The Conversion Story of Iranian Priest Benjamin Keldani - Abdul Ahad Dawud: A Journey from Doubt to Certainty

Early Life and Academic Journey:

Born in 1868 in Urmia, Iran, Benjamin Keldani, who later became known as Abdul Ahad Dawud after embracing Islam, received his primary education in his hometown. Between 1886 and 1889, he worked as a teacher at the Archbishop of Canterbury’s mission to the Nestorian Christians in his town. He was later sent to Rome, where he received formal training in philosophical and theological studies at the Propaganda College. In 1895, he was ordained a priest and began writing religious articles published in specialised journals.

Beginning of Transformation:

After returning from Rome, Keldani stopped in Istanbul, contributing articles about Eastern churches to English and French newspapers. He returned to his hometown, joined the French Lazarist mission, and published the first periodicals in the Syriac language. He was later appointed to represent Eastern Catholics at the Eucharistic Congress in France. Upon returning to his homeland, he opened a free school and continued his evangelical work within the church.

Doubts and Contradictions:

Doubts began to creep into Keldani’s heart when he noticed contradictions between the church’s teachings and his personal beliefs. He struggled to accept the church’s requirement for intercession between God and His creation and the absolute reliance on intercessors. Abdul Ahad Dawud states, “The church asked me to believe in intercession between God and His creation, and that the monks are absolute intercessors, which I could not accept.”

真実を求めて：

Keldani secluded himself in his home for a month, re-reading the holy books in their ancient languages and studying them deeply. Seeking the truth, he began to explore the Quran and the commonly held Bible, finding that the Quran denies the crucifixion of Christ, while the Bible affirms it. Dawud explains, “The result of my investigations and research was that I became convinced and certain that the story of the killing and crucifixion of Christ, followed by his resurrection, is a mythical tale.”

Meeting with Muslim Scholars:

During his search, Keldani met with several Muslim scholars, engaging in numerous discussions and intellectual confrontations. After these meetings, he was convinced of the truth of Islam and began to feel an inner peace towards the religion. He recalls, “I met with several Muslim scholars, and after numerous confrontations with them, I was convinced of Islam and embraced it.”

イスラムを受け入れる

After a thorough study of the Quran and the holy books, Benjamin Keldani embraced Islam in Istanbul and took the name “Abdul Ahad Dawud.” Dawud emphasised that his conversion to Islam was due to God’s guidance. He wrote, “My guidance to Islam can only be attributed to the care and guidance of God Almighty. Without God’s guidance, all readings and research are futile.”

イスラム後の人生

After his conversion, Abdul Ahad Dawud authored several books defending Islam and elucidating religious truths in a scientific and logical manner. Among these books are his remarkable work “Muhammad in the Bible” and “The Gospel and the Cross.” Dawud states, “The moment I believed in the oneness of God and His noble Prophet, peace be upon him, marked the beginning of my transformation towards an exemplary, faithful conduct.”

Final Vision:

Abdul Ahad Dawud asserts, “I am convinced that the only way to understand the meaning and spirit of the Bible is to study it from an Islamic perspective.” He believes that the monotheistic creed embraced by Islam is the true doctrine that should be the belief of every believer in God until the Day of Judgment.

With these details, the journey of Benjamin Keldani from a zealous priest to a devoted Islamic preacher unfolds, highlighting the power of Islam and its ability to attract hearts in search of truth.