In the year 1219 A.D. — as the Medieval Crusades were raging — Francis of Assisi, a Christian minister, sailed to Damietta, Egypt, where crusaders were besieging a Muslim fortress.  It was not his intention to join in the bloody conflict; rather, he hoped to speak to the local Muslim prince about the gospel of Christ.

So, in the very midst of the battle, Francis and one of his companions found a way to cross the enemy lines and ask the Muslims to take them to their leader, Sultan Malik al–Kamil.  Sounds crazy, but it worked.  They were ushered right into al–Kamil’s presence.

When questioned by the prince, Francis replied, “We are telling you in all truth that if you die in the law which you now profess, you will be lost and God will not possess your soul.  It is for this reason we have come.”

The sultan’s counselors were enraged: “Lord, you are the sword of the law: you have the duty to maintain and defend it.  We command you, in the name of Allah and Muhammad, who has given us the law, to cut off their heads here and now, for we do not want to listen to anything they have to say.”

The sultan agreed that they would not listen to what Francis had to say, but he refused to have Francis and his friend killed.  “I am going to act against the law, because I am never going to condemn you to death.  For that would be an evil reward for me to bestow on you, who conscientiously risked death in order to save my soul for God.”

Malik al–Kamil then went so far as to offer his guests gifts and lands!  But Francis refused these gifts, and eventually the sultan had Francis and his friend escorted safely back across Christian lines.

Bishop Jacques de Vitry later wrote of the Franciscans — an order of Christian ministers founded by Francis — “Not only Christ’s faithful but even the Saracens… [the term used for Muslims during the crusades] …admire their humility and virtue, and when the brothers fearlessly approach them to preach, they willingly receive them and, with a grateful spirit, provide them with what they need.”

May this story of unflinching courage and self–sacrificial love once again be the story of Christ’s church as we engage our Muslim neighbors with the good news of the Christ’s gospel.