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Name: Shajahan Vettukallummuriyil Hassan,Pastor
Date: 06/19/10
Message: Attention to Pastor Maynard Weisbrod.
Sub:Brief testimony of a Muslim convert fromIndia,one who is looking for your partnership in the ministry.
MY CHILDHOOD
I was born on Tuesday, December,12, 1967. My father was a Mullah (a Muslim religious leader) in a small village of Kottangal in the South Indian state of Kerala. Everyone in the village respected my family because we were strictly religious. My father's special duty was to read from the Qur'an in Arabic to our Muslim neighbours. Yet he did not forget to teach his own children.
At the age of five I went to the nearby Madrasa (Muslim religious school) to learn Arabic, so that I could study the Qur'an. . I was sent to a regular school at Kottakal not far from home, where I studied for four year and my higher studies at St George High School Kottangal, St.Antoney's High School Mundakkayam and St.Thomas College Kozhencherry. However, I could not finish my college education .
GOD GIVEN ME A CHANCE TO HEAR THE GOSPEL OF JESUS.
One friday, the market day at Kottangal, when I was going home from school , i saw a large crowd in the market place. I went over and found a group of Christians there. They were telling the crowd about their faith - stories from the life of Jesus and selling Christian booklets. ,I bought two of the booklets 1." New testament in Malayalm language " 2. "The Way of Salvation." I kept my booklet although I despised Christians. When I reached home, I sat down in a quiet place and started to read these books. As I read, I wondered if the Jesus of this booklet was the same 'Isa whom I knew about as a prophet. To my mind, the Jesus of this booklet was different from the Jesus of the Qur'an. Now I read that this Jesus could forgive sins. Yet his very forgiveness of Jesus had changed (transformed) many sinners, and it made me love Jesus.
In fact, I considered my heart to be in a worse condition with full of sinful nature. How could I find freedom from this spiritual disease? The booklet offered the cure. I rejected it because I had been taught that God alone forgave sins - not Jesus, the prophet.
Nevertheless, I could not free myself from the strong argument in the booklet. I became uncomfortably aware of my own sinfulness. What would become of me when I died? I could not escape death or the Day of Judgment. I made up my mind to find out more about Jesus with the help of a correspondence course advertised in this booklet.
Interest to get the truth.
I had very interest to collect and study the Biblical books.Same time i continue all the practices of Islam.I could not forget the name "Jesus" when I repeated it every evening in my recitation of the Qur'an! So I decided to make a study of Jesus in the Qur'an and in other Muslim books. I could learn Arabic in my very childhood.So i could read and understand the meanings of Qur'an. I found that 'Isa has a very important place both in the Qur'an and in the Hadith or Muslim tradition. In the Qur'an it seemed to me, 'Isa was even more important than my prophet Muhammad. Some of my Muslim friends came to know that i am reading Bible and Bible related books. They gently suggested that I concentrate more on Muhammad. Still I continued to wonder about those Qur'anic passages which referred to Jesus, to His unique birth, and to His marvellous deeds.
"(And remember) when the angels said: O Mary! Lo! Allah giveth thee glad tidings of a word from Him, whose name is the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, illustrious in the world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near (unto Allah). He will speak unto mankind in his cradle and in his manhood, and he is of the righteousness.
She said: My Lord! How can I have a child when no mortal hath touched me? He said: So (it will be). Allah createth what He will. If He decreeth a thing, He saith unto it only: Be! and it is.
And He will teach him the Scripture and wisdom, and the Torah and the Gospel.
And will make him a messenger unto the Children of Israel, (saying): Lo! I come unto you with a sign from your Lord. Lo! I fashion for you out of clay the likeness of a bird, and I breathe into it and it is a bird, by Allah's leave. I heal him who was born blind, and the leper, and I raise the dead, by Allah's leave. And I announce unto you what ye eat and what ye store up in your houses. Lo! herein verily is a portent for you, if ye are to be believers.
And (I come) confirming that which was before me of the Torah, and to make lawful some of that which was forbidden unto you. I come unto you with a sign from your Lord, so keep your duty to Allah and obey me." (Sura Al Imran 3:45-50)
I noticed also that the Qur'an refers especially to the Torah and the Gospel, exhorting me to believe in them because they are "guidance and light" (Sura al-Ma'ida 5:46). Another verse in particular came to my mind often:
"And if thou art in doubt (Muhammad) concerning that which We reveal unto thee, then question those who read the Scripture before thee..." (Sura Yunis 10:94)
When I read this verse, I remembered the Christians and their booklet. According to Islam, Christians also are ahl ul-kitab (the People of the Book). If the Qur'an encouraged Muhammad to share his doubts with Christians, then why not me? Yet it was difficult for me to approach Christians. I had so little contact with them. Besides, my family would hardly approve!
Not far from my home there is a Christian Church. I decided to go there secretly. When we arrived the the pastor of that church received me and began to share the gospel.,
After some discussion the Pastor suggested that to read the Bible with a prayer for understanding . I obeyed his suggestion and i continue my reading of the Bible.
An awareness of my own sin never left me. It gnawed at my heart continually. After few days, I felt again a strong desire to see the pastor. I had to share my difficulties and doubts. The Pastor encouraged me and answered my questions about Christian beliefs and practices. Most of his answers satisfied me .
I returned home with a copy of the whole Gospel which my friend had given to me. Although I was very glad to have it, I was afraid that someone at home might see it. So I put the Gospel in a plastic bag and hid it under a stone in the forest. I often went to out of the home to read it, especially St John's Gospel. One verse, the words of Jesus, gave me some consolation:
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me." John 14:1
The words "believe also in me" impressed me greatly at that time. Although I was anxious and troubled, this verse comforted me.
Before I met my new Christian friends, I had strong feelings against Christians because I heard such bad reports about them. Yet when I observed the pastor's character, his way of life, and his attitude toward Muslims, I knew that the accusations I had heard against Christians certainly did not apply to him. This made me think. Was his love greater than that of the Muslims? Had the Messiah Jesus done more for him than my prophet had done for me? I was confused for I held the opinion that apart from Muslims, anyone else, including the Christians who believe that God is the Messiah, is an unbeliever ( Kafir ) and is rejected by God. As the Qur'an says:
They surely disbelieve who say: Lo! Allah is the third of three; when there is no God save the One God. If they desist not from so saying a painful doom will fall on those of them who disbelieve. (Sura al-Ma'ida 5:72,73)
I remembered also how I thought that because I was a Muslim who had submitted myself to God, I was holier than Christians. But as I became more aware of my own sinfulness, I realised that the pastor was the one who had submitted himself to God, for his character proved it. I could tell that his love came from Jesus Christ.
Like a magnet the love of Jesus attracted me. I thought that if Jesus were my master too, how I would love him! Yet, when the idea of becoming a Christian crossed my mind, I rejected it as an evil thought from Satan - for I was a Muslim.
Again the old tension arose in my heart as I read the Gospel in secret. On essential points it clearly differed from my own Islamic beliefs. How puzzling for a Muslim and yet how thought-provoking were the following words of Jesus!
"I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."John 14:6 "Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent." John 17:3
"Yet to all who received Him, to all those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God." John 1:12
"If anyone loves Me, he will obey My teaching. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make our home with him." John 14:23
I had no one who could explain the meaning of these verses to me. Yet I continued to ask God for guidance. He explained me through His spirit.
FINDING THE LIGHT
One of my chief doubts concerned the sinlessness of Jesus and His authority to forgive the sins of others. It was difficult to avoid the contrast between the sinlessness of Jesus and the Qur'anic records of the sins of the other prophets. Thus the Qur'an addressing Muhammad in particular, says:
"That God may forgive thee thy former and thy latter sins, and complete His blessing upon thee, and guide thee on a straight path." (Sura al-Fath 48:2) (cf: Sura Ghafir 40:45; Sura Muhammad 47:19)
Since no laden soul can bear another's burden (Sura al-Fatir 35:18) then how can he or anyone of these prophets bear another's burden?
But the Qur'an quoting the angel Jibra'il, says of Mary's son:
"He said, I am only a messenger of thy Lord, that I may bestow on thee a faultless son." (Sura Maryam 19:9)
This fact is supported by a Hadith which says: "each human baby is touched by Satan's finger at birth, save Mariam and her son."
The Gospel also clearly indicates the purity and sinlessness of Jesus. "Can any of you prove me guilty of Sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me?" John 8:46) The Gospel further states that He takes away our sins:
"Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. But you know that He (Jesus) appeared to take away our sins. And in Him is no sin." (1 John 3:4,5)
Was it in order to bear the burdens of others that Jesus Himself was an unburdened soul? Though the Qur'an declares Jesus as pure, it really offers no clue to the purpose of God in bestowing upon Mary a faultless son.
Further the Qur'an attributes qualities to Jesus which it attributes to no other prophets or apostles. He is described as God's Word and a spirit from God:
"O People of the Scripture! Do not exaggerate in your religion, nor utter aught concerning Allah save the truth. The Messiah Jesus son of Mary, was only a messenger of Allah, and His Word , which He conveyed unto Mary, and a spirit from Him . So believe in Allah and His messenger and say not 'Three' - Cease (it is) better for you! - Allah is only one God..." (Sura al-Nisa' 4:171)
Thus also the angel Jibra'il addresses Mary with the following words:
"...He said: So (it will be). Thy Lord saith: It is easy for Me. And (it will be that We may make of him a revelation for mankind and a mercy from Us, and it is a thing ordained." (Sura Maryam 19:21 cf. Sura al-Anbiya' 21:91)
Whatever else the Qur'an has stated about Jesus, it surely has established Him as a unique person: His relation to God as God's Word and a spirit from God; His creative activities, His healings, His raising from the dead (Sura Al Imran 3:49); His ascension into heaven and His presence in heaven today.
Through further study I also began to understand how the Biblical significance of the term "son of God" differs from the Qur'anic understanding of "son of god." The Qur'an denies that God begets, or is begotten, in a physical sense (Lam yalid wa lam yulad). Eventually, however, I accepted that Jesus could be called "the Son of God" (as the Bible explains this term) in a spiritual sense, in the same way that He is called God's Word. Here again I was grateful to the Qur'an for serving as a bridge to a fuller comprehension of the Biblical significance of the term "Son of God" when uniquely applied to Jesus.
No doubt, on the basis of Sura al-Nisa, Muslims have rejected the Biblical account of Jesus' death, resurrection and ascension:
"And because of their saying: We slew the Messiah Jesus son of Mary, Allah's messenger - They slew him not nor crucified, but it appeared so unto them; and lo! those who disagree concerning it are in doubt thereof; they have no knowledge thereof save pursuit of a conjecture; they slew him not for certain..." (Sura al-Nisa' 4:157-159)
Elsewhere, of course, the Qur'an refers to the death of Jesus. But Muslim expositors offer conflicting opinions on some of these relevant verses. The following are significant passages, as translated by Pickthall:
"Peace on me the day I was born, and the day I die, and the day I shall be raised alive!" (Sura Maryam 19:33) "(And remember) when Allah said: O Jesus! Lo! I am gathering thee and causing thee to ascend unto Me, and am cleansing thee of those who disbelieve and am setting those who follow thee above those who disbelieve until the Day of Resurrection. Then unto Me ye will (all) return, and I am judge between you as to that wherein ye used to differ." (Sura Al Imran 3:55)
"I spake unto them only that which Thou commandest me, (saying) Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord. I was a witness of them while I dwelt among them, and when Thou tookest me Thou wast the Watcher over them. Thou art Witness over all things." (Sura al Ma'ida 5:117)
But is Pickthall's interpretation of mutawaffika ("I am gathering thee" Sura Al Imran 3:55) and tawaffaitani ("Thou tookest me" Sura al-Ma'ida) correct? Some respectable Muslim commentaries translate this verb "to cause to die", indicating that the death of Jesus preceded His ascension into heaven.
In any event the Biblical accounts leave no room for various interpretations about the time, place and circumstances of Jesus' death. He was crucified, He died, and He was buried. His crucifixion took place outside the walls of Jerusalem. It happened when Pilate was governor of Judea. These are facts of history. The Bible repeatedly refers to the death of Jesus in unambiguous language. Just as clear in the Bible is the connection of the death of Jesus with His resurrection from the dead and His ascension, as well as the purpose of these three great events.
Thus these and other passages of the Qur'an became clear to me in the light of my reflection on the New Testament portrayal of Christ. Not only did all these passages reveal the special relationship which Jesus had with God; surely they indicated also God's special purpose in sending Jesus, His Word and Servant, into this sinful world. Once more I recalled the booklet, "The Heart of forgiveness to all sinners through Jesus alone, through His death on the cross and His resurrection from the dead. As I read the Bible more and more, it spoke to me and cleared my doubts, one by one.
Yet this question perplexed my mind: What about Muhammad whose coming, according to the Qur'an Jesus had prophesied?
"And when Jesus son of Mary said: O Children of Israel! Lo! I am the messenger of Allah unto you, confirming that which was (revealed) before me in the Torah, and bringing good tidings of a messenger who cometh after me, whose name is the Praised One. Yet when He hath come unto them with clear proofs, they say: This is mere magic." (Sura al-Saff 61:6)
The Arabic for "Praised One" is ahmad , which has the same root meaning as Muhammad . Does this passage not mean that Jesus prophesied the coming of Muhammad? That is what I had been taught and believed.
I examined the Bible to see what it says about Muhammad, but I could find nothing. I asked my professors the same question and they too said that there is nothing. But when I looked into a Muslim commentary on the Qur'an, it quoted several Bible passages in support of this understanding of Sura al-Saff 61:6. The main passage quoted was:
"And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another counsellor, to be with you forever." (John 14:16)
The Greek Word for Counsellor is Parakletos . (Greek is the original language of the New Testament.) The commentator said that the original Greek word was periklutos , which means "Praised One". Christians, he said, substituted parakletos for periklutos to remove the reference to the prophet Muhammad.
I did not know Greek, and since it was really difficult for me to give up faith in Muhammad, I felt really troubled. Muhammad still held a great place in my heart, and I found it hard to give up the belief in him as a prophet. I asked the Greek professor about these words. He replied that the word periklutos is not the Greek text of St John. He then explained clearly the original Biblical word, parakletos , and how the promise of Jesus (John 14:16) was fulfilled by the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts :1-11) who lives always with God's people as their Comforter and Guide.
I placed the problem before God and asked Him to give me clear understanding. One night, after I had prayed and gone to bed, I could not sleep. I heard a voice or felt as though I had heard a voice. It said, "Get up and read!" I thought it was only my imagination. But I heard it again and again. I got up and opened my Bible. Several times I read the passage in John 14:15-17:
"If you love me, you will obey what I command. I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counsellor to be with you for ever - the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you."
As I read these verses many questions came into my mind. Did you read in the Qur'an or Hadith, I asked myself, that Muhammad is the Spirit of truth who is always with you, a Counsellor whom the world cannot see or know, or who lives inside you? Then I realised that these words do not contain any prophecy of a coming prophet and cannot possibly be applied to any human being. Moreover, I remembered the fulfilment of that prophecy in Acts 2:1-11, during the life of the first believers in Christ. Now I understood this great truth. The Counsellor whom Jesus promised is the Holy Spirit, the eternal Spirit of the Living God, not the angel Jibra`il.
Later I experienced the power of the Holy Spirit in my own life. Through Him I accepted Jesus Christ as my Personal Saviour and Lord. I felt a free mind at that same moment when i accepted Christ in to my life. Glory to God! Amen!
But the same day i was sent out of my own home, i could not see my mother ,one who is having for me as very close, my father died when i was at the age of 5. Till now the door of my own home is closed before me.
I continued to read the Holy Bible with care and attention. In it I found treasure such as I had never dreamed of - it has the power to speak to those who really want to find God's revelation and guidance. It showed me my real self, my sinful and guilty heart, and showed me also that I was spiritually blind. It asked me to bring all my sins and problems to God in the name of Jesus the Messiah. He came to this world searching for me! He died for my sins and rose again; He went up to heaven, and He will come again. I became convinced that the Holy Bible is indeed the Word of God.
The Holy Bible brought the answers to the problems which worried me. Its living word was able to satisfy my soul. What I had never found before in my religious experience, I now discovered. I became sure that the Holy Bible faithfully and accurately recorded the works and teaching of Jesus - this mystery of God's eternal Word coming into our world as man. Now I became convinced of the truth of His death, resurrection, ascension, and second coming, which before I had not understood and had even hated. The Bible contains the message of God's power to save and His love for me and all men, and this brings us peace. This love of God focuses sharply on Jesus, His death and resurrection for sinners - as Paul, echoing Jesus and His other apostles, says in the New Testament,
"For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures." 1 Corinthians 15:3,4
No doubt, many Muslim friends will continue to think that the Holy Bible is corrupt and abrogated by the Qur'an.
Yet let him - especially if he is conscious of God's holiness and his own sins - give serious thought to its message. Then let him, as I have done, draw his own conclusions.
A GREAT DECISION
On January,26,1985 I surrendered to Jesus the Messiah. I confessed all my sins accepted Him as my personal Saviour and Lord., and by baptism in 1986 I was united to Him and His fellowship. I could feel divine power entering into me. I rose from my knees a changed man with peace in my soul, joy in my heart, and assurance in my mind. And today I still have that same joy, hope and assurance. Although I could not explain it, in my heart I believed that all my sins were washed away through the precious blood of Jesus Christ, that I had received power for a new life of love, and that the Lord Jesus Himself was reigning in my heart.
Since 1985 i am excommunicated from my own home and the society. I cannot see my mother and relatives so far after my salvation.
IN HIS SERVICE
I have five year Systematical Bible training from two Bible colleges in India.Graguated in the year 1989 December. Soon the opportunity came to work with a group called Young mens evangelical fellowship . This gave me a chance to go to different parts of India to tell the Good News. I continued to do this for about one year. During that time I learned more about what it means to be a follower of Jesus. I am grateful to the Lord and to my friends in this team who gave me the opportunity to work with them. They helped me during difficult times.
My present concern is to bring the Good News of God's light to my own people wherever they are, especially in my own area. May they accept the invitation of Jesus Christ which He gives to all to know the great Salvation of God.
"I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." John 14:6 "Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." John 17:3
"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12
CONCLUSION
I have accepted Jesus Christ as my own Saviour. He has been able to change my life to a life of real happiness, peace and hope. He has been able to give me strength in my weakness. As the living Lord, He comes into my life to give it new purpose, and promises me life in heaven that will never end. I know that I belong to God's heavenly family. I believe what David, the great prophet and king, said, "Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me." Psalm 27:10
In all my troubles, doubts and temptations it is enough to look into His face. In times when I have been lonely, tired, and disappointed, I have praised Him for His grace.
Jesus said:
"You did not choose me, but I chose you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in My name." John 15:16
I did not choose Him, but He chose me. To God be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.
If you are willing to give a partnership in the ministry among Muslims in India,or if you want use me as a trainer for missionaries those who are involved in Muslim ministry then please write to me at this address:
SHAJAHAN V HASSAN, VETTUKALLUMMURIYIL HOUSE, KALLAR, PAMBANAR POST, IDUKKI DISTRICT, KERALA, SOUTH INDIA , 685 537.
E mail : shajahanpastor@hotmail.com .
+ 91 9447877132 (Mob)
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Calvary Evangelistic Center
5160 S. Treat Ave
Tucson, Arizona 85706
Phone: 520-889-8700
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Worship Schedule
SUNDAY
Morning Worship 8:00am
Sunday School 9:45am
Worship Service 11:00am
Evening Worship 6:30pm
WEDNESDAY
Morning Prayer 9:00am
Evening Prayer 6:00pm
Family Night 6:30pm
THURSDAY
Men's Ministry (1st and 3rd Thursday) 6:00pm
Marriage Ministry (2nd and 4th Thursday) 7pm
FRIDAY
Bible Study 7:00pm
SATURDAY
Singles Ministry (1st and 3rd Saturday) 10:00am
Women's Ministry (3rd Saturday) 10:00am
PRAYER
Every 2nd and 4th Friday 10pm - 2am
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