My name is Ang Sarath. I was born in Battambang, the second largest city in Cambodia on the 07th of March 1992. I was raised in a farming household and I have 4 siblings, a sister after me, a brother, and the youngest is a sister. My parents, like all of their contemporaries, witnessed a civil war in Cambodia since the mid60s and this led to a breakdown in the education system in this period. Illiteracy was rampant and my parents were no exceptions. They understood this and wished for better education for their kids and consequently, decided to send me to live in a Pagoda as a Buddhist monk. The pagodas offered some form of an education system alongside basic human amenities in return for servitude to the Buddha. Despite the fact that I missed living with my parents, the lifestyle I was enjoying as a monk was, to me, happy and luxurious. I was then moved to the Provincial Pagoda and I could now pursue my future education in Battambang and gather precious experience and teaching methods.
Years later, I was employed by the Pannasastra University first as an English Teacher and then as an Administrative Assistant. Having spent 3 years in these jobs, I got my first big break when I was recruited as an International Translator representing the Cambodian Government at a conference in Bangkok which was titled (Successful Entrepreneur Strategies in Business). Those yearly conferences opened me to the world and I happened to meet the Muslims for the very first time. I resigned from this job in November 2017 in order to pursue my passion of Digital Marketing with friends. Whilst studying for the course, I was made aware of Free English
Classes held by Brother Nico and that caught my fancy. After several unsuccessful attempts at joining the classes I finally managed to attend them, and he was instrumental in introducing Islam to me, clearing my doubts and misconceptions and embracing the idea altogether. I had asked Br. Nico a lot of questions like
Classes held by Brother Nico and that caught my fancy. After several unsuccessful attempts at joining the classes I finally managed to attend them, and he was instrumental in introducing Islam to me, clearing my doubts and misconceptions and embracing the idea altogether. I had asked Br. Nico a lot of questions like
“What is Islam?”,
“Who is God in Islam?”,
“Why do Muslim always wear their traditional dress?”
and even “Are Muslim Terrorists?”.
Dr. Nico and his wife answered them all with such tact and patience, I was greatly moved by them. By this time, I had begun to question my own faith and seriously consider Islam as an alternative. All of the stereotypes that exists about Muslims is skewed and false, and that Cham Pa (Buddhists call Islam this) was very similar to the moral and family values we hold dear.
I realised, I had become Muslim and I am jubilant because of my choice. Islam (Cham Pa) came to Cambodia around 1000 years ago and Muslim history is intertwined with Cambodia history. I want to convey to Cambodians this important piece of Information, show them the beauty of the Message, Manners, and exemplary behaviour espoused by Islam to those who harbour misconceptions and misinformation so that they could live in unity with the true faith in Oneness of God, and to be safe in the day of judgement.