What happens when a Christian security guard is assigned to protect a mosque and actually gets to know the Muslims inside? That is exactly the remarkable story of Christopher, a security guard in Orlando, Florida, who was hired to keep watch over a mosque and Islamic school during a time of rising Islamophobia and threats against Muslim communities. What began as a professional assignment quickly became a life-changing journey of learning about Islam, faith, and the unbreakable bond of brotherhood that defines the Muslim community.
A Security Guard Standing Between Hate and a House of Worship
Christopher was brought in to guard a mosque and school after rising threats against Muslim institutions across the country, including vandalism, firebombings, and targeted attacks fueled by fear and misinformation following 9/11. Rather than absorbing the false stereotypes that surround Islam, Christopher witnessed the truth firsthand. He saw a community defined by kindness, sincerity, and devotion to God. His experience powerfully dismantles the narrative that Muslims are anything other than peaceful, generous people committed to worship and service.
“I want to say that is not true. These people are very nice, very kind, sincere, and this is a place of worship. They need security because people are trying to harm them, and I want you to know that’s not going to happen with us on here.”
Dawah in Action: How Muslims Shared Their Faith With Openness and Love
- One God, one message: Christopher learned that Islam calls humanity to worship the Creator alone, not any part of creation, and that this was the same message brought by every prophet including Jesus, Moses, Abraham, and the final messenger Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon them all).
- Islam means submission: He discovered that the word Islam itself means submission to the will of God, and that a Muslim is simply one who submits to that will, a concept that resonated deeply with his own Christian beliefs.
- Jesus in Islam: One of the most eye-opening moments was learning that it is an article of faith for every Muslim to believe in and love Jesus as a mighty messenger of God.
- The Five Pillars: Christopher was introduced to the five pillars of Islam: the declaration of faith, the five daily prayers, charity, fasting during Ramadan, and the Hajj pilgrimage, the same journey that transformed Malcolm X.
- Anyone can be Muslim: He learned that Islam has no racial, ethnic, or cultural barriers. Anyone, from any background, can embrace this faith simply by recognizing the truth and declaring it.
A Christian Security Guard Finds Common Ground With Islam
“I do believe in Jesus being the Messenger of God. I do believe that he came and his mission was to make sure that people would worship God. The way you guys share your love for one another, for brotherhood, it’s unbreakable. It’s a bond that even I can’t really comprehend because I never had a close bond like that before.”
The Invitation That Changes Everything
Christopher’s story is a powerful reminder that dawah does not require force or pressure. It simply requires Muslims to live their faith authentically and invite others with warmth and wisdom. When this Christian security guard stood outside a mosque to protect it, the mosque ended up opening a door in his heart. He agreed that nothing deserves worship except the Creator of the heavens and the earth, and he affirmed Jesus as a messenger of God. The only step remaining on his journey toward Islam is to learn about Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and that journey has already begun. If his story moves you, ask the Creator sincerely for guidance, keep your heart and mind open like a parachute, and see where the truth leads you.
