CONVERSION TO ISLAM AT BARANGAY MINDUPOK: FACTORS AND CHALLENGES

Islamic conversion is a common daily activity in our society; Islamic conversion is a voluntary acceptance of Islamic faith. It could be done at any time by a non-Muslim privately or publically by declaring the kalimah shahadah. But there are factors and reason why non-Muslim are converting to Islam. For these reason, this study aimed to determine identify the socio demographic profile of converts from brgy. Mindupok, to conclude the factors why they decide to perform conversion, also to identify their life after they decided to convert, next is to determine the challenges they encountered and lastly to find out how respondents handle the challenges they encountered after the conversion.

These research employed descriptive survey method of research. There are 60 respondents of converts from brgy. Midupok, Maitum,Sarangani Province. The researcher used adapted and modified questionnaire. Moreover, the findings showed that the problem encountered by the converts are family dispute, making new friend, social life changes, employment, dress and attire, learning and practicing the basic tenets of the faith. The reasons of the converts for conversion are, self-discovery, marriage, society, attending seminar, influence by family and others. Conversion is understood as a process comprising different phases. One phase of the conversion process is that people feel attracted by certain thoughts and lifestyles in the religion in question because conversion journey also can be lengthier and more challenging than most people expect.