He said that in India’s film world, people change Muslim names
to Hindu ones to get success but, “in my case it was just the opposite from
Dileep Kumar to Allah Rakha Rahman —
and I’m very proud of it.”
Rahman said that prayers release his tension and
give him a sense of containment.
He said Islam is a religion of peace, love, coexistence, tolerance and modernity.
But due to the behavior of a few of us, it’s labeled as an intolerant orthodoxy. He says that the image of Islam is being tarnished by a small group of people and that Muslims must come forward to present before the world the correct picture of their divine faith.
“Muslims should go to lengths to follow the basics, which say ‘be kind to your neighbors, keep smiling when you meet others, pray and do charity.’ We should serve humanity. We should not show hostility toward others, even to the followers of other faiths. This is what Islam stands for. We should present before the world a model through our behavior, nature and presentation.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) never used his sword to spread Islam; rather he spread the religion through his virtues, behavior, tolerance and righteousness. And this is what is needed to change today’s distorted image of Islam.”
It was in the year 1989 that he and his family embraced Islam. Talking about his reversion, Rahman said, “The whole process started with a sequence of dream. It was in 1988. I was in Malaysia and had a dream of an old man who was asking me to embrace Islam. For the first time, I did not take it seriously, but then I saw the same dream several times and I discussed it with my mother. She encouraged me to go ahead and to respond to the call of the Almighty. Also, in 1988, one of my sisters fell seriously ill and in spite of the family’s effort to cure her, her health deteriorated by the day. Then under the guidance of one Muslim religious leader we prayed to Allah, which did wonder for my sister and she made a miraculous comeback to life. Thus, began my journey from Dileep Kumar to A.R. Rahman.”
He performs prayers despite heavy work pressure. “I am an artist, but despite tremendous work pressure I never skip prayers,” he said. “I am very punctual in offering the day’s all five prayers on time. This releases me from tension and gives me hope and confidence that the Lord is with me, that this is not the only world. It reminds me of the Day of Judgment.”
(Ref.: ARAB NEWS, Friday, 13, January, 2006 )
Source : http://www.thinkislam.co.in/pamplets/rehman.html
ASSALAM U AALAIKUM WA RAHHMATULLAH,
ReplyDeleteI just read Mr. A R Rahhmaan's comments and story about embracing Islam and afterwards. I really feel that it can only be the miraculous help from the ALMIGHTY ALLOH SUBHHANAHU WA TA'ALAH that reverted him to Islam this way and he must be thankful to our CREATOR with all of his existence for this. On the other hand it has also given him many responsibilities along with his true belief. I am sure some of the work/s he is doing as a means of earning money is totally haram from any and every considerations of islamic viewpoint. That/those wrong doings are harming the weak beliefs of some Muslims as well. In a word some of the things that he is doing goes totally against Islam and so against his and everyone's CREATOR. The music that he composes are presented with dances of half naked and semi-naked ladies which is in no consideration of Islam can be said as permitted. He has never denied working with the teams of film makers who make these scenes possible. Only a name like a Muslim does not make a man Muslim. Islam is a belief and a complete code of life. A true Muslim can never go against it being conscious that has been noticed in this case. Being associated with an industry that undermines Islam and Muslims, makes almost naked dances of lads and ladies pronouncing the Ttassbihhs of Alloh SUBHHANAHU WA TA'ALAH and not saying a word against that and kepping silence is like supporting that. It cannot be the work of a Muslim. I want to inform Mr. A R Rahhmaan that there is no place of half Muslims in Islam and to think about the consequences of the nakedness of the Indian film industry over the Muslims and humankind as a whole and his silent and submissive association to that may lead him to the sins that ALLOH SUBHHANAHU WA TA'ALAH Has promised not to forgive If done even after knowing those as haram. ALLOH HHAFIZ.