The LPNM: a national platform for new muslims living in the Netherlands
In 2009, the muslim population in the Netherlands will number anywhere between 850.000 to 1 million people. Most of these muslims have roots in countries such as Morocco, Turkey, Surinam, Pakistan, Indonesia or Somalia - or at least one of their parents will probably have been born in these countries. However, a growing proportion of Dutch muslims has their roots in the Dutch landscape of 'polder'and canals. These poldermuslims are often (but not always) converts, or from the point of view of Islam: reverts, (in that they have reverted back to their 'fitrah' or natural state of submission to Allah swt).
The "Landelijk Platform Nieuwe Moslims" (or LPNM) is a platform for reverts in the Netherlands. It seeks to assist those new muslims in order for their transition into muslim life to be as smooth as possible. What binds Dutch new muslims is the fact that they are reverts and that they are living in the Netherlands - and that they often have to reassess their place in Dutch society but also find their niche in the Dutch part of the Ummah.
Many a revert will attest to the fact that his or her entry into Islam was a beautiful and intense moment. Testifying that only Allah swt is worthy of worship and that Muhammad (pbuh) is His Prophet leads a revert into an entirely new vision of this world and the next. That same revert may, in hindsight, also attest to the fact that a number of things leading up to reversion could have gone better: it may have taken him or her ages to find the the entrance to the mosque; wherupon the revert-to-be may have found going into that mosque very exciting or even scary. Upon entering that mosque, who does one talk to about Islam and what language will they speak? (hopefully Dutch, but usually Arabic or Turkish) The community of the mosque itself may not have that much experience with reverts in this day and age of islamophobia. How will they receive that person? These are all obstacles in the way of a smooth entrance into Islam.
In addition that revert may attest to the fact that a number of things after that initial 'shahada' or testimony of faith, could have gone a great deal better! We all remember the warm welcome and huggs and kisses straight after. Many a person in the mosque welcomes us into Islam: now you go straight to al-Jennah! "But brother," you may ask, "don't I need to know how to pray, where to pay zakat, what time to get up to fast in Ramadan, learn my prayers and supplications in Arabic. And must I change my name," (I like my own name!), and eventually, possibly the question: "why can't I marry your son or daughter?" These are experiences shared by many members of the LPNM that have to be adressed, because once you become a muslim, the same duties and rights apply to reverts as they do to any other muslim. Life is only just beginning, better start it right!
The LPNM has therefore pooled its resources and created a social network of organisations to help reverts find their place: we do this by organizing events where 'older' new muslims share their collective experiences with recent reverts. These events can take place in a social or cultural centre, in a mosque or a school. It can take the form of lectures on Islamic topics, easy-going conversation, animated discussion or even heated debate. It can feature friends and family of the recent revert that have no specific interest in Islam but simply want to see what their friend or family member is all about with this religious stuff. It can also simply be taking in a movie or documentary on the topic of Islam in general or reverts in specific. We will also have regular afternoons or evenings that reverts can meet one another for a cup of tea and chitchat about nothing and everything.
LPNM also provides 1-on-1 counseling for reverts, aimed specifically at the needs of individual reverts. Some new muslims may need no help of any kind: these will find their own way, alhamdulillah. Others may need information such as help locating a mosque in their area, or they may just want someone to talk to about dealing with family and friends who are not muslims and may not understand this new direction in life. Others may require specific religious counseling. At a basic level, this can be fulfilled by any counsellor, but for more complex religious matters the LPNM has outside advisors to which it will refer those reverts.
Conversely, the LPNM also provides assistance to organisations that deal with New Muslims, such as mosques or consulates and can mediation if necessary between reverts and parents, school or work. Finally we are here to raise awareness in the media or with the government.
The regular counsellors are all volunteers that receive occasional training from the LPNM in the form of workshops on social skills (listening is an underrated skill!), mediation tecnniques, but also how to organise events, how to expand your network and religious framework. These volunteers will often (but not necessarily) be reverts themselves - the LPNM accepts any help from any Dutch muslim from any descent provided that they focus on what the revert want and not convert that revert to their own branch of Islam.
Finally, a caveat is in order: the LPNM is not a da'wah or proselytizing organisation. Although we do consider da'wah to be a primary objective in each muslim's life, the LPNM's primary goal is to assist new muslims socially on their path to becoming the muslim they want to be. In short, the LPNM has a dual function: it seeks to guide Dutch reverts on their path in the Ummah and in Dutch society in general, but it also seeks to fulfill a guiding function to society itself in its relationship with reverts.
We ask the help of Allah the Almighty in making the LPNM a success and His guidance in our actions and thoughts.
