Yusuf grew up in Wales in a devout Catholic family. From a young age, he was filled with existential questions for which he found no answers. He vividly remembers that day in church when he was not yet ten years old, looking at a picture of Christ carrying the cross and asking Father Joe: "What exactly is happening in these pictures on the wall?"
The priest responded with a wagging finger and a mocking laugh, then walked away. That moment symbolized his religious environment: a place where questions were unwelcome, where he was labeled "troublesome" whenever he tried to understand his faith more deeply.
## Teenage Rebellion and Existential Void
In his teenage years, Yusuf decided to leave the church. He refused to confirm his baptism, telling his parents: "I don't agree, because I still don't know anything about religion." He classified himself as agnostic—believing in something but not knowing what it was—and plunged into the world of extreme sports in search of meaning.
He was successful athletically, achieving titles and material gains, but inside him was a tremendous void. "I was completely lost. Life can't just be about football, drinking, and a job you hate."
## The Fateful Accident on the Slopes
On an ominous day while skiing in Bulgaria with friends, he found an area with exciting natural jumps. He decided to attempt one at maximum speed. What he didn't know was that someone else had landed in the exact same spot just before him.
"I screamed 'Oh no!' and tried to get rid of my skis, but there wasn't enough time."
His right leg slammed into the ski and shattered severely. At two thousand meters above sea level, he was helpless, waiting 45 agonizing minutes for the rescue helicopter. They gave him laughing gas to bear the pain, but the suffering was intense.
## Existential Crisis on the Rescue Stretcher
As eight men carried him through the deep snow, he began to break down. "I started crying and asking: What's the point of all this? Why do I go through all these trials? One trial after another!"
The doctor told him he needed specialized surgery, and the best place for it was Istanbul. And so he found himself in Turkey, recovering from his deep wounds—both physical and psychological.
## The Turning Point: An Unintended Prophecy
Before his father's departure, something strange happened. "It was as if someone else took my tongue and used it." He heard himself saying to his father: "Maybe I'll visit a mosque... and maybe I'll become a Muslim!"
He had never thought about Islam before. The words came out as if they were a self-fulfilling prophecy, said in a sarcastic tone as if it were a joke that would never come true.
## Restless Nights and Sincere Supplication
Yusuf stayed in Istanbul alone, with little money, no friends, and unaware why he insisted on staying. One lonely night, he raised his hands in supplication: "Oh God, please show me why I feel I must stay here."
Days later, he decided to go out to see an Ottoman bow, being an archery enthusiast. He got lost on the way, walked a long distance until his feet suddenly stopped... in front of the massive gate of a mosque.
## The Fateful Encounter at the Blue Mosque
He entered the mosque without thinking, drawn by its architectural beauty. After a period of contemplation, he decided to pray in the only way he knew—the Christian way of prayer. He placed his hands and raised his eyes toward the dome:
"I don't know how to call You, and I don't know how to pray to You. I don't know why I'm in a mosque or why I'm in Istanbul. Please, help me."
## The Heavenly Message Through a Mysterious Girl
After fifteen minutes, a girl approached him and asked: "Do you want to learn about Islam?" In his mind, the answer was clear: "Perhaps this is what I was praying for."
They sat for hours. His leg was hurting but he endured. She answered all his questions with honesty and clarity, without reservation or prohibition. "It was a completely different experience from what I went through in church. There, I was of their religion and they didn't answer my questions. Here, I'm not a Muslim and they answer everything."
## The Shahada and Transformation
The girl explained to him the pillars of faith. He agreed with everything: the oneness of God, the angels, the messengers, the heavenly books, divine decree, and the hereafter. Then she said the fateful words: "If you agree with these things, you're already a Muslim. You just need to pronounce the two testimonies of faith."
He said them: "I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah."
It was the girl who gave him the name "Yusuf"—the Arabic translation of Joseph. He was surrounded by Muslim brothers, some looking like strong Chechen warriors, but they all welcomed him warmly.
## Lessons of New Life
Yusuf learned that Islam isn't about immediate perfection. "Don't wait until you become perfect to embrace Islam, because humans by nature make mistakes." He also realized that Islam doesn't erase his Welsh identity. "You can keep your culture. I saw during Hajj people from all cultures, we agree on the fundamental principles but retain our beautiful cultures."
## Miracles of Sustenance and Faith
Yusuf lived small miracles that strengthened his faith. One day, he spent the last of his money feeding hungry cats with their kittens. The next day, a friend offered him money that he desperately needed. "This is our Zakat, and it's for you without any obligation to repay." Yusuf understood that God provides for those who truly rely on Him.
## A Message to the West
Today, Yusuf looks at prejudice against Islam in the West with the eye of an expert. "Islam has been subjected to a massive propaganda campaign. If people believe Muslims are 'less civilized,' destroying their countries becomes more acceptable."
His advice is simple and powerful: "Don't believe everything you see in the media. We were born with minds to think—so use your mind. Research for yourself, discover the truth for yourself, and be brave enough to form your own opinion."
From that troublesome boy expelled from church for his questions, to the shattered skier on the mountaintop, to Yusuf the Muslim who found final peace in the vastness of Islam—a journey proving that guidance may come from where we least expect it, and that sincere questions always lead to true answers.
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