Fridays at the Mosque

I stood on the sidewalk, sweating a little in the hot climate. The mosque rose into the blue sky, domes and spires gleaming in the sunlight.

I took a deep breath, removed my shoes, and stepped inside. Silently, I prayed that something would come of my harebrained idea. There are few things crazier than attending mosque to talk to people about Jesus.

The mosque was already packed with Friday afternoon worshipers, so I made my way to a line of chairs against the wall where several elderly men sat and introduced myself to the man next to me.

“You should become a Muslim.”

“So, you are a Muslim?” he asked, probably wondering why I wasn’t preparing to pray on the mat with others my age.

“No.” I shook my head. “But I love God with all my heart.” I knew from experience that starting the conversation with my commitment to Jesus would cause him to shut down, while sharing acts of worship we both observed would give us common ground. “I pray, give offerings, and fast.”

“You should become a Muslim.” I shook my head, but the old man nodded emphatically. “You should. You would be very happy. After this is finished, I will introduce you to the sheikh who will be speaking.”

The sheikh did not return my smile. He folded his hands on his massive desk.

Our conversation was cut off as the prayers began, but my heart raced. Meeting the sheikh could open many doors to new connections, provided the conversation went well.

My new acquaintance led me to the sheikh’s office, a bookshelf-lined room with a richly-colored rug. The old man said something in Arabic, speaking so rapidly that I could not understand. I imagined it was something like, “This American has lived here for several years. I asked him to convert, but he won’t do it. Maybe he will listen to you.”

The sheikh did not return my smile. He folded his hands on his massive desk. “Why aren’t you a Muslim?”

I gave him the same answer I had given to the old man. “I love God with all my heart. I pray, give offerings, and fast.”

“But don’t you know that all your praying, giving, and fasting does not count unless you are a Muslim?”

This was just an introductory conversation, so I knew discussing doctrine would go nowhere. But if the sheikh decided I was worth knowing, he might stay in contact or send someone to follow up with me, opening the door to conversations about Jesus.

If not, this mosque visit would be a dead-end effort.

The sheikh shook his head, still frowning. “But don’t you know that all your praying, giving, and fasting does not count unless you are a Muslim?” He leaned back in his chair and regarded me. I was beginning to wonder if he was going to kick me out when he spoke again. “You should try Islam for a year. If you don’t like it, you can quit.”

I forced a smile despite my turning stomach. In this country, there are still very real dangers for people who stop following Islam. “Thank you for the invitation.”

I smiled as I handed his phone back to him, feeling as though I’d hit the jackpot.

He nodded. “Would it be OK to contact you occasionally? How would you feel about being invited to some of our celebrations and events?”

Relief flooded me, relaxing some of the tension in my muscles. The conversation had taken a turn in the direction I had hoped. “Absolutely,” I agreed. “Thanks for asking.”

“Good.” The sheikh pulled out his phone. “Can we get your phone number and name? Please spell your name out.”

“Sure.” I knew he wanted the spelling so he could research me, but all he would find was information about my secular job. I smiled as I handed his phone back to him, feeling as though I’d hit the jackpot. Having someone do a background check on me might sound unnerving, but it’s a small price to pay for the opportunities this encounter could create.

I’m asking God to bring truth-seekers who may be curious about the Bible and ask questions.

I pray many doors will open from my conversation with the sheikh. The proselytizers sent to convert me to Islam might introduce me to a larger group. I’m asking God to bring truth-seekers who may be curious about the Bible and ask questions. It wouldn’t be the first time someone trying to convert me to Islam chose to follow Jesus in the end.

Pray:

• Pray that many new connections with truth-seeking Muslim men will come from this conversation with the sheikh.
• Lift up field workers as they boldly engage Muslim leaders in spiritual conversations.
• Ask God to work in the hearts of the old man and the sheikh as they process their interactions with this field worker.