Kilat Boy: Journey into Islam

Sarawakian boxer Daeloniel Mcdelon Bong, better known as Kilat Boy, shares his experience becoming a revert and how he came to love Islam.

A deeper connection to Islam

Islam is a religion that is simple to practice, does not cause difficulties for its adherents, and is easy to follow.
 
Surah Al-Baqarah verse 185 states that Islam is easy, saying, “Allah intends (to provide) ease for you and does not intend (to create) hardship for you.”
 
However, being easy does not imply heedlessness, but rather executing the task to the best of one’s abilities; for instance, one can pray while sitting if they are unable to do so standing.
 
Sedekah, or charity, is another example. Giving charity in the Islamic context does not always entail providing financial support.

Daeloniel (front,centre)went to a lot of religious classes run by the Sarawak Islamic Religious Department and other associated organisations when he first converted to Islam. Photos: Daeloniel Mc Delon Facebook page

One of my religious teachers, Ustazah Nurul Afifah Shoib, once told me that one way to show charity is to assist in moving objects that hinder traffic on the road, like big rocks, prickly trees, or anything else.
 
“Smiling at those around us is the easiest way to give charity. We don’t need to be rich or have a lot of money to give charity and make pahala (rewards); that’s why Islam is a simple religion,” she noted.
 
She went on to say that giving charity is essentially a means of attracting sustenance, or rezeki; the more one contributes, the more sustenance finds him.
 
It’s not necessary to have money to be sustained; having a long life, being well, and always having enough food on the table are all examples of sources of sustenance.
 
Hence, it is not surprising that Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the world.
 
Islam’s spiritual teachings, moral principles, and depth of thought have attracted people from diverse cultural and geographical backgrounds, inspiring notable reversions.

The beauty of Islam

Sarawakian boxer Daeloniel Mcdelon Bong, who is also a revert, told the New Sarawak Tribune that he has a deeper connection to Islam because of the values it instills, such as kindness, fasting, and upholding one’s own principles.
 
“Before falling in love with Islam, I felt that being a Muslim was hard because it required fasting, praying five times a day, and avoiding a lot of other (haram) things.
 
“But after learning more about this religion, I discovered that all of my assumptions were false and that Islam is, in reality, a straightforward and beautiful faith.
 
“Allah facilitates many ways to practice the teachings of Islam.

Daeloniel said that as a Muslim, his goal is to memorise 30 Quranic verses and to carry out the Hajj and Umrah.

“For instance, every Muslim is required to pray five times a day. But what happens if someone is ill or travelling?
 
“Given that Islam is easy, are they free from carrying out their obligations? That is false; if God commands something to be done, it must be done without fail.
 
“Easy refers to the way something is implemented. There is no justification for skipping prayer when travelling because Islam provides rukhsah (facilitation) for both travellers and the ill. Prayers cannot be skipped; however, they can be shortened (qasar) and jamak.
 
“Fasting works in the same way. A person may break their fast (as allowed by syara) at the start of the fasting day if they are experiencing certain medical conditions, travelling, or menstruating.
 
“If someone breaks their fast because they are travelling, they must replace (qadha) the days they missed. And it ought to be fulfilled right away, without delaying until the start of the next Ramadan,” she clarified.

Applying Islamic teachings in daily life

Daeloniel, affectionately known as Kilat Boy, recalled that on March 3, 2021, he was a little anxious because he was afraid he would pronounce the shahadah incorrectly.
 
“Alhamdulillah, my heart feels delighted and at ease again after reciting the shahadah, which declares, “I bear witness that there is no God but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.”
 
“When I hear the call to prayer, I also always feel at peace. Alhamdulillah, this is all the guidance that God has provided for me,” said the 25-year-old Sri Aman native.
 
Daeloniel, who just won the World Boxing Council Asia Super Bantamweight title, went on to explain that he could sense certain beneficial changes in himself after reverting to Islam, including his ability to control his emotions in any circumstance.
 
Furthermore, he is becoming more patient in all that he does, and he is also developing closer relationships with those around him.

Daeloniel said that he is now under the guidance of Ustaz San’ani Fauzi(left), the Imam of the Kuching City Mosque, who taught him a lot about Islamic teachings and how to be a good Muslim.

This young man, whose ancestries were Iban, Chinese, and Bidayuh, continued by stating that he could still recall his school days, when he used to question what a Muslim’s life should be like.
 
As a result, he claimed, he frequently inquired of his Muslim classmates about their daily routines.
 
“Now, as a Muslim myself, I will continue to expand my knowledge of the religion, and I have no intention of stopping.
 
“I went to a lot of religious classes run by the Sarawak Islamic Religious Department and other associated organisations when I first converted to Islam.
 
“Alhamdulillah, I am now under the guidance of Ustaz San’ani Fauzi, the Imam of the Kuching City Mosque, whom I regard as my own father.
 
“He guided me and taught me a lot about Islamic teachings and how to be a good Muslim,” said the son of Dexter Bong and Diana Dennis Andrew.
 
As a growing star in boxing, Daeloniel, who held Prophet Muhammad in great regard, emphasised that he made a self-promise to remain humble and never forget his roots, regardless of how successful he became in life.
 
He claimed that the reason he idolised Prophet Muhammad was because of his tawadhu (humility) attitude.

Kilat Boy just recently won the prestigious World Boxing Council Asia Super Bantamweight title. Photo: Muhammadie Azrul Eiei

“Even if you have numerous privileges, having a tawadhu mindset implies being humble and realising your nothingness before Allah.
 
“Hence, we cannot oppress, either physically or spiritually, others who have been deprived of such things and claim to be superior to them,” he stated.

Goals in life

The third of four siblings stated that, as a Muslim, his goal is to memorise 30 Quranic verses and to carry out the Hajj and Umrah.
 
“I also hope that throughout my life I will maintain my resolve and always adopt the virtues and traits of a decent Muslim.
 
“To my non-Muslim families, friends, or acquaintances who are interested in learning more about this faith, Islam is genuinely straightforward and lovely.
 
“Islamic teachings guide mankind towards finding happiness in the afterlife and in this world,” he said.
 
Upon concluding our conversation, Daeloniel emphasised that Islam is not just an amazing faith in theory; it becomes much more beautiful when it is put into reality in daily life.

Daeloniel (fifth from left) with his family during the recent Gawai Dayak celebration.