Man of God

Testimony of Mahmud Jalily

Paraphrased in modern English by Colin Melbourne

© 96-08 Born-Again-Christian.info

A Devout Muslim Tells the Story of His Conversion to Christ

Isfahan is home to one of Iran's greatest Mosques, the Mesjid-i-Shah (the Shah's Mosque). Its vast dome is famous for a reverberating echo. One day, a little man shouted up into the dome with all his might, in Farsi, the Persian language,

"Jesus Christ the Lord! Jesus Christ the Lord!"

Who was this bold Christian, willing to proclaim his faith in a place where the Muslim creed had been sounded out for centuries: but where the Lordship of Jesus had never been announced? He was not a tourist, nor a missionary, but a Muslim convert named Mahmud Jalily. One who had repeated the creed of Islam since childhood;

There is no God except Allah, and Mohammed is the Prophet of Allah.

What had happened to change a devout Muslim into a radiant and fearless Christian?

Mahmud was born in Tabriz, Iran, in 1882 A.D. At the age of six, his father took the family to live in Teheran. The father was a Minister to the wife of the Shah and the child was reared in the Royal Court. His father was devoted to Mahmud and took him on all his journeys. Special teachers in Arabic, Persian and French instructed him. His education was very privileged.

As a youth, he began to serve in the Royal Court, associating with nobility. His father died and the young man was given a post in the Office of Finance. Jalily married and fathered several sons and daughters. He had a good position in a Government Office, and was well respected. However, he was unsatisfied in his heart. He had no peace or assurance for the future. His wife died, he re-married and had three more sons. He was promoted, but still his heart was not at rest. Once he went to the sacred city of Qum and spent several days in prayer and fasting. Often he would rise early, leave his home in Jalilabad (named after his father) then walk and pray for God to guide him and fill the emptiness in his life. And so the years passed.

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Finally, it occurred to him that perhaps his need was more education. So he made enquiries and employed an English teacher to give him private lessons. The teacher was a student in the Christian mission school in Teheran. His name was Ahmad, son of the sister of Nozad. (Through his Uncle Nozad, Ahmad had become a Christian, but Jalily did not know this at first.) He admired his fine character, his courtesy, truthfulness, and kindness. He was also an excellent teacher. Soon Jalily was able to speak a little English, the difficult foreign language that Ahmad had come to learn so well in the mission school. Seeing in Ahmad the product of this school, Jalily wanted to send his own son there. So Jahangir attended, learned English, and became a Christian too, but did not dare to tell his father of his conversion.

The church in Teheran arranged a series of evangelistic services for Muslims. It was a bold move. Invitation cards were printed and much prayer was offered. Every night the church was packed with eager listeners, mostly Muslims, despite this enthusiastic response, no opposition was encountered from the Muslim clerics.

One day, Jahangir presented an invitation card to his father saying,
"Our Principal, Dr. Jordan, sends you his greetings, and with them this card, inviting you to the church tonight to hear an address."

Jalily had never been to church before, but since his son and Dr. Jordan had invited him, he went. He was expecting to hear a lecture on some secular subject.

When he entered the chapel, he felt very superior to the rest. After all, he had been reared in the Court of the Shah. The meeting began and soon Jalily realized it was a religious meeting. The singing was pleasant, the prayers soothed him, and he was surprised to hear them in his own Persian tongue. (Muslim prayers are spoken in Arabic.)

The address began. The preacher described how Adam, the father of the human race, had disobeyed God and brought sin and death to all mankind. And how God had promised a Saviour. He explained that this Saviour, born of a virgin, had died on the cross and rose from the dead to pay for our sins and bring us back to God, through faith in his sacrifice on our behalf.He closed with an invitation for the hearers to believe in Jesus Christ and be saved.

As Jalily listened, he was deeply moved.

"All the events of my life passed before my eyes and I saw I was a condemned man. I saw the filthiness of my past life. Seeing myself as God saw me."

Jalily had lived a good moral life, indeed better than most men, but now, God opened his eyes, and he saw what God saw; a sinner needing a Saviour. He heard and responded to the Saviour's call, "Come to me and I will give you rest."

The meeting closed and a number of people remained behind to learn more about Jesus. Jalily and his son were amongst them. The speaker explained, that just as sick people go to a doctor whom they trust and commit themselves to. So we, who are afflicted with the deadly disease of sin, must go to the Great Physician, Jesus Christ. He loved us, died for us, conquered death, sin and sickness, and is alive today. The speaker emphasized that Jesus is ready to receive and forgive anyone who will trust in him. Then he asked whoever wanted to come to the Saviour, to stand up and say so.

Several people arose and spoke. Jalily and Jahangir also stood. Jalily said in a trembling voice,

"When I entered this room I thought I was the best person here. But now, I know there is no greater sinner in this place than me. I believe in Jesus Christ as my Saviour and I will follow him as long as I live."

Speaking of this later, he said,

"I don't know how it was possible for me to confess before all those people that I was bad, because all my life I tried to make people believe I was good. But God enabled me to confess my sins publicly. As soon as I did, I experienced such joy. Like being relieved of a heavy burden. I was renewed, I became a new person, I was born again! My troubled heart found peace; my pride was turned to humility, my self-confidence to confidence in Christ, and my enmity to friendliness. For me the world became new: I had found what I had always wanted."

On returning home, his wife asked,

"Why are you so happy tonight? Have you been drinking?"

"No!" Exclaimed Jalily, "you know I don't drink. I have become a Christian!"

Jahangir was very happy about his Father, but the rest of the family said he had disgraced the national faith. However, Jalily endured their remarks with patience, humility and the love of Christ. Later, his wife and younger family members all became Christians too.

During the meetings in which Jalily and others were converted, invitations were sent out on small printed cards. The church was filled with Muslims at each meeting, but Islam was never mentioned. The preacher boldly told how we all need a Saviour from sin, and power to live the kind of life we were created for: A life of love. The response was wonderful, as if people had been waiting for this chance. Thirty to forty people accepted Christ each night.

In such a hostile Muslim land, many Christians were tempted to hide their new faith, because of fear of trouble. But not Jalily, he couldn't keep silent.

The day after his great decision, he went to his office and told all his friends that he had become a Christian. He invited them to his home to hear what had happened. Some were impressed; but others scorned him.

He developed a habit of praying at his desk before work each day, and those who opposed him took this opportunity to ridicule him. He endured this petty persecution with love and patience. His superiors never threatened to dismiss him despite his rejection of the Islamic faith. They saw how reliable he was and needed his services.

After his conversion, Jalily began to study the New Testament. He had never read it before, but now reading the Word of God became his passion. He was publicly baptized and opened his home once a week to tell others about Christ's salvation. He served tea, read the Holy Bible to them and shared his own experience of salvation.

He stressed that salvation was free, and open to all who would only believe and that Christ would do for anyone, what He had done for Jalily.

The meetings continued for 35 years, and many people received Christ as Saviour through them.

A missionary once wrote about Jalily, "If ever there was a man who was truly converted and born again, Jalily was. During the past eight years, he has been a wonderful example of what Christ can do for a Muslim. He holds a good job in public office, where he is trusted and respected. But his chief joy in life is to serve Christ and tell of his love."

He frequently accompanied evangelists around Iran, and never failed to give testimony of Jesus Christ, his Lord. Although Muslims resent Christians calling Jesus the Son of God, because the Koran vigourously rejects the term, Jalily seemed to glory in calling Christ God's Only Son, and sensing his deep sincerity, his listeners seldom objected. He told how his former religion had failed to give him peace and joy, and how God had come to him in Christ and saved him.

"When I was a Muslim", he said, "I thought I knew God, but I did not. I only came to know God when I saw him in Christ."

If anyone ever thought that the religion of Islam was adequate for its followers, or that it was impossible for a devout Muslim to become a Christian; the radiant face of Jalily and his sincere testimony of Jesus Christ who had changed his life: must certainly have opened their eyes.

For Jalily, and all who have come out of Islam into Christ, they know that Christ is the way and there is no other way to God.

The Gospel of Christ is the power of God for salvation and there is no other name under Heaven, given to us by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)

Faithful to the very end, Mahmud Jalily passed away on January 3rd. 1969, and joined the heavenly multitude who, by the power of Jesus Christ, have become more than conquerors

Pray to Receive Jesus Christ as Saviour

© 96-08 Born-Again-Christian.Info

Paraphrased into modern English by Colin Melbourne from, 'Ten Muslims Meet Christ' W.M. McElwee, Eerdmans Pub. Co. 1969. Used by kind permission