9/18/2024 Somaliland (International Christian Concern) — Although Hamza’s journey out of Islam caused his friends and family to reject him, he soon found peace in Christ and a new community. 

Born and raised in Somaliland, an autonomous region in northern Somalia that declared independence from Somalia in 1991, Hamza grew up engrossed in rigid Islamic teachings and with a fearful reverence for the Quran. He recently shared his testimony with International Christian Concern (ICC) of how he emerged from his strict Islamic upbringing to boldly proclaim Jesus as his Lord and Savior in the face of persecution.

“My journey began in Somaliland, a land where tradition and faith are completely woven into daily life. From a young age, I was immersed in the demanding discipline of an Islamic education. At the Islamic school I attended, memorizing the Quran wasn’t just encouraged, it was the cornerstone of my upbringing. Mistakes in recitation were met with stern consequences, reflecting the deep respect with which the Quran was treated. Throughout those years, my education was grounded in an Arabic curriculum that reinforced my understanding of Sharia, Islamic law, and the life of Prophet Muhammad. I was surrounded by an environment that explicitly dismissed other religions as false, shaping my childhood with a strong sense of religious certainty. 

However, my life took a transformative turn when I moved to Ethiopia for high school. This new chapter exposed me to a diverse community of both Muslims and Christians. It was in this environment that I encountered a profound spiritual awakening after interacting with Christians for the first time and had my first Christian teachers. During this time, I experienced an unexpected and transformative encounter with Jesus. Despite having a mosque on campus for daily prayers, my commitment to Islam began to wane. During this period of confusion, I engaged with atheists online and subsequently connected with a Somali Christian woman on Facebook. Her genuine faith, driven by a search for peace and clarity beyond what Islam offered, began to challenge my long-held beliefs. The contrast between the two faiths became starkly apparent. Islam’s promise of a potentially rewarding afterlife stood in contrast to Christianity’s assurance of redemption and eternal life through Jesus Christ. 

In 2017, as I approached the end of my 11th grade, I fully embraced Christianity. With the support of Amir, a Christian mentor introduced to me by the Somali woman, I delved deeply into the gospel and sought forgiveness for my sins. Pastor Daniel, whom Amir connected me with, provided crucial guidance and performed my baptism, marking a significant milestone in my spiritual journey. Pastor Daniel said some powerful words to me before the baptism, ‘Your debt and sin have already been taken away. Today, all your previous life is gone. When I immerse you into the water, you die with your sins; when I raise you out, you are resurrected in Christ as a new creation.’ That’s when I faced a stark realization: while Islam had been a religion, Christianity represented a deeply personal faith. 

Embracing my new faith, however, brought severe challenges. When I went back to Somaliland in 2021, the arrest of Pastor Daniel and other church leaders prompted me to flee back to Ethiopia for safety. During this time, my family learned of my faith, which I had previously kept concealed to avoid persecution. I later returned to Somaliland in 2022 and confronted my family. Although they did not report me to the authorities, they expelled me from our home. Readmitting into society proved difficult; many employers and friends rejected me upon discovering my Christian faith. Despite these hardships, I found solace in my newfound faith. The knowledge that I am a beloved child of God, redeemed through Jesus’s sacrifice, has given me a deep sense of peace and resilience amidst adversity.” 

*Names have been changed for security reasons 

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