The story of Khalil Mick represents a profound spiritual journey from Baptist Christianity to Islam, a journey spanning 34 years. Born in Dallas, Texas, and raised in a devout Christian family, his intellectual and spiritual search led him to embrace Islam in 1989. Today, he is the founder of the Muslim Legal Fund of America.
## Christian Upbringing
Khalil grew up in a committed religious environment:
- **Family Background**: A devout Christian family that regularly attended church
- **Influential Experience**: At age 6-7, he watched a visual presentation about Hell at church that deeply affected him
- **Early Decision**: He became a convinced Christian from that moment, even inviting his neighbors to church
## University Years and Transformation
### Changes in College Life:
- **Religious Disengagement**: In university, he drifted away from practicing his faith and immersed himself in entertainment
- **Emotional Shock**: His biological mother died in a car accident when he was one and a half years old
- **Financial Inheritance**: At age 18, he received a substantial insurance settlement
### Spiritual Awakening:
In his final year of university:
- **Feeling of Emptiness**: He felt his life lacked meaning despite the entertainment
- **Fateful Decision**: He decided to return to his religious roots and become a Baptist preacher
- **Beginning Evangelism**: He started discussing religion with friends and colleagues, attempting to guide them
## The Fateful Encounter with Islam
### The Muslim Friend:
- **Unexpected Friendship**: He met a Muslim friend in university
- **Intellectual Curiosity**: Asked him about his beliefs after deciding to specialize in Christian preaching
- **First Impression**: Thought his Muslim friend was a "confused Christian" who was almost reaching the truth
### Failed Conversion Attempts:
- **Individual Evangelism**: Tried to convert his Muslim friend to Christianity
- **Wise Response**: The Muslim friend responded calmly and gave him booklets about comparative religion
- **Pivotal Booklet**: Ahmed Deedat's "Is the Bible God's Word?" which changed his thinking trajectory
## Academic Research and Doubts
### Studying Biblical History:
- **Previous Assumption**: Believed the Bible was 100% correct
- **Research Shock**:
- No original manuscripts in Aramaic or Hebrew
- 10,000 copies of the Gospels existed but were not identical
- Books existed that weren't included in the Bible, with differences between Catholic and Protestant versions
### Studying Quranic History:
- **Historical Clarity**: The Quran is preserved in the Prophet Muhammad's language (peace be upon him)
- **Early Documentation**: Written and memorized since the Prophet's time
- **Stark Comparison**: Vast difference in historical reliability between the two books
## The Astonishing Discovery: Prophecies of Muhammad in the Bible
### Studying Biblical Texts:
- **Ahmed Deedat's Booklet**: "Muhammad in the Bible"
- **Discoveries**:
- Texts in the Torah pointing to a prophet from "Paran" (Mecca)
- References to a prophet coming after Moses and Jesus
- Mention of "Ahmad" in Hebrew texts
### Biblical Evidence:
- **Deuteronomy 33:1-3**: "The Lord came from Sinai... and shone forth from Mount Paran"
- **Historical Connection**: Where Ishmael and his mother Hagar were settled in the wilderness of Paran (Mecca)
- **Matching Description**: A prophet coming with ten thousand saints and a fiery law in his hand
## Questions About Jesus' Nature
### Studying Jesus' Statements in the Gospels:
- **Clear Texts**:
- "The Father is greater than I" (John 14:28)
- "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone" (Mark 10:18)
- "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46)
### Intellectual Analysis:
- **Apparent Contradiction**: Between Jesus' statements denying divinity and Christian doctrine
- **Islamic Simplicity**: Jesus is a prophet and messenger, not God
- **Conclusion**: Islamic monotheism is more consistent with Jesus' statements
## The Moment of Conversion
### Visiting the Mosque:
- **Sudden Decision**: Went to the Denton mosque without telling his friend
- **Divine Coincidence**: Found the mosque closed, but someone arrived minutes later
- **Shahada**: Declared the testimony of faith in the presence of Muslims at the mosque
### Wife's Reaction:
- **Shock**: She was expecting to marry a Baptist preacher, not a Muslim
- **Anger and Rejection**: Initially refused and promised not to change her lifestyle
- **Gradual Acceptance**: Began accepting the idea over time
## Post-Conversion Challenges
### Practical Changes:
1. **Riba (Usury)**: Left his financial field because he specialized in interest-based finance
2. **Halal Food**: Stopped eating pork
3. **Gold**: Changed wedding ring from gold to silver
### Muslim Community Support:
- **Warm Welcome**: Treated like a star in the Muslim community
- **Islamic Library**: Benefited from comparative religion sources
- **Family Circles**: Helped his wife understand Islam
## Wife's Conversion to Islam
### Stages:
1. **Curiosity**: Wanted to meet other Muslims
2. **Participation**: Joined women in prayer during study circles
3. **Decision**: Declared her Islam after months
### Family Challenges:
- **Wife's Father**: Boycotted her for 10 years then accepted the situation
- **Her Mother**: Hesitated about the hijab but eventually accepted
- **Reconciliation**: Relationship ended positively with her caring for her father in old age
## Spiritual Experiences After Islam
### Spiritual Feelings:
- **Inner Peace**: A feeling of tranquility he hadn't experienced before
- **Disappearing Barriers**: Relationships with Muslims characterized by openness and depth
- **Spiritual Connection**: Heartfelt bond with believers
### Difference Between Faiths:
- **Islam**: Direct relationship with God without intermediaries
- **Christianity**: Focus on Jesus as mediator
## Lessons Learned
### Regarding Prophet Muhammad's Character (peace be upon him):
- **Practical Role Model**: Dealt with all life's challenges practically
- **Real Heroism**: Changed the world starting from one person in a desert
- **Comprehensiveness**: His teachings cover all aspects of life
### Advice for Those Interested in Islam:
1. **Individual Responsibility**: You'll stand alone before God on Judgment Day
2. **Inner Conviction**: Strong faith overcomes every obstacle
3. **Trust in God**: He is with you every step of the way
4. **Honesty with Self**: Follow what convinces you with open mind and heart
Khalil Mick's story proves that:
- **Genuine Search** leads to truth no matter how long it takes
- **Intellectual Courage** requires abandoning inherited assumptions
- **Islam** is the natural religion harmonizing with mind and heart
- **Spiritual Transformation** is not an event but a continuous journey of growth and faith
Khalil's journey from church to mosque, from Christian preaching to Islamic da'wah, reminds us that truth is the believer's quest, that seeking it with sincerity and dedication must lead to safety, and that guidance is in God's hands—He grants it to whomever He wills among His servants.
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