One of the divine certainties that Jesus of Nazareth left behind was that His followers would be persecuted because He was first hated. Following Christ comes with a cost, and every Christian is not surprised when faced with persecution. John 15:20 takes root in our hearts and minds the moment the Holy Spirit dwells within us.
When the initial highs of receiving the Holy Spirit and the “baby Christian” phase subside, a believer enters a battlefield. This battlefield looks different depending on where one comes from and what religious belief system was left behind. It is particularly arduous for those who leave Islam. When the Man in White appears in dreams, and sometimes even in person, to a Muslim in an Islamic country, it becomes nearly impossible not to believe in Him. Jesus’ unending creativity in revealing Himself to Muslims is awe-inspiring, and millions are flocking to Him.
Once Jesus gets hold of a Muslim, He gains the most loyal, passionate, and disciplined follower. These qualities often stem from being raised under a religion that means “submission.” Many ex-Muslims bring the discipline deeply seated in them from living in an Islamic culture and tradition into their walk with Christ. What do I mean by that? When we become followers of Jesus, we take this responsibility very seriously. We were taught to have reverence and complete submission to God from an early age. Now that we know the true God, submitting our will to Yahweh comes naturally.
The Plight of Leaving Islam
Leaving Islam, though miraculous, is an ongoing battle. We often hear about the external challenges: being disowned by family, being ostracized from society, losing connection with familiar traditions and customs, and in many cases, facing death threats.
However, the internal struggles that ex-Muslims endure are rarely discussed. These silent battles are often the hardest.
Why Are Ex-Muslims So Critical of Islam?
Many ex-Muslims become vocal critics of Islam, and for good reason. Those brave enough to speak out put themselves in vulnerable positions. Many remain anonymous for years out of fear of persecution. It took me years to “come out” to my father as a Christian. I still remember the day my late father became enraged, screaming and demanding to know if I was a Christian. My shaky, nearly inaudible seventeen-year-old voice whispered, “Yes, I am,” secretly hoping he hadn’t heard me because I had no idea what would happen next. I survived. But even now, I wonder if I should have been braver.
In our culture, as a woman, a father wields immense power over his daughter’s life. We do not leave our family’s home until we get married. Boundaries are nonexistent. In Islamic culture, children are considered the property of their parents. The separation never fully happens. Imagine the weight of that reality when choosing to leave the religion of your ancestors. You are an infidel, burdened with a cloud of shame looming over your head constantly. You are no longer one of them.
I remember my parents accusing me of choosing the religion of the “Westerners.” My mother would say, “You were not born a Christian for a reason. God chose you to be a Muslim, and you need to uphold that.” To them, Christianity was synonymous with immorality, largely based on portrayals from Western television and the actions of our former occupiers—the Russians—who called themselves Christians.
Many ex-Muslims become critical of Islam because they experience the ugly consequences of becoming an infidel firsthand pretty much immediately after the conversion. Family members mistreat them, their societies reject them, and their online presence is attacked relentlessly. Visit the page of any outspoken ex-Muslim, and you will find their comment section flooded with hate, name-calling, slurs, and threats.
When I first shared my testimony online, the backlash was overwhelming. I received so much hate that my mental health suffered, forcing me to disable the comment section for a time. It doesn’t matter whether you share the Gospel with love or a bit of boldness—death threats will come. Yet, the persecution only strengthens our faith. If we are not being hated for Christ’s sake, then we are doing something wrong. The Gospel will always be offensive to those who live in darkness.
The Belonging Crisis: Life in the West
I cannot speak for ex-Muslims still living in Islamic countries. I am well aware of the plight of Christians in the East and the underground churches operating under constant threat. However, I can only speak about the struggles of living as an ex-Muslim in the United States.
Although America is my home, the struggle to belong persists. Every immigrant experiences this in some form—we no longer belong to where we came from, yet we don’t fully belong to our new home either. But for ex-Muslims, there is an additional layer of isolation.
Many evangelicals have little understanding of Islam beyond what mainstream media portrays. Some are eager to hear my testimony, while others react with suspicion. Most have never traveled to a Muslim-majority country, nor do they desire to. I don’t blame them, but I do believe Christians should experience Muslim countries if they want to grow in their worldview and understand the true meaning of making disciples of all nations.
Ex-Muslims find themselves in a strange position—not accepted in Muslim circles and not fully embraced by the church. Many evangelical churches do not prioritize Muslim ministry, which is ironic given how rapidly Islam is growing. The West sees this growth as a threat, but I see it as an opportunity for the Gospel to reach more people.
The Internal Battle
Beyond the external struggles, ex-Muslims wrestle with deep internal conflicts. Leaving behind everything familiar is painful. We lose the collectivist culture we were raised in and enter a Western world that often feels isolating.
We also battle resentment. It is hard to love those who have mistreated us. It takes years for God to soften our hearts, replacing bitterness with love. We must heal from religious trauma—whether it be experiencing war, witnessing domestic abuse, or enduring persecution for our faith.
Ministering to Muslims is mentally exhausting. Sharing the Gospel with them is unlike sharing it with any other religious group. It is difficult to reason with those indoctrinated to believe the Bible is corrupt and Islam is the final revelation. Conversations often devolve into arguments, personal attacks, and threats. That is why I caution Christians against debating Muslims. Instead, pray and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in how to reach them. More often than not, living as a Christ-like example is the most powerful testimony.
I periodically take breaks from sharing the Gospel with Muslims because of the emotional toll. This is something that non-ex-Muslims may never fully understand.
Conclusion
I believe ex-Muslims long for Jesus’s second coming more intensely than the average Christian. We cannot wait for the ongoing battle to be over. The Western church must do a better job of welcoming ex-Muslims—not just superficially, but by fostering deep, genuine relationships. Churches should consider prioritizing Muslim outreach, not from a place of fear but from a place of love.
Every life comes from Christ. If we are truly concerned about the rise of the Muslim population, we ought to do something about it. The answer to combating a false religion is not fear or death — it is evangelism, prayer, joy, generosity, hospitality, open-mindedness, and kindness. The Gospel is the greatest weapon we have, and Jesus is still appearing to Muslims today, just as He did to me. If He has the power to transform my life, Jesus can transform the lives of every Muslim in the world.
Fariza 