PERSATUAN DARUL FITRAH MALAYSIA
HISTORY (1990-2001)
By arwah Norley Noor Rahimaha-Allah
The origins of Persatuan Darul Fitrah Malaysia (PDFM) can be traced to the efforts of a small group of Chinese converts who used to frequent Abim Outreach every week in the late 1980’s. Talks on Islam at Abim Outreach were conducted in English and they felt there was no way the religion could reach local Chin
ese who spoke neither English nor Malay. According to Dato’ Sulaiman Hon Abdullah, the first president of PDFM, among those who pioneered the idea of the association was Bro. Azimullah, a Singapore Malay who had been active in Darul Arqam, a converts’ association in Singapore. The stage seemed right for the birth of an association that would cater to the needs of the local Chinese community. In 1990, PDFM was officially registered as a voluntary, non-profit Muslim association. Assistance in the form of valuable advice, information and books, etc. came from Darul Arqam and other private individuals, both Malay and Chinese. A founder member who was instrumental in the establishment of PDFM in its early years but soon left, was Iskandar Tan Abdullah. The idea of reaching the Chinese-speaking community, however, never materialized even until today. None of the pioneer members were fluent in the local Chinese dialects eg. Hokkien and Cantonese, and standard Mandarin. In those days, very few Chinese spoke the dialects and knew Islam at the same time. No one of such caliber could be easily found and persuaded to join the association. If those equipped with both knowledge of Islam and fluency in these languages did exist then, they did not come forward to help or could not do so for various personal reasons. Yet PDFM was already born. Its objectives changed slightly became more general and was not targeted at any one specific group. Bakhtiar Rahman, its first functioning secretary, outlined two objectives of the association: firstly to propagate the message of Islam for the benefit of all, and secondly, to provide guidance and assistance to those who had chosen and embraced Islam as their way of life. The first objective meant dispelling misconceptions about Islam. Targets were set for this viz.uplifting the knowledge of Islam, showing its goodness, and presenting it as the ideal way of life that can lead to the betterment of mankind. As for the second objective, PDFM conceived of a practical development programme for converts which would give them a solid foundation of knowledge and a sense of belonging by providing them a place that they could turn to in times of difficulty. It would also give them a chance to learn how to do effective dakwah and spread the message of Islam to their community and the ummah. In line with these objectives, facilities were provided to the public for the first time on September 16, 1990 at Lot 37-1, Jalan 11/55A, Taman Setiawangsa, Kuala Lumpur. A modest library and information centre were established consisting of books (mostly English but there were Chinese ones as well), and audio and videotapes. Audio and video programmes included subjects on comparative religion, recitations of The Holy Quran with translations, and documentaries on Muslim communities throughout the world. Classes and seminars were organized, correspondence courses conceived and publications were issued. PDFM’s first bi-monthly illustrative news journal was “Bearing Witness”, initiated and produced by Bro. In the first five year period since its establishment, PDFM’s centre of operations shifted many times: from Taman Setiawangsa to Kampung Pandan, then to Petaling Jaya in Section 17, and finally to its present premises in Section 16. From the humble but remarkable beginnings by conscientious and dedicated pioneers, the association grew and expanded its activities. Among other activities, PDFM brought Yusuf Islam to Malaysia to share his experiences as a Muslim with Malaysians. Its well-organised family days and charity fairs brought members and friends together. Through its Muslimah wing under Sis. Khashiah, friendly relations were initiated with the Chinese Muslim community in Pulau Ketam. The relationship matured and flourished and through the efforts of Bro. Roslin, both PDFM and Balai Islam Pulau Ketam exchanged visits even in Ramadhan. Other activities included a public talk attended by both Muslims and non-Muslims on “What is Hudud?” held at the Bangsar Sports Complex in cooperation with two other Islamic organisations. PDFM also organized a ten day dakwah trip to China during which it was instrumental in the conversion to Islam of one local tourist guide. The trip also included a visit to Linxia, the unpublicised, small “Makkah of China”. Next PDFM’s interfaith dialogues initiated by its first vice-president and current permanent adviser, Dr. Amir Farid Isahak, led to the participation of a Hindu, a Buddhist, a Christian and a Muslim in a friendly dialogue at the International Islamic University of Malaysia, perhaps for the first time in its history, witnessed by hundreds of young intellectuals. The association also helped in the expansion of a small mosque in Kampung Damansara Dalam causing a flourishing of relations with the nearby community. It started a religious school for children, KAFA (Kelas Fardhu Ain), which, from its small enrolment and humble beginnings in Section 17, has expanded to other premises in the vicinity of its present location. Other than these outstanding achievements for such a young organization in such a short space of time, what was more remarkable was how PDFM managed to attract and play host to several visitors to its premises. There were those who converted to Islam through the help of its members. Many visitors, local and foreign, dropped by to give talks and share their experiences. Some came for friendly visis while several others sought and found much-needed help and advice. Finally, many too, were the dedicated and sincere volunteers whose names cannot be mentioned for lack of space but whose everlasting contribution, no matter how small, will forever be evident in the continued expansion of PDFM and its activities in the past, present and future.
