Brother Lydo Hanke, a 36-year-old man, grew up practicing Christianity. As the years went by, an IERA Da’wah team came to his village and began conducting Da’wah classes. Lydo attended the classes and became an active participant. Whenever he did not understand something, he would ask questions and seek clarification from the outreach specialists.
Through these classes, Lydo began to understand more about Islam and its teachings. He was especially touched by the way Islam teaches people to respect and treat others with kindness. He also noticed how the outreach specialists patiently answered all his questions without becoming tired or frustrated, even when he asked many questions. This encouraged him to learn more about Islam and strengthened his interest in the faith.
As he continued learning, Lydo came to understand what he believed was the correct way to worship God. After becoming convinced about Islam, he made the decision to take his Shahadah and embrace Islam. However, when his family members heard that he had become a Muslim, they were unhappy with his decision. They said hurtful things to him and tried to discourage him from continuing in his new faith. Some members of the community also spoke badly about him.
Despite the pressure and hurtful words from those around him, Lydo remained firm in his faith. He did not allow the rejection and discouragement to weaken his belief. Instead, he continued to hold on to what he had learned and believed. He would tell those who opposed him that, one day, they would understand the decision he had made.
