Why Siti Kasim's 'think a thousand times before converting for the sake of marrying' is gospel truth
Take away the first flushes of romance, married life is full of unexpected pitfalls and challenges.
So warned human rights activist and lawyer Siti Kasim on her Facebook page recently on the many instances marital breakdown has led to a spouse wishing to leave a religion which he or she converted into for the sake of nuptials.
As it is not so easy to declare apostasy as in the case of Muslim convert spouses – in fact, it is very much a one-way traffic – it is best that one thinks long and hard when choosing a Muslim life partner, she counselled.
Sharing a video of a Muslim wife lamenting about her convert husband's refusal to adhere to certain Islamic practices, the legal eagle – while chiding the woman for washing dirty laundry on social media – contended that such is a chilling reminder of how fast reality of life would creep in once marital bliss has faded.
In the video which was first posted on Berani Viral's Facebook page, the lady identified only as Ema complained about her husband's fondness for his pet dog.
The canine which Ema admits is cute has clearly become a major bone of contention as its very presence within the home has greatly upset her.
Additionally, she is also infuriated by her husband partaking in some Taoist praying ritual alongside his grandmother who is living with them in addition to his fondness for Chinese food with dubious halal status.
However, Ema was berated by one commenter for being narrow-minded with her religious interpretations having contained too many restrictions which were not universal Islamic values.
He went on to chide the lady for not being able to differentiate between religious and cultural practices.
One lady commenter who claimed to have divorced from her Muslim convert spouse revealed that she never felt the urge to share him on social media. Foolish seems to be the verdict here.
The same sentiment was echoed by more than a few who thought such story telling of family matters in public to be in poor taste.
One commenter seemed to hit the nail on the head by asking why marry a convert if the lady was unwilling to compromise or buy into a different cultural background.
Such small-minded individuals are ill-suited to mixed marriages it was observed, hence Ema should have sought a Malay-Muslim spouse from the off to avoid all the challenges she is now facing.
It was also pointed out that in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, does not require non-Muslims to convert to Islam before legally marrying a Muslim.
There was little sympathy for Ema as many saw her rant as attention-seeking as well as displaying her narrow-mindedness for all to see.
One commenter even urged the husband to simply kick out this complaining spouse instead of his beloved dog.
That may be a tad drastic.
The one thing that the video does highlight – regardless of one's cultural or religious beliefs – is that mixed marriages can be fraught with difficulties.
Love can indeed conquer, but only if you let it … with a huge slice of compromise. – July 2025
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rakyat Post
6 hours ago
- Rakyat Post
The Tale Of Tompok: A Dog Loved By Many They Named A Beach After It
Subscribe to our FREE There's a reason why dogs are called man's best friend. They can be loyal and protective, give unconditional love to humans, act as animal support companions, and so much more. For many people, dogs mean a lot to them even if the dog is not their own. It could be a stray that they feed every day on their way to work or a helpless dog that was injured in an accident in need of medical attention. Some dogs can be so important to an individual or even a whole community, such as one stray dog named Tompok in Miri, Sarawak. The beginning of a heartwarming friendship between man and dog A According to the post, Din is friends with fishermen who live in the Pantai Tukau area. There, he met a stray dog which had patches on its fur, and so he named the dog Tompok (patches in Malay). He pampered and cared for Tompok tirelessly, and they became loyal friends while Din became Tompok's daily feeder. Din's love for Tompok attracted the attention of many, and their friendship became viral on social media. 'From afar, we got to know Tompok through Din – as though we were watching episodes of a drama about life by the sea,' Ajiah said in her post. Din was transferred, Tompok was left behind It is said that change is the only constant in life, and in a sudden twist of fate, Din's work saw him transferred to west Malaysia and he was forced to leave Tompok behind. However, Tompok was left under the care of others, and even met a female dog called Utih. The two became very close and Utih later gave birth to several pups. Unfortunately, tragedy struck when Utih was involved in a traffic accident that claimed her life. The community at Pantai Tukau came together quickly to save Utih and Tompok's pups through a rescue operation and successfully brought them to safety. After Din had left for Peninsular Malaysia, Tompok's care was transferred to Christina, a woman who had treated Tompok once before when he was injured, along with other members of the community who made sure Tompok was never lonely. Tompok aged, and his health declined As Tompok became older, he became increasingly sickly. Through videos posted on Tompok Channel, a Facebook page dedicated to the beloved dog, it can be seen that his breathing is heavy as he lies tired on the floor while being comforted by his carers. Then, on 26 July, Tompok took his final breath, leaving the community and Din mourning in grief. Din wrote on Facebook about the loss of his friend, saying 'Rest, my friend. I'm sorry for any shortcomings while we were friends. We are separated in body because it's the will of the Creator. Accept this gift of your beloved hat and shirt to rest with your body, Pok'. Pantai Tukau, the beach where Tompok and Din began their friendship, has since been renamed as The beach will be a reminder that dogs like Tompok deserve love and care as much as our very own house pets do. Rest in peace, Tompok. May your story inspire others to always be kind to strays. Share your thoughts with us via TRP's . Get more stories like this to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.
Sinar Daily
13 hours ago
- Sinar Daily
'How am I still alive?' - Lt Gen Johnny Lim's life on the frontlines
SHAH ALAM – Life in the army is no easy task. The military is a tough and demanding journey, not one centred on bullying, as some might assume, but rather built on discipline, resilience and hardship. The training is intense, the physical exercises are dangerous, and being away from home and loved ones for long periods takes an emotional toll. It's a path that requires both mental and physical strength. These were the words shared by National Resilience College (NRC) Commandant Lieutenant General Datuk Johnny Lim Eng Seng during an exclusive interview with Sinar Daily back in May this year, just weeks before he made national headlines for becoming the first Chinese officer to be promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General in the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF). Following his successful career in the service, Lim kept it unfiltered stating that military life was not just challenging but can also be life-threatening. He said he often wonders how he's still alive today but believes it was the prayers of his family especially his mother and father, and all those who care for him, that had protected him throughout his journey till today. 'I remember it was just about a month in when we went for a very tough battalion exercise, followed by our first military operation, which, to this day, remains one of the most dangerous. 'We went to Gubet, and unfortunately, we lost two men there due to booby traps,' he said during an interview at the National Resilience College in Putrajaya recently. He highlighted that Gubet, located near the border of Malaysia-Thailand, served as a forward operating base (FOB). It was a strategic point used for military insertions along the border, with designated markers such as Marker Tango and Marker Fox to guide helicopter landings. Lim pointed out that during those operations, helicopters could only land at certain cleared zones along the border. Before insertion into those areas, troops would assemble at the FOB in Gubet, situated near the Tasik Pedu Dam in Kedah. This location functioned as a staging area where helicopters would pick up units for deployment into operational zones. He stressed that the experience was both physically and mentally demanding. Being away from home was difficult, and once deployed by helicopter, constant movement was required to avoid detection. "The operational areas were heavily laden with booby traps, so many that casualties were frequent, despite the presence of specialised clearing teams," he said. He emphasised that the threat of traps was a constant concern, with the terrain and unpredictability making every mission potentially deadly. 'I vividly recall one occasion when there was a booby trap, I actually saw the wires while we were getting dressed. It didn't explode, but I was absolutely shocked,' he added. Thankfully, he was unharmed. He also noted that, despite never being directly involved in a firefight with communist insurgents, he still played an active role in operations. As a Unit Commander (UC), he operated in small groups, often participating in cut-off missions and tracking efforts. He believed the enemy was often nearby but because they moved in small units, direct confrontation was rare. 'I like to believe that the prayers of your mother, father, and all that protected you,' he said. He also recounted an incident that occurred roughly 20 years later, at the same location in Gubet. Datuk Johnny Lim Eng Seng when interviewed at the National Resilience College at Putrajaya recently. While commanding an operation, Lim witnessed a helicopter take off, veer sideways, and make an emergency landing. Just three weeks later, that same helicopter crashed, and the pilot lost his life. He reflected on the experience, often asking himself why he survived while others did not, concluding that perhaps it simply wasn't his time. Speaking about the communist insurgency, he contrasted the past era with the present, emphasising that during those days, they were truly fighting an organised enemy. He said when they discovered communist camps deep in the jungle, it was clear the insurgents had adapted to long-term survival. The camps were well-established, complete with natural resources like streams for bathing, and the fighters were seasoned and resilient, though their presence was usually confined to the fringe areas. He stated that this was the reason for the existence of 'white' and 'black' areas during the conflict period. Under the Briggs Plan, these designations helped isolate communist insurgents from their supporters and sympathisers. He also recalled attending a course while serving in the UC platoon, conducted by military intelligence. Some of the instructors were former communist insurgents who had surrendered. He said they shared survival techniques, deception tactics and jungle warfare strategies, skills essential for operating in dense terrain. He described the jungle some 'neutral' being, and surviving in it required both stealth and adaptability, as well as the ability to track enemy movement. He noted that follow-up action was often required after contact with the enemy. Even tracking dogs could lose the scent if insurgents crossed rivers or split up. Tactics such as dispersal, using dead letterboxes, and misleading trails were commonly employed. These techniques were unfamiliar not only to civilians but also to newer generations of soldiers, who had never encountered such unconventional warfare. 'When I had a family, I found it quite tough being away from my loved ones for two months, sometimes even longer, because our operations could be extended due to the challenging, unsustainable conditions. We couldn't always move around easily as the jungle was extremely dense, though rich in resources. 'It's truly beautiful inside the jungle. But you operate based on what you know, and thankfully, the sergeants and those in the platoon who had been there longer guided me and taught me about the rest,' he said.
Barnama
a day ago
- Barnama
JAKIM Launches Campaign Promoting Daily Quran Reading And Reflection Among Muslims
KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 (Bernama) -- The Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) is organising the Al-Quran Di Mana-Mana: Tilawah dan Tadabbur programme as part of its efforts to promote daily Quran reading among Muslims. Jakim director-general Datuk Dr Sirajuddin Suhaimee said the campaign is being held in conjunction with the 65th International Al-Quran Recitation and Memorisation Assembly (MTHQA), scheduled to take place at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur from Aug 2 to 9. 'This campaign highlights tilawah (proper recitation) and tadabbur (contemplation) al-Quran, conveying the profound message that reading and reflecting on the Quran should not be confined to formal events alone, but can be embraced as a daily practice anywhere, on public transport, in the office, at recreational parks, or in public spaces, as part of the Islamic way of life,' he said here today. He spoke to reporters at the flag-off ceremony for participants of the Al-Quran Di Mana-Mana 2.0: Kuala Lumpur-Hatyai (Thailand) programme at the KL Sentral Electric Train Service (ETS) station. Sirajuddin said the campaign is not aimed at gaining popularity, but is a sincere call for society to return to the Quran as a lifelong companion, which is to be understood, felt, and reflected upon. He said the first segment of the campaign runs from July 29 to 31 in collaboration with Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB), utilising the ETS service from KL Sentral to Padang Besar, before continuing the journey to Hat Yai via the State Railway of Thailand. He said that throughout the trip, participants will engage in Quran tilawah, tadabbur and ibrah (wisdom) sessions, adding that these activities will continue at Islamic centres, mosques, surau, and community spaces in designated border areas, to enable participants to experience the message of the Quran in a deeper, more personal, and reflective manner. He added that various social and community service activities will also be carried out throughout the journey, including the distribution of aid to local communities and the waqf (endowment) of Quran copies to educational institutions, mosques, surau, and tahfiz centres. He said the second segment of the programme consists of a special Al-Quran Everywhere initiative in Bukit Bintang on July 31, carrying the message that the Quran should be upheld as a close and accessible guide for life, regardless of time or place.
