All at once and amid much rejoicing and celebration, 81 expatriates working for the same company pronounced these life-changing words: “I bear witness that there is no God but Allah, and that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is His messenger.” A group of Saudi men who work as Islamic guidance counselors had organized a number of visits to the company and explained about Islam to the employees, presented several lectures and answered pressing questions. After attending a series of lectures, 81 workers from the Philippines currently working in Al-Khobar expressed that they wish to enter into the folds of Islam. A small ceremony was organized at the company's site for the new Muslim brothers to embrace Islam in the presence of their coworkers, employers and Islamic Education teachers, with loud sounds of “Allahu Akbar” resonating in the gathering hall. Sheikh Ahmad Al-Shehri, director of Hedayh, an organization for Islamic guidance and calling to Islam among the expatriate communities in the Eastern Province, said: “At the same time, 81 expatriates announced their conversion to Islam and they all work at the same company in Al-Khobar, Al-Ma'jal. Hedayh is very active in sending Islamic Education counselors to the various large companies in the Eastern Province whose workforces are predominantly made up of expatriates from Far Eastern Asian countries. We offer introductory courses about Islam in a number of different languages, and our young men are very friendly and knowledgeable.” Al-Shehri refuted claims that some companies were being disturbed by the repeated visits and educational sessions organized by Hedayh. “On the contrary, we have received much positive feedback from the administration offices of these companies and from the employees themselves. Our counselors help shed light on our beautiful religion which is largely misunderstood by foreign expats. In just a brief period, over 1,000 expatriates working in Al-Khobar have embraced Islam,” added Al-Shehri. __
