From early on, Daniel Scot reached out to Muslims - this was always vital to him. He was born into a Christian family in Pakistan, before the time of the blasphemy laws. He had an aptitude for math, as well as his passion for evangelizing.
In order to reach out to Muslims, he learned about Islam. This has served him well, more than once, in more than his evangelizing.
For instance, for one position in Pakistan, where the test evaluated his knowledge of Islam as well as math, he got the top marks of over 300 applicants.
Many years later, his knowledge would prove very useful when he was hit with lawfare in Australia.
How did he get to Australia? By the time Daniel was nearing the end of high school, times were changing in Pakistan, with increasing discrimination against Christians.
Still, Daniel got his MA, and teaching as a math professor - and continued speaking to Muslims about Christ.
By 1987, however, he was facing prosecution and had to flee.
Still, he continued, first in Britain later in Australia. In fact, by 1994 he gave up being a math professor to devote himself to reaching out to Muslims.
Daniel and his wife, Mariat, have established IMI - IBRAHIM MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL. They have trained thousands of Christians in this ministry.
His wife, by the way, was not initially supportive. She and her family has suffered too much at the hands of Muslims. Daniel strongly held that the problem was not Muslims but Islam, and within a couple of years, she
came to be fully supportive of his mission.
As already noted,
leaving Pakistan did not mean the end of persecution. Instead, in Australia, he faced lawfare - a show trial that lasted over 5 years against a very well-funded opposition. He was accused of vilification of Islam.
Once again, Daniel's deep knowledge of Islam was extremely useful. He used the show trial to turn the table on his opponents. For instance, he knew Islamic religious texts, and had the experts read passages. For how he did this, listen to the interview.
Here's more about the show trial, from Daniel's CV:
In March 2002, Daniel was charged in Australia with vilification of Muslims in his teaching Christians about the Qur’an, Hadith, Life of Muhammad and in his explaining of Christianity in a way that Muslims could understand. He was found guilty by a judge at Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) Melbourne, Australia.
In appeal to the Supreme Court, the full panel of three judges, found the VCAT judgment to be in gross error and awarded Daniel half the costs.
The case lasted for five years and seven months but both parties came to an agreement out of court:
"The right of each other, their communities and all persons, within the limits provided for by law, to robustly debate religion, including the right to criticise the religious belief of another, in a free, open and democratic society.”
Daniel’s historic religious court case not only stopped enforcement of bad hate speech laws in other states of Australia and New Zealand, but became part of the curriculum for law students in Australian Universities.
The trial, in other words, became a victory for freedom of speech.
(Free speech is far from safe in Australia, unfortunately. There have been extremely troubling developments.)
As for Daniel,
by now it's 50 years that he has been, in his words, bringing Christ to Muslims and Muslims to Christ.
What are we to do about Muslims, I have heard over and over. After all, there are 1.5 billion Muslims.
Daniel Scot's answer: Provide a better alternative.
For instance, show that everyone who accepts Christ is saved, whereas there is no sure path in Islam, except to die in jihad.
Daniel Scot, for 50 years,
a Christian Evangelizing Muslims.
He needed to flee Pakistan.
Then persecuted in Australia
with Lawfare, a Show Trial.
INTERVIEW HERE.
Daniel Scot, for 50 years,
a Christian Evangelizing Muslims.
He needed to flee Pakistan.
Then
persecuted in Australia
by Lawfare, a Show Trial.
Victorious.