I was working in a retail store in 1995.



I was a Muslim but not seriously practicing at that time.

As the store manager, I had others working for me; both full-time employees, and part-timers.

One of the part-timers had worked with me in various other stores owned by the company.

He was a large 'gentle giant'. To others he might portray a tough,bully type of persona, but I knew how to bluff him.

We had worked in 'my' store for about 6 months. He would come in for about 12 hours per week, and when my full time person quit he suddenly became the full time person there.

One Monday he came and asked me "Your Wife ( ex-wife, we were divorced) was Indonesian wasn't she?".

I replied "Yep", as we were in a hurry.

On Tuesday he asked " Most Indonesians are Muslim aren't they?".

I replied again "Yep'.

On Wednesday he asked " That means you are probably Muslim aren't you?".

I replied "Yep".

On Thursday he said to me" I'd like to convert(revert)."

So I started to take him to one of our larger Mosques and a week later he performed his Khalima Shahadah in front of about 50-60 Brothers.

He took the name Khalid.

He was well known in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

We only got to the mosque a few times due to the oncoming Xmas retail season, and unfortunately being in the retail sector, we were involved in long hours etc..

The great thing to come out of his reversion was that we were both able to pray our Zuhur ( Noon) and Asr (Afternoon) prayers at work. With he covering the retail floor for me , I could pray, and vice versa.

This went on for a week or so. He was learning his prayers.

Whereas the were long hours in the week leading up to Xmas, our store closed at 5-6(? I forget) on Xmas Eve.

My brother and son were staying that night at my house, and so Khalid came home with me.

We had dinner and as there were 3 Muslims in the house ( my brother was Christian) I suggested we all go to the Mosque for Isha ( evening) prayers, and a cup of coffee with the 'Brothers'. ( To enable Khalid to socialise more with others).

We all enjoyed ourselves, my brother sitting at the back of the Mosque and observing, while we 3 did our evening prayers in communion with the others.

After prayers we had coffee, and talked with others, my brother joining in quite easily.

Days went by and it was New Years.

I went into work to open the store for 2nd January.

Fifteen minutes after I opened, Khalid's Mum rang to inform me that Khalid had died the previous evening from a heart attack.

I informed other Brothers who organised for his funeral/burial.

On his funeral day Non-Muslims had flown hundreds of kilometers to attend (and there was over 200 from across the state of Queensland.

Also there was a record crowd for Friday Prayers that day and over 150 Brothers prayed his Jannazah( Funeral Prayer).

He had been a Muslim revert for only 15 days.

*** ( We Muslims call one who has come to Islam from another faith, 'revert' because we believe ( according to the Glorious Qu'ran) that all of us are born Muslims).