the encounter

In recent years I’ve become more and more of a pacifist and a much stronger voice for non-violence. I know in many circles that’s often scoffed at. I’m OK with that, its not the most popular stance a person can take.

But then I read Eugene Cho’s blog post today about Fatima bint Mohamed bin Uthman Al-Mutairi.

Fatima was a 26-year-old Saudi woman who was killed by her own brother in August 2008 simply because she followed Jesus Christ.

Eugene shared Fatima’s story as a parallel to the life of Paul – who was vilified, imprisoned and hated because he was a “traitor to his people, the Jews.”

Eugene writes ::

I don’t have much information about her story. Couple sources cite that Fatima was a member of a major Bedouin tribe (Al-Mutair) and she resided at “what is arguably the most religiously zealous town in all of Saudia Arabia, Buraydah.

Her fellowship with other believers “appears to have been limited to Internet forums”. She composed her amazing poem (translated into English) before her martyrdom and it has deeply resonated with me ever since I heard of her death last year. Fatima was burned alive after having her tongue cut by her brother. In her last letter (on an internet forum) before her death, after being locked in her room for 4 hours by her brother, she cited these words from Psalm 27:1 -

“The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear?”

Here is Fatima’s poem:

?? ???? ?????? ?? ??????
And enlighten your hearts that you might love others
? ???? ?????? ? ?????? ?????????
The forum does not revile the Master of the prophets
??????? ?? ???? ???? ????????
It is for the display of truth, and for you it was revealed
?? ?????? ??????? ? ?????? ????
This is the truth which you do not know
??? ??????? ???? ???? ???? ??????
What we profess are the words of the Master of the prophets
? ?? ????? ?? ?? ???? ??? ????????
We do not worship the cross, and we are not possessed
? ???? ?? ???? ??????? ? ???? ????????
We worship the Lord Jesus, the Light of the worlds
???? ???? ???? ???? ??? ????????
We left Mohammed, and we do not follow in his path
???? ?????? ? ????? ???? ??????
We followed Jesus Christ, the Clear Truth
? ?????? ???? ?????? ???? ??????
Truly, we love our homeland, and we are not traitors
? ??????? ??? ??? ?????? ? ???? ??????
We take pride that we are Saudi citizens
? ????? ?????? ??? ??????? ???????
How could we betray our homeland, our dear people?
??? ???? ????? ? ????? ?????????
How could we, when for death—for Saudi Arabia— we stand ready?
??? ? ???? ????? ???????? ?????????
The homeland of my grandfathers, their glories, and odes—for it I am writing
???? ?????? ? ?????? ? ?????? ??? ??????
And we say, “We are proud, proud, proud to be Saudis”
? ???? ??? ??? ??? ???? ???????
We chose our way, the way of the rightly guided
???? ?????? ?????? ???? ????????
And every man is free to choose any religion
? ?? ????? ?? ?????? ?? ???
Be content to leave us to ourselves to be believers in Jesus
????? ??????? ?????? ? ????? ??????
Let us live in grace before our time comes
????? ????? ?? ?????? ??? ?????? ????
There are tears on my cheek, and Oh! the heart is sad
????? ??? ??? ???? ? ????? ????
To those who become Christians, how you are so cruel!
??? ??? ?????????? ?? ??? ???? ?????
And the Messiah says, “Blessed are the Persecuted”
? ?????? ???? ???? ??? ?????????
And we for the sake of Christ all things bear
? ??? ???? ?????? ??? ?? ???????
What is it to you that we are infidels?
?? ?? ?? ????? ???? ??????
You do not enter our graves, as if with us buried
???? ???????? ?????? ? ???? ???????
Enough—your swords do not concern me, not evil nor disgrace
???? ?? ????? ?????? ? ?? ???
Your threats do not trouble me, and we are not afraid
? ?? ????? ??????? ? ?? ??? ??????
And by God, I am unto death a Christian—Verily
????? ??? ????? ?????? ? ?? ???
I cry for what passed by, of a sad life
???? ??? ?? ??? ?? ??? ????
I was far from the Lord Jesus for many years
??? ????? ?? ???? ???? ??? ????
Oh History record! and bear witness, Oh Witnesses!
? ??? ?? ????? ? ?????? ?? ??????
We are Christians— in the path of Christ we tread
???? ??????? ???? ?????? ?????
Take from me this word, and note it well
? ???? ??? ?????? ? ?????? ???
You see, Jesus is my Lord, and He is the Best of protectors
??? ???? ??? ?? ???? ????????
I advise you to pity yourself, to clap your hands in mourning
????? ???? ???? ? ???? ?????
See your look of ugly hatred
? ???? ???? ?? ????? ??? ?? ????
Man is brother to man, Oh learned ones
??????? ??? ????? ?? ???????!!!
Where is the humanity, the love, and where are you?
??? ????????? ? ?????? ? ???? ???
As to my last words, I pray to the Lord of the worlds
? ??? ????? ???? ??? ????????
Jesus the Messiah, the Light of Clear Guidance
???? ?????? ??? ??????? ??????
That He change notions, and set the scales of justice aright
???? ???????? ? ???? ????????
And that He spread Love among you, Oh Muslims

–

So I’ve changed my mind about non-violence.

I’ve decided its no longer a questionable issue for me. It’s an absolute for me as a Follower of Jesus.

If it’s good enough for Fatima, Paul, Martin Luther King Jr., Balthasar Hübmaier and thousands of other disciples and martyrs — it’s good enough for me.

My prayer is that while today my resolve is strong, may my strength and resolve will remain in those moments when my flesh is weakened by the momentary troubles.

Read more about other martyrs of the faith.

Tags: Balthasar Hübmaier, Eugene Cho, Faith, Fatima bint Mohamed bin Uthman Al-Mutairi, love, Martin Luther King Jr, martyrs, non-violence, peace