Us priest embraces Islam

Saturday, December 29, 2007

An American Christian priest, Severedo Royce, now known as Ali Guatemala, has embrassed Islam and was one among the 17,000 American Muslims who performed Haj this year. Speaking to the Sausi daily Asharq Alawsat, he said in his final year workwd as a staunch evavgelist. His focus of attention was on the inmates in the prisons of Queen City, Texas. Explaining the circumstances that led to his conversion to Islam he said: “As a divinty student one had to be well-acquainted with the sacred books of the other reveale religious. I had to read the Holy Quran and the very first verse I read was the turning point nin my life. It is the opening lines of the chapter entitled “Cow”. This is the Book; in it is guidance sure, without doubt, to those who fear Allah”. It was and affirmative statement about this Book that rules out any suspicion or doubt.

I began reading further I found many basic points contradicting my Christian faith. So I sougt the help of my superiors in the church. They evaded my questions and advised me not to read the Quran too much because it is the “work osf a Satan!””. As time passed by I became increasingly convinced that the Quran is truly a divine revelation, inimitable and imposible to be the work of any human being. I went through a turbukeny period on inner conflict but I was firm in my prayers that the the Almighty should guide me to the true religion. Ultimately I decided to become a Muslim. I had to face sever opposition and anger forom my family members. My sisters, who is a Jew by faith, frightened me saying that the Muslims may kill me. I was physically seized with this fear and stayed away form the mosque for some time. But ultimately I discovered that it wasan imaginary fear. My sister herself conceded that the Muslims had not deceived me.

When I arrived here(Makkah) and entered the precincts of of the Holy Ka’aba, I began to tremble and weep in an involuntary manner. I could regain my compousure only after some time. I have for the past five years been using sleeping tablets for getting sleep. But when I arrived in Mina I fell asleep naturally. It is something that I have been missing for so many years.”

Source is Weekly Gulf Times, Doha Qatar, Friday, December 28, 2007

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