Muslim converts - the true test!

In my earlier posting Ball in civil courts, but balls were missing? I discussed the rather sad case of a husband converting to Islam and consequentially presenting the Hindu ex-wife with a host of legal problems vis-à-vis their children. Abandoned by the civil courts, she has lost her kids to the now-Muslim husband.

Pro-Quality, a malaysiakini reader wrote in to ask Malaysian Muslims whether they really want a man such as Muhammad Shafi Saravanan Abdullah, formerly T Saravanan.

Pro-Quality said that this has been a man who married (entered into a contract) under the civil system. OK, sadly somewhere down the marriage path, things went sour and the marriage broke down.

Bloke converted to Islam. But Pro-Quality asked what we all asked – was it a genuine conversion (i.e. without the ulterior motive of pre-empting a struggle with his wife over child custody and property division) or a conversion of convenience.

Only Allah (swt) and Muhammad Shafi Saravanan Abdullah, formerly called T Saravanan, know. But Pro-Q said that the manner in which Saravanan tried to convert their two children to Islam without his wife's consent has raised questions as to his motives.

Pro-Q reckoned that while Saravanan has every right to convert to Islam, the only honourable course was for Saravanan to divorce Subshini, settle child custody and property issues under civil law (the original contracting law) before converting into Islam, especially before converting their children into Islam.

Pro-Q said Malaysian Muslims should ask themselves whether they just want quantity at the expense of quality, that is, any converts regardless of their motives, which might well be less than of genuine faith.

He quoted AAB who had pointed out that in Malaysia, we have first-class infrastructure but third-class mentality, meaning that the Islamic authorities should jaga standards* and not simply grant access to those converts who might be exploiting Islam for personal conveniences.

* maintain standards

Pro-Q said: “If we want switch the focus to quality, then Muslims would want this government-created loophole in the legal system closed to potential opportunists who use conversion as a means to their own ends.”

“It is also a reputational issue: The good reputation of Islam, its noble Prophet (pbuh) and its adherents are being called to question, both here and abroad, thanks to its latest convert in Malaysia and the way the case has been handled so far.”

Do you agree with Pro-Quality’s opinion? Should the Islamic authorities in Malaysia insist on wannabe converts sorting out their outstanding issues, especially on broken marriages, children and property, including a will, before they be allowed to embrace Islam?

Maybe that could be the test of true faith?