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Thursday, July 28, 2011

South Africa's Wayne Parnell converts to Islam

Johannesburg: South African fast bowler Wayne Parnell has converted to Islam after a period of personal study and reflection and will celebrate his 22nd birthday on Friday as a Muslim.

Parnell confirmed in a statement on Thursday that he converted to Islamic faith in January this year and is considering a name change to Waleed, which means 'Newborn Son'.

"While I have not yet decided on an Islamic name I have considered the name Waleed which means Newborn Son, but for now my name remains Wayne Dillon Parnell. I will continue to respect the team's endorsement of alcoholic beverages. I am playing cricket in Sussex and this is my immediate focus," said Port Elizabeth-born Parnell.

"As I am approaching my first period of fasting, I ask that this special time is treated with respect. I am a young man, a professional cricketer by trade, and while I can appreciate and am grateful for the public interest in my personal life, my faith choice is a matter which I would like to keep private," said the promising Warriors left-arm seam bowler.

Proteas team manager Mohamed Moosajee, himself a Muslim, said Parnell's Muslim teammates Hashim Amla and Imran Tahir had not influenced his decision to convert from Christianity.

"Wayne already decided a few months ago to follow Islam," Moosajee said of the cricketer, who excelled during the ICC World Cup on the subcontinent.

"The decision to convert was his own decision, but I know nothing of the name change," added Moosajee.

Fellow players, preferring to remain anonymous, said they believed Parnell was very serious about his choice of religion and that he had not touched a drop of alcohol, forbidden to Muslims, since the recent Indian Premier League series.

Supporting Moosajee's denial of influence by Amla, the players said he had never attempted to convert them to his religion, although they had all been very impressed by the discipline and strict adherence that Amla showed to his religion, by refusing to participate in celebrations with them that involved liquor, staying steadfast in his daily prayers even while on tour, and refusing to wear the kit sponsored by South African beer brand Castle Lager.

In his first two years after making his debut for the Proteas in 2009, Parnell developed a hard-living reputation.

In October 2009, he was kicked out of the provincial side Warriors following an incident in a night club in the city of Port Elizabeth in the early hours of the morning.

He came to limelight when he captained the South African Under-19 team in the U-19 World Cup in 2008. He was the youngest player to get a central contract in 2009 at the age of 20 years.

He is the second Christian to have converted to Islam after Pakistan's Yousuf Youhana (now Mohammad Yousuf) in 2006.
Story first published on: Thursday, 28 July 2011 20:46
courtesy: http://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/news/item/176446-south-africas-wayne-parnell-converts-to-islam?pfrom=home-Cricket

44 comments:

  1. Masha Allah. Allah guides whom he wills.......

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  2. ALAAHU AKBAR. u have choisen rightous path, may ALAH accept ur duets inshaALAAH, plz make dua for me,

    Abddulrahman

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  3. Mashallah. Welcome brother :-)

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  4. Alhamdolillah. Converting to Islam through instrospection and deep thinking which Parnell has gone through makes an individual a true staunch muslim. Very pleased.

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  5. SubhanAllah this brother has recieved the greatest gift in this world

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  6. al hamdulillah???????

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  7. Masha Allah Brother, you have taken a very good decision, May Allah bless you and give you strength n hidaya...No matter what ever name you decide whether Waleed or Wayne Dillon...It is just a symbol of person identity,the real thing being a Muslim is a faith in god...

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  8. he really understood the meaning of faith

    alhamdulilla

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  9. Allhumdulilah brother......

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  10. Mashallaha....my dear bro u r luckyst person in da world...

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  11. Masha Allah.. May Allah have mercy on all fo us.

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  12. Welcome to the circle of faithfuls. May Allah bestow you with Emaan and taqwa.

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  13. It was exciting moment when u took the step forward and u said laa ilah ilallahu muhammadur rasulullah,but for other is was tears and sorrow thinking that u are lost they are even praying that u may go back to them and be one of them,but believe ur lord is pleased with u,the joy which u heard and which u have they are far different,never listen to the wrong people when they try to discourage u be standfast unmovable in ur faith u know what u want. Its my one year and few months im a muslim but those guys they dont stop wishing and praying that i may go back and be among them. Alhamdulillah that u saw the way and u followed it,may Allah strenght ur imaan strongly. Welcome. laa ilah ilallahu muhammadur rasulullah,but for other is was tears and sorrow thinking that u are lost they are even praying that u may go back to them and be one of them,but believe ur lord is pleased with u,the joy which u heard and which u have they are far different,never listen to the wrong people when they try to discourage u be standfast unmovable in ur faith u know what u want. Its my one year and few months im a muslim but those guys they dont stop wishing and praying that i may go back and be among them. Alhamdulillah that u saw the way and u followed it,may Allah strenght ur imaan strongly. Welcome.

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  14. alhamdu lillah very nice to see that the conversion from the other religion to islam religion.

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  15. nashallah parnell

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  16. Assalamualaikum
    Brother you are correct with the term revert like you explained we are all born Muslim and are only lead astray by the people around us , so when someone becomes a muslim he is returning to what he was born as (reverting back)
    may Allah Bless and grant you the same and more ameen

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  17. Masha Allah brother!

    Welcome in the straight path(ISLAm)

    wish you to have a long, healthy and successful life.

    May Allah Grant you the same and more ameen

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  18. WELCOME TO THE RIGHT & CORRECT PATH, FOR UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD & PEACE MAY ALLAH ACCEPT YOU AMEN

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  19. assalamualykum

    waleed brother this is the only religion to show everything who have ????

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  20. UKHAT-E- ABU BAKER USMANAugust 5, 2011 at 9:20 PM

    MASHALLAH N WE WELCOME HIM IN OUR UMMAAH

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  21. ALHAMDILLUAH..SUMA-ALHAMDILLUAH may ALLAHA guide whole of the humanity towards the real way of life

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  22. MASHALLAH...........welcome in ISLAM Parnell....

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  23. did he have to get circumcised

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  24. SUBHANALLAH!

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  25. Alhamdulillah !!! Its a good news ...

    Waleed is a good name, plz go for it.. I suggest u that plz avoid wearing costume that contain promotion of an alcoholic drink as it is prohibited in Islam .

    All the best for ur future

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