Moroccan Christian Loses His Family
Elmahdi was devoted to his family, even though they followed different religions – but he found himself a victim of Moroccan courts.
Elmahdi lives in Casablanca, Morocco. Formerly a devout Muslim, he now follows Jesus—and is facing an involuntary divorce. He has two daughters and a son with his ex-wife, and at one time envisioned a life of happiness with his beloved wife, and never desired separation.
But his life changed when he encountered Christianity. He was moved by the divine commandments and extraordinary life of Christ. Driven by a blend of curiosity and a quest for truth, Elmahdi sought answers, ultimately finding solace in Christ. His conversion to Christianity culminated in baptism.
Since 2019, Elmahdi has actively participated in ministry work in Casablanca. But his steadfast faith has led to significant challenges. At first he refrained from sharing his newfound faith with his wife, anticipating her reaction due to her strict adherence to Islam, as well as her family’s devout beliefs. Aware that revealing his Christian faith could lead to conflict and family pressure, Elmahdi chose to conceal his religious convictions. But the secret could not be kept forever, and eventually his wife discovered his conversion.
When she confronted Elmahdi, he did not deny his faith, but he did clarify that his religious beliefs were deeply personal. He emphasized that he had no intentions of imposing his beliefs on her or compelling her to convert. He expressed his profound love for her and his desire to preserve their marriage, emphasizing her importance as the woman he had chosen to spend his life with.
Under Moroccan law, when a husband converts away from Islam, divorce settlements usually favour the mother – but Elmhadi’s situation is uncommonly strict.
As a traditional Muslim woman, she asserted that she couldn’t cohabit with an individual of a different faith under the same roof. She presented Elmahdi with an ultimatum: revert to Islam or divorce.
When he refused to give up his faith, she initiated legal proceedings for divorce. Under Moroccan law, the woman typically receives support in such cases and custody of children typically defaults to the mother if the husband converts to a different religion.
However, Elmahdi’s situation is uncommon because he is fully prohibited from seeing his children. Since 2022, he has been grappling with this incredibly difficult situation. He occasionally finds himself stung by thoughts of reverting to Islam due to his longing for his children.
However, Elmahdi’s unwavering faith, love and reliance on Christ serve as a shield against succumbing to these temptations. Though the consequences are so hard, Elmahdi understands that his commitment to Christ transcends his familial ties and responsibilities. In following the path of Christ (Matt. 16:24), Elmahdi recognizes the call to forsake his own desires and submit entirely to the Lord’s will, and that obedience requires a willingness to relinquish his own desires and endure hardships for the sake of his faith.
Pray
Elmahdi has received substantial support and daily interaction from the church he joined in 2019, but things remain difficult. Will you pray today for Elmahdi? Ask God to help him remain steadfast in his faith and for a chance to be reunited with his children. Pray that even following a divorce, his life would remain a testimony for Christ to his wife.
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