AP

Easter and a Muslim’s Encounter

Should we share the gospel with someone if it might come with a terrible cost—even the loss of life? That question became painfully real one morning when Tariq walked into the outpatients’ clinic in Pakistan.

Tariq (changed name)

The male nurse led the bearded young man into the consulting room. “Doctor Sahib,” he said quietly, “This patient isn’t sick. He just wants to see the hospital chapel.”

That immediately raised concerns. The year was 2008, and a young Muslim man asking to visit a Christian chapel in Pakistan was highly suspicious—and potentially dangerous.

Three years earlier, two suicide terrorists attacked the chapel of another mission hospital, killing 16 people. This, combined with other attacks against Christian institutions, resulted in tightened security across the country. In our hospital, the chapel now sat behind locked gates and barbed wire.

The nurse said: “I told him it’s closed to the public. Since you’re also the part-time chaplain, I brought him to you.”

Dr. Ian sat Tariq down. “Why do you want to visit the chapel?”

Tariq straightened: “I had a dream a few nights ago where I stood at the back of a large crowd in a beautiful garden. Everyone wore white and faced forward. I peered around their heads to see what captivated their interest. Then I saw a man standing facing them.”

Tariq’s voice softened. “He wore a white hooded robe bound at the waist with a golden kamarband (sash). Around his neck hung a chain with a pendant made of two bars crossing each other. He had white hair and a beard, and his eyes…”

Tariq paused. “I cannot describe them. They looked deeply into me. He motioned to me with his hand and said: ‘My son, come to me.’ Astounded, I moved back and immediately stepped out of my dream.”

Ian leaned forward. “That’s interesting, but how does it connect with the chapel?”

Tariq continued: “The dream happened in the garden beside your chapel. I know the place because something unusual happened there some time ago, something I’ve not told anyone else about.”

He drew a deep breath. “A few months ago, I was visiting a friend in this hospital and went outside to eat my lunch. I noticed an unusual display near the chapel and strolled over. Through the fence, I saw an exhibit of what looked like an open cave with strips of white cloth lying inside. I puzzled over it: was it someone’s tomb with burial cloths? But there was no corpse.”

“As I stared, a brilliant light suddenly flashed out from inside the cave and struck me. Stunned, I looked around, but no one seemed to have seen anything unusual.”

Tariq’s voice heightened. “That bolt of light indelibly impressed the garden and chapel into my memory. I believe that if I visit that place again, I will understand the dream.”

He shifted in his chair. “My family would not approve of my coming here, so I made up the excuse that I was sick and needed to see a doctor.”

Ian said: “Fascinating. I’m so glad you’ve come. The secret to understanding the dream and vision lies in the Injeel (New Testament). Jesus appeared to you—the man in white who called you. Let me explain the display first.”

“We made it for Easter to show what Christians celebrate: the death and resurrection of Jesus. After Jesus was killed, men took his body, wrapped it in linen cloth and laid it, not in the ground, but in a cave. They sealed it with a huge stone.”

“The display you saw showed his tomb just after he came back to life. Angels rolled that stone aside so people could look inside and see for themselves.”

Pushing his stethoscope aside, Ian picked up his Bible so Tariq could read what the first people saw at the empty tomb. Angels told them: “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here—he has risen, even as he said.” (Luke 24)

Ian knew Tariq had probably been groomed to reject Jesus’ death and resurrection, but the flash of light and dream opened his mind. Ian said: “After Jesus came back to life, he revealed himself to many people before going up to heaven. He will come back again, but these days he sometimes reveals himself to people in dreams and visions. One example in the Injeel was to his beloved disciple, John. See how John’s description fits in with what you saw.”

Ian found the passage:

…like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. (Revelation 1:13,14)

Tariq exclaimed: “It’s the same! Awesome!”

After more chatting, Ian said: “Come. I’ll show you the chapel.”

Chapel insights

Unlocking the gate, they passed under the razor wire and strolled through the garden to the door. Tariq eagerly stepped inside. His eyes surveyed the empty benches, then followed the carpet down the centre aisle and rested on the podium. Suddenly he pointed forward and shouted: “That’s it! That’s it!”

Ian looked. “What is it?”

Tariq crossed his index fingers at right angles. “This is it—the pendant worn by the man in white.”

Ian understood—the cross on the podium. He explained: “Evil men killed Jesus by nailing him to a wooden cross. He had done no wrong, but the cross was God’s plan to rescue people from their sins. Jesus took the punishment for our sin so God could forgive us. But Jesus didn’t stay dead. He came back to life on the third day. He conquered death and offers eternal life to all who trust and follow him.”

Tariq rubbed his beard. “In my dream, everyone was looking at Jesus, but he looked especially at me and called me ‘son.’ Why did he want me to come to him?”

“Jesus loves you and wants to help you.”

The message on the wall

Ian pointed to a poster on the wall. “Do you see that man carrying a heavy load? He bears a burden of sin, fear, and guilt, which he lays at the base of the cross. Because Jesus took his punishment, the man can be forgiven. He leaves his burden there and walks away free.”

Tariq read the poster: “Jesus’ invitation, ‘Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.’” (Matthew 11:28)

“The Injeel intrigues me,” he said quietly. “I have never seen one before. The mullahs (Muslim clerics) say it has been corrupted and forbid us to read it.”

As they walked back toward the hospital, Ian explained that the Bible remains unchanged and people can completely trust it.

Tariq said: “Muslims are required to believe the books God revealed. The Injeel is one of them. So, it cannot be a sin to read it. It answers my questions. I want to buy one.”

Back in the hospital, Ian slipped a New Testament into a paper bag so Tariq could carry it unnoticed. Tariq tucked it under his arm and left, but first they exchanged phone numbers. We had no idea what would happen next.

Tariq’s Trouble Begins

For several weeks Tariq phoned with eager questions as he read the New Testament. Then, one day, everything changed.

His uncle walked into his room and found him reading. He snatched the book and shouted, “This is a corrupt book. It will lead you astray.”

Later, Tariq phoned Ian: “My family accused me of becoming a kafir (infidel) and becoming a Christian. I told them ‘I haven’t turned my back on Islam. I just want to read the Injeel.’ But they say the book is dangerous.”

A few days later he called again. “A few mullahs and neighbours came over and with some of my relatives, beat me. They tore up the Injeel, threatened to kill me and forbade me to come to the hospital.”

Calls from Tariq stopped coming. Four weeks passed then Ian got a call from an unknown number. A hushed voice said: “I’m Tariq. I’ve been abducted and will try to escape. I don’t know where I am. If I get to you, will you protect and look after me?”

Click. The phone went dead.

Was it really Tariq? Was it a trap? It would be unwise to phone back. With prayer, we waited.

A week later, a gaunt, fearful man arrived at the hospital asking for Ian. It was Tariq.

“Five weeks ago, my relatives blindfolded me, forced me into a car and drove several hours to a place I didn’t know. They confiscated my mobile and kept me in a room under constant surveillance giving me little food or water. Last week, my guard left the room, leaving his phone lying on the table. Perhaps he was compassionate and intentional. I quickly called you but hurriedly put it back when I heard him returning. A few days later, some relatives drove me home, insisting that I dump every thought of the Bible and Jesus.”

Looking towards the door, he said: “I’ve risked a lot to come here. I can’t stay.” 

They prayed together. Tariq turned and walked away.

We never saw Tariq again.

Did he continue searching for Jesus? Did he survive the pressure from his family? Someday we hope to find out.

Encounters like this raise difficult issues. We come back to the original question: Should we bring the gospel to people who may be persecuted—or even killed—for investigating it? Jesus shows us what he does by appearing to people. His conditions for discipleship are the same for each of us:

If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and for the gospel will save it. What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 8:34-37)

– Dorcas Denness and her husband, with their family, served for many years in Pakistan, working in a medical and evangelistic ministry.