News & stories Conversations with my Muslim friend An EMM worker who serves with Arabic-speaking immigrants in Europe shared the following story of her recent conversations with a Muslim friend. “After our tea cups had been drained, she came to deeper heart issues. She told me that she has been traveling down one path, the path of Islam, the only one possible to her from her birth. But she says that through me she has seen a different path, one that draws her, is deeply attractive to her. She said wistfully, ‘Perhaps if I had been a Christian I would not have suffered so much from fear in my life…’ Then she went on to say, ‘There are many things that don’t let me just write Christianity off, and turn away – and you are a part of that. I see that what you speak of, you experience and live. How did you come to believe so resolutely?’ “She continued, ‘I know most Muslims are born Muslim and never give it a second thought. But I am at a crossroads. If I truly believe what you have told me, according to Islam, I will be a blasphemer. And while I am drawn, I am afraid of dying and finding that I have chosen blasphemy.’ Then she explained just a few of the tortures that blasphemers will have to endure in hell. “I felt the agony of this place of indecision she stands in. I am grateful that she has understood that she must make a choice and that everything hinges on Jesus. I challenged her to read the four Gospels through and ask God to reveal his truth to her. At one point she said, ‘I can’t understand why there are so many similarities and yet such stark differences between the Bible and the Quran.’ “Before I left, I said, ‘I have a few questions about Islamic theology. For example, if God is a God of love who desires all to come to him, why would he send his word down in only one very difficult language, Arabic, a language that simple people cannot understand but need scholars to explain to them?’ She seemed deeply struck by this question and responded, ‘Yeah, why didn’t he send down his word in every language?’ “And she then said, ‘Tell me what other difficulties you have with Islamic teaching.’ I said that it is also hard for me to understand the Islamic teaching that God replaced Jesus on the cross with someone who resembled him. I cannot understand why God would use such a deceptive approach to carry out his will. She responded eagerly, ‘Yes, yes, I’ve thought about that, too.’ “It was surreal. Never had I imagined this to happen in conversation with a Muslim. I believe it reveals the depth to which she longs to believe in Jesus, to make the break, but fear is gripping her. I know that only a revelation from God himself will enable her – so will you join with me in fervent prayer that Jesus will reveal himself to her, that she would find the courage to put her full trust in him, and that her heart would be filled with the assurance that instead of turning into a blasphemer, she has been welcomed into the kingdom of God as a beloved daughter?” *worker is not identified for security reasons