Fear is never far from Hakim. On the contrary, he lives with it daily. From his early morning prayers to his night shift at the hotel where he works as a security guard, he is always surrounded by it. The unseen world that evokes this fear is the world of the Jinns (according to Muslim thinking these are spirits that were created by Allah out of smokeless fire).
But Hakim searched for redemption. He heard that somewhere in the countryside was a place where a Muslim saint was buried. A ring or necklace containing a stone taken from the surroundings of this grave would make its possessor strong and powerful – physically and spiritually. Captivated by the idea of being in possession of power over the spirit world that he seemed to be so helplessly exposed to, he tried to get a small piece of that stone even though they are expensive, but without success.
A few months after his unsuccessful attempt to free himself from the spirit’s influence, Hakim was at work when a lady following a Buddhist procession came up to him and started to talk. After a while she asked for his hand. Curious, Hakim reached out his hand showing her his palm so she could read it. The woman asked how old he was. Fearing he could get in serious trouble since he took this job underaged, he claimed to be 21. The woman shook her head. Following the lines of his palm, she began to read. From his age, to his birthplace and the name of his parents everything was correct. Pale with fear in his face, Hakim broke free and ran away to seek the company of one of his colleagues.
After he told this story to a follower of Jesus, for the first time in his life he heard of the One who was able to cast out and command spirits with just words. Hearing the story of Jesus who had such authority, he was eager to pray in the name of Jesus the next time fear of the spirits would enter his heart.
Pray that Jesus who is the Prince of Peace and the Ruler of All would be presented to Rohingya people as such.
Pray that they will encounter his power and begin to follow the One who sets them free from spiritual bondage and fear.