FORMER TALIBAN FIGHTER MEETS JESUS CHRIST.

Yesterday, I listened to the BBC interview of Maiwand Banayee, the author of Delusions of Paradise: Escaping The Life of a Taliban Fighter. During the interview, he gave the story of his radicalization in Afghanistan, and escaping the strict extremism of the Taliban regimented life to freedom in the west. Now he has settled in the UK where he works as a physiotherapist. He has found refuge in the same west he was brought up to describe as “Great Satan.”

Maiwand Banayee’s ambition was to be a suicide bomber because of the assurance and promise of a special place next to Allah and the prophet of Islam; and the 72 virgins promised in Islam. You see all it takes is for the suddenly critically thinking Muslim to start asking himself some hard questions, like what was the reward for female Islamic fighter? The settlement for a male fighter has been clearly spelt out, so you ask about the reward for a female Muslim fighter. Would she be given a place next to Allah and the prophet of Islam; and maybe 72 virile young men? Putting such a question to an Imam would draw an answer like “Though it’s not stated, you can be sure that Allah has perfect and infallible plans for everybody.” A Muslim is supposed to be satisfied with that because from childhood, it has been drummed into you that The Glorious Quran is perfect and infallible, and that Islam is the only true religion descended from Allah; and even Jesus Christ that is coming back to the world, is doing so to come and declare Islam the only true faith.

Like earlier Islamic seekers before him Maiwand Banayee wondered why Heaven which is a spiritual abode, somehow manages to have gross material pleasures, like sexual intercourse in large doses. When Jesus Christ was asked questions bordering on gross material happenings on earth being repeated in heaven or at the resurrection, made it clear that there weren’t any such events in heaven which is a spiritual abode.

Luke 20:27 - 38 Luke 20:27-38

27 Then came to him certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection; and they asked him,

28 Saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If any man's brother die, having a wife, and he die without children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

29 There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died without children.

30 And the second took her to wife, and he died childless.

31 And the third took her; and in like manner the seven also: and they left no children, and died.

32 Last of all the woman died also.

33 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife.

34 And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:

35 But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:

36 Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.

37 Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.

38 For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.

Maiwand Banayee for the first time began to wonder why fleshly pleasures were a preoccupation of Allah and in heaven which is a spiritual abode. As one’s spiritual insight deepens one begins to wonder at these Islamic provisions. Don’t forget that The Almighty God is a spirit and all must worship him in spirit and in truth.

John 4:24

24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Pray for many more Muslim true seekers for the truth to have the courage to ask questions the Quran forbids them to ask, the gradually with the help of Jesus Christ they will come to the TRUTH that is Christ Jesus. I bless the name of the Lord for helping Maiwand Banayee find his way to him and helping him settle in a country where he can freely worship Jesus Christ. A few years ago, he was told that Jesus Christ was merely a prophet and that the west was the great Satan. Now he knows better. Let’s pray for many more Muslims who are already secret followers of Jesus Christ in their Muslim majority countries and even in other relatively free countries, but who are already secret converts fearful of letting their extended Muslim families know of their conversions, that God will help them find their way to countries where they can safely worship Jesus Christ, who is The way, The Truth and The Life.