Muslim Testimony

Unlike many of my brothers and sisters on this website, I had attended Church as a child. This was only during the summer time though, when I visited my mother’s parents in The USA. I grew up in Kuwait with a Muslim father and a Christian mother.

Having a Muslim father required me to study Islam. I remember the confusion at such a young age. I thought Jesus died on the cross, but I had friends who strongly disputed this. We were only in primary (or elementary) school. By the time I was nine years old, I had a nice and pleasant Arabic tutor who was a Muslim. She did not only help me with my homework, she took me on picnics and other trips with her family and neighbors. I thought of becoming a Muslim by the time I was eleven and she was my tutor until the end of that year.

At age twelve and on I was in confusion again, but I decided that loving God was important. I was easily occupied by a good group of friends. Even in my later teen years I went to parties where there was dancing with both sexes. My mother would always make sure that there was a parent at the party. Most of the time these parents were scared when I arrived, because I was female and Kuwaiti. I never got into trouble, as far as drinking or drugs or even sex. I felt like I was a pretty good person.

I woke up to find the truth, when I had graduated from high school. This was the same year that Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait. I was saddened and hurt by what was going on. I was in America with my family. I had friends who were stuck in the country and some of them were Palestinian and Jordanian! One of my Palestinian friends had to give up her jewelry and beautiful clothing, before leaving. I would cry every night feeling like I was in the same identity crisis that started when I was thirteen.

Eventually, all of my friends made it safe through the Gulf War, but one of my Palestinian friends lost her father due to unhappiness of leaving Kuwait. Life was unfair, I became angry at everyone, especially at the journalists. I thought that once Kuwait was free, I would be happy again, but it was not true. It would never be the same. My friends were supposed to be my enemies, though they had nothing to do with Saddam. Some of my friends decided they were my enemies, but two stayed loyal. In all this mess, I asked God what was going on. I began to have a hate for people in general. The nice person that I thought I was, was no longer there.

I was not a nice person and I was very lonely. However, God was not about to leave me in the dark. I was going to Church, since I could easily in America. I was asking questions, but at the time Christians got on my nerves. I felt like they were finding excuses for their sins by saying Jesus forgives. I decided I was not going to think about Christians or Muslims. I was going to compare the Quran and the Bible, and look at the men of these religions. Here was Muhammad who said in the Quran that other men could only have four wives, but he was special, he could have more. As a female, I was also questioning the idea of virgins in Heaven (the houri.) If women went to Heaven to why was nothing specific in the Quran about her rewards? And wine was all right in Heaven but not on Earth. Isn’t what is wrong on Earth still wrong in Heaven?

Then I looked to Jesus and saw a man who was not self serving, never married because he knew he would die soon, and also he loved his enemies. He even spoke to the dirtiest people, the prostitutes and the tax collectors. He even loved them and wanted to forgive them. I let this become personal and realized he forgave my dark and hateful heart. If he could do that I had to forgive the Iraqi soldiers for our property damage. I was nineteen years old, when I excepted Jesus as Lord. However, it would take me another year to forgive the man himself, Saddam Hussein. The Holy Spirit worked in my heart, and taught me to love people, even with all of their problems.

I thank the Lord for what I have been through, and I now know what God wanted. He did not want me to be a Christian just in name, or because of my mother or American culture. God wanted me to be his in truth and in love, no matter where I go. If you ever feel so hateful, that you think it would destroy your soul, turn to Jesus. It doesn’t matter where you are from, or what you have done, he has come to save the world through his death and resurrection, not to condemn it. I can say that the Lord has blessed me with good friends, even though I have moved to three different cities in America due to my husband’s work. Still, Jesus is the best friend anyone could have. If you don’t know him, please give him a try.

Peace be with you Sommer
Unlike many of my brothers and sisters on this website, I had attended Church as a child. This was only during the summer time though, when I visited my mother’s parents in The USA. I grew up in Kuwait with a Muslim father and a Christian mother.

Having a Muslim father required me to study Islam. I remember the confusion at such a young age. I thought Jesus died on the cross, but I had friends who strongly disputed this. We were only in primary (or elementary) school. By the time I was nine years old, I had a nice and pleasant Arabic tutor who was a Muslim. She did not only help me with my homework, she took me on picnics and other trips with her family and neighbors. I thought of becoming a Muslim by the time I was eleven and she was my tutor until the end of that year.

At age twelve and on I was in confusion again, but I decided that loving God was important. I was easily occupied by a good group of friends. Even in my later teen years I went to parties where there was dancing with both sexes. My mother would always make sure that there was a parent at the party. Most of the time these parents were scared when I arrived, because I was female and Kuwaiti. I never got into trouble, as far as drinking or drugs or even sex. I felt like I was a pretty good person.

I woke up to find the truth, when I had graduated from high school. This was the same year that Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait. I was saddened and hurt by what was going on. I was in America with my family. I had friends who were stuck in the country and some of them were Palestinian and Jordanian! One of my Palestinian friends had to give up her jewelry and beautiful clothing, before leaving. I would cry every night feeling like I was in the same identity crisis that started when I was thirteen. Eventually, all of my friends made it safe through the Gulf War, but one of my Palestinian friends lost her father due to unhappiness of leaving Kuwait. Life was unfair, I became angry at everyone, especially at the journalists. I thought that once Kuwait was free, I would be happy again, but it was not true. It would never be the same. My friends were supposed to be my enemies, though they had nothing to do with Saddam. Some of my friends decided they were my enemies, but two stayed loyal. In all this mess, I asked God what was going on. I began to have a hate for people in general. The nice person that I thought I was, was no longer there.

I was not a nice person and I was very lonely. However, God was not about to leave me in the dark. I was going to Church, since I could easily in America. I was asking questions, but at the time Christians got on my nerves. I felt like they were finding excuses for their sins by saying Jesus forgives. I decided I was not going to think about Christians or Muslims. I was going to compare the Quran and the Bible, and look at the men of these religions. Here was Muhammad who said in the Quran that other men could only have four wives, but he was special, he could have more. As a female, I was also questioning the idea of virgins in Heaven (the houri.) If women went to Heaven to why was nothing specific in the Quran about her rewards? And wine was all right in Heaven but not on Earth. Isn’t what is wrong on Earth still wrong in Heaven? Then I looked to Jesus and saw a man who was not self serving, never married because he knew he would die soon, and also he loved his enemies. He even spoke to the dirtiest people, the prostitutes and the tax collectors. He even loved them and wanted to forgive them. I let this become personal and realized he forgave my dark and hateful heart. If he could do that I had to forgive the Iraqi soldiers for our property damage. I was nineteen years old, when I excepted Jesus as Lord. However, it would take me another year to forgive the man himself, Saddam Hussein. The Holy Spirit worked in my heart, and taught me to love people, even with all of their problems. I thank the Lord for what I have been through, and I now know what God wanted. He did not want me to be a Christian just in name, or because of my mother or American culture. God wanted me to be his in truth and in love, no matter where I go. If you ever feel so hateful, that you think it would destroy your soul, turn to Jesus. It doesn’t matter where you are from, or what you have done, he has come to save the world through his death and resurrection, not to condemn it. I can say that the Lord has blessed me with good friends, even though I have moved to three different cities in America due to my husband’s work. Still, Jesus is the best friend anyone could have. If you don’t know him, please give him a try.

Peace be with you Sommer
http://www.christianmissiontrips.org/index.php?itemid=149

What about the rest of the 10/40 Window?

I am often asked “what about the rest of the 10/40 Window”? I am not shying away from the rest of the 10/40 window, but I believe that my focus needs to be on the Arab/Muslim countries, and Israel. I have not given much attention to Israel since the site has been up but I plan to write more articles, and updates regarding Israel, and the Palestinian conflict (great photo log by Newsweek - Land of Trouble: West Bank, Gaza)

I also plan to widen the focus of the site and include articles that would be non-political in nature, but relevant to what is going on in the region. Hopefully I will contribute a weekly summary of news events. I believe that having a clear understanding of the Middle East will help direct our prayers, and to better understand our Arab brothers.

I want to take a moment and welcome Dusty Hughes as a regular contributed to the site. Dusty has been a long time member and friend of Praise Chapel. He is a great writer and offers valuable insight into the Middle East. Our relationship started off by having a common passion for the Middle East, which led to him offering some articles that he had written. Well since then he has kept writing and offering. It is a great pleasure to be associated with him and I truly hope you enjoy his articles as much as I do.

God Bless,
Robert

A Tale of Two Puritan Nations

by
Harry Hughes II

Saudi Arabia and United States offer an excellent opportunity for comparison and contrast among Christian and Muslim nations. In a casual comparison, very few commonalities seem to exist. However, interesting parallels and contrasts do exist. For example, both nations are products of substantial Puritan influence (About.com, 2006; Atkins, n.d.). Each set out to purify their respective religion of what they viewed as extra Biblical or Quranic influences (About.com; Stout, 2005). However, the comparison is limited to the intent of each type of Puritanism and the time line in which each occurred. As Christianity in America was reaching out to embrace modernity, Islam, especially Wahhabi Islam, was reaching backward to embrace antiquity (About.com; Lewis, 2003; Stout, 2005).

American and Wahhabi Puritanism (Saudi Arabia) are rich in contrasts. For example, the Wahhabi Puritan movement was monolithic; one theology was promoted over all other Islamic theologies (About.com, 2006). In contrast, the American Puritan movement was a dominant force in America; however, the Pilgrim Separatists, Quaker Universalists, and to a lesser extent Catholics each contributed to the religious identity of our country (Atkins, n.d.; Mengel, 2004; Lane Medical Library, 1999). Thus, modern day religious expression in dominant Saudi Arabia society is monolithic whereas religious expression in America is pluralistic. Additionally, Wahhabists are anti-intellectualists where American Puritanism has a history of intellectualism (El Fadl, 2001; Island-of-freedom.com, n.d.).

As a result, Islam, especially Wahhabi Islam, discourages intellectual inquiry into Islam; Quranic knowledge is complete (Manji, 2003). In contrast, America Puritans were intellectuals; Puritans founded Harvard (University) College (President and Fellows of Harvard College, 2005). Harry Stout credits Jonathon Edwards, a president of Yale, as espousing a theology that would develop into Christian humanism. Edwards was a Puritan who embraced Newtonian physics, Locke’s philosophy, and Augustine’s theology, a fusion of ancient and modern ideas (2005). Additionally, the Quakers had long embraced a Christian Universalist ideal that all people contained within them the light of God (Mengel, 2004). As a result, Christian humanism was central to the slavery abolition movement (Stout, 2005). Wahhabi Islam rejects these transforming ideas. In 2003, a Saudi sponsored cleric, reaffirmed slavery as an immutable institution of Islam (WorldNetDaily.com, 2003).

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In addition, contrasts in the development of human rights exist. A re-occurring theme in American Christianity is advocating and the idea of expanding human rights to an increasingly larger group of people. There have always been Christians of conscience on both sides of human rights issues; however, expanding human rights has prevailed. Over a 300-year period, the argument has reoccurred in the following manner: A slave is a person; therefore; he or she has full rights to his or her life. A woman is a person, regardless of her martial status; therefore, she has full rights to her life. A person of minority status is due, in full, his or her rights. A child, born or unborn, is a person; therefore, he or she has full rights to his or her life. There is an ongoing debate about capital punishment, which some consider to be a facet of the abortion issue (Priestsforlife.org, 2006). Each issue deals with human rights: What makes a person? What is a human right and what is not a human right? When does a person forfeit certain human rights? After many centuries, religious expression in America remains dynamically focused.

In contrast, Amnesty International (2003) reported on Saudi human rights abuses. The report included an instance where a woman claimed her brother-in-law had raped her. He was sent to prison and so was she. Additionally, 15 girls perished in a dormitory fire; the morality police would not let them flee because their heads were not covered. Moreover, Amnesty International believes that two people were executed because they were homosexual.

In addition to these contrasts, some interesting parallels exist. Both American and Wahhabi Puritanism possessed influential characters. These were Jonathon Edwards and Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahab; neither person was the first of his kind (El Fadl, 2001; Stout, 2005). Both were born in 1703. Edwards was central to the Great Awakening of Colonial America. Al-Wahab was central to the neo-antiquity movement of Wahhabi Islam (BCE, 2006; Island-of-freedom.com, n.d.). Edwards laid the foundation for American Christianity to embrace modernity (Stout, 2005). Al-Wahab demolished the modernizing structure, which had painstakingly been place upon Islamic theology (El Fadl, 2001). Even today, the influence of each firebrand is evident.

Today, religious expression in the United States is one of the most dynamic and pluralistic expressions on the planet. One could assume that every living religion has at least one adherent living in the United States. As pluralistic as religious expression is in the United States, religious expression in Saudi Arabia is absolute and singular. Saudi Arabia only permits the practice of Islam and Wahhabi Islam only respects its own kind. The Saudi government strictly enforces Islamic dress code and behavior through morality police (El Fadl, 2001). The Qur’an says that religion is not be coerced (Ali, 2002); it is difficult to understand how the use of coercion fulfills the spirit of the scripture.

In the final analysis, it is evident that the United States and Saudi cultures have very different worldviews. One has a 10th century worldview and the other constantly wrestles to address modernity. Furthermore, the United States and Saudi Arabia have indeed experienced parallel processes; yet, those processes have led one culture to the threshold of the future and the other to the doorstep of the past. Ideas certainly have consequences.

References

About.com (2006). Wahhabism and Wahhabi Muslims. Retrieved March 15, 2006, from http://atheism.about.com/od/islamicsects/a/wahhabi.htm

Ali, M. M. (2002). The Holy Qur’an (2002 ed.). Dublin, OD: Ahmadiyya Anjuman Isha’at Islam Lahore.

Amnesty International (2003). Saudi Arabia. Retrieved March 16, 2006, from http://web.amnesty.org/report2003/sau-summary-eng

Atkins, S. (n.d.). The American sense of Puritan. Retrieved March 7,2006, from http://xroads.virginia.edu/~CAP/PURITAN/purmain.html

Bobrick, B. (2001). Wide as the waters (1st ed.). NY: Penguin Putnam.

Britannica Concise Encyclopedia (2006). Wahhabi. Retrieved March 7, 2006, from http://www.concise britannica.com/ebc/article-9382215

Duqella, G., Hassel, P., Jackson, C., Marmesh, E., & Saldana, M. (n.d.). Antislavery movement Quakers. Retrieved March 7, 2006, from http://cghs.dade.k12.fl.us/slavery/anti-slavery_movement/quakers.htm

El Fadl, K. A. (2001, December). The place of tolerance in Islam. Retrieved March 13, 2006, from http://www.irfi.org/articles/articles_301_350/place_of _tolerance_in_islam.htm

Island-of-freedom.com (n.d.). Jonathon Edwards. Retrieved March 9, 2006, from http://www.island-of-freedom.com/EDWARDS.HTM

Lane Medical Library (1999). Colony of Maryland. Retrieved March 3, 2006, from http://elane.stanford.edu/wilson/Text/3g.html

Lewis, B. (2003). What went wrong (1st ed.). NY: First Perennial.

Manji, I. (2003). The trouble with Islam (1st ed.). NY: St. Martin’s Press.

Mengel, M. (2004, June 15). Soc.religion.quaker answers to frequently asked questions. Retrieved March 7, 2006, from http://www.faqs.org/faqs/Quaker-faq

President and Fellows of Harvard College (2005). The Early History of Harvard University. Retrieved March 15, 2006, from http://www.news.harvard.edu/guide/intro/index.html

Priestsforlife.org (2006, March 15). Capital punishment and Abortion. Retrieved March 15, 2006, from http://www.priestsforlife.org/columns/column99-08-16capitalpunishment.htm

Stout, H. S. (2005, December). Puritans, Planters, and American intellectual history. Retrieved March 9, 2006, from http://www.christianitytoday.com/bc/2005/006/6.29.html

WorldNetDaily.com (2003, November 10). Saudi sheik: ‘Slavery is a part of Islam’. Retrieved March 15, 2006, from http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=35518

Constant changes in Iraq

As I heard the of the death of Abu Mussab al-Zarqawi on the news around 12:30am Thursday night, I was delighted in several ways. For one we have put a stop to one of the most dangerous an evil men in the world. Second, I hope that this shocks their momentum, and leaves them unsure of their cause. Third, I hope that things become more stable in a region that has not had stability for some time now.

I hope that with the coming changes things will get better, and the doors for evangelism will open up. I know that several groups at different times have rescheduled their plans to go to Baghdad. I also had to reschedule my trip due to unforeseen circumstances and wait for other doors to open. I am praying that many organizations including myself will have new opportunities to travel into Baghdad, Iraq next year.

God bless,
Robert