A 27-year-old man was raised in a religiously strict family that followed one of the fanatical Sunni Sects. His father was diligent in teaching him the fundamentals of religion and memorizing the Quran. He participated in many competitions to demonstrate his ability to recite the Quran with Tajweed, which is a special way to read the Quran that shows voice inflections.

Because he was one of the successful ones in those competitions, he was nicknamed “The Unsheathed Sword of Allah. “The top religious leaders in his sect encouraged him to study his religion more deeply. So, he decided to delve deeper into religious readings and attend special classes to study and learn more about religious jurisprudence.

He spent several years in Islamic studies in addition to his regular studies at school. Many questions accumulated through his study of Islamic books, and as usual, when he was trying to find an answer to those questions, the answers he received from all the sheiks were only to encourage him to study and to trust in his religion. They told him you must accept what you learned without discussing or questioning. Of course, these questions touched on the religious essences, such as revelation, the subjects of prophecies, religious wars, concubines, and when the Quran was collected and written. His doubts began to arise from the covering up of the questions and the fear of being accused of disbelief if he asked any.

When he stopped attending religious classes, he was subjected to a campaign of intimidation by some religious leaders; even his father asked him to explain why he stopped. He couldn’t be honest with his father, saying, “I want to focus more on my university studies.” After much argument, his father accepted his excuses, but he had to continue again after his graduation from university. When he started reviewing what he learned in those years studying Islamic classes, he realized that he had been taught to hate the Shiites to the point that he could kill them and drink their blood. He also hated all other religions to the point of wishing they would die before his eyes. He would not even help a child among them.

Realizing his evil feelings, he began to move away from Islamic duties. He tried to do a self-examination of what he had learned, — such as where mercy is in Islam and why is the call in Islam confined to the sword, blood, and tribute. Why do we not accept others, even though we accept everything from them, such as technology, fast food, and cars?  He didn’t know what to do. The fear of facing difficult questions about Islam meant losing his religion, family, tribe, and social affiliation. His professional career and material life would be ruined. He decided to return to the bosom of his family, but he felt that his life was full of lies, deception, and fear. He knew he would stand with his father in the mosque to pray on Friday and listen to the Imam, but he wouldn’t believe a single word, and he began to ask himself, what should I do?

Because of his work, he moved to another city. He felt relieved because he thought he could escape the religious leash on his neck. Still, customs, traditions, and religious rituals chased him in the same manner and style, regardless of the people. He was feeling frustrated, afraid of losing those around him, but at the same time, he couldn’t even express himself, his thoughts, and his doubts! He came to believe in the curse of the nations, especially when he learned that human beings are controlled and do not have free will or freedom of choice. He didn’t give up; he tried to find a way out of the circle where he lived, and he always asked God to guide him and establish his thoughts on the truth.

The Lord opened the door for him through a friend at work. His friend had gotten the Bible from a church member and started reading the Bible. “I started reading a book,” his friend told him. Of course, he didn’t tell him it was the Bible. “In this book there’s a saying that says, ‘God wants all the people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of truth.’ It made me think about it a lot, and I want to get your opinion about it.”

He didn’t give him an answer, but he said to him, “I didn’t understand what you want from this question.” “We are Muslims,” his friend replied, “and Allah chose for us the blessing of being born into a Muslim family and a Muslim country. Why does He want us to come to know the truth?”

He didn’t answer his friend at all! But he took the question with him and started to think about it. On the second day, he asked his friend, “What is the name of the book you are reading?” After a period of arguments and after he had taken a promise from him to keep his secret, his friend told him that he had a book for Christians called the Bible. The friend decided to give him the book for a week so that he could read it. He would take the book for a week, and they would meet and discuss what they read with each other.

Eventually, they reached the point that they needed to talk to the person who gave them the book. We arranged a meeting to discuss their questions about the book. The Bible says faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.

When we met, I was clear that the God of the Bible is not the Allah of the Quran, and I began to explain that faith is not in works but in the personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. It took us a couple of months of meetings and explanations about the Trinity and the reason for the crucifixion, death, and the resurrection of Christ from death. Soon, the Lord opened their hearts to come to the knowledge of salvation, and both accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.

A Message From A Smuggler

Greetings to all of you in the name of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. I want to take this opportunity to thank you all for your prayers and support, which helped us share the truth and the good news that is not allowed to be known in our land.
Because of your financial sacrifice, our God extends His hand to help us bring the Holy Bible to our land. It’s alive and effective, never changes, and gives eternal life to all who ask and research the Divine Truth.  – Smuggler

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