Brother Rachid
| Brother Rachid | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1971 (age 43–44) |
| Ethnicity | Moroccan |
| Citizenship | Morocco |
| Education | Hassan II University |
| Occupation | televangelist |
| Known for | television personality |
| Religion | Christian |
| Spouse(s) | married |
| Children | 3 |
Brother Rachid (born 1971) is a Moroccan Christian convert from Islam whose father is a well-known respected Imam. He is one of the most outspoken converts in the world, he hosts a weekly live call-in show on Al hayat TV where he compares Islam and Christianity as well as debates Islamic scholars.
Biography
Rachid was born in Morocco to a conservative Muslim family[1] and raised in Dokalla.[2] His father was an Imam.[3] He memorized one-sixth of the Quran by age 6.[3] He studied economics and computer science at Hassan II University in Casablanca.[3] In 1990,[3] at the age of 19,[1] he converted from Islam to Christianity after studying the differences between the two faiths[3] with the original intent to defend Islam.[2] After determining that over 80 million Arabs did not truly understand the Classical Arabic dialect that the Quran was written in, he undertook the translation of the Quran into local Arabic dialects[3] believing that if more Muslims understood the words of the Quran, they would leave the faith.[3]
In 2005, he began hosting his own television program on Al hayat TV comparing the virtues of Christianity over Islam including 55 taped episodes of Unveiling the Mask and 300 live episodes of Daring Questions (which allows Muslims to call in and ask questions about Christianity and also features testimonies from former Muslims who have converted to Christianity.[3] The channel is controversial in the Islamic world and is banned in several Muslim countries and a bounty has been placed on many of its personalities and management.[1] Rachid does not reveal his last name. His programs have been credited with assisting in the conversion of over 150,000 former Muslims to Christianity in Morocco.[4]
Rachid asks that all Moroccans be allowed to: 1. To change their religion 2. To own the translated version of the Bible in Moroccan Arabic or Arabic language without the fear of being arrested. 3. To give Christian names to their children. 4. To teach their children Christianity in school instead of Islam. 5. The right for free practice Christianity.[2]
In a video called “A Message to President Obama From a Former Muslim”, he asserts that the actions of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) do speak for the religion of Islam despite assertions to the contrary[5] and asserts that terrorism begins in the schools and mosques:[5]
- “How many Saudi Sheiks are preaching hatred? How many Islamic channels are indoctrinating people and teaching them violence from the Koran and the Hadith? How many Friday sermons are made against the West, freedom, and Democracy? How many Islamic schools are producing generations of teachers and students who believe in jihad and martyrdom and fighting the infidels? And finally, how many websites are funded by governments, your allies, that have sheiks who issue fatwas against basic human rights? If you want to fight terrorism, start from there.”[5]
- “Unless the Muslim world deals with Islam and separates religion from state, we will never end this cycle. ... If Islam is not the problem, then why is it there are millions of Christians in the Middle East and yet none of them has ever blown up himself to become a martyr, even though they live under the same economic and political circumstances and even worse?”[6]
Personal life
His wife is also a Moroccan Christian and they have three children.[2]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 San Diego Jewish World: "Arab broadcast ridicules boycott of Jewish products" By Aryeh Savir March 10, 2014
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Morocco World News: "Moroccan Converts to Christianity told their stories" 10 February 2013
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Ministries Network: About Our Speakers: "Brother Rachid" retrieved September 4, 2014
- ↑ Osservatorio Internazionale: "La tentazione di Cristo" April 2010
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Western Journalism: "Watch: This Former Muslim Just Sent Obama A Wake Up Call On ISIS That Is An Absolute Must-See" by Tom Hinchey September 4, 2014
- ↑ New York Times: "How ISIS Drives Muslims From Islam" by THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN December 6, 2014