Tiyamike Mapanga is a young man from Phalombe who had never heard much about Islam before. One day, while he was in the hospital, he heard an IERA outreach specialist speaking on the phone. During the conversation, the outreach specialist greeted someone by saying, “Assalamu Alaikum.” This caught Tiyamike’s attention, and he became curious about what he had heard.
After the phone conversation ended, Tiyamike approached the outreach specialist and asked what he had been speaking about. He also asked if he was a Muslim. The outreach specialist confirmed that he was a Muslim and explained that “Assalamu Alaikum” means “peace be upon you.” He further explained that Islam is a religion of peace, submission to Allah, and good character. Tiyamike listened carefully and became very interested in learning more about Islam.
Although Tiyamike was interested in Islam, he was not ready to take his Shahadah because he was afraid of how his family would react. He feared that they might hate or reject him if they found out that he had become a Muslim. The outreach specialist gave him his phone number and encouraged him to contact him whenever he wanted to learn more or ask questions. After several days, Tiyamike called the outreach specialist and told him that he was ready to take his Shahadah.
Alhamdulillah, after learning more about Islam and becoming confident in his decision, Tiyamike Mapanga took his Shahadah and embraced Islam.
