“you are one of the best Muslims I’ve met.”

Imagine my consternation when this was said to me by a young man that I have developed a relationship with and am seeking to introduce to Jesus.

Adam* lives on the same street and was involved in a terrible accident a number of years ago when he was involved in the construction of the national stadium and fell backwards from several stories up crushing his leg. Since that time he has had surgery several times and a metal rod inserted which prevents him bending his knee. Unable to attend the mosque (because he cannot follow the required posture in prayer) he has often felt ashamed and neglected as he has to pray at home. We meet from time to time although he has been frightened from meeting with me too often by followers of his own religion. However, we were able to help him attend some English classes and later a computer course and have maintained a friendship. In this way he has been exposed to a number of Christians and Christian teaching.

The occasion he made this astonishing statement was after the death of his father (a high ranking official) when I invited him home for a cup of tea and to express my sincere condolence. In this culture this simple act of kindness was very significant to him and he said that he really feels at home with me because “I act like a Muslim, and indeed “you are one of the best Muslims I’ve met.”

Devastated by my lack of success in evangelism I said, “You know Adam, we all have aspirations to live a good life but we are sinners and we just don’t have goodness in us.  I am a sinner who so often does things that do not please God. We need a power which transforms our life and gives us hope and a new quality of living. I have found this in Isa al Masiha. If I seem to you to be a good Muslim, it is because Isa who is mentioned so often in your Holy Book is the one who has transformed my life.

Adam replied, “I believe in Isa and I believe in Mohamed.”

Will you pray for Adam and that each of us working in this Islamic context would be “the best Muslim that our neighbours have ever met” so that they will know that submitting (which is the meaning of the word Muslim) to Isa is the transforming secret.

(*Name changed to protect identity.)