My name is Jaz Cooper. My father came from Liverpool. But, my mother was an Irish. Dublin was her homeland. But, we live in Melbourne, Australia right now.
I am the first child in our family, and I have a younger sister. I was born in an Atheist circumtance, just like my family. And that was 46 years ago.
Born in a family who they never know about God well, makes me had a lot of questions about that. About the life after in this world. And of course, other questions that I couldn’t asnwer it by myself or with asked my family. Then, I learned several religions. Christ, Catholic, even Buddhism.
Every day, I still had a lot of doubt and question. Looking for a spiritualism. Maybe, that’s word could describe me at that time. A young soul which wanted to know and learn more and more about God, where God was, how God was. And absolutely, I looked for a peace.
So, don’t be amazed about my experince above, because in that time I was still 20 years old. I loved travelling. Really love it, so I didn’t travel to another city, but also I traveled to another country. Until, I traveled to this two countries, there were Indonesia and Malaysia.
I had a habit, that’s I liked to walk around near the hotel in earlier morning. On one time, I had realize that my hotel was near to a mosque. So, when I did my habit, I see some people used their tidy clothes, sarong, and several equipment for praying (I thought) went to the mosque. And I didn’t know how I could feel better and peace when I saw them. I had never seen like that, in my country or others.
My curiosity made me wanted to know more about them. How their religion is. Until I knew that they’re moslem, their religion is Islam. Then, I began to learn. I even copied Alquran and several pages of hadits before I went home.
By that limited ‘knowledge supplies’, I started to search the nearest mosque or places which had Islamic forum in Melbourne. Day by day I enjoyed and I didn’t realize that had been two years since I had started to learn Islam. Till I made a big decision in my life. I believe in Islam and I wanted to be a moslem.
How was my family response? Of course, they ‘became red’. Escpecially my father. Because his one and only son began to know about God. And decided to be a moslem. He never talked to me then.
Until in 2002, I accompanied him to Hong Kong for our business needs. Since I ‘traveled’ in that country, I spent my time in computer rental often. Then, I met a women from Indonesia. Eti, that’s her name. We often meet at that time.
When I had to go home, we gave our email each other. So, we could keep in touch by a mail. Allah made us met again. That’s in Indonesia. Our relationship made us wanted to a better person, we had the same goal too. It made us wanted to have a serious relationship, so we’re married.
Since our marriage, Eti accompanied me to Melbourne. We started to make a muallaf community. Our aim is just want to preach (da’wah in Arabic), engaged people to know and want to be a moslem.
One of our activity is helping other muallafs or Australians who wants to marry a moslem. Especially from Indonesia. We’re knowing well that our approachment would be easier if we’re from the same race, same background. We don’t mean to be racis. But, in fact make a comforting is a key for make a better da’wah.
Not only that, I and my wife’re still making an approachment too to our family (in this term is my family). Who they never know and want to learn about God. It’s difficult for us, but we’re never stop trying. Because we believe that Allah would help us.
Nine years, we spread da’wah in Australia. Based on my friend recommendation, we decided to move again to Indonesia. Because I had to learn more about Islam. Gontor, that’s my destination.
I walks out from my job and left all of I had. My willpower and believeness in Allah made me stonger and brave to take the risks. I brought my wife too. Crazy, that’s what my father commented about my decision.
I just started those ‘journey’ with bismillah. Allah knows well about who had a strong and good believeness. By Allah grace, we met YDSF. So, I could get fully funded scholarship. I could enroll my study in Gontor and we also could manage our live cost by that scholarship.
Six years, I spent my education in Gontor. Learning more about Islam. It made me felt graceful. All of worldly needs just like nothing, if I could compare it with all that Allah gave to me and all about akhirah (Arabic term means life after this world).
We went home, in Melbourne. Then, I started to continued my career. Because at that time, I had another responsibilty. I’ve already had four children too.
Alhamdulillah, only those word that I can always say. Allah always help me. Made my steps become easier. Placed us in a better society too. Well, they knew that we’re moslem, but they never disturb or attack us. Good akhlaq, that’s the key.
I have a principle, that’s making akhirah be number one in any situation and condition. Not only me, I also teach my little family to have that principle too. I want my family have a strong believeness in Islam and Allah’s help. Indeed, our principle doesn’t same with my past life.
I’m not to be a poor now. Because I doesn’t only think about my life and making myself happy. I’m trying to manage my life and my family, how we could be better and helpful for others.
We develop again our muallaf community that I and my wife ever made. At the beginning, only four family joined us. But now, almost 20 family. Allah trusts me and give me a chance to make da’wah in that community. That’s really a grate graceful for me. Not only that, my one and only daughter has a wish to become a hafiza and has a hafiza school by herself.
If you live in a majority country which has a lot of moslem, you can salah (pray in Islam) at wherever mosque you want. It’s different with my country, which moslem become a minority here, we have to salah everywhere. Because, looking for a mosque is not easy.
Those condition doesn’t make decreasing our iman. It made us be more istiqamah (steadfastness). More of negavite issues of Islam makes us to spread the kindness more and more. In this country, they will never know if you’re Islam. They will know it when you refuse an alcoholic drink, never lie, always help others, and do many good things. Because they judge Islam like that.
In Ramadan, we have to survive more. First reason is we live in a country which majority of people is not moslem. Second reason, the evening here is longer than in others, Indonesia for example.
Salah in front of others is not a judgement that you’re a good moslem, if you live in a country like mine. So, I have a message to all of the readers of my story, make Islam to be a priority and an important thing in your life. Learned more about Islam such as you learn about another subject, especially worldly subjects, like math or chemistry.
After you learn it, you have to provide that Islam is better by your akhlaq. Because a knowledge without an practice is nothing. Reach and learn the knowledge, practice it by your akhlaq then. The best way for da’wah is a good akhlaq.
By: Ayu SM
Tags:
#mualaf #muallaf #Australian #JazCooper #muallafstory
