Out of Darkness Into Light: True life stories of Muslim's Coming to Jesus Christ Through Visions, Dreams and Miracles by Mashni Steve

Author:Mashni, Steve [Mashni, Steve]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub, mobi
Published: 2015-04-23T16:00:00+00:00

8

THE TESTIMONY OF ZAKI

My father was like a wall of protection around my siblings and me. He worked so hard to meet all our needs. And unlike so many Arab

fathers, he also was very present for us emotionally. He didn’t neglect us in anyway. If he suspected we were having any kind of problem, he would press upon us to divulge it and not to hide it from him.

He also protected us from much of the hatred that was aimed at the West in our culture. At our school and at the mosque, on the street and in the media, hatred of the West was the norm. It was the West that brought indignities upon my Muslim brothers and sisters. It was the West that was controlling the governments of the Arab and Muslim world. It was the West that sought to corrupt our youth with their technology and media.

Our whole society was indoctrinated in a strong resentment of the West. My father didn’t seem to share that view like so many others. He seemed to find something to appreciate in the contributions of the western world. He liked their television channels. He liked the conveniences of modern life. He liked the ease of communications and transportation that the West afforded.

We were Muslims and faithfully attended prayer, but Dad just didn’t allow our hearts to become receptacles of the hatred that we saw all around us. I was an average student. I always dressed well even when our family finances were tight.

My mother always made do with what we had. We never knew hunger. Our parents sheltered us from the truly devastating reality we lived in.

Religion, of course, was central to our community. Attendance at Friday prayers at the mosque was expected. My six brothers and I were always at Friday prayers with my father.

I always admired my older brother, Hamed. He took seriously his role as the oldest brother in our family. In our culture, the oldest male has to be ready to assume responsibility for the family in case anything happens to the father. He’s the one who would help with its financial and social needs. Thankfully, he never needed to assume that role since my father, except for some mild arthritis, always was able to provide for us.

Hamed did, however, lead the way for the rest of his younger siblings in terms of marriage, child rearing, and establishing himself in the community. He laid down footprints that we could follow.

Hamed’s kindness was reflected in his love for those less fortunate. I believe that was inherited from my father’s kind heart and my mother’s tenacious carefulness over us. Whereas so many of the young men from the Sultanate sought prestige, wealth, and reputation, Hamed sought to help the blind.

He loved the blind. He learned Braille and turned around and taught the blind how to read Braille. He started a house for the blind where he could help them learn, find work, and most of all be able to function in our society.

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