The patient lay as rigid as a board, eyes closed and fists clenched. His brother Ahmed sat close by, his hand resting on the gurney as they waited in the emergency room.

In the same room, Fouad, a new follower of Christ, sat with his niece who was waiting to be treated for an acute ear infection.

Ahmed broke the silence and turned to Fouad. “He’s been like this for days,” he said. “I should call the sheikh to read the Qur’an over him,” Ahmed said.

It was common to invite a holy man or sheikh to heal illness—physical, mental, or spiritual—by reciting words from the Qur’an.

“I can pray for him,” Fouad offered. He had never prayed for anyone’s healing, but he had read about it in the Gospels during his weekly meetings with Martin, a Frontiers worker.

IT IS COMMON FOR A MUSLIM HOLY MAN TO RECITE WORDS FROM THE QUR’AN TO HEAL THE SICK.

Fouad placed his hands on the patient’s head and began to pray quietly, to avoid drawing anyone else’s attention. If the religious police found out that Fouad was following the ways of Jesus Christ, they’d likely arrest him.

“Jesus Messiah, as You have done to others, heal this man, too,” Fouad prayed. It was a simple and unadorned prayer, just like most of the healings he and Martin had read about in the Word. As he prayed, Ahmed’s brother relaxed and his eyes opened.

Ahmed stood in silent shock over the healing he had just seen. His face was full of questions. After all, those who have spiritual power are usually old and bearded and wear the distinctive clothes of a holy man. They also charge money for their services.

A doctor arrived to examine Ahmed’s brother and Fouad moved away to give him space.

“There is nothing physically wrong with your brother,” the doctor said to Ahmed. “But I recommend that you take him to see a psychiatrist anyway.”

“But that man,” Ahmed exclaimed, pointing at Fouad, “prayed over him, and now he is better!”

FOUAD’S PRAYER OF HEALING WAS SIMPLE—JUST LIKE THE HEALING HE WAS READING ABOUT IN THE GOSPELS.

The doctor shrugged and said, “Yes, reciting from the Qur’an is good. But you should probably take him to see a psychiatrist anyway.”

Martin rejoiced with Fouad over the way he trusted in Christ’s ability to heal the man in the emergency room. But how could Fouad have pointed Ahmed to Christ, while still being subtle enough to avoid drawing attention from the religious police? They prayed together for wisdom in acknowledging Christ before all men (Matthew 10:32).

“I am greatly encouraged by Fouad’s simple trust in Jesus,” Martin says. “Fouad only has a grade school education, but I believe God is going to use him to influence others. It is just like our God, to use those who seem of little account to shame the wise.”

But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong. (1 Corinthians 1: 27)

• Ask God to continue blessing Fouad with increasing faith and boldness. Pray that many Muslims around him would discover Jesus Christ the Healer.
• God delights to use us, His obedient children, to bless those who do not yet know Christ. Together let’s pray, “Lord, what can I offer You today, for Your purposes?”