THE BOY WHO WOULD NOT BACK DOWN (PART 3)

Refusing the Shahada

Every student in his class was required to write and recite the shahada: “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet.” Hussein refused to do it. In response, the teacher repeatedly struck him with a wooden rod. The boy endured persistent beatings for continuing not to recite the shahada. “It isn’t in my heart,” Hussein said. “It’s just meaningless words to me.” After three weeks of such beatings, Hussein had a seizure. Then another. And another. When Hakeem went to the school to confront the teacher, he found the man standing over his student, holding the rod. The teacher stared at Hakeem. “Are you aware,” he stated icily, “that your son is wearing a cross to school? Are you Christians?” “Yes and yes,” said Hakeem.

Punished for Faith

“It is against Islam!” the teacher declared. “Why are you punishing my son for not reciting a Muslim prayer?” Hakeem asked. “Are beatings permissible?” “Yes,” the teacher said, “the principal and the parents agree I should.” Hakeem and his wife transferred their son to another school, and then another before they found one where Hussein experienced fewer attacks.

Steadfast to the End

Even as an eleven-year-old, Hussein remains steadfast in his faith: “I will never return to Islam, even if the persecution continues,” he said. “Christ said we would suffer for him. It’s okay to suffer for Christ, and we should be happy to suffer for him.

The Lord is with me.” Even at his young age, Hussein knows that his goal is not to please man but to please God. “And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men,” Jesus taught, “the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God” (Luke 12:8–9). Let us not forget our brothers and sisters—even children such as Hussein—who are persecuted for standing firm in their faith yet persevere. Will we stand with them in their suffering? Will we persevere with them in our prayers and in providing support for them?

The End.

Date: 31st January 2026
Martyr: Hussein B
Location: Turkey
Source: The Voice of Martyrs “I am n”
Author: Not specified

Suffering Saturday 180