The Salem Voice
Testemony of
Bro. CINIRAJ MOHAMED
(E-Mail: ciniraj@sancharnet.in)
I was born on 25th
May, 1954 as the fourth child of Janab Kassim
Pillai Labba, a retired headmaster and Fathima Beevi. My house is known as
“Kochera”. It is an ancient, prominent and
orthodox Muslim family at Kalloor, a rural area in Trivandrum, South India.
More than 4000 muslim
families inhabiting in our area and some hindus at suburbs. No Christians at
all. There was not even a single christian in the schools where I was studied.
Our mosque is around
thousand years old. My ancestors spread the religion of Islam in that place and
built the mosque. My ancestoral home is very close to the mosque. The land
revenue and the axillary records of the mosque were kept in my father’s name
well into my boyhood. My ancestors were
entitled to muslim priesthood by heredity. They had the designation as “Labba”
with their names to indicate the priesthood.
In these circumstances, I
was brought up with great regard and love for Islamic teachings and its
practices and of my family. I did my religious education before I started
regular schooling. No bad habits existed in the way of our family life. I even
wrote a book about the Qur’an.
My college education was
held at a christian institution called Mar Ivanios College, which is in Trivandrum city. The vast
majority of my college classmates were christians. I was only muslim in the
class. I had difficulty to mingle with my classmates in the beginning. But
gradually I became close and intimate with them. Actually it led me to evil
associations and wretched habits. I started smoking, began to use drugs and
alcohol, done streaking, being known as rowdy in the city. Damaging reports and
ugly pictures concerning me began to appear in the news papers. As a result my
parents, brothers, sisters and dear ones were greatly disturbed. It seemed I may have to discontinue my
education. If so I wanted to prove I could succeed on my own by going to the
Arabian Gulf even as a stow-away.
By this time I became addicted on drugs and alcohol. My
body began to shiver and I became very tense if I did not use drugs at the
habitual times. I was on the watch-list of the Police. My parents cut off the
money which they were giving me regularly. I had lot of friends, ready for any
adventure, when I had money in my pocket. As a matter of fact my earlier
friends became my sworn enemies in my period of trial. I lost my peace of mind.
It was at this juncture that
some missionary students gathered courage to talk to me. They claimed that
Jesus is the Son of God, who was crucified for the mankind. He rose from the
dead and He is the king of peace. They further claimed that if one believes in
Him and confesses all sins he will become a new person. I could not even
imagine that Prophet Isa (Jesus) is the
son of God or that he was crucified and rose from the dead. In turn exhorted them to reach heaven by believing in
Islam which is the true religion. I had heated arguments with them on many
occasions. They could only find fault with my wretched life, but could not
prevail over my arguments or prove my ideas wrong.
But without losing heart, one
day they brought some leaflets. The
leaflets were based on the Bible which I considered forbidden, for it is
abrogated. Hence I went into a rage. The thought that the advice that I had given them earlier regarding
Islam, had made no impact on them increased my rage. I tored the leaflets into
pieces. With despicable words I threw the pieces into their faces and I gave
warning that I would destroy them if they continue misleading others.
It was a serious matter that
the students of priesthood in cassocks were publicly insulted and persecuted,
specially in the compound of a christian institution. It looked almost certain
that I would be expelled from the college. I could also expect troubles from
any direction. The next day I went to the college armed with weapons, intending
to cause violent incidents. When I entered the class the missionary students
ran to me and embraced with love and joy. They surprised me by expressing
regret for having caused mental distress on me. If the college was run by my
religion and I was in the place of a missionary, surely I would not have let
one, persecutes me, scot free.
In fact, I was touched by
their love, kindness and gentle nature. The Holy Spirit, which reminds us about
sin, righteousness and judgement, began to work upon me.
That night I found a piece
of paper in a text book in my room. On it was written, “The saying is sure and
worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came to the world to save sinners,
for whom I am the foremost” (1Tim 1:15). On the reverse side of the paper was
written, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal
life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 6:23). I did not know those were the verses
from the Bible. But I was overcome with thoughts.
All the sins, the excessions
and violations that I had committed since childhood began to appear before me
as if on a screen. I recognized all my inequities, big and small. Each one of
them transformed into a blister on my body. The blisters burst open and became
sores. The flesh and bones, from where pus began to flow out, became very hot
and began to melt. Worms were competing to get at the marrow of the bones. The
pain was unbearable. The stench could not be described. I was being pulled into
a bottomless pit. There was nobody to save me.
Without realizing I cried
out, “God, save me”.
Then a man, holy and bright,
descended from heaven and touched me. I understood it was Jesus. For a moment I
closed my eyes with a heavenly joy, for His touch cooled my body and mind. When
I opened my eyes all the blisters and sores had disappeared from my body. I am
purified as if washed with a perfumed ointment. But Jesus who came in bright
and spotless was now infected with blisters and sores. Pus and discharges were
flowing out of them. Worms and maggots were roaming freely on his body. It was
like an abominable, foul smelling creature.
Yes! “Surely he has borne
our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by
God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised
for our inequities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with
his stripes we are healed” (Is 53:4-5).
Christ had taken on himself
all my afflictions. I should have been condemned to death for all my sins. But I saw Christ taking on all my sins and
being cruicified in my place for my sake.
Earlier I never believed
that Christ was crucified. I used to
ask how our sins would be washed away by his death, even if he was crucified.
But now I was convinced how and for what Christ died.
“For our sake he made him to
be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of
God” (2 Cor 5:21).
I saw Jesus breaking the
tomb and rising up from the dead. He was more glorious and resplendent in
resurrection than he descended from the clouds.
I fell at his feet crying,
“My Lord and my God”.
I do not know whether this
experience which occurred me in my own house in an area where there are no
christians, is a dream, or a revelation
or a vision. I was not at all believing such kind of matters. But this
experience transformed me into a Christian.
It enabled me to throw away the old man and made me to become a new man.
I receivd joy and peace the like of which I never knew before.
I shared my conversion of mind
and joy at the same night to my parents. Although they listened me, but tried
to dissuade saying this was only a
trick played by Iblis (Satan). But I
was convinced that the loving God has saved me through His only Son and that I
would inherit eternal life. As a result
I had to face torture and threats in my life.
I was baptized in the water as soon as I accepted Him as my
personal Saviour. God Himself anointed
me with the Holy Spirit.
One day I was narrating my
christian experiences to some of my friends near the mosque. Suddenly one of my
cousin brothers named Salim stabbed me with a knife. My lower jaw was split.
Everybody thought that I may die. But God saved me and made me a witness again
at that place. Salim was making arrangements to murder me in another way and
had a plan to convert it into a suicide.
For the same he was buisily making a noose at the top of a tree. But a
whirl wind blew and Salim fell with the branch of the tree. He was near to death. Instinctively I wished
for his death. But Jesus ordered me to love and nurse Salim as He had loved me
when I was His enemy. At my initiative Salim was taken to the hospital and was
in plaster for more than six months. When Salim recovered he accepted Jesus as
his Savior.
The Jama’ath authorities chained me, shaved my head, and
locked me in an underground cellar when yet another person became a
Christian. When I tried to escape acid
was sprayed on me. I was beaten up several times and even lost a few teeth. I
considered these experiences as lucky gains made in the name of Jesus and as
symbal of my spiritual fervour.
The Lord visited a few more
people who caused trouble on me. Most of them led to believe in Jesus. My
parents and siblings who banned me from the entire area is now visiting me, and
are willing to pray with me, though in private. My family and I can now visit
with confidence our ancesteral home and the adjoining muslim neighbourhood as
witnesses to the Gospel. The Living God is helping us in that. My present
address is: Bro. Paul Ciniraj Mohamed, Baseelia, Devalokam, Kottayam,
Kerala-686038, INDIA.
God has given me a deep burden
about those who go astray. Also He empowered me to preach Gospel. By Gods grace
I have already preached before thousands of crowds. Preaching the Word of God,
using the gift of healing, counseling, sharing the testemony are the part of my
preaching ministry.
While many who take pride in
calling themselves christians look upon gospel work with contempt, I consider
it only God’s grace that I look upon proclaiming the Gospel as a great honour.
My life’s goal and ambition is to show the muslim world the truth and thus help
them in saving their souls.
The prayers of God’s
children are essential to keep my family and persevering on the chosen path and
to make my parents, siblings and dear ones accept truth wholeheartedly.
About the family of Ciniraj Mohamed
My father Janab Kassim Pillai Labba was born in 1911. He is
a retired Headmaster. His Father Pakeeru Maitheen Pillai Labba (1872-1944) was
a teacher and commonly known as Pakeer Vadhyar. The Father of Pakeeru Vadhyar
was called as Mayyadeen Pillai Labba (1822-1884). Mayyadeen Pillai Labba was
the son of Ninar Pillai Labba (1767-1843). Ninar Pillai Labba’s Father was Somu
Labba (1712-1785).
The Malayalam word “Labba”
is derived from the Arabic word “Al-Abba’, which means ‘Father’. In Greek it is
called “Abba”. In Syriac also use the word “Laabo” for ‘Father’. Likewise the
heads of the Syrian Churches are
addressed as “Aboon”.
My Mother Fatima Beevi is
the daughter of Picha Labba (1885-1973) of Kochiramathu House was also a great
religious scholar of Islam.
I have two sisters, Souda
Beevi, wife of Mr. Ibrahim Kunju, a retired engineer; and Safiya Beevi, wife of
Haji Abdul Majeed, a landlord. Both have three children each and they also well
settled and got married. I have an elder brother, Mr. Thajudeen Pillai, who is
one of the topmost officials of the Govt. of India service. His wife Mrs.
Subaida Beevi is an officer of the Kerala University. They have a son and a
daughter. Son is Dr. Bijin Thaj, house surgeon, and a PG student of medicine.
His wife Dr. Babitha Bijin also a house surgeon. Brother’s daughter is Miss.
Shabnam is an engineering student. My younger brother Mr.Abdul Kalam, is an
officer of the GIC under Govt. of India. His wife Mrs. Shemim is a higher
secondary teacher. Nisiya (11 years old girl) and Arif Mohamed (eight years old
boy) are their children.
My wife Mercy is the
daughter of Mr & Mrs. Kuruvilla of Parangottu house, Kottayam. She is a
born again woman, baptized with the Holy Spirit, helping me in the
evangelistic, social and charitable works.
We have three children.
Besly (twelve years) is the elder son. Hepzy (eleven years) is the daughter and
Lesly (seven years) is the younger son.
We live and do ministry by
faith alone. For all our needs we look unto God.
Click to see
Photos of my entire family
Projects of “Salem Voice”:
*Education for the poor children *House for the homeless
*Mobile dispensaries for slums, interior villages and hill places *Medicines, clothes and food for the poor
and needy *Win muslim world unto the
Salvation *Bible schools and correspondance
courses *Cross cultural training *Mentoring successors *Increasing cell groups *Publishing leaflets, literature,
journals *Intercessor Prayers
Send your donations in the A/c of “SALEM VOICE” to the following
address:
Director, Salem
Voice,
Baseelia,
Devalokam(P.O),
Kottayam,
Kerala-686038, INDIA
Telephone &
Fax: 0091 481 573532; Mobile:
00 98470 51532.
Photos of Ciniraj’s entire family
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