Stories and Testimonies
Rayeesa’s Testimony
I was born in England in to a Shia Muslim family, the eldest of 4 daughters. My parents did not have any male heirs so as the eldest my parents had a lot of expectations on me. I never really questioned my faith. My parents were very devout in following the Shia Muslim faith and we would have 100’s of people visiting our house for 10days a year for the month of Moharum (where Shia Muslims remember the martyrdom of the prophet Mohamed’s grandson Hussain). There seemed to be a lot of tradition and duty, as if the more you did the better you were as a follower of Allah.
I had been taught my prayers from an early age and even taught how to read the Quran. But as I grew older I was left feeling empty wondering if there really was any point in all these traditions and rules that seemed to dominate the Islamic faith.
I knew there must be a God, but why was he always so angry with us, and wanting us to obey him in so many ways. Where was the love, the peace and forgiveness ??
Despite being born and brought up in England we had a very strict upbringing and were not given much freedom in our lives. I did as I was told; I was a good daughter and did my best to please my parents. When I was 17 my parents took us to India for a holiday, but their plan was that they would find a suitable husband for me, as they were afraid that we were becoming too westernised.
After 2years of living in India I had an arranged marriage. Long story short, it didn’t work out. I came back to England (by then the rest of the family were back too). I told my parents that my marriage was a sham and my new husband simply wanted to come to the U.K. A divorce followed. Then I joined the police service as a constable. My parents did not approve, but by now I didn’t care, I wanted to live my life, my way. God was always in the background.
During my early years in the police service, I met a lady who worked in the community with young Asian women, who had arranged marriages, problems with their family, suicidal, turning to drink and drugs etc. My heart was also drawn to these young girls and I was instantly drawn to this lady called Ana. She was a Christian, and I remember saying to her “ don’t bother bible bashing me, I’m a Muslim and staying that way!” Our friendship grew and I was drawn by her genuine love for people and her self less life style.
She never mentioned her faith until one day I asked her “ Why do you love Jesus so much, he’s just a prophet ??” She told me the most wonderful thing I had ever heard. That God made us to be perfect and because of man’s disobedience it spoilt that and so God had a plan to make a way back for us. He came to the world and took our place and punishment on the cross so that if we believed in Him we would have a right relationship with Him again. Wow !! So Jesus was more than a prophet, He was God !!! And he must have loved us so much to come to die for us. I didn’t say anything to her but I knew something had changed inside me, I had heard the truth about God, and now I had a decision to make. I could either accept or reject this truth.
Being a police officer, the idea of absolute truth drew me I had to know the truth and follow it. So I did. I simply prayed to Jesus and said “ Jesus, if you are real, then show me, I want to open the door of my heart and ask you to come in” my heart was open and instantly I felt my heart being flooded with His awesome love. I wept on my knees, and it felt like God’s love was washing over me. I knew Jesus was real because I felt different, loved, accepted and free…
That was 22yrs ago. I have had an incredible journey from that day and in many ways, a long career in the police, a wonderful husband and three incredible children, who are all passionate about Jesus and we have a great church we are planted in that is really making a difference in our community. I have seen God work in so many ways and it spurs me on to share this wonderful God with those around me.
I was born in England in to a Shia Muslim family, the eldest of 4 daughters. My parents did not have any male heirs so as the eldest my parents had a lot of expectations on me. I never really questioned my faith. My parents were very devout in following the Shia Muslim faith and we would have 100’s of people visiting our house for 10days a year for the month of Moharum (where Shia Muslims remember the martyrdom of the prophet Mohamed’s grandson Hussain). There seemed to be a lot of tradition and duty, as if the more you did the better you were as a follower of Allah. I had been taught my prayers from an early age and even taught how to read the Quran. But as I grew older I was left feeling empty wondering if there really was any point in all these traditions and rules that seemed to dominate the Islamic faith.
I knew there must be a God, but why was he always so angry with us, and wanting us to obey him in so many ways. Where was the love, the peace and forgiveness ??
Despite being born and brought up in England we had a very strict upbringing and were not given much freedom in our lives. I did as I was told; I was a good daughter and did my best to please my parents. When I was 17 my parents took us to India for a holiday, but their plan was that they would find a suitable husband for me, as they were afraid that we were becoming too westernised.
After 2years of living in India I had an arranged marriage. Long story short, it didn’t work out. I came back to England (by then the rest of the family were back too). I told my parents that my marriage was a sham and my new husband simply wanted to come to the U.K. A divorce followed. Then I joined the police service as a constable. My parents did not approve, but by now I didn’t care, I wanted to live my life, my way. God was always in the background.
During my early years in the police service, I met a lady who worked in the community with young Asian women, who had arranged marriages, problems with their family, suicidal, turning to drink and drugs etc. My heart was also drawn to these young girls and I was instantly drawn to this lady called Ana. She was a Christian, and I remember saying to her “ don’t bother bible bashing me, I’m a Muslim and staying that way!” Our friendship grew and I was drawn by her genuine love for people and her self less life style.
She never mentioned her faith until one day I asked her “ Why do you love Jesus so much, he’s just a prophet ??” She told me the most wonderful thing I had ever heard. That God made us to be perfect and because of man’s disobedience it spoilt that and so God had a plan to make a way back for us. He came to the world and took our place and punishment on the cross so that if we believed in Him we would have a right relationship with Him again. Wow !! So Jesus was more than a prophet, He was God !!! And he must have loved us so much to come to die for us. I didn’t say anything to her but I knew something had changed inside me, I had heard the truth about God, and now I had a decision to make. I could either accept or reject this truth.
Being a police officer, the idea of absolute truth drew me I had to know the truth and follow it. So I did. I simply prayed to Jesus and said “ Jesus, if you are real, then show me, I want to open the door of my heart and ask you to come in” my heart was open and instantly I felt my heart being flooded with His awesome love. I wept on my knees, and it felt like God’s love was washing over me. I knew Jesus was real because I felt different, loved, accepted and free…
That was 22yrs ago. I have had an incredible journey from that day and in many ways, a long career in the police, a wonderful husband and three incredible children, who are all passionate about Jesus and we have a great church we are planted in that is really making a difference in our community. I have seen God work in so many ways and it spurs me on to share this wonderful God with those around me.
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