Transcription
As some people know that my background is adult industry. Yeah, that is something most amazing part. How Allah give you the guidance. How come Allah pick you up from that place? I think everything happens for I always believe this but now I'm trying to learn and trying to change by learning. So I was like, okay, I think he is leading me. I think everything about timing, everything is already planned.
You said you can recite the Quran in Arabic. No, but I just know it's alpha like, yes. So maybe you can. Hello everybody. This is Ray, and you can now call me Nor if you want to. I am now in Japan. Initially, I came back to Japan to see my parents and also to see One Championship at Psycho Super Arena. Now it's cherry blossom season, almost April. So I came here to see cherry blossoms and did a little bit of a photo shoot so that you can see the beauty of Japanese spring. But look at this. It's so beautiful. It's blooming. [Music] You know, this is already March 25th. Cannot believe that Ramadan is finishing already. Well, I am spending one of the last week of Ramadan in Japan. Wow, it has been fantastic. It wasn't so hard. It was a very beautiful Ramadan because I get to spend it with some friends in Bangkok. I get to spend some time in Malaysia, and I made a lot of friends and a lot of sisters, and then did a lot of pranks. Went to a lot of mosques, and then finally I came back to Japan to see One Championship, of course, but also I got to spend some time with my parents. Tomorrow, I am going to have some interview session with the author who is involved in translating and making an explanation about the Quran. So I'm going out from Tokyo. Alhamdulillah.
Today we have a very special guest. Uh, how can I call you? My new name is Nor. Nor. Okay. Sister Nor. Thank you very much for being with us today. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. So the purpose of this uh interview is to know about her conversion story, how she came to Islam, and how she discovered the Quran in easy Japanese. So the first and foremost, I thank you very much for coming. First of all, can you introduce yourself briefly? Where you were born, raised up, and then maybe your little background.
So my former name or station name is Ray Little Black, and some people know me as Ray or Ray Redee. I am from Japan, born and raised until 24 years old, and then I moved to Europe to do some work. As some people know that my background is adult industry. So I worked there as an adult actress for like maybe six years or so. Yeah, that is something most amazing part. How Allah give you the guidance, like because the imagination of this adult industry is something very simple, generally speaking. So how come Allah pick you up from that place? So it's so much curious. I mean, what happened actually? So one by one, I have many questions to ask. First of all, where and when did you embrace this? Now made Shahada. So Shahada, I took in Thailand, actually, but it was actually online because I studied about Islam for six months by books, internet, YouTube, and then I could already pray, and it was already Ramadan almost. So I was like, okay, you never know when I am going to maybe I wouldn't wake up. So before I start Ramadan, I wanted to be Muslim. I wanted to be ready to do Ramadan as a Muslim. Also, um, I had a certificate last week. Okay.
So maybe a little bit explained about more background after you said that uh involving adult industry, then how come you approach to Islam? In what way? Any opportunities? Meeting with Muslims? What happened actually? I think everything about timing, everything is already planned. And then it was about the timing that I was already thinking to retire. Well, I said my career is like about six, seven years, but this past few years, two, three years, I wasn't very active. Maybe at most I was doing like two to five videos per year. So I wasn't very active, but then I was thinking how to live because I didn't have any passion anymore. And then I was looking for something new. Then I moved to Thailand, and then I was traveling to Malaysia. I decided to travel to Malaysia because it's only two hours away from Bangkok. And then after that, I went to the south of Thailand, like so near Malaysia. Everything in like two weeks, three weeks. I met so many nice Muslim people, and then I made a lot of friends, and I wanted to get to know them, and then I wanted to become a better friend. To become better friends for Muslim people. I thought I need to understand what they believe and what is important to them. So that's how I started to study. I wasn't really like think that I'm going to become a Muslim. But I started that way, like to become better friends and to understand how they're living and stuff.
So basically, you visited Malaysia, you met good Muslims, and then you feel like this maybe based on a good religion. Um, I wasn't really thinking deep, but I just wanted to understand them to become better friends. Oh, better friends. All right. But you converted to Islam, made Shahada in Thailand, not in Malaysia. No, no. I mean, why? Because I wanted to just do it as soon as possible. Because I thought like I already wanted it, and I had an opportunity that I just want to become Muslim in front of Allah. In my heart. Yes. Already just make it official, and then later I get the certificate because Ramadan is coming. So you are basically staying in Thailand, then you just visit Malaysia. Yes. Uh-huh. Then you found good people there. Oh, and they want to be good friends. Yeah. But good friends alone maybe does not really trigger you to make Shahada. Yes. Yeah. Because Shahada needs commitment, right? So what really happened actually? So it's actually some of my friends that I met during this trip had some hard time, and I wanted to really help mentally. And then I already started to study Islam. I was like, okay, this person is Muslim, then he or she is asking for help to Allah. Why not ask the same God to help this person? I see. I really wanted to wish this person the best. So I started to learn how to pray so that I can ask Allah to help this person. I see. So, so anybody taught you about Islam? Oh, no. And thing I learned from ears like how to pray, how to Salat, everything from my ear. I watch so many YouTube videos. YouTube videos. First I listen and say the same thing and then do the same, and then I step by step. Yes.
Okay. So you have a friend who has trouble, and you want to help, want to pray to the same God. Yes. Because I already studied that Islam believes in only one God. One God. So me praying for another God doesn't really make sense to me. What is the previous religion? Do you have any specific religion for them? And I was not really believing in anything, but it's very interesting because my parents are Buddhists, and then I studied Buddhism for a really long time because I am just curious about religion. And then I went to Catholic school for 10 years. So I was reading the Bible for 10 years. I see. So you learned Buddhism, Buddhism, and also Christianity. Christian. Your parents taught you Buddhism or self-learning? My family is not super religious, but considered as religious in Japan, like we go to a lot of temples and stuff. So, okay. So after you embrace Islam, how about your friends or like parents' reaction? Uh, my friend circle is very small, so they don't care much. Like, I have been struggling a lot for myself as well. A lot of my friends saw me going through depression and stuff, and now I become a very happy person, and they see me. I am very happy that you found something that you want to believe that makes your life better. You now believe so much that everything happens for a reason, and then they give you the guidance when I need to. But embracing Islam has a commitment, right? You have to obey Allah's rules. So like the adult industry is quite opposite. It's quite a, I mean, the major sin in Islam, right? So how you can reconcile this? I mean, while you have income earning from this industry, so any conflicts? I mean, but I was not already active anymore anyway, and then I was already like have another income, like, okay, I wasn't depending on the industry.
So now you have become so famous on TikTok, Instagram. You got so many comments, I think, from the viewers. What are the like challenging comments or any critics? Oh, everything is very challenging. I, I mean, I don't check so much, actually, and thankfully it's Ramadan. So for me, you know, in Islam, what I studied is don't gossip, right? Don't backbite, right? But people just do it. They just start gossiping, and then they just start talking about me. So I was like, okay, you know what? This is very good because I think Allah is showing me how I shouldn't be. Like, this is not a good example. Even if people say gossip about me, I should be quiet. And then if I be patient, I think I get a big reward because I made a big sin. So maybe Allah is giving me the opportunity, opportunity to be patient and then overcome this hardship. This now Ramadan. This is your first Ramadan. Yes. Are you fasting now? Yes, of course. I mean, you are so quick to adopt Allah's law. And how about prayers? Daily prayers. Five daily prayers. Of course, I didn't miss any.
Still, I need to ask more questions about how you begin to know Islam. Let's say you are like in Malaysia. I mean, who are the first person you communicate or like how you met? I did some photo shooting. Yeah. Yeah. Photo shooting. Okay. For some memory. Like I wasn't really thinking of anything, and then I actually went there for like a seminar, and then I didn't think that it was an Islamic seminar, but I was like, uh, okay, something looks interesting. Let's go. But I was sitting, and then it's very interesting. I studied Christianity. I studied Buddhism. But I never studied Islam, and then I felt ignorant for not knowing and not studying, listening. And then this one person said, like, the most important thing is keep educating yourself and then, you know, being humble, and I was like, okay, I think I really agree with it. Wow.
Now I want to ask about the Quran. M. So just I saw that in your TikTok video. Yeah. You are writing the Arabic calligraphy, right? And then in front, I found the Quran. Yes. The Quran is Japanese. Just I wonder how did you get this? So I come back to Japan a lot, and then since I started to study Islam, I came back already three times. Every time I come back, I order so many books and then I bring back to Thailand to read. First time I got this one because of course, I wanted to read the Quran because this is the most important. It's the main thing that you should follow. Okay. To study Islam, this is really I need. So you ordered from the bookstore, from the internet? Yes. Amazon, and to my parents' house. So when I visit my parents' house. Thank you very much. Okay. This latest version. May I see the? Which version is this? Maybe this also latest, the seventh edition. Oh, yeah, seventh edition. Yes, this is the latest one. Mashallah, you read a lot. Right. I read this again, the whole entire thing during Ramadan as well. Two times already. Two times. What we went through 600 pages. Mashallah.
So after you read this whole entire Quran, what did you find? So many. First, as you can see, like I have some favorite places. For me, the Quran is like the book that has all the answers for your life. For me, life is like a maze, and then this is like a map. Okay. Problem. Yeah, life is like full of problems, and this is the book you can solve everything, everything. Okay. Whenever you have a problem, when you open it, you can find an answer. Yes. Do you have some example or like if you repent and then work for it, he will help. Okay. Do good deeds. Yes. Then Allah will help. Yes. Mashallah. Alhamdulillah. Yeah. And then this one also. Allah won't change unless you have the will to change. It's a famous verse. Yeah. Chapter 13, 11. I think everything happens for I always believe this, but now I'm trying to learn and trying to change by learning. So I was like, okay, I think he is leading me, right? Exactly. Guides you. Yes. I thought guiding also. I learned that we have the Quran because we are imperfect. We made mistakes. That's why we have the Quran.
You said you can recite the Quran in Arabic. No, but I just know like, yes. So maybe you can. She is a Quran teacher. Oh, yeah. Yes. It's okay. Yeah, it's okay. I recite in front of you. Okay. I'm shy in front of. No, it's okay. Maybe just you recite, just repeat. No, no. Better you recite. But do you memorize? Yes, memorize. Okay. Because you already use for alpha is from the beginning. Yeah. But I cannot read. Oh, yeah, memorize. Okay, let's see. No, it's okay because we know everybody knows you're a new Muslim. So Allah also knows any mistakes. When you see like effort, Allah will value your effort. Alhamdulillah. Alhamdulillah. It's a bit. No, that is the reason. That is the reason. Yeah. Why the teacher is necessary? Maybe YouTube is also good, but maybe not perfect. So because a teacher can correct. Yes. Yeah. But the YouTube not never correct you, right?
How long you have just been a Muslim? Six months. Six months of studying, but praying is not long. Oh, just a few months. Oh, Mashallah. Mashallah. I will teach you how to read. Yes. After Ramadan because during Ramadan, I travel a lot. But so after this, I have classes to learn. I am willing to learn Arabic because everything is so hard to pronounce. True. True. Yes. Just take your time. I also want to learn Quran study and also want Islamic history study. No, something great. I mean, you have the intention to study and to improve. That is all that matters, actually. No, because Allah will value our efforts. I'm doing the online class. Maybe you can attend. It's an individual class made with my wife, you know, together. Five pillars and myself, basically. So I have teaching maybe more than 500 students. Yeah. So the basically five pillars of Islam, six pillars of Iman, the faith. So that is the first fundamental. Everybody needs a teacher, you know, to accompany with you so that you can question many. Because I myself embraced Islam 29 years ago. So, like, no internet and then no teacher. So I myself very much struggled. Yeah. Even the books were not really available. So you don't have to spend this like same struggle like me. Now you can shortcut. So I can compile, I mean, what I have learned in a very short period of time, only just only for three months. If you do just 30 minutes every week, there you can get my 28 years' lesson.
By the way, have you been to Pakistan? Yes, I've been to Pakistan in December. Really? I mean, why pick up Pakistan? People ask me so much about Pakistan. Like, why? Before the new year, I just wanted to go to some beautiful mosques. Of course, I can go in Indonesia or Malaysia, but I just wanted to see the different Muslim culture other than Southeast Asia. I see. So I went to Dubai, but Dubai I don't like so much. Oh, because it was too busy. Like I want something a little bit more, not city, but can feel how people live and stuff. And then accidentally, I found Pakistan. They said that it's going to take maybe two to five days for visa. If I can get this visa applied in one day or two days, I go. I applied one day, I got the visa. Okay. I think Allah wanted me to go and see what's happening, and then I went. Oh, so many nice people. So which city did you go? I went to Lahore. Lahore. Oh, so Lahore people, thank you so much. Thank you for giving me like a very beautiful experience. But why not other cities? Why pick up Lahore? My Pakistani British friend knew somebody from Lahore. So if something happened, he has somebody that can help. So I think Lahore people welcome her again. I hope so. I hope I can. And then Malaysia only. Uh, Penang. Oh, you went to Penang. Penang. Maybe next you go to Indonesia, Inshallah. So many Indonesian people waiting. Maybe hopefully this year after Ramadan. Yes. So I think this is just the end of the maybe. Can I hug you again? [Music] Want to hear you.