CNY holds special meaning for Muslim convert

Lijah Ariffin says CNY is a time of great bonding for her and her ethnic Chinese family.

ALOR SETAR: Embracing Islam does not prevent ethnic Chinese, Lijah Ariffin, 79, from celebrating the Chinese New Year yearly with her family and close relatives.

Lijah, from Sungai Lalang in Bedong, Kedah was adopted by a Muslim family from Simpang Empat here before she was one.

“I was adopted by a Muslim family when I was less than a year-old. Since then, I was educated and brought up, in accordance with Islamic teachings,” she told Bernama when met at her home in Kota Sarang Semut recently.

Lijah is the oldest of seven children, six of whom did not embrace Islam.

Nevertheless, that did not become a barrier for the them as the family bond is ever so strong in that the seven celebrate the Chinese New Year together, year in and out.

“Every Chinese New Year, my siblings will come to visit me at my son’s house and they send oranges…that is sufficient for me.

“They attended my grandchildren’s weddings even though we practise different faiths…it has never stopped us from meeting and celebrating together,” said Lijah.

Meanwhile, Lijah’s only son, Ibrahim Ahmad, 61, said during his childhood, he celebrated Chinese New Year with his relatives.

“They always come to my house to visit my mother and celebrate the Chinese New Year together…it is definitely an exhilarating feeling because not everyone has a family practising different religions.

“I have told my children that their grandmother comes from a Chinese family and thereafter, they felt excited as they would also be celebrating the Chinese New Year,” he said.

Ibrahim’s youngest son, Muhammad Ilman Syahir, 16, said he was happy to celebrate the Chinese New Year with relatives from his father’s side, who were ethnic Chinese.

“It is a fun-filled experience to celebrate festivals of different faiths, apart from knowing more about our family history and receiving ‘ang pau’ (money packets),” he said.

- BERNAMA