Ex-Muslim on the Run for Conversion
By Abdallah Daher, Sarah Pollak & Dale Hurd
CBN News
Ex-Muslim on the Run for Conversion
By Abdallah Daher, Sarah Pollak & Dale Hurd
CBN News
March 27, 2008
CBNNews.com - From the Gaza strip to neighboring Egypt, his father is promising to kill him for becoming a believer.
Now he's on the run with his wife and little baby.
Mohammed Hijazi's father always taught him to hate Christians. And yet Mohammed's Christian neighbors in his home town in Egypt always treated him with love and kindness.
The more he learned about Islam, the more he began to feel distant from the "god" of Islam.
That was the beginning of a quest to find out more about Jesus Christ.
About three years ago, he found a loving father in the God of the Bible.
He wanted to publicly profess his conversion on his Egyptian national ID card that, among other things, lists a person's religion. He approached a lawyer to see if he could help him.
Somehow Hijazi's story was leaked to the press and unleashed a fire storm of controversy that seems to have swept every major Arabic-speaking television station.
Adding fuel to the fire, Mohammed's friends began appearing on different TV talk shows to damage his character, even going so far as to call him "disturbed."
A few months ago, Mohammed's highly publicized case went to court and the judge denied him the ability to change his religion from Islam to Christianity.
If Mohammed should attempt to go against the court, he could face three to 10 years in prison and a hefty fine.
Mohammed and his then pregnant wife Christina began running from the law. Just over a month ago, she gave birth to baby Miriam in hiding.
They've all sworn to kill her because she married a non-Muslim against the family's wishes.
"I love my parents so much," said Christina. "I want them to know that I am praying that the Lord will open their hearts and minds. That He would show them the way and that they would get the same blessings that I am getting."
Mohammed's family is just as angry. In a recent interview to the local papers, Mohammed's father said, "I am going to try to talk to my son and convince him to return to Islam. If he refuses, I am going to kill him with my own hands."
Shortly later, Mohammed released this response:
"I would like to send a message to my dad. I saw what you said in the newspapers. You say you want to kill me; to shed my blood in public. But I love you so much because you are my dad and because Jesus taught me to love....I accepted Jesus Christ willingly and nobody forced me....I forgive you. No matter what decision you make. No matter what you do. To my dad and mom, I say Jesus Christ died to save me."
An Islamic council issued a Muslim edict called a "fatwa" back in 1978 that still stands today.
It condemns Mohammed and Christina to death for becoming believers.
Where does that leave their little daughter Miriam?
"I don't think that God is asking you to make your granddaughter an orphan by killing her dad," said Mohammed.
But under the same fatwa, Miriam will be killed anyway at the age of 10 if she does not choose Islam.
http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/326585.aspx
(more)
(less)
Added: 3 months ago
Views: 7,490
Rene, Former muslim's journey from Islam to Christ !
Source : www.muslimjourneytohope.c
Rene, Former muslim's journey from Islam to Christ !
Source : www.muslimjourneytohope.com
The video has 2 more minutes of play, Watch the full video at :
http://www.muslimjourneytohope.com/testimonies/testimony_ren e.wmv
(more)
(less)
Added: 4 months ago
Views: 1,346
Mansour, A Shia Muslim's Journey from Islam to Christ !
Source : www.muslimjourneytohop
Mansour, A Shia Muslim's Journey from Islam to Christ !
Source : www.muslimjourneytohope.com
The video has 2 more minutes of play, Watch the full video at
http://www.muslimjourneytohope.com/testimonies/testimony_man sour.wmv
(more)
(less)
Added: 4 months ago
Views: 699
|
Muslims who convert to Christianity face harsh persecution. Even those living in western c
Muslims who convert to Christianity face harsh persecution. Even those living in western countries aren't safe from retribution.
The Price of Conversion
One man paid a heavy price for rejecting Islam to follow Christ, and his suffering came from those who once loved him the most.
Adam will never walk again.
His legs bear the scars of many operations to repair devastated muscle, tendon, and bones.
He suffered these injuries when he was thrown off a fourth-floor balcony at a shopping mall.
It's a miracle he survived.
What's more shocking is that the person who ordered the attack was his own mother.
"I received a letter from my mom, threatening me that she was going to kill me if I do not go back to Islam," he said.
Adam is a Christian living in Canada, but he was born and raised a Muslim in Morocco.
"I was raised in a very strict family, I was punished all the time If I failed to comply by the teachings of Islam," Adam began. "I remember it was Ramadan and I did not pray, and for that my mom hit me on my nose, and she broke it and it is still broken until now."
Taking a Second Look at Islam
At age 20, Adam moved to Canada and met many Arab Christians.
He also started watching Christian TV programs that challenged the teachings of Islam.
That led him to an Internet chat room, called "Pal Talk."
"That's when I started gaining a lot of information about Islam that I felt were really strange and that's when I was convinced that this religion can not be from God," Adam explained. "How can a religion that is based on killing and slaughter and terrorism come from God?"
He took his questions to a sheik in Canada and received a startling answer.
"I told him that this religion can not be from God and that I thought that Bin Laden and Al Zawaheri are terrorists. He replied 'no they are not terrorists, they are the real Muslims.' That's when I decided to leave Islam."
Through Pal Talk and the ministry of father Zakaria Boutrous, Adam discovered the Bible and Jesus Christ.
"I finally felt like I found what I have been looking for all my life. I found a loving God, who died for me on the cross. I dedicated my time to study the Bible and pray and that's how I found my way to Jesus Christ."
In most cases, that would be the happy ending of the story, but for this Muslim turned Christian, it was the beginning of many trials.
His wife of six years left him and his family began a campaign to force him to return to Islam.
They even had him arrested when went to Morocco for a visit.
"I was tortured everyday. Tthey used to hang me upside down and beat me up. After 21 days my mom came and asked me if I have changed my mind, I said that I would never forsake Christ even if she wanted to kill me."
But the most vicious attack came after he returned to Canada.
A young Moroccan man, who said he was new in town, asked Adam to take him to a mall downtown so he could meet his cousin.
At the mall, Adam shared his faith with the two men.
As he was preaching the Gospel, they pushed him off a balcony and he plunged four-stories to the hard floor below.
He didn't wake up for 15 days and has spent the last seven months in hospitals.
Doctors say he'll be confined to a wheelchair for life.
Joy Amidst Trials
But Adam is not angry with the men who attacked him or his family.
"Even with all the pain, hurt and suffering I still rejoice because I know that I'm believing in the real God," he said.
"What hurts most (is) knowing that my mom and my whole family believe in the wrong God. I always pray to God and ask him to bring them to Him and that's the only thing that will heal my wounds."
And even from his hospital bed he's ministering to Muslims
He logs on to Pal Talk every day to tell them the truth about Islam.
He has a special message for former Muslims now following Jesus Christ.
"Jesus did not promise us virgins and he did not promise us rivers of wine. Instead he said 'In the world you will have tribulations but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.' Believe me I felt the hand of God working through all the troubles I went through, I was denied by parents, friends and country, but with Christ all things are better."
http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/282531.aspx
(more)
(less)
Added: 5 months ago
Views: 10,746
Another terrorist attack occurred against innocents in Algeria--this one, like most in rec
Another terrorist attack occurred against innocents in Algeria--this one, like most in recent years, was the work of the North African wing of al Qaeda.
The Algerian people are trying to move beyond a bloody 15-year Islamic insurgency that has claimed as many as 200,000 lives there. While the government continues its fight against al Qaeda and other Islamists, another battle is being waged- -this one for the hearts and souls of Algerians.
Muslims are coming to Christ there as never before--mostly in mountain villages among berber ethnic groups.
Youssef Ourahmane is an Algerian pastor.
"The church is still growing fast, I have no doubt about it. The TV has a tremendous impact on the lives of the people there--especially Arabic language stations where for the first time many Algerians of course watch and see and hear Muslim converts who are preaching, who are teaching and telling them stories and also getting some facts about Islam and their faith in the Koran," he said.
Christianity existed in Algeria long before Islam, but disappeared in the 12th century. Today, Islam is the dominant faith, but Christianity is making a comeback.
The Algerian church has grown to about 70,000 adherents. Seventy percent of the Chirstians are under the age of thirty. Hundreds stand in line for more than an hour just to attend services in one church building.
Prosyletizing Muslims is against the law in Algeria. Regardless, one evangelist--a former Muslim--travels on trains playing a guitar, singing Christian songs and telling passengers about Christ. The train ride lasts about five to six hours, so he says he has a captive audience--passengers can't leave.
He added that overcoming fear of Muslims has been crucial to church growth.
"That has been the key and I think the church really is a missionary minded church now. They want to see more churches planted and they want to see the Algerian church become an impact not just for Algeria, but for other countries."
Countries like neighboring Morocco.
Just ask Ashraf (his identity hidden and name changed for protection). He left the Islamic faith for Christianity and began ministering to Muslims in remote mountain villages in Morocco. He showed many the Jesus film. Ahsraf said he wanted to introduce the berbers to a loving God who forgives them.
"He forgives the sinner who makes him suffer," he said. This is most important that the people see that. They will not think of vengeance or something like this."
But Ashraf has paid a high price for sharing Christ in Morocco. He was arrested and sent to a mental hospital where he was injected with mind altering narcotics.
Before he accepted Christ, Ashraf was arrested for associating with believers. He says national security police tortured him with electricity to get him to provide information about his Christian friends.
Algerians have also faced persecution in their country. Last year, government officials shut down at least five house churches and several Christians were arrested.
"We expect (2008) will be (a) tougher situation because now there are complaints from the religious leaders. Imams in Algeria...they complain against what is happening, the evangelization of the Algerians," explained Paster Youssef.
Their pressure has already led to a new, tougher law--a hefty fine and imprisonment for those found guilty of shaking the faith of a muslim. the law has yet to be implemented.
But Pastor Youssef suggested laws cannot stop the amazing move of God in North Africa.
"There's no doubt with what is happening today--with God arising men and women who are gifted in preaching, church planting, worship and other things as well. It's an amazing sign of hope," he said.
As for Ashraf the Moroccan evangelist-- he knows the risks he faces sharing Christ in an Islamic country, yet he remains unafraid.
"I will always trust God who gives me new life," he said. "Always God is with me everywhere."
http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/314304.aspx
(more)
(less)
Added: 5 months ago
Views: 17,549
Nizam, Grandson of Imam's journey from Islam to Christ.
www.muslimjourneytohope.com
Nizam, Grandson of Imam's journey from Islam to Christ.
www.muslimjourneytohope.com
(more)
(less)
Added: 6 months ago
Views: 1,804
|
