O padre etíope Melake Kifado que se tornou um pregador islâmico

Beginnings and Questions:

Melake Kifado, who was born to a Jewish father and a Christian mother in a village in Ethiopia, started his religious education early, studying both the Torah and the Bible. He chose to become a Christian like his mother, not out of conviction, but because of the privileges that Christians enjoyed in his country.

Melake did not find himself in either the Torah or the Bible. He saw the Torah as a collection of altered stories and myths, and the Bible as full of contradictions between different texts. Melake says, “The gospels did not offer an explanation for life and the universe, nor did they try to organise any relationship in worldly or spiritual matters. I realised they were not the scriptures revealed to Jesus.”

First Glimpse of Islam:

Raised on a strong dislike for Islam due to church propaganda that portrayed it as a religion for the backward and attributed many false accusations to it, Melake sought a career that would offer him a comfortable life. He found his calling in the church, memorised the Torah, and joined the church, eventually becoming a notable priest. He worked hard in Christian missionary activities, enjoying various privileges in a country threatened by famine every day.

The Turning Point:

Melake continued his work until one fateful night. He recounts, “I had a dream where a man approached me and woke me up, urging me to recite the Shahada: ‘There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah’ and Surah Al-Ikhlas: ‘Say, He is Allah, [who is] One…’ I woke up terrified, thinking it was from the devil.”

This vision repeated for two more nights. On the third night, he saw a light illuminating the path and a man reciting the Shahada and Surah Al-Ikhlas to him. Melake says, “I realised this was a true vision, not from the devil. The light that illuminated my path in the vision enlightened my heart. I had a deep conviction that Islam was the true faith.”

Conversion to Islam:

It did not take long for him to decide, and he declared his conversion to Islam with full conviction. When he told his wife about it, she agreed and converted along with him, as did their three children. The first thing he did after embracing Islam was to change his name to “Mohammed Said,” considering that day his true birthdate.

Facing Challenges:

The Ethiopian church reacted with great anger to the news of Mohammed Said’s conversion. Not only did they strip him of his privileges, but they also sought to imprison him, where he endured various forms of torture in an attempt to make him renounce his faith. Mohammed Said says, “I endured all this patiently, seeking my reward from Allah, and my faith did not waver.”

Chamar outros para o Islão:

Mohammed Said emerged from prison with stronger faith and greater determination to spread the true message of Islam. His imprisonment only made him more steadfast and eager to become an Islamic preacher. He has been a means for over 280 people to embrace Islam.

Mohammed Said says, “My deep study of the Torah and the Bible helped me explore the miraculous aspects of the Quran. I realised the unethical methods missionaries used to attract the poor and needy to Christianity by pretending to offer them material and moral support.”

Embracing the Quran:

Mohammed Said spent his time memorising the Quran, despite the difficulty for non-Arabic speakers. He describes his approach to preaching: “I start by understanding the beliefs of the person I am inviting, then I discuss their beliefs and show their flaws and contradictions with natural logic. Then I explain the many virtues of Islam, showing it as the true religion chosen by Allah for humanity.”

Mohammed Said’s Hopes:

Mohammed Said says, “My personal hope is to guide my parents to the true religion. My general hope is to be one of the knights of Islamic preaching and that Allah grants me success for the benefit of the Muslim Ummah.”

Journey of Transformation:

The magazine “Al-Faisal” published his story, considering him one of the most famous Ethiopian priests who converted to Islam. Mohammed Said saw Surah Al-Ikhlas in his dream and kept searching for its meaning until he visited the office of the Muslim World League in Ethiopia. Mohammed Said says, “I was convinced of Islam after several visits to the office and declared my conversion, thanking Allah. My name became Mohammed Said.”

Ongoing Challenges:

Mohammed Said faced harassment from the church, which sought to physically eliminate him after failing to bring him back to Christianity. Mohammed Said recounts, “The church resorted to bribing the oppressive regime of Mengistu to imprison me again, but I was released by the grace of Allah after a visit by Dr. Abdullah Omar Naseef, the Secretary-General of the Muslim World League, to Ethiopia, where he requested my release.”

Tragic End:

The church sent an HIV-infected girl to slowly kill Mohammed Said. Mohammed Said narrates, “I married a beautiful girl who claimed her father had disowned her after learning of her intention to convert to Islam. The disease was transmitted to me unknowingly, and it did not take long before my first wife died, followed by me.”

Mohammed Said concludes his story saying, “We ask Allah to envelop us in His mercy and grant us a place in His vast gardens. Allah Almighty has spoken the truth: ‘And never will the Jews or the Christians approve of you until you follow their religion.’ [Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:120]”

With these details and dialogues, the journey of the Ethiopian priest Mohammed Said from a zealous Christian priest to a devoted Islamic preacher is highlighted, showcasing the power of Islam to attract hearts seeking the truth.