Saudi Prince Faces Execution for Reading Bible, Then JESUS INTERVENED | Christian Testimony
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My name is Prince Abdullah, and I stand before you as a man reborn. On March 15th, 2019, I was supposed to die by execution in Riyadh’s public square. Instead, a supernatural sandstorm swept through the city at the precise moment the sword was raised above my neck. This is the story of how a Saudi prince came to kneel before an executioner’s blade and how faith transformed my life forever.
I was born into unimaginable privilege as the third son of King Salman’s cousin. My childhood was a tapestry woven with luxury—marble palaces adorned with golden fountains, surrounded by servants who anticipated my every need. By the age of 20, I owned 12 luxury cars, had access to private jets, and could travel anywhere in the world with a single phone call. Yet, despite this opulence, I felt an emptiness gnawing at my soul.
From the age of five, I memorized verses from the Quran, learned the five pillars of Islam, and led prayers at the Royal Mosque. I fasted during Ramadan with perfect discipline and contributed generously to Islamic charities. My future was laid out before me: I would govern a province, marry strategically, and continue our family’s dynasty. But all these blessings felt like beautiful chains binding me to a life devoid of true purpose.
Everything changed during a diplomatic reception at our palace in March 2018. We were hosting Western ambassadors to discuss trade agreements, and I played my role as the educated, progressive prince. After the formal dinner, while inspecting the guest quarters, I stumbled upon something that would alter my destiny forever: a small leather book left behind by the American ambassador. The word “Bible” embossed in gold letters caught my eye.
I should have handed it over to security, but instead, I felt an inexplicable pull to open it. My eyes fell on Matthew chapter 5, and the words pierced through years of religious training: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” These words felt like a direct message from God, challenging everything I had been taught about power and revenge.
That night, I locked myself in my study and began reading the Sermon on the Mount. Every verse confronted my beliefs about jihad and the use of force in defending Islam. I found myself captivated by Jesus’ teachings on love, compassion, and forgiveness. For months, I conducted secret reading sessions, dismissing guards and locking all doors, devouring every word like a man dying of thirst.
In November 2018, I fell to my knees and whispered my first prayer to Jesus: “If you are real, show me the truth.” Instantly, a warmth filled my chest, and for the first time, I felt truly loved—not for my royal lineage or good deeds, but simply as a child of God.
My secret lasted eight months until one fateful morning in December 2018. After reading John’s gospel, particularly chapter 14, I fell asleep at my desk with the Bible open beside me. When my trusted servant Ahmed entered my study to wake me for Fajr prayer, he froze, his face pale as he stared at the forbidden book.
Tears streamed down his cheeks as he realized the implications of my discovery. “Prince Abdullah, they will kill us both if I don’t report this,” he said, his voice trembling. Under Sharia law, he was obligated to inform the authorities about my apostasy. I understood the impossible position I had placed him in.
With a heavy heart, I told him, “I cannot deny what I have found in Jesus Christ.” Ahmed backed away, torn between loyalty and duty. Within an hour, palace security surrounded my study, and news of my apostasy spread like wildfire through the royal household.
That evening, I was summoned to the throne room, where my father sat, flanked by religious leaders and court officials. His voice thundered through the chamber, “You have brought shame upon our bloodline. How dare you embrace the religion of our enemies?” The ultimatum was clear: renounce Christianity or face the consequences of Sharia justice.
Standing before my father, I felt the cold marble floor beneath me and the weight of centuries of Islamic rule pressing down. Yet, my heart burned with conviction. “Father, I cannot deny what I know to be true. Jesus Christ is Lord, and he has become my savior.” Gasps filled the room as the guards seized me, stripping away my princely robes and replacing them with the clothes of a common prisoner.
I was thrown into the palace dungeon, charged with apostasy punishable by death. The stark reality of my new life hit me hard—four concrete walls, one barred window, and a thin mattress became my prison. But as the heavy door clanged shut, I discovered I wasn’t alone. In neighboring cells were three other men awaiting execution for the same crime.
Mahmood, an Egyptian house church leader, Ysef, a Pakistani missionary, and Rashid, an Indonesian convert, all faced death with an unshakable joy and peace that defied understanding. Their hymns echoed through the walls, and I wept at the beauty of their worship. “To suffer for Christ is the highest privilege a believer can receive,” Ysef said, reminding me of the apostles who rejoiced in their suffering.
As March 14th approached, the guards informed me of my execution scheduled for dawn. Instead of fear, a profound peace enveloped me. I spent my final night writing my testimony on the prison wall, leaving behind a message for future believers. I forgave Ahmed for his betrayal, my father for his choices, and even the executioner who would swing the sword.
But the most extraordinary moment came just before dawn on March 15th. As I knelt in prayer, preparing to meet my savior, Jesus appeared to me in a blinding light. “Your story is just beginning,” he whispered.
At 4 AM, guards awakened me for the ritual preparations. They shackled my hands and feet and led me through the palace corridors, where I had once roamed as a prince. The prison transport vehicle carried me toward Dira Square, known as Chop Chop Square for its public executions. As we arrived, I was stunned by the massive crowd gathered, media crews from across the world ready to broadcast my execution.
The guards forced me to kneel on the execution mat. The executioner raised his sword high above my neck, but just as the blade began to descend, something miraculous happened. A sudden darkness enveloped the square as a massive sandstorm swept in, winds reaching 100 mph in seconds. Chaos erupted as thousands fled in terror, and in that moment, I felt supernatural strength surge through me.
My chains snapped like paper, and I ran through the blinding darkness, guided by Jesus. Within minutes, I reached the outskirts of Riyadh, where the winds began to subside. Looking back, I saw search teams forming, but I knew God had given me a head start that no human pursuit could overcome.
For three days, I journeyed through the desert toward the Jordanian border, sustained only by prayer. On March 18th, I reached the Jordan River Valley, where Christian smugglers awaited to help me cross. The Jordanian authorities initially detained me, but news of my escape spread, drawing international attention.
Pastor Michael, a former Muslim, welcomed me into his underground church in Amman. I learned that Christians worldwide had been praying for me. My first worship service brought tears to my eyes as I experienced a joy that no royal banquet had ever provided.
On April 7th, Pastor Michael baptized me in the Jordan River. As I emerged from the water, I felt the weight of my old life wash away. I had become a child of the King of Kings, leaving behind my identity as a Saudi prince.
Three months after my baptism, God spoke to me in a vivid dream, calling me back into the Middle East to share the gospel. I enrolled in an underground seminary, preparing for a life of ministry in hostile territories. In 2021, I joined a network of house churches operating secretly throughout Iran, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
The fruit of my ministry has exceeded every expectation. I have personally led more than 200 Muslims to faith in Christ, baptized former ISIS fighters, and planted underground churches across seven countries.
I gave up an earthly crown to gain a heavenly one, traded temporary wealth for eternal treasures, and exchanged an earthly family for the family of God. If a Saudi prince can leave everything for Jesus, so can you. The question is not whether God can use your life for his glory, but whether you are willing to surrender completely to his calling, regardless of the cost. No storm is stronger than our Savior, and no executioner’s sword can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
