I am Majida*. I belong to a prominent family in the Middle East. We were proud of our family and our religion of Islam. Our house has a majlis [a place of sitting usually at the front of the house and used for various types of special gatherings—Ed.].  Our family also has its own masjid [mosque], because of the quote from the hadith** by Al-Bukhari: “Whoever builds a mosque for the sake of Allah, Allah will reward that person with a place in Paradise.”

I was very particular in practicing Islam, such as doing namaz [ritual Islamic prayers] five times a day, reciting from the Koran, fasting during the month of Ramzan, giving zakath [alms to the poor and needy]. Women of our house strictly obeyed the rules on wearing the traditional abaya with full head and face covering.

Although this is our religious background, the male members certainly did not follow all religious rules. My father and brothers had many friends who were alcoholic.

In my country, people of all religions, except Islam can get permits to buy and use alcohol. Recently I learned that the source of income for one of the emirates is selling alcoholic drinks, which is forbidden by our religion.

My father was addicted to drugs and had various bad habits. Very often he invited non-Muslim friends and drank with them in our majlis. My brothers also drank alcohol and used drugs. There was never peace in our home.

Further, my mother suffered with breast cancer and could not sleep because of the pain. I too had a large blister on my leg, which doctors couldn’t cure.

One day my father happened to meet a Christian pastor who worked with Bibles for Mideast. My father tried to explain to him about Islam, the Koran and the Hadith. The pastor showed interest in what he said, and then conveyed the message of Gospel. By this way, they became friends. Whenever they meet together, the pastor would give my father Christian leaflets. It was all about the Way, the Truth, the Life, the Light, the true freedom and peace possible only from the Prince of Peace.

My father would leave the tracts on the table, and I would often read them.

“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed,” I read in one of them [John 8:36]. It was explained that the Son is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who is able to free from sin, from sickness, from fear and from death.

That really struck me. I read it several times, sitting in a chair and thinking on it.

I began to feel sleepy. As I fell asleep, I saw Jesus come to me. He lifted my lower jaw and said with a smile, “I am your Savior. I love you, Follow me. My grace is sufficient for you: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” Suddenly I opened my eyes. There was nobody. But I felt a real peace in my mind.  And I found the unhealed blister on my leg had disappeared!

Secretly I approached the pastor. He gave me a Bible and told me about salvation. I accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal savior and Lord. And I asked the pastor to pray for the healing of my mother and the deliverance of my family members.

When I came back home I found my mother was sleeping well without having taken any sleeping capsules. When she woke up, she said a man from heaven had come with many angels, had then touched her and told her to be healed! There were nail marks in His hands, she said.

I told her about Jesus and she too accepted Him as her savior. When the doctor checked her, he of course wondered about her healing, and boldly I told him that it was Jesus who healed her.

I asked my father and brothers to attend three days of prayer meetings at an underground Bibles for Mideast house church with me. So very secretly we all went to attend the prayer service. My father and brothers stopped all bad habits. All of my family members came to believe in and accept Jesus Christ. We now all pray and read the Bible together at home.

What wonderful peace in the hearts and at home when Jesus comes into lives! Daily I see Jesus as a living person to whom I can tell everything of my life.   I have no words to narrate the miracles we see daily ever since our friendship with Jesus began. He alone is God. All praise and glory to Him alone.

Please pray for us to stand stable in this precious faith as we are preparing for baptism.

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* name changed for security reasons
* The hadith is a record (there are many collections) of the traditions or sayings of Mohammad, and second only to the Koran in authority for Muslims.