A Mufti's Son, a Dream of Light, and 13 Lost Teeth: Ahmed Joktan's Call to Share the Gospel
He memorised the Quran by 13. Then, as a student in New Zealand, he dreamed of a voice saying "Come to me" — and paid for following it
The short answer
According to The Christian Post, Ahmed Joktan was raised in a strict Muslim family in Saudi Arabia — his father was a mufti, and he memorised the Quran by 13. While studying English in Auckland, New Zealand, he dreamed of overwhelming light and a voice saying "Come to me," and was directed to "the house of the white pillars" to find the truth. After he returned home, his family found his Arabic New Testament; his brothers beat him and he lost 13 teeth. He co-founded Mecca to Christ Ministries International and urges Christians to share the gospel with Muslims.
Ahmed Joktan knew the Quran by heart by the time he was 13. His father was a mufti — an Islamic legal scholar — in Saudi Arabia, and Joktan was raised in a strict Muslim home.
What changed his life happened on the other side of the world.
The Dream
"A mufti's son who memorised the Quran by 13 met Jesus after a dream of light in New Zealand — and lost 13 teeth when his family found his Bible. His plea: Christians, share the gospel with Muslims, and don't let fear stop you."
Click to copy and shareAbout two and a half months into English studies in Auckland, New Zealand, Joktan had a dream he describes vividly: balcony doors opening onto overwhelming light, a figure, and a voice saying, "Come to me." He was then told to look for "the house of the white pillars," where he would "find the truth."
He says he first thought he'd encountered some kind of supernatural being. The search that followed led him to Jesus.
He is one of many. Reports of Muslims who say Jesus appeared to them in a dream have become so common in mission circles over the past few decades that many former Muslims describe a dream as the first step on their journey — usually followed, as in Joktan's case, by a Christian who could explain what it meant.
The Cost
Joktan returned to Saudi Arabia with an Arabic New Testament hidden in his belongings. His family found it. His brothers beat him; his father threatened him with an AK-47. He lost 13 teeth, and he still carries scars on his face and back.
"The cost of believing in Jesus is real," he said. "I have experienced that myself. I have scars on my face, on my back."
What He Wants Christians to Do
Joktan went on to co-found Mecca to Christ Ministries International and has written books including From Mecca to Christ. His message to Christians is direct:
- Share your own testimony — your story is something no one can argue with.
- Learn what the Quran says about Jesus, so you can start where your Muslim friend already is.
- Don't assume rejection — he says most Muslims are receptive to the gospel.
- Push past fear. The biggest barrier, in his experience, is usually the Christian's, not the Muslim's.
If you've never shared your faith with a Muslim friend or neighbour and don't know where to begin, our practical guide to sharing your faith is built around the first two of those: your story and a simple explanation of the good news.
A mufti's son who memorised the Quran by 13 met Jesus after a dream of light in New Zealand — and lost 13 teeth when his family found his Bible. His plea: Christians, share the gospel with Muslims, and don't let fear stop you.
Biblical Perspective
Peter, quoting Joel at Pentecost, said that in the last days God would pour out His Spirit so that "your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams" (Acts 2:17). God used a vision to send Ananias to Saul (Acts 9:10–12) — the dream opened the door, and a believer walked through it. Jesus also told His followers plainly that following Him could divide families (Matthew 10:35–39).
"Your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams."
— Acts 2:17 (NIV)
Pray With Us
Jesus, thank You for revealing Yourself to Ahmed Joktan, and for the many Muslims You are calling by name. Heal every wound from the cost of following You. Give believers courage and love to share the gospel with Muslim friends and neighbours. Bring Ahmed's family to know You too. Amen.
Declarations to Speak
- ›Jesus is calling Muslims by name!
- ›The cost is real, and He is worth it!
- ›We will share the good news without fear!
Take Action
- 1Pray for a Muslim friend, colleague or neighbour by name this week.
- 2Write down your own testimony in three or four sentences so you're ready to share it.
- 3Pray for converts from Islam who face rejection and violence from their families.
"A mufti's son, a dream of light in New Zealand, and 13 lost teeth. Ahmed Joktan's story — and his challenge to every Christian."
Pray & Speak Life Over This Story
Don't just read — respond in faith. Click below to declare that you have prayed over this story and spoken life into it. Our prayers and words have power to change the world.
"Death and life are in the power of the tongue." — Proverbs 18:21
Your Prayers & Words Have Power
Every time you pray over a story and speak life, you are partnering with Heaven to see God's Kingdom come on earth. When believers around the world agree in prayer, mountains move. Keep praying over these matters — your consistency in intercession is changing the world.
"The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." — James 5:16
Prayer Is Powerful — So Is Action.
You've prayed. Now take it further. Join or start an outreach group in your area and take the love of Jesus to the streets. Every act of love, every meal shared, every prayer prayed in person is the Kingdom advancing in your community.
"Faith without works is dead." — James 2:26
Questions people are asking
Who is Ahmed Joktan?
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Ahmed Joktan is a former Muslim from Saudi Arabia, the son of a mufti, who became a Christian after a dream of Jesus while studying in New Zealand. He co-founded Mecca to Christ Ministries International and wrote From Mecca to Christ.
Do Muslims really have dreams of Jesus?
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Many former Muslims, including Ahmed Joktan, describe a dream or vision of Jesus as the beginning of their journey to faith. Scripture describes God speaking through dreams and visions (Acts 2:17), and in accounts like Joktan's the dream typically leads the person to look for Christians and the Bible to understand it.
Sources & further reading
About the Author
Daniel Ziedins
Founder & Editor-in-Chief
Daniel Ziedins is the founder and editor-in-chief of Thy Kingdom News. A passionate believer with a heart for revival, missions, and seeing God's Kingdom advance across the earth, Daniel created this platform to report on what God is doing in the nations — the stories the mainstream media won't tell. He is also the creator of LoveOnTheWorldMap.com, a global initiative to map acts of God's love worldwide. Daniel believes that every testimony, every revival report, and every prayer answered is evidence that the Kingdom of God is here and advancing.
"Your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams."
Acts 2:17 (NIV)
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