It seemed a normal day, like any other. I never imagined how it would end, but I am forever changed by how it did.
Pink and purple hues were dancing across the beautiful mountains in Tucson as I left work Tuesday night, the sunset as glorious as ever. The delicious aroma of fresh spring air and the savory smell of the sambusas I had cooked earlier filled the car as I drove towards my PathWays class. (Check out information on this awesome missions class at www.pathways2.org) Tonight was International Food Night, and everyone was bringing a dish from another country to share as we heard from a speaker.
Little did I know what experience was awaiting me from the speaker this particular Tuesday night.
I pulled up into the church parking lot, toting my dish and book, a smile spread across my face as I anticipated the wonderful fellowship and teaching that night. Off to one side of the building, however, there was a woman standing on the curb in traditional “hijab,” or Muslim dress. A curiosity crossed my mind, but I carried on as normal.
Suddenly, the woman called out my name.
“Sarah, we're over here tonight!”
Realization washed over me and I recognized the woman as one of the leaders of the class. I crossed the parking lot to her, and we greeted each other. Then came the explanation.
“Tonight, we are going to be Muslims.” Was her only offering as she handed me a scarf to cover my hair. My heart was filled with anticipation and excitement, but also curiosity with what this night would entail, and what was in store. I honestly had no idea.
With my own hijab in place, I headed around the side of the building and entered through a door marked “Women only.” As I opened the door, I saw that our normal classroom had been transformed into a makeshift mosque. One half of the room, the women's side, was dark, and veiled by a lace curtain. On the other side of the curtain, lights were on and the men were sitting in a line behind a man kneeling on a prayer rug. He was chanting along in Arabic with music that was playing over the speakers.
I glanced around our half of the room, and found a seat next to a friend. Anticipation was still swelling in my heart, and I wondered what we would learn tonight. Another of the female leaders came around with a clipboard, instructing us to write down any questions we had on this piece of paper, because women were not allowed to speak in a mosque.
Waiting for the night to unfold, I studied my once familiar surroundings and tried to process the uncertainty in my heart. I didn't know anything really about the Islamic religion, culture, or practices.
After a few minutes, the man rose from his rug, and addressed our group. He introduced himself as Magdy, and explained that he was asked to come and demonstrate a ritual Islamic prayer, and to talk about Islam with us. He related that this was the first time he had been in a church, and that he had interest of learning other religions, and was open to discussion about different religions.
Magdy continued and demonstrated the prayer in Arabic, with the men standing and kneeling in the light, while we women were silently watching in the dark behind the veil. After the prayer, he sat and began to tell us a bit about Islam, and addressed some key points about his faith. He opened the floor for questions, and the men began to ask various questions about the teachings of the Qur'an, and about known issues of the Islamic faith.
Many questions were brought forward, and Madgy answered them all with open honesty. He spoke for about an hour, and the discussion was very interesting. I soaked up all the information he related to us, since I have never really delved into trying to understand Islam or the practices it involves.
After questions had been answered, it was time for our normal break in the class, and to have our International Food Night. With the break, the veil came down, our “hijab” came off, and the room was set up as it normally had been. Since our room was being put back to normal, I wondered if someone else would speak for the remainder of the class, or if Magdy was to continue. As we all ate our delicious food, I found out that Magdy indeed would be continuing the lesson.
Silently I wondered what he would talk about for the rest of the class, and what he thought of us all. My heart was intrigued by this experience, and how I felt about the Islamic world. After our meal together, Magdy rose to continue the lesson, and opened with a very interesting question.
“What do you think of when you hear 'Islam.' Honestly. What word comes to mind?” He said that he would not be offended, but that he wanted to hear it bluntly, and openly.
Things like violence, different, and lost were spoken. In my mind I searched for what I felt when I heard Islam. I felt that overall, the word would be “unknown.” And that from Islam being unknown to me, I held a fear of it. Fear because I didn't know how to act or interact with Muslim people, and did not know their practices. Fear because of the conflict and tension between Muslims and Christians. I had fear because it was all so unknown to me. But I also began to realize that I never thought about the individuals. Each individual Muslim, and why they are following Allah. What brought them in, and what keeps them? I never thought about the faces behind the religion.
This new thought began to stir fresh revelations in my heart as Magdy continued. I began to see through new eyes, seeing a face, knowing a name. I began to see and remember that God has created every person in His image, and that they all desperately need Christ and His amazing grace.
Magdy spoke for a few more minutes, then said that he would like to pause, and have a moment of silence where we could each pray in our minds to God, and him to Allah. After a few moments, with my eyes closed, I began to hear Magdy speak a prayer in Arabic. Of course I had no idea what he was saying, but I kept my eyes closed and prayed to God about what he was stirring in my heart for his unreached people in the Muslim world.
Suddenly, Magdy began to pray in English to God. Not to Allah, but to Jesus Christ. My mind began to race as his words flowed perfectly over the saving grace of Christ, and God's love for us. I wondered if he was extending this to us in respect for our faith, or if it was something else. He closed the prayer, and then came the shock.
He was a Christian, a missionary to Muslims. Born in Egypt, he has studied Arabic for over 52 years, as well as the Islamic culture and religion.
Some may have seen it coming, but I was completely blindsided and dumbstruck. I had been so engrossed in learning about the Islamic culture, and what he was relating, that I didn't even pause to think that he might actually not be Muslim.
I could hardly contain myself, and what God was doing in my heart. How he had revealed my own fear of Muslims and how I had never even thought of reaching out to them. How the thought of showing them God's love and sharing his saving grace with them had hardly ever crossed my mind. But he opened my eyes to his love for them. For his deep desire to bring them to him.
Magdy spoke for the rest of the class, and I was still completely captivated by his words. I found my heart yearning for more, to know more. To reach out.
One of the most beautiful things that stuck with me was when Magdy spoke of the story of the good Samaritan, and the Samaritan woman at the well. He gave us a challenge: “When you heard the word 'Samaritan,' think of 'Muslim.'” That had a deep impact on me, and further began to open my heart to the truth that every Muslim is made in the image of God. Every single one needs God grace as much as I do. Why shouldn't I share it with them?
As I drove home from this class, I was still processing the whole night. The strange, shocking turn of events that I didn't see coming. The stirring of my heart for a people I had barely ever considered before. God is still moving in my heart, and opening my eyes today, a mere few days later.
I can't wait to see what He will do the rest of my life, and how I can reach out to the Muslim world, and share his freedom and grace.
This experience changed my heart forever, and I am so thankful that God brought me to it. He is faithful, he is good. I can't wait to share that with the world every single day of my life, whether here in Tucson, or wherever I am around the world. He is worthy to be praised, and his name is worthy to be known among every tribe, language and people.
var _gaq = _gaq || [];
_gaq.push([‘_setAccount’, ‘UA-22019704-1’]);
_gaq.push([‘_trackPageview’]);
(function() {
var ga = document.createElement(‘script’); ga.type = ‘text/javascript’; ga.async = true;
ga.src = (‘https:’ == document.location.protocol ? ‘https://ssl’ : ‘http://www’) + ‘.google-analytics.com/ga.js’;
var s = document.getElementsByTagName(‘script’)[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);
})();
