Daughter of Islam finds Jesus

[Sir_Knight]

christianitytoday.com/tcw/2002/003/15.29.html …

I Was a Daughter of Islam
What I discovered when I lifted the veil on my world

I was born in Jordan to a Muslim family, and was named Ruqaya after one of the prophet Muhammad’s daughters. My uncle, who’d moved to Chicago, told my dad about the wonderful opportunities in the U.S., so my dad moved our family here when I was eight years old. While he was excited about providing for his family, my father worried that we’d grow up “Christian.” So while my siblings and I went to a public school during the week, we attended Islamic studies on the weekends. The only friends I had were the Muslim kids who attended Islamic studies with me.

As I grew older, my dad became more concerned about the possibility I’d become “Americanized.” So when I turned 14, my father decided I should return to Jordan to live with my grandmother. I wasn’t thrilled about living so far from my family, but when I arrived in Jordan, I loved the people, the culture, and Islam, so I was happy to stay.

More than 90 percent of Muslims are of the Sunni sect—those who strictly follow the Qur’an and the Hadith (the sayings of Muhammad). Since my family was Sunni, I prayed five times a day, fasted during the month of Ramadan, read the Qur’an daily, wore the veil (covering my entire body, and showing only my hands, face, and feet), and tried to imitate the prophet Muhammad in every way. But no matter what I did for Allah, I felt I needed to do more to avoid his wrath. I tried to earn his favor so I could go to heaven.

I spent three years in Jordan, but missed my family so much, I asked my dad if I could return to live with them in the U.S. Once I returned, I stopped wearing my head covering because I didn’t want to look like an “oddball,” but I still kept strong in my prayers and my faith. And I was content—until my father decided it was time for me to get married…

 

[Sir_Knight]

*** Continued from PREVIOUS Post ***

I grabbed my luggage and escaped to the nearest hotel to hide. I didn’t have much money and desperately tried to think of what to do next. I didn’t have many American friends because my father wouldn’t allow me to be influenced by their “Satanic ways.” But I did know one American woman whom I called from the hotel. I told her briefly what happened and asked if I could stay with her for a while. She came immediately and picked me up.

When the plane landed in Jordan 16 hours later without me on it, my father became furious. He called my brother and told him to find me.

I stayed with my friend for a few weeks, until one day my brother showed up at her office with a gun. He told her, “I know you have my sister. Give her back before anybody gets hurt!” A coworker called the police, but my brother left before they arrived. My friend got home that night and told me it was too dangerous for me to stay with her any longer, but recommended I stay at a shelter for women suffering from domestic violence.

When I arrived at the shelter, they told me I couldn’t stay there either because they’d seen two men showing my photo at a nearby restaurant. They sent me to another shelter an hour away.

After several weeks at that shelter, and only after I began to feel safe, did I allow myself to feel any emotions. Everything I’d bottled up burst out of me, and I sobbed as I mourned the loss of my family and my way of life.

Because I had a naturalized U.S. citizenship, I joined the National Guard for the government’s protection. After my training, I returned and found a job. Miraculously, I hid from my family for four years. But I missed them so much, I finally gathered my courage, contacted my mother, and met with her and my younger sister. We spent most of our time together in tears. The rest of my family had little to say to me. But slowly over time, my family and I began to make peace, and I was amazed at how they finally accepted me back. I thought, Allah didn’t neglect me after all, and returned to my faith. I didn’t pray five times a day or worship him the way I had in the past, but I thanked him daily and did nice things I thought would please him.

In february 1998, I accepted a job for a company based in Texas. Three days after I moved, I met Robyn, who was walking her dog in front of my apartment. We started talking and became fast friends. So when she invited me to go to her church, I agreed. It’s probably okay, I thought. My faith believes that Jesus was a messenger of Allah, too. I’m sure Allah won’t be upset if I go to church. I enjoyed the pastor’s sermon—except when he talked about Jesus. Sometimes he’d say Jesus is God, and sometimes he’d say Jesus is the Son of God. How could Jesus be both God and God’s Son? But I continued to go to church with Robyn until one day the pastor said the church was supporting missionaries in Muslim countries where they don’t know Jesus. I thought, Of course Muslims know Jesus. I need to set the record straight. After the service, I introduced myself to the pastor, Pete, and said, “I’m a Muslim, and I do know Jesus.”

I was thoroughly convinced the prophet Muhammad was the last messenger and the Qur’an was the last book sent by Allah. The Qur’an clearly states Jesus was a messenger born of a virgin mother, Mary. He performed many miracles such as bringing the dead to life, healing the sick, speaking when he was a baby, and creating a bird out of clay. Allah loved him so much that when his enemies were preparing to crucify him, he sent someone who looked like Jesus to be crucified instead. Muslims believe Jesus never died, but was raised to heaven to be protected from his enemies. Jesus, in the Qur’an, claims he never told anyone to worship him but to worship the one true God, Allah. According to Muslims, the Bible has been changed—and Christians and Jews don’t really have the true books. When Allah gave Muhammad the message, Allah preserved the Qur’an and made sure no one changed it.

The more I attended church, the more I wondered why Christians had different beliefs than Muslims; both the Bible and the Qur’an couldn’t be right. As I wrestled with Christianity, I asked Robyn and Pete: Was Jesus crucified? Did Jesus die on the cross for our sins? Is Jesus God, or the Son of God? What is meant by the Trinity? Is the Bible really accurate?

*** Continued in NEXT Post ***

 

[Sir_Knight]

4 Ways to Reach Out to Muslims

There are more than 1 billion Muslims in the world, and more than 5 million in the U.S., making Islam one of the fastest-growing religions in America—quickly emerging as the second-largest religion behind Christianity. Here’s what you can do to make an impact:

1. *]Pray for them. The only way a Muslim will ever come to Christ is if the Holy Spirit works in her heart to draw her to the truth. Pray specifically that: Muslims would be open to reading the Bible and would believe the Bible is the preserved, authentic Word of God; they’ll believe Jesus was crucified for their sins and resurrected from the dead; God will remove any misconceptions they have about Christianity; God will give them courage to surrender to Christ.
   
   *] Know your faith. It isn’t as important to a Muslim what you know about Islam as it is important for you to know about your own faith. Steep yourself in God’s Word so you can address any questions a Muslim may have about what the Bible and Christianity teach.
   
   *] Remove any misconceptions about Muslims. Not all Muslims are extremists, such as the Taliban. Not all of them hate Americans or Jews. Basically, they want the same good things from life we want. Many Christians assume all Muslims know Islam and the Qur’an very well. The fact is, however, most Muslims are Muslim in name only; they know little of their faith.
   
   *] Befriend them. The best way to reach out to a Muslim is to show her Christ’s love. Sharing the gospel isn’t enough to reach a Muslim. She has on spiritual blinders (2 Corinthians 4:4) that require time, prayer, and the outpouring of Christ’s love working through you. But the results of your persistence will be worth it (Galatians 6:9).

 

[MamaGeek]

Thank you for posting this. What an inspirational story!

 

[Sunniva]

Sir Knight said:

4 Ways to Reach Out to Muslims

There are more than 1 billion Muslims in the world, and more than 5 million in the U.S., making Islam one of the fastest-growing religions in America—quickly emerging as the second-largest religion behind Christianity. Here’s what you can do to make an impact:

1. 
   *]Pray for them. The only way a Muslim will ever come to Christ is if the Holy Spirit works in her heart to draw her to the truth. Pray specifically that: Muslims would be open to reading the Bible and would believe the Bible is the preserved, authentic Word of God; they’ll believe Jesus was crucified for their sins and resurrected from the dead; God will remove any misconceptions they have about Christianity; God will give them courage to surrender to Christ.
   *]Know your faith. It isn’t as important to a Muslim what you know about Islam as it is important for you to know about your own faith. Steep yourself in God’s Word so you can address any questions a Muslim may have about what the Bible and Christianity teach.
   *]Remove any misconceptions about Muslims. Not all Muslims are extremists, such as the Taliban. Not all of them hate Americans or Jews. Basically, they want the same good things from life we want. Many Christians assume all Muslims know Islam and the Qur’an very well. The fact is, however, most Muslims are Muslim in name only; they know little of their faith.
   *]Befriend them. The best way to reach out to a Muslim is to show her Christ’s love. Sharing the gospel isn’t enough to reach a Muslim. She has on spiritual blinders (2 Corinthians 4:4) that require time, prayer, and the outpouring of Christ’s love working through you. But the results of your persistence will be worth it (Galatians 6:9).

1. 
   I was myself a Muslim for many years. I converted in my late teens. I recognise and can identify myself with the story. Especially this quote:
   

   In Arab culture, when a woman disgraces her family—or is even rumored to have done so—she deserves to die.

   This goes for many cultures in the world, not only Muslim countries. My former husband is from Pakistan and I had to run away from him and now live in hiding in Canada.
   
   I have disgraced him and his family and in addition I’m an apostate from Islam. You can say that I have been sentenced to death in absentia by both him, his family and many Muslims.
   
   You wouldn’t believe the sacrifices I have had to do in order to live as a free Christian woman.
   
   I have read many posts here and other places that are dripping of hate, resent, misconceptions and prejudice against Muslims. If I had read posts like that when I was a doubting Muslim, curious about Christianity I would have run away screaming and never looked back. Posts that are full of hate and prejudice are turning potential Muslim converts to Christianity away from the Christian religion and can make them more fanatical about Islam.
   
   Think about that when you post. Do you want to lead a soul to Jesus or turn them away from Jesus? This is to those posters who do post very hateful about Islam and Muslims, not you Sir Knight.

 

[JesseJr]

**Gulp! Sunniva…is it all that bad ?

I have met many good Muslims but unfortunately there are a few who threaten the general populations with fanaticism. We simply need to be aware of their mentation and tactics,

Sorry to hear about your experiences but if you ever do come back and want to connect with the Latin Tridentine Mass here in Norway please let me know and I will put you in touch with the group of us who attend it. I can let you know locations in a private message…or e-mail

JesseJr.**

 

[losav]

She is now a Christian, and that’s a good news. How I pray harder that most Muslim converts may find the true fold, the Catholic Church.

 

[Myangel]

*** Continued from PREVIOUS Post ***

4 Ways to Reach Out to Muslims

There are more than 1 billion Muslims in the world, and more than 5 million in the U.S., making Islam one of the fastest-growing religions in America—quickly emerging as the second-largest religion behind Christianity. Here’s what you can do to make an impact:

1. *]Pray for them. The only way a Muslim will ever come to Christ is if the Holy Spirit works in her heart to draw her to the truth. Pray specifically that: Muslims would be open to reading the Bible and would believe the Bible is the preserved, authentic Word of God; they’ll believe Jesus was crucified for their sins and resurrected from the dead; God will remove any misconceptions they have about Christianity; God will give them courage to surrender to Christ.
   
   *] Know your faith. It isn’t as important to a Muslim what you know about Islam as it is important for you to know about your own faith. Steep yourself in God’s Word so you can address any questions a Muslim may have about what the Bible and Christianity teach.
   
   *] Remove any misconceptions about Muslims. Not all Muslims are extremists, such as the Taliban. Not all of them hate Americans or Jews. Basically, they want the same good things from life we want. Many Christians assume all Muslims know Islam and the Qur’an very well. The fact is, however, most Muslims are Muslim in name only; they know little of their faith.
   
   *] Befriend them. The best way to reach out to a Muslim is to show her Christ’s love. Sharing the gospel isn’t enough to reach a Muslim. She has on spiritual blinders (2 Corinthians 4:4) that require time, prayer, and the outpouring of Christ’s love working through you. But the results of your persistence will be worth it (Galatians 6:9).
   

1. 
   
   WOW I am an emotional wreck now, cant even see the screen through my tears. My brother-in-law worked with a young girl who was a muslim up until her mother converted her whole family, she was very sick as a child, and the more the mother prayed to Allah the sicker her daugher became, until one day she decided to pray to Jesus (I think a friend suggested it) and low and behold her daughter actually started to recover, from that date the women had her whole family convert and are now enjoying the peace and the grace of our Lord.

 

[Hashi_Al-Eritre]

Its unfortunate to read about the sad and unislamic behaviour of her family forcing her to marriage. If only the Muslim Ummah collectively returned back to their religion.

 

[cestusdei]

It would be far better if they followed her example and became Christian.

 

[Franze]

All conversions to christianism, at first protestantism, because it´s easier to convert and later catholicism of many muslims, are very good news.
I pray for them, everyday.