WoodrowX2
Member
- Nov 27, 2013
- 1,645
- 64
- Faith
- Muslim
- Marital Status
- Married
- Politics
- US-Democrat
During my 45+ years as a Christian I loved Jesus(as) with all my heart and still do. I did not leave Christianity because I stopped loving Jesus(as) but because I do love him and sincerely believe He led me to Islam, although it was a long Journey. That took 20 years after Leaving Christianity.
I left Christianity because as a Pastor and Evangelistic Missionary, I came to feel I was misleading people and could no longer do so. I felt it was hypocritical to continue calling myself a Christian. I continued to Love Jesus(as) but could no longer believe the depiction of him created in the NT.
During that time I had no contact with Muslims and was living in a part of Texas in which there were no Muslims or Mosques. I found Islam through personal prayer to Jesus(as) and possibly a miracle
In 2004 I was living in the small town of Tennessee Colony. Texas a very Red Necktown smack in the Center of the Bible Belt. I was diagnosed with lung cancer and began preparing for my final days. But my wife passed away suddenly just a few weeks after my diagnosis. I went into a very deep depression and began drinking quite heavily. In May of 2005 I realized the stupidity of my drunken binge sobered up and set forth to regain control of my life. I began with a general clean up of the house. During my clean up I found my old Qur'an in Arabic that I had bought while I was a student at Rabat. I had bought it as a study guide to help me learn to read Arabic.
It had been many years since I had last read anything in Arabic. I was curious as to if I could still read it. I opened it to Surah Fatiha and the first line literally jumped out at me.
Bismillah ir Rahman ir Raheem. "In the name of Allaah, the provider, the Most merciful"
It was like the words glowed and completely filled me with an inner peace I never felt before.
I turned back to the preface and saw it was the supplication:
Auzu Billahi Mina Al Shaytan Al Rajeem.
(In Allaah(swt) I seek refuge from the evils of Satan)
After over 20 years of not speaking Arabic it all flowed back to me. I could not stop reading and I was not simply reading words, the feeling of each ayyat came upon me with an indescribable warmth and sense of understanding. I could not stop. I do not know how long I read I know it was for at least 48 hours and I still could not stop the feeling was so powerful and filling me with a strong sense of love and joy on the morning of what I believe was the 3rd day I finally set the Qur'an down and knew I was Muslim. I instantly said the Shahadah and knew I was now part of the Ummah. I did not even know if there were any Muslims in Texas much less if there were any Mosques.
I realized I was hungry and there was no food in the house. The nearest store was only a mile from me so I decided to walk down to it. When I entered the store there was a stranger from out of town. He was dark skinned. Our eyes met and he smiled and said "As salaamu Alaikum Akhi" without hesitation I answered back "Wa alaikum wa reamatullahi wa baraktuhu" He then asked"How long have you been Muslim, I answered about 15 minutes.
He then asked me if I had ever been in a Mosque, I said no. He then invited me to go to the Mosque in Tyler on Friday. I accepted. I later learned his name was Aadil and he had just moved to Texas from Pakistan. He had gotten lost and accidentally drove into Tennessee Colony, He had stopped at the store to get directions. Aadil and I became very close friends and still are although he has since moved back to Pakistan.
Things then moved so fast it became a blur. My youngest Daughter who I had not seen for 15 years called me on the telephone. She had been contacted by the VA and had learned they were concerned about my health. She insisted I move in with her family in Austin, which I did. The biggest surprise was finding out she had accepted Islam 10 years before and was married to a fine pious Muslim man and had 2 children I had never seen. A bigger surprise was soon to come. I discovered all of my children had reverted to Islam and all of my Grandchildren were Muslim.
Upvote
0
