Surrounded by his new brothers and sisters in faith, Hans, now 89, recited the Shahada (the declaration of faith) in a clear and steady voice, his hand trembling slightly with emotion. A solemn moment that marked the end of a long personal journey and the beginning of a new life.
"I lived through two wars, I saw my country divide and reunite, I knew love, loss, and prosperity. I had time to think. All these years, I searched for a deep meaning, a light to illuminate the path. I have finally found it," he confided after the ceremony, his eyes still moist with tears.
A Quest That Began Twenty Years Ago
For the former engineer, interest in Islam was not born out of a trend or a recent encounter. More than twenty years ago, while traveling in Morocco, he was struck by the fervor of the calls to prayer and the serenity that emanated from the worshippers. "It wasn't exoticism. It was a form of inner discipline, a submission to something greater than oneself, that spoke to me. I returned to Germany with a small German edition of the Quran. I read and reread it, annotated it, compared it."
For two decades, Hans balanced his daily life with this silent quest. He read, studied, and watched documentaries. "I didn't talk about it much. My children are atheists, like many Germans of my generation. For them, religion is often a thing of the past. I respect that. But for me, the void was too great."
The turning point came a year ago, after the death of his wife, Helga, with whom he shared 55 years of marriage. "Her passing left me in immense loneliness. But instead of sinking into despair, I had a jolt. I told myself it was time to stop putting things off until tomorrow. It was time to join this path I had been observing for so long."
A Warm Welcome
Accompanied by a Turkish neighbor with whom he would chat over tea, Hans pushed open the door of the local mosque. "I expected surprised looks, a certain mistrust," recounts Imam Mehmet Kaya. "But when he explained his approach, with such sincerity and humility, we were all deeply moved. His age and his quest for truth command respect."
For several months, Hans had been attending prayers, learning the basics of prayer, and memorizing the first Surahs. His official conversion, last Saturday, brought together about fifty people, including mosque regulars and curious onlookers, who came to show support for this "newcomer" unlike any other.
"Seeing him recite the Shahada in Arabic, after weeks of practice at 89, was incredibly moving," testifies Fatima, a regular at the mosque. "He reminded us all of the strength and beauty of that moment."
"You're Never Too Old to Seek the Truth"
Asked about the challenges ahead, Hans dismisses the difficulties with a wave of his hand. Fasting during Ramadan? "The doctor said I could abstain given my age and health. Spirituality isn't about endangering yourself; it's about drawing closer to God with wisdom." The daily prayers? "It has become a rhythm, an anchor. It structures my days."
His story, shared on the community's social media, quickly sparked reactions from all over Germany. While some question this late-in-life conversion, the vast majority of messages praise his courage and thirst for meaning.
"At 89, most people think about their legacy or their garden," Hans smiles, adjusting his prayer beads. "I chose to start a new life. You're never too old to seek the truth. And I have never been more at peace."
Now, Hans Dieter hopes to be able to perform Umrah, the minor pilgrimage to Mecca, if his health allows. A new chapter begins for this pilgrim of the soul, whose faith has just celebrated its first steps.
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