As-Salaam-Alaikum, to our Muslim brother and sisters, 00:00:40.38\00:00:45.04 Shalom to our Hebrew cousins, 00:00:45.07\00:00:48.57 peace be upon you to our Christian friends. 00:00:48.60\00:00:51.42 Welcome to "The Descendants of Abraham." 00:00:51.45\00:00:55.66 Today, we'll be speaking to a young man 00:00:55.69\00:00:58.73 by the name of Abdul Saeed. 00:00:58.76\00:01:01.18 And he will tell us about his journey to the God of Abraham. 00:01:01.21\00:01:06.67 I would like to welcome Abdul Saeed. As-Salaam-Alaikum. 00:01:06.70\00:01:11.94 Walikum Salam, sister. 00:01:11.97\00:01:14.73 Abdul tell us a little bit about where you were born 00:01:14.76\00:01:20.29 and your journey to the God of Abraham. 00:01:20.32\00:01:23.38 Sister I was born in Saudi Arabia 00:01:23.41\00:01:26.43 in a Sunni Muslim family. 00:01:26.46\00:01:29.89 My parents, my mom and dad were strictly Muslims. 00:01:29.92\00:01:35.74 And they were not only practiced Islam 00:01:35.77\00:01:38.52 not only just by the name 00:01:38.55\00:01:39.87 but they were practicing Islam strictly. 00:01:39.90\00:01:42.19 So my journey as a Muslim-- 00:01:42.22\00:01:44.18 I was raised in Saudi Arabia as a young kid 00:01:44.21\00:01:48.18 and grew up in this environment where everybody is Muslim. 00:01:48.21\00:01:52.56 In Saudi Arabia-- Yes. 00:01:52.59\00:01:54.32 It is, there are lot of-- it's all Muslim. 00:01:54.35\00:01:56.76 Yes, majority of them is Muslim. 00:01:56.79\00:01:59.14 We cannot find anybody other believers. 00:01:59.17\00:02:02.52 Because they're pretty strictly to themselves. 00:02:02.55\00:02:05.76 Okay. And how did you worship God? 00:02:05.79\00:02:10.39 When you're living in Saudi Arabia. 00:02:10.42\00:02:12.78 Oh, living in Saudi Arabia, 00:02:12.81\00:02:14.15 obviously, you really don't have access to anything else 00:02:14.18\00:02:16.98 beside that as a Muslim and that was it for us 00:02:17.01\00:02:20.73 that my parents raised as a Muslim. 00:02:20.76\00:02:23.02 That admit us in Islamic school where we used to go everyday 00:02:23.05\00:02:30.46 to learn and read Koran and they also taught 00:02:30.49\00:02:34.93 to how to pray in a mosque five times a day. 00:02:34.96\00:02:39.06 So as a Muslim over there, that was my ritual, 00:02:39.09\00:02:44.41 my work that I have to do everyday 00:02:44.44\00:02:46.72 to pray namaz five times a day and read Koran. 00:02:46.75\00:02:51.11 Okay, and you learned Arabic. 00:02:51.14\00:02:53.61 Yes, I do learn. 00:02:53.64\00:02:54.98 I mean it's amazing the way anybody can read Koran, 00:02:55.01\00:02:59.93 but I read Koran so many times but I have, 00:02:59.96\00:03:02.82 is amazing I don't know what's the meanings are. 00:03:02.85\00:03:05.36 Interesting. It's just difficult to explain people. 00:03:05.39\00:03:08.50 Lot of time people asked me. 00:03:08.53\00:03:10.37 If you learned how to read Koran and know Arabic 00:03:10.40\00:03:14.27 you should know the meaning. 00:03:14.30\00:03:15.73 I said it's different because to learn how to read Koran 00:03:15.76\00:03:21.30 only thing you need to know about alphabetics 00:03:21.33\00:03:23.73 and they have sings on the top. 00:03:23.76\00:03:26.16 If something comes on the top you pronounce this way. 00:03:26.19\00:03:30.30 So I learned, I read Koran so many times 00:03:30.33\00:03:33.08 but I really don't know what the meanings are. 00:03:33.11\00:03:34.91 Okay, and you know, it's the same with me 00:03:34.94\00:03:37.50 as I was growing up, 00:03:37.53\00:03:39.91 we learned Arabic to read the Koran, 00:03:39.94\00:03:41.79 but we also spoke our native, our native language, 00:03:41.82\00:03:45.74 throughout, you know, with the family, 00:03:45.77\00:03:47.59 throughout the day. 00:03:47.62\00:03:48.65 What language do you speak? 00:03:48.68\00:03:52.18 My parents were from Pakistan and I speak Urdu. 00:03:52.21\00:03:55.99 Okay, Urdu, right. 00:03:56.02\00:03:57.80 And, you know, it's amazing. 00:03:57.83\00:04:00.43 Living there, but every place you go in Saudi Arabia 00:04:00.46\00:04:03.63 all the Saudi learn how to speak Pakistani Urdu. 00:04:03.66\00:04:07.24 So we really don't have time to learn Arabic or speak to them. 00:04:07.27\00:04:13.16 So only thing I used to do, I used to communicate with them 00:04:13.19\00:04:17.17 if I go to grocery store 00:04:17.20\00:04:18.31 if I see some Saudi working there. 00:04:18.34\00:04:20.23 Okay. And they were familiar with Urdu. 00:04:20.26\00:04:23.53 Yes. Oh, they because that's the business there stores are. 00:04:23.56\00:04:27.57 So they know lot of people don't speak Arabic so they learned. 00:04:27.60\00:04:30.55 They learned Urdu. Urdu. 00:04:30.58\00:04:32.03 So they can communicate with the customers. 00:04:32.06\00:04:34.12 Right, and I always found that interesting 00:04:34.15\00:04:36.24 and I have the same thing people say 00:04:36.27\00:04:38.46 well, as a Muslim you speak Arabic 00:04:38.49\00:04:41.29 and I said no we learn Arabic to read the Koran 00:04:41.32\00:04:43.69 but we speak our native language, 00:04:43.72\00:04:46.70 the Muslims around the world. 00:04:46.73\00:04:49.07 And when you were in Saudi 00:04:49.10\00:04:53.23 what was your life like as a Muslim. 00:04:53.26\00:04:56.96 In Saudi Arabia life as a Muslim that was pretty different. 00:04:56.99\00:05:01.21 Everything is rules. 00:05:01.24\00:05:03.25 Then you have to do certain rules as Muslim 00:05:03.28\00:05:07.43 to earn your good heaven. 00:05:07.46\00:05:09.82 We used to pray namaz five times a day. 00:05:09.85\00:05:13.39 And as a Muslim you must follow and pray namaz Allah's, 00:05:13.42\00:05:18.79 you know it was like if you miss your prayer-- 00:05:18.82\00:05:21.08 morning Prayer, you cannot make up. 00:05:21.11\00:05:22.65 You will get punished for that. 00:05:22.68\00:05:24.29 So we just used to get up in the morning regardless, 00:05:24.32\00:05:27.77 we don't know what we're doing 00:05:27.80\00:05:29.30 our God's going to accept those prayers. 00:05:29.33\00:05:31.13 You just have to pray. 00:05:31.16\00:05:32.85 And you know as a Muslim we used to fast 00:05:32.88\00:05:36.37 and it was amazing thing to me during month of Ramadan 00:05:36.40\00:05:39.99 when we used to fast for thirty days. 00:05:40.02\00:05:42.30 All of people think you might loose some weight. 00:05:42.33\00:05:45.40 I said no. I actually gained lot of weight. 00:05:45.43\00:05:48.64 Because you're hungry all day and soon it's time to open, 00:05:48.67\00:05:52.03 break your fast. 00:05:52.06\00:05:54.03 You just stuff everything in your mouth. 00:05:54.06\00:05:56.55 So I grew up in Islamic country as a Muslim, 00:05:56.58\00:06:00.44 I never see anything different. 00:06:00.47\00:06:02.81 I see all those things you're doing just for your works. 00:06:02.84\00:06:05.56 Okay, and let's speaking of Ramadan, 00:06:05.59\00:06:09.65 you've been about Ramadan, when I used to-- 00:06:09.68\00:06:14.05 I keep Ramadan and the fasting throughout the month. 00:06:14.08\00:06:19.20 As a child too I enjoyed that time. 00:06:19.23\00:06:22.12 Like you say, you fast all day, but after sunset you feast. Yes. 00:06:22.15\00:06:28.62 And before sunrise, you eat well too. 00:06:28.65\00:06:34.22 And it was like a really a month of really feasting. 00:06:34.25\00:06:39.04 And we had special foods at that time. And so on. 00:06:39.07\00:06:42.95 But like you said it was ritualistic 00:06:42.98\00:06:46.99 and you didn't really understand what it meant. 00:06:47.02\00:06:50.04 Exactly, same thing. 00:06:50.07\00:06:51.41 I mean only the reason I like that month 00:06:51.44\00:06:54.30 that you can eat a lot of different foods 00:06:54.33\00:06:56.92 and a lot of time your family get together everyday. 00:06:56.95\00:07:01.13 You know, your friends coming to your house. 00:07:01.16\00:07:04.04 You're making food for them. 00:07:04.07\00:07:05.24 And they're bringing different food. 00:07:05.27\00:07:07.06 But really nobody is caring what is exactly mean is. 00:07:07.09\00:07:10.44 The only thing they see, they're okay, 00:07:10.47\00:07:12.91 if this person is fasting or we're fasting 00:07:12.94\00:07:15.89 let's go stuff ourselves when it's time to open. 00:07:15.92\00:07:19.56 And, you know, that was it for us 00:07:19.59\00:07:21.65 month of Ramadan and nothing else. 00:07:21.68\00:07:23.77 You know, I mean you can see the bazaar 00:07:23.80\00:07:26.63 that used to get full. 00:07:26.66\00:07:29.04 Lot of people will go for shopping, 00:07:29.07\00:07:31.31 for different cloth you're buying, 00:07:31.34\00:07:32.72 I mean that was it for us. 00:07:32.75\00:07:35.35 All right. So you saw this celebration. Yes. 00:07:35.38\00:07:38.88 And that you told me too about Hajj and Umrah. 00:07:38.91\00:07:44.28 Yes, living in Saudi Arabia one of those thing 00:07:44.31\00:07:47.32 you can say privileges as a Muslim 00:07:47.35\00:07:50.12 or was for us it was so easy to go to holy city 00:07:50.15\00:07:53.93 to perform Umrah or Hajj. 00:07:53.96\00:07:56.41 I mean Hajj is the lifetime responsibility for one Muslim. 00:07:56.44\00:08:01.66 And Umrah is pretty much similar thing. 00:08:01.69\00:08:04.77 But Hajj has lot of things that you have to do in certain times 00:08:04.80\00:08:09.14 and Hajj journey lasts for 3 days. 00:08:09.17\00:08:12.14 Umrah you just go around Kaba seven times. 00:08:12.17\00:08:15.13 And you're done. 00:08:15.16\00:08:16.57 So for us-- I performed Umrah so many times 00:08:16.60\00:08:21.22 that I can't recount on my fingers. 00:08:21.25\00:08:23.47 But it was all same thing. It was the ritual stuff. 00:08:23.50\00:08:26.05 You really don't know why you are performing for that. 00:08:26.08\00:08:28.96 You just know, okay that's you got to do it. 00:08:28.99\00:08:31.03 Because you're Muslim. 00:08:31.06\00:08:32.56 So did you do umrah daily or weekly how many times 00:08:32.59\00:08:37.20 did you performed Umrah. 00:08:37.23\00:08:38.79 No, Umrah was like every time my dad got a time 00:08:38.82\00:08:42.02 to take a long weekend. 00:08:42.05\00:08:44.21 And we used to go to Mecca and perform Umrah. 00:08:44.24\00:08:47.89 Right. So-- 00:08:47.92\00:08:49.51 And because you lived close by to in Saudi Arabia, 00:08:49.54\00:08:53.86 you're able to do that more often. 00:08:53.89\00:08:56.32 Yes, yes compared to people who lived different countries 00:08:56.35\00:08:58.91 because you have to get a visa to come to Saudi Arabia. 00:08:58.94\00:09:02.15 For us there was no visa, nothing. 00:09:02.18\00:09:04.22 Only thing we have to do just get a long weekend 00:09:04.25\00:09:07.67 and just go drive to holy cities. 00:09:07.70\00:09:10.13 To holy city and perform Umrah. Yes. 00:09:10.16\00:09:13.26 And Hajj, you know, for people who don't understand, 00:09:13.29\00:09:19.40 you know, Hajj. 00:09:19.43\00:09:21.74 Did you perform Hajj? Did you go to Hajj? 00:09:21.77\00:09:25.15 Did you make that pilgrimage? 00:09:25.18\00:09:26.29 Yes, I did perform Hajj. 00:09:26.32\00:09:28.16 And a lot of people who don't know 00:09:28.19\00:09:29.39 what exactly Hajj is, 00:09:29.42\00:09:30.86 Hajj is long three day journey 00:09:30.89\00:09:33.76 where you have to go from one day, 00:09:33.79\00:09:36.29 when you're done one day. 00:09:36.32\00:09:38.44 It has a timing. 00:09:38.47\00:09:40.46 You have to be make sure 00:09:40.49\00:09:41.61 you're in different city after certain time. 00:09:41.64\00:09:44.22 If you don't get there before the time is over 00:09:44.25\00:09:47.58 then you're not going to be accept, 00:09:47.61\00:09:48.78 your Hajj is not going to be accepted. 00:09:48.81\00:09:50.70 So Hajj is a once a year come 00:09:50.73\00:09:53.98 and that's only the time you can perform Hajj. 00:09:54.01\00:09:56.83 And you know, it's amazing to me. 00:09:56.86\00:09:58.57 Every time I have been to Holy City 00:09:58.60\00:10:01.19 to perform Umrah or Hajj, 00:10:01.22\00:10:03.30 lot of time we used to hear that somebody steals 00:10:03.33\00:10:06.10 something from other person. 00:10:06.13\00:10:08.57 Because there are so many people like so much crowded. 00:10:08.60\00:10:11.12 But I always used to think myself. 00:10:11.15\00:10:13.91 Okay, you're here to the holy city, 00:10:13.94\00:10:17.13 God's house basically 00:10:17.16\00:10:19.54 and you're stealing right over the God house is. 00:10:19.57\00:10:23.46 So I never get it, how come people 00:10:23.49\00:10:25.40 can do those kinds of things. 00:10:25.43\00:10:27.23 But basically they're just coming. 00:10:27.26\00:10:29.59 They don't know why there're coming to perform Umrah or Hajj. 00:10:29.62\00:10:32.48 They're just coming to you know coming to this holy city 00:10:32.51\00:10:35.43 and just stealing somebody. 00:10:35.46\00:10:37.45 So what's going to interesting to me 00:10:37.48\00:10:39.04 that why this thing happening. 00:10:39.07\00:10:41.27 So seeing all of that started to put questions. 00:10:41.30\00:10:45.37 Yeah, starting to mind, you know, that's not right. 00:10:45.40\00:10:47.40 If you're believing that you're in the God house, 00:10:47.43\00:10:50.39 you're going to be afraid. 00:10:50.42\00:10:51.69 You're going to be respect him. 00:10:51.72\00:10:53.45 You're not going to be stealing somebody stuff 00:10:53.48\00:10:56.10 and just move on to your life. 00:10:56.13\00:10:58.17 You're going to be have some kind of feeling guilty. 00:10:58.20\00:11:01.69 So always used to thought in my mind, 00:11:01.72\00:11:03.30 you know, how come people can do those kinds of things 00:11:03.33\00:11:06.30 when they are coming to Holy City. 00:11:06.33\00:11:08.81 Okay, okay. That's interesting. That's interesting. 00:11:08.84\00:11:13.67 With your family and your parents and all that, 00:11:13.70\00:11:17.39 you know, because I you know came up the same way 00:11:17.42\00:11:22.95 you know in a Muslim family and so. 00:11:22.98\00:11:25.61 One of the things I miss and I did enjoy was the community. 00:11:25.64\00:11:30.43 Did you have that there in Saudi or was it different? 00:11:30.46\00:11:34.09 Oh, yes there was one of those biggest thing I miss community. 00:11:34.12\00:11:39.42 Community was for us was it was like 00:11:39.45\00:11:41.48 if anybody gets sick or get hurt, 00:11:41.51\00:11:43.27 you just see everybody come to our house, 00:11:43.30\00:11:45.51 you know, asking for us if we need anything regardless 00:11:45.54\00:11:48.74 what time it is. 00:11:48.77\00:11:49.97 You know, things people use to pour things to us. 00:11:50.00\00:11:53.38 And just say okay, let us know don't think 00:11:53.41\00:11:55.84 that it's going to bother to us if it's 2 or 3 in the morning. 00:11:55.87\00:11:59.53 And we were so close to each other. 00:11:59.56\00:12:02.17 We were just like one bonded family regardless 00:12:02.20\00:12:05.41 if you're family member or not. 00:12:05.44\00:12:06.94 I really missed that sometimes. 00:12:06.97\00:12:09.74 Yes, that I can understand that. 00:12:09.77\00:12:13.17 You know, it's hard when you're separated from the family 00:12:13.20\00:12:21.04 and then after you left Saudi you told me that you moved. 00:12:21.07\00:12:24.91 Where did you moved to? 00:12:24.94\00:12:26.20 I moved to Pakistan. 00:12:26.23\00:12:27.74 My dad send all of us to Pakistan, to go back home 00:12:27.77\00:12:31.90 because we were really from Pakistan. 00:12:31.93\00:12:34.46 We lived there. 00:12:34.49\00:12:35.52 I lived there for most of my life, my young life. 00:12:35.55\00:12:37.81 And obviously I was Muslim still that time. 00:12:37.84\00:12:41.71 And I had to perform everything one Muslim has to do, 00:12:41.74\00:12:46.03 take all the responsibility to pray namaz five times a day. 00:12:46.06\00:12:50.74 You know, doing fasting for month of Ramadan. 00:12:50.77\00:12:55.10 We use to zakat, giving to your poor. 00:12:55.13\00:13:00.82 So I moved there for few years. 00:13:00.85\00:13:04.53 And you mentioned zakat. Yes. 00:13:04.56\00:13:07.04 And I know I'm familiar with zakat, 00:13:07.07\00:13:09.93 but for those who're not familiar with zakat, 00:13:09.96\00:13:12.34 what is that. 00:13:12.37\00:13:13.61 Zakat is one of those things that you have to, 00:13:13.64\00:13:17.91 is the set of amount that you have to take 00:13:17.94\00:13:20.83 from your whatever you've money in your saving. 00:13:20.86\00:13:24.58 And give towards to God. 00:13:24.61\00:13:26.70 I think that's seven percentage or one percentage something. 00:13:26.73\00:13:30.18 I'm not sure. I don't remember now. 00:13:30.21\00:13:32.61 But one of things that if you have money in your saving 00:13:32.64\00:13:35.74 or if you have a gold jewelry then you have to weigh 00:13:35.77\00:13:40.24 that jewelry in whatever pound is or jewelry is weight-- 00:13:40.27\00:13:45.85 The pound for gold, yes. 00:13:45.88\00:13:47.02 Then you have to give that money towards to the poor. 00:13:47.05\00:13:49.99 Okay. Okay. 00:13:50.02\00:13:54.22 When you're praying five times a day 00:13:54.25\00:13:58.18 and when you're performing Umrah 00:13:58.21\00:14:03.73 what was going through your mind and your heart. 00:14:03.76\00:14:06.33 Did you feel close to God? 00:14:06.36\00:14:07.98 Did you feel God was hearing you? 00:14:08.01\00:14:10.23 What was your relationship to God? 00:14:10.26\00:14:13.54 Oh, you know what, 00:14:13.57\00:14:14.60 I remember I used to perform all those things. 00:14:14.63\00:14:17.21 You know, praying namaz five times a day. 00:14:17.24\00:14:19.35 Fasting for the month of Ramadan, 00:14:19.38\00:14:21.15 but I never felt I'm getting close to God. 00:14:21.18\00:14:23.90 I always thought I'm just doing works 00:14:23.93\00:14:26.44 that this is my responsibility 00:14:26.47\00:14:28.18 I need to do everyday regardless 00:14:28.21\00:14:30.50 if you're accepting my prayers or not. 00:14:30.53\00:14:33.41 So for me, okay I was like okay, I'm praying namaz. 00:14:33.44\00:14:37.99 I'm not even sure my God accepted my prayers or not. 00:14:38.02\00:14:41.61 Because it was amazing to me that, you know, 00:14:41.64\00:14:44.23 lot of a time you forget things what we have to do. 00:14:44.26\00:14:48.02 Sooner we're ready to pray namaz, 00:14:48.05\00:14:50.02 everything starts coming in my mind. 00:14:50.05\00:14:52.44 And I remember, you know, 00:14:52.47\00:14:54.41 namaz should be focusing towards God. 00:14:54.44\00:14:56.96 But instead of focus towards God I'm focusing things I forget. 00:14:56.99\00:15:01.27 So I never felt close to my God, close to God. 00:15:01.30\00:15:04.36 I always told that ritual stuff that my parents told me 00:15:04.39\00:15:08.41 that I have to do to earn my heaven. 00:15:08.44\00:15:11.43 Yeah, okay so. 00:15:11.46\00:15:13.42 You're more concerned with are you doing the right things 00:15:13.45\00:15:17.93 to earn your way to heaven 00:15:17.96\00:15:19.55 and focusing on that than really being able 00:15:19.58\00:15:23.08 to form this relationship, this personal relationship. 00:15:23.11\00:15:27.67 I never further have relationship with God. 00:15:27.70\00:15:30.33 I was thought I have to do things to make sure, 00:15:30.36\00:15:33.27 you know, you always put it on a skill level. 00:15:33.30\00:15:36.60 If you do good deeds, 00:15:36.63\00:15:37.82 your skills are going to be higher. 00:15:37.85\00:15:39.21 If you do bad deeds your skills going to be higher. 00:15:39.24\00:15:41.72 So always, you know, for me that I better do it those things 00:15:41.75\00:15:47.35 because I want to make sure I can go to heaven. 00:15:47.38\00:15:50.14 So it was just like I was hoping that God is merciful 00:15:50.17\00:15:54.48 and hopefully, He is merciful. 00:15:54.51\00:15:56.65 He is going to let me go to heaven. 00:15:56.68\00:15:57.91 Otherwise I will be big time trouble. 00:15:57.94\00:16:00.16 So never had an assurance that God accepted your prayers. 00:16:00.19\00:16:06.63 No, never. 00:16:06.66\00:16:07.83 I mean a lot of times they say when you're ready to pray namaz 00:16:07.86\00:16:10.22 you're focusing towards God, 00:16:10.25\00:16:11.66 but my gosh Every time I'm ready to pray namaz 00:16:11.69\00:16:15.56 my mind is some place else beside focusing to God. 00:16:15.59\00:16:18.95 So I know that same time, man, I am done praying namaz. 00:16:18.98\00:16:22.30 Now I'm not even, I was some place else. 00:16:22.33\00:16:25.80 Not even focusing my God. 00:16:25.83\00:16:27.21 I'm not sure He accept my prayers or not. 00:16:27.24\00:16:30.11 But I thought, you know, He is merciful. 00:16:30.14\00:16:32.31 Hopefully He'll accept my prayers. 00:16:32.34\00:16:35.67 So there was no relationship. 00:16:35.70\00:16:37.42 It's just, one of those things works 00:16:37.45\00:16:39.87 that we have to do to earn heaven. 00:16:39.90\00:16:42.66 Okay, so when you moved to Pakistan 00:16:42.69\00:16:44.86 did you miss Saudi Arabia? 00:16:44.89\00:16:47.63 Yes, because I was born there. 00:16:47.66\00:16:49.15 Right, It's your home. That was my home town. 00:16:49.18\00:16:51.00 And I miss their living style 00:16:51.03\00:16:54.26 that I used to be in Saudi Arabia. 00:16:54.29\00:16:56.38 And, you know, what's for me so easy to go to holy cities 00:16:56.41\00:17:00.94 because you know I used to go a lot. 00:17:00.97\00:17:03.47 And was not only that to go holy city. 00:17:03.50\00:17:06.13 I missed that much. 00:17:06.16\00:17:08.11 I missed the time with my parents 00:17:08.14\00:17:10.61 because it used to take us at least a day 00:17:10.64\00:17:15.02 to get to the holy city, 00:17:15.05\00:17:16.84 and we used to drive down there with as a whole family. 00:17:16.87\00:17:20.52 So that's the part I miss. 00:17:20.55\00:17:22.09 Because it was for us like a one day picnic thing, 00:17:22.12\00:17:25.07 my mom cooking dinner, cooking food, making sandwiches 00:17:25.11\00:17:28.72 to taking to us to go down to holy cities. 00:17:28.75\00:17:33.50 That's the part I miss. 00:17:33.53\00:17:34.90 I mean other than that I don't miss anything else. 00:17:34.93\00:17:36.99 I can see that in your eyes when you talk about 00:17:37.02\00:17:39.71 those times your eyes light up. 00:17:39.74\00:17:43.71 How is your prayer life different today? 00:17:43.74\00:17:47.16 Oh, my, when I accept Christ I find out 00:17:47.19\00:17:50.30 that I don't have to pray certain times. 00:17:50.33\00:17:54.47 Because in Islam everything has to do certain timing. 00:17:54.50\00:17:58.36 And you have to focus 00:17:58.39\00:17:59.79 and then you have to do on one direction. 00:17:59.82\00:18:02.80 Now I'm believer I can pray any time. 00:18:02.83\00:18:06.16 It's not necessary that I have to be in certain place to pray 00:18:06.19\00:18:10.01 or I have to be in different direction. 00:18:10.04\00:18:12.61 I can be laying down. I can pray. 00:18:12.64\00:18:15.71 I can be watching TV. I can pray at that time. 00:18:15.74\00:18:19.07 You know, sitting on the couch or on the computer. 00:18:19.10\00:18:23.65 Now it's amazing that my prayers, 00:18:23.68\00:18:26.36 I'm praying more often now then I was Muslim. 00:18:26.39\00:18:29.02 Because when you're Muslim you can do certain prayers, 00:18:29.05\00:18:31.69 at certain timings. 00:18:31.72\00:18:33.10 And that was it and you have to do certain direction. Right. 00:18:33.13\00:18:36.37 Facing east, facing Mecca. Facing east. 00:18:36.40\00:18:38.74 We always have to face Mecca when we pray. 00:18:38.77\00:18:41.70 So now you just pray when you're driving, 00:18:41.73\00:18:45.25 pray when you're sitting, pray when you're working. 00:18:45.28\00:18:47.77 And you believe God hears you. 00:18:47.80\00:18:50.00 Yes, because now I have a relationship with Him. 00:18:50.03\00:18:52.46 Because that time I was doing just that I'm not sure 00:18:52.49\00:18:56.48 I have a relationship or not. 00:18:56.51\00:18:57.61 Because that was a stuff I thought that those thing 00:18:57.64\00:19:00.82 you have to do earn to heaven. 00:19:00.85\00:19:03.35 Now I don't have to earn to heaven 00:19:03.38\00:19:05.47 because He came on to us and die for our sins. 00:19:05.50\00:19:10.35 So we can have relationship with him. 00:19:10.38\00:19:12.73 Because he came as a human being 00:19:12.76\00:19:15.02 because he know that we're in work doing enough 00:19:15.05\00:19:16.77 to be in heaven with him. 00:19:16.80\00:19:18.80 And you know, his heaven's a pure place. 00:19:18.83\00:19:22.26 But as a human being do sense regardless where we are at. 00:19:22.29\00:19:26.76 So God knows that we're not worthy 00:19:26.79\00:19:30.70 and we are not good enough to go to heaven. 00:19:30.73\00:19:32.70 So he came to earth to die for our sins. 00:19:32.73\00:19:35.45 So I don't have, now I don't have to worry 00:19:35.48\00:19:37.93 that how I'm going to go to heaven. 00:19:37.96\00:19:39.76 That part is over done. He already paid price for us. 00:19:39.79\00:19:43.88 Only thing we need to worry now what he did for us 00:19:43.91\00:19:46.69 so I can tell good news to others. 00:19:46.72\00:19:48.99 And that's what you're doing today. 00:19:49.02\00:19:51.66 You know, how did you come to Christ? 00:19:51.69\00:19:53.98 how did you come to know Christ? 00:19:54.01\00:19:56.20 Oh, it was a long journey for me. 00:19:56.23\00:19:58.04 When I came and when I almost start struggling that, 00:19:58.07\00:20:02.23 you know, that I'm doing all those good deeds good stuff 00:20:02.26\00:20:06.20 I really don't know God accepting my prayers, 00:20:06.23\00:20:09.16 accepting my good deeds, 00:20:09.19\00:20:11.13 because you still have to depend on Him 00:20:11.16\00:20:13.55 then He is merciful. 00:20:13.58\00:20:15.72 I was restless, I couldn't go to sleep 00:20:15.75\00:20:19.78 and I cannot understand everything 00:20:19.81\00:20:22.01 but my friends they were Christians. 00:20:22.04\00:20:25.53 This is in Pakistan. 00:20:25.56\00:20:26.85 No, that wasn't Pakistan, 00:20:26.88\00:20:28.17 I went to America for the education. 00:20:28.20\00:20:30.83 Oh, that's right. 00:20:30.86\00:20:32.02 You said that your father sent to be educated in America. 00:20:32.05\00:20:36.15 Yes, I came to America. 00:20:36.18\00:20:37.78 When I came to America was amazing thing 00:20:37.81\00:20:40.09 that I find out about the Christianity. 00:20:40.12\00:20:43.02 Because in Pakistan or Saudi Arabia 00:20:43.05\00:20:45.64 what they say about Christianity was totally different. 00:20:45.67\00:20:48.73 You know, you heard a lot of things that Christian do 00:20:48.76\00:20:51.28 all the sinful things because God die. 00:20:51.31\00:20:54.05 You know, Christian believed that he died for our sins. 00:20:54.08\00:20:56.97 Now they can do as many sins. 00:20:57.00\00:20:58.75 And I find out it's totally wrong. 00:20:58.78\00:21:00.81 He didn't said, you know, yeah he died for our sins, 00:21:00.84\00:21:03.65 but we should follow what he did for us. 00:21:03.68\00:21:05.67 So we can tell other people about him. 00:21:05.70\00:21:08.25 So my journey was long journey 00:21:08.28\00:21:10.22 and I always start questioning myself. 00:21:10.25\00:21:12.97 I started asking God who you really are? 00:21:13.00\00:21:15.87 Show me? Tell me? 00:21:15.90\00:21:18.06 And I used to ask my friends, tell me, give me the answer? 00:21:18.09\00:21:22.34 And there was amazing people. They never judged me. 00:21:22.37\00:21:25.95 They never point to me that you need to blame him 00:21:25.98\00:21:28.50 otherwise you will go to hell. 00:21:28.53\00:21:30.13 You know, they always showed me the love. 00:21:30.16\00:21:32.28 The love I never got it from any place else. 00:21:32.31\00:21:35.58 And I won friends. 00:21:35.61\00:21:37.12 He really gave me this example. 00:21:37.15\00:21:39.70 He said look, he said listen I want to tell you one thing. 00:21:39.73\00:21:44.65 That he said if you have a son, and if he did the crime, 00:21:44.68\00:21:49.51 a crime is he murdered somebody 00:21:49.54\00:21:52.12 and during in front of judge, judge will give you two options. 00:21:52.15\00:21:55.97 Either let your son get the death penalty 00:21:56.00\00:21:58.89 or you take his blame and let you, 00:21:58.92\00:22:02.52 let your son go free and you die for your son. 00:22:02.55\00:22:06.72 You know, I say, you know what, you love your kids so much. 00:22:06.75\00:22:10.07 You do everything for them. 00:22:10.10\00:22:11.78 Christ did exactly same thing for us. 00:22:11.81\00:22:14.68 He loved us so much. 00:22:14.71\00:22:16.35 He came to this earth because he knew we are not worthy. 00:22:16.38\00:22:19.25 We're not good enough. So he died for our sins. 00:22:19.28\00:22:22.20 Because he wanted to be have relationship with us. 00:22:22.23\00:22:24.28 So we can be in heaven with him forever. 00:22:24.31\00:22:26.60 Yeah, I like that. I like your analogy there. 00:22:26.63\00:22:30.52 Does your family know you're Muslim? 00:22:30.55\00:22:33.15 Yes, my family found out 00:22:33.18\00:22:36.38 few months ago that I am a Muslim. 00:22:36.41\00:22:38.97 It took me almost four years to let them know 00:22:39.00\00:22:43.36 that I'm a believer now. 00:22:43.39\00:22:46.49 And at first they were really upset. 00:22:46.52\00:22:49.09 I understand they were heartbroken, 00:22:49.12\00:22:51.03 I totally agree what they were saying. 00:22:51.06\00:22:53.55 Now they see the differences I have in my life. 00:22:53.58\00:22:57.14 I'm a new person. I am more respect to them. 00:22:57.17\00:23:00.27 I'm loving. I'm caring. 00:23:00.30\00:23:02.34 I do everything, you know, obey my parents. 00:23:02.37\00:23:05.31 And now they've start seeing difference 00:23:05.34\00:23:08.00 and now they've started accepting me who I am. 00:23:08.03\00:23:10.58 Okay, what's your favorite Bible verse? 00:23:10.61\00:23:14.25 Oh, the one Bible verse that really got me the most, 00:23:14.28\00:23:17.88 a friend he said you need to read this verse was John 3:16. 00:23:17.91\00:23:22.23 I'm going to read to you. 00:23:22.26\00:23:24.61 It says "For God so loved the world 00:23:24.64\00:23:27.50 that He gave His only begotten Son 00:23:27.53\00:23:31.51 that whoever believes in Him should not perish, 00:23:31.54\00:23:36.63 but him everlasting life." 00:23:36.66\00:23:38.73 It's amazing, you know, they told me regardless 00:23:38.76\00:23:41.59 what kind of sense you did if you just believe in him, 00:23:41.62\00:23:44.56 he will forgive all your sins. 00:23:44.59\00:23:46.50 And, you know, he died for us. 00:23:46.53\00:23:49.11 I mean who is going to do that. 00:23:49.14\00:23:50.80 Our Lord he came and he died for us 00:23:50.83\00:23:53.76 because he loved us so much. 00:23:53.79\00:23:55.36 So that's my favorite verse when he gave it to me. 00:23:55.39\00:23:58.08 He showed to me. 00:23:58.11\00:23:59.14 I say guess what, you got me now. 00:23:59.17\00:24:02.64 So John 3:16 touched you heart. 00:24:02.67\00:24:05.34 Touched my heart, yes. 00:24:05.37\00:24:06.40 And that's when you started studying more 00:24:06.43\00:24:09.63 and come to the God of Abraham. Yes. 00:24:09.66\00:24:13.48 This is the God of Abraham. Yes. 00:24:13.51\00:24:15.91 If you have, if you could say something 00:24:15.94\00:24:18.74 to our brothers and sisters, 00:24:18.77\00:24:21.33 okay, one thing you can say to them 00:24:21.36\00:24:23.42 what would you like to say? 00:24:23.45\00:24:24.85 I just want to tell my brothers and sisters that, 00:24:24.88\00:24:27.55 you know, we're living in Muslim world, 00:24:27.58\00:24:31.17 Muslim countries where we don't have access 00:24:31.20\00:24:34.23 for too many things. 00:24:34.26\00:24:35.80 One thing that we have to do all the ritual stuff, 00:24:35.83\00:24:40.06 that we make sure do this thing, do this thing. 00:24:40.09\00:24:42.48 To pray namaz, do fasting. 00:24:42.51\00:24:46.84 And we do all those things. 00:24:46.87\00:24:49.17 You know, it makes us just, 00:24:49.20\00:24:50.80 you know, I just want to let my brothers and sisters 00:24:50.83\00:24:54.03 know it's not worthy. 00:24:54.06\00:24:55.58 Regardless how good you are, 00:24:55.61\00:24:57.51 how much you do all the good deeds 00:24:57.54\00:24:59.46 you still don't know He accepting your prayers 00:24:59.49\00:25:03.89 or accepting your fasting. 00:25:03.92\00:25:05.82 But it just amazed that our God, our savior, he died for us. 00:25:05.85\00:25:11.22 And he told us you don't have to worry now 00:25:11.25\00:25:13.72 how you going to go to heaven. 00:25:13.75\00:25:15.26 Only thing you need to worry to tell other people good news. 00:25:15.29\00:25:18.40 And I just to other my brother and sister know, 00:25:18.43\00:25:20.54 you know what, you need to get 00:25:20.57\00:25:21.60 on those words and read closely. 00:25:21.63\00:25:23.85 So hopefully you'll accept Christ. 00:25:23.88\00:25:26.15 Well, thank you so much, Abdul. 00:25:26.18\00:25:28.72 I'm so thrilled that you're here with us 00:25:28.75\00:25:30.92 and what you did today was telling 00:25:30.95\00:25:33.53 your brothers and sisters, my brothers and sisters-- 00:25:33.56\00:25:36.42 Thank you sister to let me come and let me shared my journey 00:25:36.45\00:25:40.06 with other brothers and sisters. Thank you. 00:25:40.09\00:25:44.62 When you get to the Descendants of Abraham, 00:25:44.65\00:25:47.82 you can be sure that you're lighting the way 00:25:47.85\00:25:50.08 for all in search of the Creator God 00:25:50.11\00:25:52.90 and His message of love and forgiveness to all nations. 00:25:52.93\00:25:56.34 Thank you for your support and for your prayers. 00:25:56.37\00:26:00.04 All contributions are tax deductible. 00:26:00.07\00:26:02.59 Please visit us online today at www.descendantsofabraham.org 00:26:02.62\00:26:08.09 or write to us at the address you see listed on your screen. 00:26:08.12\00:26:11.48 All correspondence will be kept confidential. 00:26:11.51\00:26:14.26 You know, we read in Injil, the holy book of God, 00:26:15.97\00:26:21.28 that He says whoever denies me 00:26:21.31\00:26:28.45 I will deny them in front of the father. 00:26:28.48\00:26:33.60 But whoever, whoever talks about me 00:26:33.63\00:26:38.36 I will bring them to the father. 00:26:38.39\00:26:41.33 And the scripture says, he who loves father or mother 00:26:41.36\00:26:46.17 more than me is not worthy of me 00:26:46.20\00:26:49.58 and he who loves son or daughter more than me 00:26:49.61\00:26:54.03 is not worthy of me. 00:26:54.06\00:26:57.32 Today you heard the story of Abdul Saeed, 00:26:57.35\00:27:02.40 and what he did today the story he told today 00:27:02.43\00:27:07.67 I would like to say, Abdul, you are worthy of him. 00:27:07.70\00:27:13.01 You have given up a lot for him 00:27:13.04\00:27:15.55 and I would like to thank you for taking a stand for God, 00:27:15.58\00:27:20.42 for our Lord and showing yourself 00:27:20.45\00:27:22.46 worthy of his sacrifice. 00:27:22.49\00:27:25.07 God bless you. Thank you. 00:27:25.10\00:27:27.53 Join us again next week as we continue to search 00:27:27.56\00:27:31.56 for the truth of the God of Abraham. 00:27:31.59\00:27:35.50