Mount Cristo Del Rey: The Pilgrimage that lead me to the Truth

When I was a young boy I made pilgrimage with my family to Mount Cristo del Rey. Mount Cristo Del Rey is a mountain situated between El Paso, Texas, Anapra, New Mexico, and Juarez, Mexico. The peak of the mountain contains a 42 ½ feet tall shrine of Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) that is worshipped by thousands of Catholics who come from all three areas.

(The Shrine on Mt. Cristo Del Rey can be seen from the front of the El Paso Masjid!)

The day I made the grueling two hour walk up the dirt road, I faced many dangers some of which included snakes, scorpions, loose boulders, and muggers who lay in wait for anyone whom they could rob. I pushed ahead of my mother and other relatives hoping to get a glimpse of the great shrine and to see the names of my grandfather and uncle that had been engraved into the shrine along with the names of thousands of other deceased. I was amazed at the number of worshippers in their various conditions; some carried wooden crosses, others were making their way up on their knees, I even saw someone riding a donkey! After finally reaching the top there were too many people surrounding the shrine to try and locate the names of my grandfather and uncle. Instead I kissed the shrine and began praying. I asked Jesus to accept my pilgrimage and to guide me to the truth. I will never forget that prayer because years later Allah granted me guidance and led me to Islam.

{And remember when Allah will say on the Day of Resurrection: “O Jesus son of Mary! Did you say unto men: Worship me and my mother as two gods besides Allah?” He will say: “Glory be to You! It was not for me to say what I had no right to say. Had I said such a thing, You would surely have known it. You know what is in my inner-self though I do not know what is in Yours, truly, You, only You, are the All-Knower of all that is hidden and unseen. Never did I say to them except what You did command me to say: ‘Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord’. And I was a witness over them while I dwelt amongst them, but when You took me up, You were the Watcher over them, and You are a Witness to all things. If you punish them, they are Your slaves, and if you forgive them, indeed You, only You are the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.” Allah will say: “This is a Day on which the truthful will profit from their truth: theirs are Gardens under which rivers flow – they shall abide therein forever. Allah is pleased with them and they will be pleased with Him. That is the great success. To Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and all that is therein, and He is able to do all things.} Chapter 5: verses 116 – 120 of the Noble Quran.