“May this light shine and flood all the world,” says Ibrahim. A former Christian who embraced Islam three months ago, the 55-year-old is performing Hajj for the first time, standing in prayers on a mountain near the Holy city of Makkah.
Ibrahim, Formerly known as Abraham Richmond, was a priest for 15 years in his native South Africa, leading the congregation of the country’s Corinthian Church.
Recounting the story of his conversion, he says:
“As a priest and head of a church in South Africa who served for 15 years, I had about 100,000 followers until I saw a dream and I heard a voice. I was sleeping in a small room…very small…
“The voice told me: ‘Tell your followers to put on their heads white covers’.
“I said to myself, it’s Muslim clothing. It’s a dream for sure. But I saw the dream again…and again. The last time, the voice became aggressive: ‘Tell your men…’.”
Richmond said he then had a meeting with the parishioners to tell them about his experience.
“I said to myself: Now I’m going to talk to these people and tell them and make them believe. I went to them and told them. Thank God, things went smoothly and all of them agreed.
“By the second meeting all of them were wearing a white cover on their heads. And all accepted the invitation. They accepted it three months ago.”
He added that he had organized the recitation of the two Shahadas in the church. “The attendees were supporting my words and repeating them. Thousands of voices saying the same words, reciting the Shahada with me. We were happy.”
Ibrahim came to Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj as a guest of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Guests Program. He is among 4,951 pilgrims from over 90 countries who are performing the pilgrimage as guests of the Kingdom. He was nominated by a friend in the region and was ecstatic when his application was accepted.
One day, Ibrahim said, he encountered a visit. “I saw our Muslim brothers come to us. I told them: ’I was waiting for you. I was waiting for you because I dreamt that you would come here’.
“They told me that I was going to Hajj.”
“I said: ‘Me? No way… I can’t go!’ But one day they came and said: ‘Let’s travel.’’
“I asked them: ‘Where? You must be kidding … No way…I can’t’.”
‘The Mountain of Light’
Now this is a reality for him as he traveled to Makkah with his son, who had also converted to Islam and changed his name to Faisal.
Ibrahim said that he was a strong believer in one God, and that his father, a grand priest, never allowed him to wear a cross, even in the church.
Speaking on Friday June 23 at Jabal Al-Nour near Makkah, where the Cave of Hira is located, Ibrahim said: “The Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) was alone when he climbed this [mountain]. And I will be following in his steps.
I’m sure that by following in his steps millions of my people in South Africa will follow in his steps so that they can see the light. And this is the Mountain of Light.”
Visibly delighted, Ibrahim added: “I’m the first one in my family who touches this soil, this blessed soil. The Mountain of Light. From this mountain started to shine the light of Islam.”
As he spoke, Ibrahim’s seemed to choke. He he started to sob and knelt and kissed the ground.
“I’m shivering. I’m shivering... I want to go to the top. Climbing is hard. No… nothing is hard if one has a healthy heart.
God willing, nothing will be hard. God will make things easy for me, God willing. I’m here to perform the Hajj. I’m extremely happy and lucky because I had this opportunity in my life, because there are no opportunities after leaving this world.”
“This light... this light shining on me and on the whole world. May this light shine and flood the whole world. God, forgive me my sins,” he said sobbing.