MOHAMED Yosuf was a man of God – a devout Muslim who produced two sons -Salim and Satar. Salim followed his father’s footsteps and lived a righteous life. But Satar decided to go another way. Mohamed grieved to death over his Satantic son.

Believe in Himself
As a boy Satar hated devotion to God. He believed in a creator but didn’t like religion. Too much pressure! He became recalcitrant. He refused to visit the mosque or even pray at home. He believed he could achieve on his own, utilizing all the resources God had given him.

Loyal to Satan
At age 16 he left home. It broke the hearts of his parents and brother. He went straight into the domain of Satan who gave him a red carpet welcome. He didn’t do much at school but with a great deal of common sense, he survived. Satan provided for him and he became a loyal disciple.

Foreign Land
He would boast of some of his achievements, saying God loved him and offered him gifts, while his brother with all his prayers remained poor.

Empty Promise
Somehow he ended up in the U.S.A. and with the devil’s help survived a ‘charmed’ life. He heard his father was dying. He hurried home not to offer any sympathy but to get the property. He bought a will form and forced his dad to sign it promising to turn his life around and care for his ailing mom and younger brother.

The Deceit
Just after the old man passed away he probated that last will and testament. The house and the land now belonged to him. Did he live up to his promise? No way! Instead he threw out his mom and sibling. They were forced to seek shelter at the Muslim organization. The community turned against him. He didn’t care, and to add insult to injury he turned the premises into a beer garden. This was upsetting to the Muslims. Islam forbids alcohol of any sort.

Devil’s Power
All the while he proclaimed that God was providing for him. How blind! He couldn’t see Satan was at work. The devil has great powers and we can be duped. Satar buys a car to add to the luxuries

Merciful God
A merciful God of forgiving we create our own downfall. We court danger only to marry disaster. We allow Satan to run our lives and in the end there are sorrows and regrets. “Too late too late shall be the cry.”

Cash Flow
Well Satar was doing fine and he earned good money from his liquor business. But one night thieves entered his home and demanded money. He tried to fight them off but was shot in the back. He became a cripple.

Ostracised
Now handicapped, he advertised for a maid. No one responded. The community abandoned him. He struggled to exist on his own. Where is Satan? Hiding and laughing at his loyal servant, evil accomplished.

Intervention
For days the neighbours saw the house and bar closed up. An enquiry revealed Satar bed-ridden and emaciated. The Muslim organization came to his aid. And they encouraged his mom and brother to move back into their home. Satar burst into tears and as he saw them he tried to get up to hug his mom but he fell back.

Mother’s Love
He begged forgiveness. They said: “We forgive you but seek the pardon from the almighty” As he lay there, pining away, he lamented his guilty lifestyle. His brother told him: “It is better to punish in this world. Relief is in the hereafter. And they prayed together especially past midnight.

The Miracle
Then a miracle. Satar lifted himself off the bed and began to walk again! A forgiving God had answered his prayers. He demolished the bar, stopped drinking and turned to the Holy Quran for diving guidance, and in gratitude to God he converted the bar section into living quarters for his aging uncle.

Good Deed
He later married a widow and fathered her kids. His mom and brother went back to the heavens so too his uncle. He lived on to a ripe old age serving as a pastor. And forever grateful to his Creator and his mom, who used to go down on her knees and beg God to make him whole.

Social Worker
He served his community as a social worker- from bad to good. The Lord is so merciful and forgiving. Try hard to ignore Satan and his cronies and lackeys. They are powerful forces in this material world. And never forget: “What profits a man to gain the world and lose his soul.”

The Best Investment
Live here and invest in the here-after. Earn the perennial richness of character. Let’s give back something. What goes around comes around, avoid the pit-falls. Satar’s home later become a shelter for the needy. And the very community that chastised him lauded him as a man of God.