MUSLIM OUTREACH
Omar, a devout Muslim, observed all the requirements of prayer, fasted, and gave alms. The leading imam of the mosque grew to trust him fully, and they became close friends. Eventually, Omar became the number one helper of the imam.
On a particular Friday, after prayers, the imam preached a moving sermon that mentioned the life of Jesus, saying that He was the only prophet against whom the Qur’an registered no sin. Omar was deeply impressed.
Following the sermon, Omar asked his friend, the imam, more about Jesus, but the imam’s answers were vague.
Omar walked away disappointed. For days, questions continued to bombard his mind about this Jesus who never sinned. One day, as he continued to contemplate this mystery, he heard a clear, though unusual, voice saying, “Omar, keep searching. You are on the right path with your questions.”
This occurrence led him back to his friend, the imam. This time Omar pleaded, “Please tell me all you know about prophet Jesus. I really need to know!”
To Omar’s great shock and joy, the imam said, “Listen, Omar, I’ll do even better than answer your questions. I’ll loan you my copy of the Gospels, and you will find what you need to know.”
As Omar read the precious book, he discovered the path to salvation through faith in Jesus, who died for all mankind.
Omar returned to question his friend, the imam, asking how he understood these things. The imam admitted that he too had discovered the true path to salvation in the Gospels. “I just don’t know how to relate to these things as a leader of a great number of Muslims,” he added.
A Bible worker was providentially led to Omar and fully instructed him in the Bible teachings. Omar recently received baptism. Now the Bible worker and Omar are working with the imam, hoping that he will soon join a large number of Muslim spiritual leaders who are fully committed to sharing Jesus within their cultural context.