He arrived at his modest home in Takoma Park, Maryland, and walked in, greeted by his wife. “You know, Baseera, I am wondering a lot lately how to find peace. Our Muslim ways are good, but some radical Islamists have made their version of Sharia Law barbaric; I can’t live with the guilt I feel for all the needless killing of enemies and our own alike, and the raping of women. There must be a better way.”
“You will find it, my husband. Allah will show you,” said Baseera, hugging him and kissing him with the warmth a woman has for her husband.
“I will call Abdullah. He seems to have found peace. Perhaps he can enlighten me as well.”
“Do as your heart tells you, my husband,” said Baseera.
“Thank you, Baseera. You are a good wife. I love you.”
Baseera blushed. “You embarrass me, husband. Arab women are not often told they are loved.”
“Well, I have told you,” he said, hugging her, and giving her a kiss. Baseera blushed all the harder. Smiling, he went to the den and called Abdullah on the phone.
“As-salaam ‘alaykum, my friend. All is well with you?”
“Wa ‘alaykum salaam,” Abdullah answered. “I am well. What is on your heart?”
“I am troubled,” he said. “I am not at peace: I can’t seem to find satisfaction in Sharia Law or the Western way of life. Is there some wisdom or advice you can give me?”
“I tell you what: meet me at the Kabob restaurant near the McPherson Square train stop. We will discuss these matters in more detail, and have a bite to eat as well.”
* * *
Thursday, September 18th
Mahmud Ghannam travelled on the Red Line to Metro Center, transferred to the Blue/Orange/Silver line and got off at the McPherson Square station. Two blocks later, he walked into the restaurant. Abdullah Salah waited for him at a table in the corner.
“Why don’t we order lunch first, and then we can get down to business,” said Abdullah.
After ordering, they sat down to eat, and Abdullah said, “So you have questions about finding peace, do you?”
“Yes; very much so. I feel lost and like I’m drifting, going nowhere. I really want to find the peace you seem to have found.”
“Well, my son, it is very simple: Allah sent his son to Earth to die for us and pay the price for our sins. No other prophet can claim to have done this. The difference is, that Prophet Yasū‘ is the true Son of God. As it says about Yasū‘ in the Jewish Bible in the book of the Apostle John, ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.’ It also states in the Book of Apostle John that, ‘…God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.’ You see, my son, only Allah can forgive us of our inability to escape wrongdoing. So He sent his son, Prophet Yasū‘, who is the son of Allah, and therefore, a Deity like Allah. And only a God is able to forgive all of our sins, and cleanse us of all unrighteousness.”
“I do not completely understand this, but I would like to learn more,” he said.
“I tell you what: why don’t you come with me to the temple on Massachusetts Avenue on Aal'ahad, and we shall learn more.”
Mahmud hesitated at first; the idea of being a blasphemer who might be killed rang loudly in his thoughts. At last, he said, “Very well. I will meet you there.”
* * *
Sunday, September 21st
That Aal'ahad or Sunday, Mahmud met Abdullah at the door to the temple. His wife had come along as well, mostly out of curiosity of this strange idea that Prophet Yasū‘ was the son of Allah.
“Hello, Abdullah. My wife and I are here to learn more about Prophet Yasū‘. I explained to her what you told me, and she is curious too.”
“Well, blessings be to Allah: this is most propitious. Come; follow me and I will introduce you to my friends, Evie and her friend Carlo.”
He followed Abdullah to a row in the front of the church, and said, “Evie; Carlo: I want you to meet my friend Mahmud and his wife, Baseera. They are very interested in learning more about salvation through the Prophet Jesus, or Yasū‘, as we call him.”
“This is great,” said Carlo, shaking his hand. “I believe that Allah will open your eyes, and show you how much he loves and cares for you.”
“It’s good to see you here, Baseera,” said Evie. “Abdullah’s wife has not come yet, because she is afraid of being found out as a Christian, and being put to death.”
“Yes,” said Abdullah, “but Lord Allah will protect us. Even if we die, we will not have died in vain.”
They all sat down, and listened to the sermon, which was about the Grace of God, by which all are redeemed. At the end, Mahmud said to Carlo, “So Allah shows us him mercy, by not letting us spend an eternity in death. He shows his grace by letting us partake of a relationship with Him.”
“That’s right,” said Carlo. “God is very gracious to us.”
“I tell you what,” said Evie. “Why don’t the three of you—and your wife, Abdullah, if you can convince Safiya to overcome her fear—come to my condo this afternoon, and we’ll all pray that Mahmud, his wife Baseera, and your wife, Safiya will come to
