Page 87 - MY GREAT LOVE FOR JESUS LED ME TO TROUTH

My Final Step toward Islam: The Influence of Jesus on My Conversion

Even a portion of the information contained in the previous chapters is sufficient for a
seeker of truth to perceive the authenticity of Islam and the extent to which Christianity
has deviated from and contradicted the real teachings of Prophet Jesus. Nevertheless, I
still did not take any decisive step to distance myself from the path that the Church had
outlined for me. My 'talisman' was always with me wherever I went. Inside the small case
I always carried were seven small silver crosses, a supposed image of Jesus and a statue
of him. I felt that if I ever put it aside, something bad would happen to me. For this
reason, I never misplaced it, and I always made sure it was in my pocket.

One day when I was reviewing the literature that had been given to me in the mosque,
I read two statements that filled my heart with great joy and happiness. Tears started to
flow from my eyes and I said, "My God, this is the truth; this is the answer that I could
never find!"
I must admit that up to that time I had never touched or read the Qur'an. I had not seen
or touched a copy of it in any language, and the name Qur'an was not part of my
vocabulary. In a categorical, emphatic, clear and precise manner, I read in the study
guide I had received in the mosque: "They said [in boast], 'We killed Christ Jesus,
the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah.' But they killed him not, nor did they
crucify him." (Qur'an 4/157)
Here, I paused in the reading. I repeated several times, "They killed him not, nor did
they crucify him." At the precise moment I was reading those statements, I felt that
God was answering the question that previously made me have doubts about His power
due to my inability to find a logical and convincing answer to it.

It was not easy to find this answer. I had to compete with many other students to earn
a scholarship. I had to travel thousands of miles to the state of Washington in the
westernmost part of the USA. I had to learn to speak and read English, and being from
Latin America, I had to have a character that was acceptable to the rest of the Muslims
in Seattle in order to find these two statements. That this information would reach a
Venezuelan in 1978 was a remote possibility. However, this was decreed by Allah and it
came to pass. In those moments while I was still rejoicing over this great news, I prayed
to God and asked Him for forgiveness. Elated with joy, I really wanted to fly back home
to Venezuela to announce the good news to my family and to the rest of the world.