The Malaysian Insight

What is the meaning of life? Why am I in this world? These are the questions that drove Nur Hidayah Ang to look for answers in religion. The 44-year-old officially embraced Islam in May 2017.

While admitting she misunderstood Islam as a child, her ethnic Chinese family are closely tied to the religion. Her brother was the first to convert at 18, followed by two sisters. Just a week after Nur Hidayah’s registration at the Selangor Islamic Affairs Council (MAIS), their mother also decided to follow in her footsteps.

“She objected to my conversion at first. But after she saw the difference and how Islam changed us, she decided to convert also,” Nur Hidayah told The Malaysian Insight, adding that the decision also caught her by surprise.

Nur Hidayah previously found comfort in the teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses, but when that fell through, it was her brother who reintroduced her to Islam. She began attending religious lessons before taking the next step to convert.

This is Nur Hidayah’s first Ramadan and with fasting, she is experiencing the feeling of hunger and thirst faced by the less fortunate.

“It’s really a chance for me to learn how to control myself. Before this, if I was thirsty, I can just take a drink,” she said.

“In the morning, I have to wake up early for sahur and then in the evening, there’s the solat tarawih. So, my biggest challenge is not getting enough sleep.”

For her first Hari Raya Aidilfitri as a Muslim, Nur Hidayah said she will pray at the mosque before visiting family.

“I didn’t prepare anything at home. This Raya is more of visiting,” she said.

“Raya is usually more lively than Chinese New Year for my family, so I’m excited.” – June 11, 2017.