A Testimony of Isa Abdullah Biago
First and foremost I would say that fundamentally I had been a Muslim without being aware of it. Historically, Philippines is a Muslim country before Christianity arrived and colonized our land. Very early in my life I had lost faith in Christianity (Roman Catholicism) for many reasons, the major one is about the infallibility of the Pope and used of the images for aid of worship. What did I do was to leave the Church and its teaching and place my faith in the one true God in Whom it was much easier to believe . Before I left the Church, my parents, friends and some of my teachers in High School encourage me to enter Seminary due to my religious activeness and awareness which they noticed imprinted in me. I join the Baptist Church which it seems to me nearer to the truth and entered the Seminary to fulfill my public image as God's servant. However, I felt doubts and disappointment as I go along the course (Bachelor of Theology). Within six (6) years in the seminary and Pastoral work I remained to be faithful while going into deep study of the general teaching of Christianity especially Trinity, Original sin, authenticity of the Scriptures, Church history, Atonement for sin, and the other fundamental tenets of Christianity. Before knowing Islam, I already believed in the first part of the Shahada (Confession of Faith): " I believe in One God ." Obviously, my knowledge about Islam was not favorable to the Muslims. I have read the Bible several asking God to help me understand the truth with the aids of Bible helps such as Bible Dictionary, Concordance, Commentary and Theological books. With these, did not satisfy me and only leads me to confusion. To the last, I study and concentrate on the origin of the Bible that awaken me and reject almost entirely the interpretation and infallibility of the Scriptures. By the middle of 1984 I was attracted to an Islamic books in one of the bookstore and bought it for comparative purposes. While reading it, I became so interested in it that followed it up with many other books on Islam. After almost I finished all the books, I became hungry of the truth and wished to acquire a copy of the Holy Qur'an. After a while I looked up some Muslims to satisfy my hunger. I was introduced to a former Seventh Day Adventist Pastor and now an active Muslim propagator (Br. Najeeb Rasul) and questioned him on some of the points that were not so clear to me, and he answered promptly. Through him I've learned more about Islam and Christianity comparatively. He was able to proved it to me the authenticity of the Holy Qur'an and the Prophethood of Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him). Within five (5) months with the Muslim group , I decided to become a Muslim and join Islam as my religion and way of life and adopting the name Isa Abdullah Biago. After two months of my reversion (Balik-Islam), I announced my resignation among the members of the Church and declared my new found faith. With the disappointment of the church leaders, they confronted me and prayed to return back to my former faith,until they discovered that there is no hope of my return. My conversion cost me many years of unhappiness but however inside my heart my feeling is full of pure happiness and joy that I cannot uttered. I received several insult from my parents,friends and companions to cause them so much regrets. Due to this, I was force to join the Muslim and Propagate Islam and I am confident that the present moment is most opportunities for spreading Islam if proper steps are now taken for the preaching of Islam, and I feel that within a score of years the entire country can be brought with the fold of Islam. Wassalam And Peace Be Upon You !!! Crisanto G. Biago Now: Isa Abdullah Biago