From Nurliyana Farhah Ruslan
MAKKAH, May 26 (Bernama) -- After 36 years of his conversion to Islam, Mohd Saufi Lim Abdullah, 71, finally stepped foot in the Holy Land to complete the fifth pillar of Islam, the sacred pilgrimage.
Formerly known as Kris Lim, Mohd Saufi, who is of Baba and Nyonya descent, described his conversion as the most profound spiritual journey of his life. He has since held on to the dream of performing the haj.
"I was overwhelmed with emotion and thought, why wasn't I told earlier that Islam is the truth... that it helps us to better ourselves. Islam is not just a set of teachings but a way of life. It taught me how to be a better human being," he said when met at Abraj Al Tayseer here recently.
Mohd Saufi, who lives in Bintulu, Sarawak, said he was 35 and active as a preacher of another faith involved in overseas missions, including the Philippines.
"When the economy took a downturn, I was sent to a house of worship in Johor Bahru. I became friends with Malay youths there who showed me the beauty of Islam. They set a good example, which drew me in," he said.
He said before he accepted the Islamic faith, he had a strange dream that marked his spiritual journey where he saw himself caught in a struggle between his former beliefs and the Islamic faith.
"I dreamt that one foot was in a boat while the other was on a jetty. The boat represents my former religion, and the sturdy jetty symbolised Islam," he added.
Mohd Saufi recited the syahadah (declaration of faith) at the Johor Islamic Religious Council office in 1989, a month after his dream.
"I am the eldest of ten siblings. Seven of us have reverted to Islam. Among my main prayers in front of the Kaabah is for all my family members who have yet to accept Islam to receive guidance toward the right path.
"I pray Allah makes me a beacon to guide them to Islam. That was my vow when I first laid eyes on the Kaabah because my family is my greatest love," he said, his voice thick with emotion.
-- BERNAMA
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