Blinded by the Light on the Arabian Peninsula

In Arabic, the name Saeid means “happy” or “blessed.” It’s based on the same root word as sa‘ada, which in the Quran is a term used to talk about a state of eternal happiness with God.

It’s ironic, then, that on the surface, Saeid*’s story looks more like despair and curses than happiness and blessing.

“I once walked as a pastor in the Arabian Peninsula, shepherding a secret community of believers,” Saeid says. “My life brimmed with purpose, joy, and small delights: fishing by the shore, cooking modest meals and crafting media to spread the gospel across this land. However, one fateful night, everything I cherished was torn from me.”

Saeid knows firsthand that being a Christian convert from Islam in the Arabian Peninsula is not just a choice; it’s a dangerous calling. In the countries of the region—including Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, among other Muslim-majority nations—faith in Jesus is not celebrated; it’s condemned.

“Every day is a balancing act … silently professing love for Christ while feigning allegiance to Islam to survive,” Saeid explains. “Eventually, the pressure becomes suffocating.”

Even if friends and family do not directly oppose a believer’s conversion, they do sense something different—a truth they can’t name. “My family remains unaware of my faith until this day, a painful secret I carry to protect them and myself,” Saeid says. “Here, life as a Christian is summed up in a saying: hadhi hiya alhayaa (‘this is life'). But for me, it’s more than resignation; it’s defiance. This is life, because my life belongs to Christ.”

Such a bold statement is a testimony to the deep faith this former pastor has learned—and chosen, despite his many trials. “My story isn’t just one of trials; it’s a declaration of hope, of faith unyielding in the face of adversity, and of the boundless grace of Jesus Christ,” he says.
 

‘You have found the truth’

In 2014, Saeid’s faith journey began in a desert wilderness, both literal and spiritual. One day, while at work, Saeid felt an unshakable urge to explore the Bible. “The need gnawed at my soul,” he shares.
“Frustrated, I turned to the internet, watching debates between Muslim and Christian scholars. As I listened, a spark ignited—a deep yearning for the truth. The Holy Spirit captivated me. I longed for His
presence, for answers to the questions that consumed me.”

This was only the beginning of Saeid’s search for truth. He began to read books, watch lectures and learn everything he could about the two religions. One night, he cried out: “God, show me. Is it Islam or
Christianity? I am ready to follow the truth.”

That night, God answered Saeid in a way that forever changed him. “In my dream, that very night, I feltmy spirit leaving my body,” he remembers. “Terrified, I tried to recite the Islamic prayers ingrained in
me since childhood, but my voice failed. I was powerless. I woke up drenched in sweat, trembling. A chilling realization struck me: If I choose Islam, I will definitely die.” But Saeid had grown up hearing and learning the opposite: anything apart from Islam is wrong, and the result of leaving his native religion is
death.

Later that night, Saeid had another dream. This time, he was in Heaven, surrounded by an overwhelming light. A voice spoke: “I am the Holy Spirit. If you seek the truth, approach the One on the throne.”
“Trembling, I moved closer, but the light grew unbearably bright, forcing me to shield my eyes,” Saeid remembers. “Then I heard probably the best words ever spoken to me: ‘Saeid, you have found the
truth.’”

When he woke up, his room was bathed in what he describes as “an otherworldly light.”

“It was as though God Himself had illuminated my soul,” Saeid shares. “From that moment, I knew Jesus was Lord, the truth I had sought for so long.” That day, Saeid surrendered his life to Christ. “I found comfort in John 8:32: 'You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free,’” he quotes. “Despite the risks, I began sharing my faith, using media to spread the gospel. I wanted to share what I learned! My mission was clear: to awaken the Arabian Peninsula to the hope of Jesus Christ.”

But sharing this hope came with a cost.

Forced into isolation … with Jesus

One evening, after running a simple errand, Saied was ambushed by two cars. “Several men dragged me into their vehicle, drove me to my home, and ransacked it,” he says. “They seized all my electronics. They blindfolded me, beat me and took me to a detention center where the lights never dimmed, a torment that wreaked havoc on my eyes.”

Saeid endured relentless interrogations. “When I refused to renounce my faith, they mocked me, withheld my glasses, and forced me to take mysterious pills that left me disoriented and sick,” he recalls. “In those moments, I clung to Luke 21:15: ‘I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.’” So when a judge asked me to repent, I replied, ‘This is faith. What is there to repent of?’"

After many grim days, Saeid was eventually released. Even now, he endures the consequences of his faith in Jesus. He wasn't able to return to pastoring, but is now focused on discipling others. His passion to share the Good News with the people in his country and beyond continues to grow.

“Most of my friends avoid me out of fear,” he says. “I can’t blame them, though; in this country, once you’re marked, you’re always watched. Yet, even in solitude, Jesus sustains me. He is mending my broken heart and restoring my soul!”

Although Saeid endured unspeakable challenges, he wouldn’t trade his faith for anything. He boldly shares: “Jesus is worth every tear, every scar, every loss. He is my light, even in the shadows.” And he’s begun to reclaim the meaning of his name. “My name means ‘happy,’ and although happiness feels distant, I know joy will return,” he says. “Because my Savior lives, I live. This is life. But with Jesus, it is eternal.”

Many Christians like Saeid are forced to live their faith in secret on the Arabian Peninsula, where even their own family doesn’t know that they’ve met Jesus. Yet our sisters and brothers remain steadfast, fulfilling Jesus' calling to make disciples—no matter what.