The 28-year-old Dutchman said he often sought the advice of his Muslim friends in Amsterdam, including following them to the mosque.
“I wanted to see and hear them perform their prayers in the mosque and get their advice on Islamic teachings and other mandatory rituals,” he said in a statement issued by the Royal Press Office (RPO) here today.
The RPO is the official media and communication office of the Johor royal family.
Dennis Muhammad, who embraced Islam on May 31, 2015, at the Johor Bahru kadi’s office, said he also read numerous references about Islam on the Internet to increase his knowledge.
He said the Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar advised him to study the religion in-depth after giving his blessings for the marriage.
“Since early this year, I have been attending Fardhu Ain classes and trying to memorise short chapters (surah) of the Quran.
“I have been fasting for the whole month of Ramadan since 2015 and often joined the congregation in performing Tarawih prayers at the mosque.
“Not only that, I am also interested in learning Jawi, but I was advised by many scholars not to rush into it and to study the religion slowly,” said Dennis Muhammad.
“I am grateful to Allah for giving me the opportunity to learn and follow the religion without any obstacles.
“My parents have also been supportive of me becoming a Muslim,” he added.