Araya Nikah Co., Ltd. is a company founded and managed by a Muslim born in Sai Buri District, Pattani Province — his paternal grandfather was a Muslim from Tha Thong Sub-district, Raman District, Yala Province, and his maternal grandfather was a Muslim from Pak Phayun District, Phatthalung Province.
The company entered the business of family care through organizing Islamic weddings in an atmosphere that is friendly to families of other religions, starting in 2008 and continuing to the present. Araya Nikah Co., Ltd. organizes Islamic weddings and conducts training and education on converting to Islam, as well as coordinating nikah ceremonies, or Islamic weddings, for international couples, together with the Central Islamic Committee of Bangkok, and works together with religious scholars throughout Thailand. The company is currently certified as a Social Enterprise by the Thai government, working in the area of overseeing international and Thai Islamic marriages in order to protect women and children from dishonest marriages, and to provide guidance on religious matters and related legal issues.
Working with Religious Organizations
Araya Nikah Co., Ltd. facilitates Muslims from abroad and within Thailand in obtaining accurate information about nikah, and coordinates with the relevant authorities to carry out a legally valid nikah, as well as providing guidance on contacting consulates and embassies so that the bride and groom have a good nikah experience in Thailand. The company has also developed a nikah framework named Nikah Guardian in Thailand to prevent dishonest nikah and fraud aimed at marrying and exploiting Thai women who lack understanding of the process.
Working with Suraus and Mosques
Araya Nikah has developed the Siam Sakana framework so that Thailand can be a place of reliance for the Islamic faith for people of every ethnicity, grounded in multiculturalism, and continues to build a family-centered conceptual framework alongside systematic management of religious affairs, legal matters, and counseling — supported by suraus such as Harun Mosque, which is a long-established mosque and has long served as a model for multicultural work, among others.
Participating in Activities with Religious Scholars
Araya Nikah Co., Ltd. works together with Islamic religious scholars in Thailand and abroad in many dimensions, such as overseeing weddings, arranging funding, supporting religious activities organized by religious scholars, helping build networks to support religious scholars, arranging scholarships for students, and recommending free places to study religion for those interested in Islam, among others, in order to build a network for religious affairs, develop Muslim society and Thai society, in an atmosphere that is friendly to every religion.
Setting Up Prayer Rooms
Araya Nikah Co., Ltd. provides knowledge and assistance to non-Muslim-market business operators in setting up prayer rooms and ablution (wudu) areas, offers guidance on preparing the necessary equipment, and educates business operators and service staff so that they have a correct understanding of the importance of prayer and other related considerations.
Facilitating Conversion to Islam for Those Interested in Islam
@arayaweddingplanner.com Converting to Islam as part of the pre-nikah training course at ARAYA House. Today two people converted together. #PreNikahTraining #ThaiBuddhistConvertsToIslam #InterfaithLove #NewMuslim #Islam #Muslim ♬ Original sound – Araya Nikah Planner
Araya Nikah Co., Ltd. facilitates conversions to Islam, both openly and privately, for over 200 people per year, both Thai and foreign nationals. Because Araya Nikah Co., Ltd.’s website appears on the first page of Google when people search for information about Islam, converting to Islam, and related topics, the company currently receives a large number of inquiries from people interested in learning about Islam. At present the company continuously arranges conversions to Islam and develops various knowledge to help prepare people before converting, such as the steps for converting to Islam, guidance on converting independently, guidance on converting at religious institutions, suraus, or by coming to convert at the company itself, including explaining the various legal requirements necessary for both Thai and foreign cases.
Organizing Training on Understanding Islam for Business Operators
Araya Nikah Co., Ltd. cares for families, especially those coming from interfaith backgrounds. Because the company places importance on adjusting to and learning about Islam, it has developed a curriculum and philosophy that is friendly and understanding toward new Muslims, with mutual respect, in line with Islamic principles. Because of the strong interest received, this has continued to be developed further to reach non-Muslim business operators and staff members who serve Muslim customers, as well as those interested in Muslim dress culture and halal food. The company currently offers a variety of courses, while also linking with free courses organized by religious institutions, so that those interested in Islam have a diverse range of learning options — including developing various articles about Islam through online channels and other means.
Organizing Training on Muslim Family Management to Reduce the Risk of Divorce
Araya Nikah Co., Ltd. has developed a group course for youth, interested individuals, born Muslims, and new Muslims, to disseminate principles of family management that combine family management according to Islamic principles, Thai law, and the importance of managing family finances, together with family psychology guidance and more. It is held at the company’s premises in partnership with well-known hotels such as Novotel Bangkok Bangna and others, with a formal certificate of completion issued.
Family Counseling Services
In addition to weddings, the company also provides family counseling, through which it has received information relating to divorce, conflict, various forms of violence, mental health problems, and more. We have developed articles on communication and mutual understanding, and various approaches, such as knowledge on amicable mediation, amicable divorce, family communication, and more, based on the Intifah philosophy that the company has developed. The family is an important foundation of Muslim society, and we carry out all of this work, both openly and privately, whether as a private organization, personal support, or by pushing forward various religious networks, so as to bring about continued positive change in Thailand’s Muslim society.
Working with International Organizations
Araya Nikah Co., Ltd. has worked together with international Islamic organizations, such as the Halal Research Council, an organization specializing in research and the development of halal standards at the international level, and which is an internationally recognized network in the finance and banking sector. Networks within Halal Research Council International include Al Huda Center of Islamic Banking & Economics, True Banking, Islamic Microfinance Network, Sukuk Research Portal, Islamic Banking and Finance News (Online Magazine), and others. The company hopes to bring these networks to further promote religious affairs within the country and in Muslim society going forward.
Other Future Plans (Not Yet Implemented)
- A non-profit foundation with a system that allows the public to review its accounts online
- Systematic management of funeral (mayyit) arrangements for Muslims from other areas in Bangkok
- A free place to learn about Islam in a multicultural atmosphere
- A vocational training center for Muslims and workforce quality development
- Building many more prayer rooms throughout Thailand
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