A modern classic in Christian biography (autobiography in this case), I Dared to Call Him Father: The Miraculous Story of a Muslim Woman's Encounter with God was originally published in 1978, and has been continuously reprinted since then. I am reviewing a UK edition from my personal home library dated 2005. The version you will commonly find in bookstores today is the 25th Anniversary Edition. For a book to go through so many re-printings and to be continuously in print for over 25 years, you can tell that there is something special about such a book, some stirring within the human spirit that continues to draw us to it.
At first glance I thought perhaps this book would better enable Christians to understand the mind of the Muslims, their point of view, helping them to better witness to Muslims. I can tell you that this book is definitely not focused upon apologetics, nor is it full of "how-tos" on reaching out to the Muslim community. Rather, it is the intimate story of one woman coming to know Jesus as her Lord and Saviour, and her resulting walk in obedience with Him, and His faithfulness to her. It just happens that she was a wealthy Muslim in Pakistan, but truly, this story could be the testimony of any person that the Lord has drawn to Him, out of any circumstances.
I was so moved to read how God reached into the life of Bilquis and drew her to him.
John 6:44 - No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
And indeed, my own testimony, and that of others bears witness to the truth of that verse as well. Without any overt evangelism, God can still speak to us through the circumstances in our lives and draw us to His son. The author experiences a rather dramatic and prophetic conversion, and the story of her coming to the Lord is quite striking, unique, and moving. Her resulting early walk in faith with Jesus and of striving to live in the presence and power of the Holy Ghost every waking moment is so inspiring. Would that I, myself, have such a clear witness of the Spirit in my life on such an ongoing basis rather than in glimpses here and there.
Article comments
1 - carolyn Hester
I am reading " I Dared To Call Him Father" for the third time. I am so inspired and awed. I wonder what happened to her grandson, whose name is now David; and whether or not her children are now Christians.
2 - sunita
This is a fantastic book, which helped me also in my times of persecution coz im also in pakistan.