and relatives having a new member, from outside of Malaysia. They will get married, inshaAllah on 16 July 2011 and the reception will be held on 09 October 2011. Soon, I will have another sister in-law.

It is a big responsibility to guide a new Muslimah in Islam. It is a tough job especially for my elder brother. We ourselves are not that perfect but we can do our best in guiding her. As we do that, we can also improve ourselves  in being a better Muslim, inshaAllah.

There are some problems when it comes to marriage with outsiders. One of it is the culture. Another one is the religion. Eventhough she had converted to Islam, her family haven't. So, in order to arrange a ceremony, many things have to be considered. The food, the place that they are staying at, the rituals, the way of  dressing and also the way an engagement is done. All the above must not be against the teaching of Islam. However, it's a dilemma for us, to restrict this and that. If we restrict too many things, then they might have a bad impression towards Islam and it would lead them not to see Islam as a beautiful religion. At some point, we have to give way to them in order not to hurt their feelings or offend them. I was not there but I hope they could get along and in the same time, respect each other’s religion and culture.

For a new Muslimah staying in Malaysia, some things have to be cleared up to her. It is because, some things are only Malay traditions and don’t have anything to do with Islam. She might get confused between what is Malay and what is Islam. Some rituals in Malay traditions are against Islam’s beliefs and if she misunderstood that it is a part of Islam, it destroys the originality of Islam and pollutes Islam. We don’t want her to become a Malay but we want her to become a good Muslim.

I personally, am grateful that she accepted Islam to be her new religion. What I hope is that she'll be a good Muslimah with a base that is powerful to really and truly believe there is no God but Allah and Muhammad is His messenger. InshaAllah.


I wish the best for them!


CONGRATULATIONS BANG LANG and ANN!