A Former Muslim’s Encounter with Jesus: Ashfin’s Life-Changing Testimony

An Iranian Muslim’s miraculous encounter with Jesus inside a prison cell.

 

Ashfin’s journey is one of the most powerful Muslim-to-Christian testimonies you will ever read. What began as deep devotion to Islam led him into Hezbollah, imprisonment, spiritual warfare, and a life of zeal—until a supernatural encounter with Jesus Christ changed everything.

From the moment he could walk, Ashfin was groomed for devotion. Growing up in a devout Shiite Muslim family in Iran, he was surrounded by spiritual expectations, religious duty, and the weight of family legacy. His grandfather—a respected Islamic leader—saw something unusual in him and declared Ashfin his spiritual heir.

Even as a boy, he longed for the supernatural. He studied the Koran passionately and dreamed of becoming a missionary—one who would convert “misguided Christians” to Islam. And he was willing to give everything for that mission.

From Devotion to Militancy: Ashfin’s Zeal for Islam

By adulthood, that devotion had hardened into fierce militancy. Ashfin joined Hezbollah’s military ranks and served three intense years. Every step seemed to take him deeper into radicalism … deeper into spiritual darkness … deeper into the belief that his purpose was to fight for God.

When he was arrested while traveling with illegal passports, he believed his mission was only beginning. Imprisonment didn’t break his zeal—it intensified it.

“In prison, instead of praying three times a day, I prayed five. I read the Koran every ten days. People came to me for revenge because when I prayed, their enemies grew sick. I became power hungry.”

The Night Darkness Entered His Cell

One night, alone on the cold floor of his cell, Ashfin knelt in meditation as he had countless times before. But this time, something shifted.

A dark presence filled the room—heavy, suffocating, evil.

“I felt it choking the life out of me,” he recalls. “I commanded it to leave in Allah’s name, but I was dying.”

Desperate and terrified, he cried out words he never imagined he would speak: “God, help me!”

Into that darkness came a voice—gentle, clear, unmistakable: “Call on the name of Jesus.”

Barely able to breathe, with death pressing against him, Ashfin whispered the name he had been taught to oppose: “Jesus … if You are true … show me Yourself.”

The Unexpected Peace That Changed Everything

Instantly, the darkness vanished. Peace—pure, overwhelming, living peace—filled the room.

But even after the peace, Ashfin wrestled with confusion. Why would Jesus help a Muslim? For two weeks, he fasted, prayed, begged Allah for direction—only to be met with silence. Terrified he had committed the unforgivable sin, he finally gave up.

Then light suddenly filled his cell. Overwhelmed by the weight of his sin, he collapsed in tears.

“Allah doesn’t visit humans,” he thought.

But then he felt it—a hand on his shoulder. 

When Jesus Spoke: The Forgiveness Ashfin Never Expected

And a voice spoke the words that broke him open: “I forgive you.”

“Immediately, I knew I was forgiven! In Islam, forgiveness isn’t known until judgment day; not even Mohammed knew his fate. I cried, ‘Who are You?’ The voice answered: ‘I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.’”

Stunned, Ashfin whispered, “But what is Your name?”

And the answer changed everything: “Jesus Christ, the Lord.”

A Calling in the Midst of Darkness

That encounter didn’t end with forgiveness—it came with a calling. Soon after, Jesus showed him a vision of people from every nation, every culture, every generation. He asked: “Who will tell them of My forgiveness?”

Without hesitation, Ashfin said, “Send me.”

There, in a prison cell, the man who once vowed to convert Christians became a follower of Christ—called not to revenge but to forgiveness, not to violence but to love.

A Life Transformed by the Love of Christ

Decades later, his voice still trembles when he recounts the night.

“Islam taught me, ‘Kill in the name of Allah.’ But Jesus said, ‘Love in My way. Forgive in My way.’”

The memory of that moment still brings him to tears. Ashfin knows the truth: no one is beyond the reach of God’s grace.

The Same Jesus Who Meets People Today

Behind bars …

In broken homes …

In quiet fears …

In desperate fears …

Wherever you are, the same Jesus who stepped into that prison cell is willing to step into your life. He is faithful. He is near. And He is calling your name.

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If you’re searching for hope or wondering if Jesus can meet you in your darkest place, we invite you to reach out to our Prayer Center to pray, find encouragement, and explore testimonies of radical life change.