Introduction:

Izzat Isaac Mawad was a committed Christian preacher who used all possible means to promote Christianity, eventually becoming a Coptic priest. However, he began to doubt the faith he was preaching while feeling a sense of comfort when listening to the Quran.

Early Life and Doubts:

“I was born into a close-knit Christian family and started attending Sunday Mass when I was four years old. By the age of eight, I had become a church deacon. I stood out among my peers for my knowledge of Coptic and my ability to read from the Holy Bible.”

Events and Dialogues within the Church:

“As I reached adulthood, I began to witness the scandals involving young men and women inside the church with the knowledge of the priests. I felt an internal disgust as I saw women entering the church immodestly dressed and sitting next to men, everyone praying without purification and repeating what the priest said without understanding.”

Izzat began to read more about Christianity and found that the “Divine Liturgy” had no basis in the Bible, encountering many disagreements over the interpretation of the “Trinity.”

Transition and Aversion to Church Practices:

“I felt a strong aversion to the practice of consuming wine and the communion bread from the priest’s hand, symbolizing the blood and body of Christ. While doubts about Christianity were growing, I was drawn to the way Muslims prayed and their devotion. I felt something strange within me when hearing the Quran, even though I was raised to dislike Muslims.”

Beginning the Search for Islam:

Izzat began fasting on some days during Ramadan before converting to Islam. He started reading extensively and comparing religions, engaging in discussions with Muslim brothers, which played a significant role in his intellectual transformation.

“I saw that even a Muslim who was not deeply knowledgeable about his religion possessed more confidence and certainty in the truth of his faith than any Christian. Islam, through the Quran and the Sunnah, was accessible to everyone, while certain books of the Bible were forbidden to be read before the age of thirty-five.”

The Moment of Transformation:

“The turning point in my life came in early September 1988. I sat with my mentor and teacher ‘Rifa’i Sorour’ for the first time, and he discussed and debated with me for over an hour. At the end of the session, I asked him to teach me the Shahada and how to pray.”

Izzat: “I want to learn about Islam and declare that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger.” Rifa’i Sorour: “First, perform the ritual washing (ghusl), then recite the Shahada.”

Izzat performed the ritual washing, recited the Shahada, and officially embraced Islam, adopting the name “Mohammad Ahmad Al-Rifai.” He underwent surgery to remove the cross tattooed on his hand.

Facing Challenges:

“My first trial in Islam was my family’s boycott and my father’s refusal to grant me my financial rights. But I didn’t care; I entered Islam empty-handed, but Allah compensated me with the brotherhood of Islam and a job that provided a good income.”

Conclusion and Aspirations:

“All I hope for now is not to be a Muslim who only benefits himself but to be beneficial to others and to contribute with my knowledge of Christianity and Islam to the call to Allah’s religion.”

Final Words:

“This was my journey of faith that began with doubt and ended with certainty. I thank Allah for guiding me to Islam and encourage everyone to seek the truth and strive for it.”

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