**Jazak Allah On This News …His new name is Same as mine Waleed Masha Allah
South Africa**** News: Wayne Parnell has embraced Islam according to a news report**
By Aziz ul Qadir
According to a South African Newspaper Independent Online, Wayne Parnell has converted to Islamic faith. Proteas’ team manager Dr Mohammed Moosajee confirmed the news by saying: “It was his choice to embrace Islam.” His Islamic name is Whallid (waleed) which means ‘great one’.
Wayne Parnell has the honour to represent South Africa at very tender age. He came to limelight when he captained South African Under-19 team in the U-19 World Cup in 2008. He was the youngest player to get a central contract in 2009 at the age of 20 years.
Influence of fellow Protea players Hashim Amla and Imran Tahir on his change of faith is not confirmed yet, although an SMS was circulating citing the possible role of these two. According to the Newspaper, Amla’s agent Ismail Kajee said it was not true that the ODI (vice) captain (sic) had any influence in Parnell’s decision to convert to Islam.
He may continue to use his Christian name while playing for his nation. As his first Ramadan is approaching where he is expected to observe his first ever fast, attempts to contact him weren’t successful.
In the current team, he will be the third Muslim after Hashim Amla and Pakistan-born Imran Tahir. South Africa being an open and tolerant society ensures that he continues to lead his life and pursue his career as he was doing before. Happy new life to Whallid Parnell!
He is the second Christian to have reverted to Islam after Pakistan’s Yousuf Yohana (now Mohammad Yousuf) in 2006.
As regards other sports many notable sportsmen have embraced Islam including:
Renowned American basketball player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (formerly Lew Alcindor)
Abdul Karim al-Jabbar (famous US footballer)
Brazilian football players Marcio Souza De Silva and Muhammad Danilo Fernando
French football players Eric Abidal, Franck Ribery (now Tarek) and Nicolas Anelka
Dutch footballer Robin van Persie
Sonny Bill Williams (New Zealand rugby union player and a heavyweight boxer)
Most importantly American boxers Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali Clay.
Re: Wayne Parnell South African Cricketer Embraces Islam
Jazak Allah. Here is the statement from Wayne Parnell himself on this confirming that he has converted in Jan-2011 but he denied changing the name yet and said its still under consideration.
My name is Wayne
Proteas all-rounder Wayne Parnell released a statement on Thursday afternoon in an effort to clear up media speculation surrounding his conversion to Islam.
It was revealed late on Wednesday afternoon that Parnell had converted to Islam and changed his name to Whallid, meaning “the great one”. But the former SA U19 captain made it clear he has yet to change his given name, although it was something he was considering.
"There has been a lot of speculation in the media recently about my conversion to Islam. Although this is a personal matter for me, for the sake of clarity, I would like to confirm some of the facts,"said Parnell in the statement.
**"I converted to Islam in January 2011, after a period of personal study and reflection and it is a faith that I have always been interested in.
**
"While I have not yet decided on an Islamic name, I have considered the name Waleed which means ‘Newborn Son’, but for now, my name remains Wayne Dillon Parnell.
"I will continue to respect the team’s endorsement of alcoholic beverages.
"I am playing cricket in Sussex and this is my immediate focus. As I approache my first period of fasting, I ask that this special time is treated with respect.
“I am a young man, a professional cricketer by trade and while I can appreciate and am grateful for the publics’ interest in my personal life, my faith choice is a matter which I would like to keep private.”
Re: Wayne Parnell South African Cricketer Embraces Islam
Just as an aside - "Whallid (waleed) which means ‘great one’". I was watching an old movie - and the heroine say (mayray Waleed - my father). So does Waleed also means father?
So now I have 3 meanings for Waleed - great one, father, moderator.
Re: Wayne Parnell South African Cricketer Embraces Islam
Just as an aside - "Whallid (waleed) which means ‘great one’". I was watching an old movie - and the heroine say (mayray Waleed - my father). So does Waleed also means father?
So now I have 3 meanings for Waleed - great one, father, moderator.
**i know of two words that are spelled differently in urdu and sound differently as well...to make it easier for you to see the difference...i'm writing both words in Hindi Script:
*वालिद = father
वलीद = waleed*
@topic:
jazaak Allah...May Allah make it easier on him to practice his new-found faith. i think he should stop endorsing alcoholic beverages...this is the sacrifice he should make...changing faith is NOT easy.**
Re: Wayne Parnell South African Cricketer Embraces Islam
**i know of two words that are spelled differently in urdu and sound differently as well...to make it easier for you to see the difference...i'm writing both words in Hindi Script:
*वालिद = father
वलीद = waleed*
@topic:
jazaak Allah...May Allah make it easier on him to practice his new-found faith. i think he should stop endorsing alcoholic beverages...this is the sacrifice he should make...changing faith is NOT easy.**
Mashallah, God bless him. Brother why is that we expect people to behave perfectly as soon as they become Muslim? We should leave those things to his own judgement rather than endorsing he should do this and that. I am not against what you are saying but we should not put someone under spot all of sudden. We are born muslims and we don't act as a muslim 10% and someone who is already sacrificing by changing his religion, you have to be in his position to know how difficult it is in the non-muslim family to become muslim, he I am sure have to change million of things.
Alhamdulillah we should leave those personal things to his own judgement and think about our own faults and shortcomings.
Please do not take any offence I did not meant to cause any offence, its jus that people soon will start judging if he is real muslim or not this and that. Muslim is a muslim as soon as he accepted the truth and that is oneness of God and last prophet of God Muhammad (PBUH). None of us is perfect and that makes us human.