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Le Prix à payer

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Lors de son service militaire, Mohammed, jeune musulman irakien issu d'une grande famille chiite, découvre avec effroi que son voisin de chambrée est chrétien. Une relation paradoxale se noue entre les deux hommes. Mohammed en sortira métamorphosé. Revenu à la vie civile, il n'aura qu'une idée en tête : se convertir au christianisme. Une pure folie ! Pour ses parents et ses proches, c'est impensable. En Islam, le changement de religion est un crime. Tout est mis en oeuvre par son clan pour le faire revenir sur sa décision. Rien n'y fait. Après les intimidations et les coups, viennent la prison et la torture... Mohammed, devenu Joseph par son baptême, vit un long calvaire mais ne cède pas. Une fatwa est prononcée contre lui. Ses frères lui tirent dessus, en pleine rue. Grièvement blessé, il s'effondre... Le prix à payer est une histoire vraie.

221 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2010

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Joseph Fadelle

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
Profile Image for booklady.
2,739 reviews177 followers
May 3, 2014
Very few Muslims convert to Christianity. There are many reasons for this, but adverse family, social and economic pressures are the predominant factors, quite apart from concern for safety (for oneself as well as dependent loved ones) and lack of opportunity. In The Price to Pay, Joseph Fadelle (Muhammad al-Musawi) relates his adventurous journey from privileged son and future chief of the al-Musawi clan to discovering Jesus Christ which set him on a downward spiral in terms of his physical conditions but a soaring and relentless pursuit after Grace, Baptism, and the ‘Bread of Life’.

Muhammad/Joseph was willing to risk everything to find Jesus and get baptized. And in fact he did lose his wealth, country, position, and access to most of his family just for the right to be able to practice his faith freely—and that's not saying anything about all he suffered along the way to get to that time and place. An added bonus was learning about the brave Christians living in Iraq and Jordan who risked their lives to lend help. Although initially they were reluctant to share their faith, for Joseph’s sake as much as their own, once they made the commitment, they gave and did all they could.

As I was reading The Price to Pay, I kept thinking, I hope I never take my opportunity to worship God for granted again. What a treasured gift it is. It was hard not to contrast Joseph’s single-minded determination to respond to Christ's call with my own often tepid efforts.

There are a lot of conversion stories out there. This one kept me on edge, tense to know what would happen next, routing for such a believer and wanting to emulate him. His is a courageous, memorable and faith-affirming saga. It will stay with me.
Profile Image for Rita.
480 reviews65 followers
December 18, 2016


Este livro fez-me refletir sobre imensas coisas, ainda bem que a minha tia avó disse para eu lê-lo, gostei mesmo muito, então nesta altura do Natal, em que só festejamos esta época devido ao Nascimento de Jesus.
É bom conseguir expressar a minha fé com liberdade, sem medo de ser criticada ou até mesmo perseguida. Após esta leitura nunca mais tomarei a minha religião/Deus por garantido e dar-lhe-ei ainda mais valor!
Profile Image for Jaantony.
219 reviews
July 16, 2021
avventuroso abbastanza da capirne la spiritualità
Profile Image for Anna.
4 reviews1 follower
April 25, 2021
I read this book in one day because it was impossible to put down. It provides valuable insight into life for Christians in the Middle East, and I will certainly carry what I learned with me.
Profile Image for Amira Rady.
5 reviews
July 3, 2023
As a recent convert to Catholicism from Islam myself, I have sat at Mass at times and been envious in a way. Envious that, as well-intentioned as those around me were, that they didn't always realize that it is a privilege to be able to go to Mass every Sunday. The suffering endured by Joseph is far more trying than I can imagine, but I do understand firsthand the isolation that can come with bearing the cross of being a convert to Christianity from Islam. Like him, there were times I felt so alone--isolated from God, from my family, from everyone and everything. It felt as if I was praying into a void.

When Christ called to me, I had to decide whether I would respond to that call and abandon all I thought I knew, or continue living in fear of people who may be able to harm my body but can't harm my soul. We don't have to be constantly scared of God--we can have a loving and intimate relationship with Him. And in cases like this, when we lose our families in the process, we have to remember that we do have a Father who loves us without conditions.

"This, no doubt, is the most difficult thing that Christ is asking of me today: to love my enemies. That may seem easy when you don't have any. But when you have opponents, persons who have left marks in your flesh, then that is the real test of authenticity for the believer, the test that shows whether you are really Christian"
-Joseph Fadelle.

At the point in my life I felt most alone, the Lord came to me, just as He came to Joseph. The price to pay was steep. But this book is yet another testament to the fact that us converts are not alone in our suffering. That is a lie we can bind, reject, and send to the foot of the cross, for our Messiah--our Father--does not want us to suffer alone.

I would recommend this moving story and testament of faith to any and all, but especially other Catholics wanting to learn how to imitate Christ in their own lives while walking with their brothers and sisters around the world in their suffering.
Profile Image for Juan Cruz Gomez Seeber.
98 reviews2 followers
January 4, 2021
Es un gran testimonio de una historia muy fuerte, fue impresionante leer todo lo que tuvo que atravesar Joseph para llegar a cumplir su deseo de ser cristiano. Es admirable su resiliencia y su fe ciega en Dios. De todos modos, no logré disfrutar de leer este libro, quizá sea mucho mejor escucharlo a él dar su testimonio. A pesar de la historia que narra, la forma de llevarla no me resultó para nada atrapante; sentí que se agregaban detalles en donde no era importante y se mezquinaba en aquellos momentos donde el detalle lo es todo para llevar adelante lo impactante de lo acontecido. A su vez, yo noté personalmente cierto "narcisismo", esto puede ser muy mío, pero presentí que por momentos se elevaba a sí mismo (al narrar y en la experiencia en sí), repito que esta es mi únicamente mi opinión, pero así viví yo esta historia.
Profile Image for Chrystal.
997 reviews63 followers
January 21, 2013
The persecution of Christians in Muslim countries is a reality. This book gives an inside view of an Iraqi's journey from conversion to imprisonment, persecution, flight from his own family and to the road to forgiveness. "This, no doubt, is the most difficult thing that Christ is asking of me today: to love my enemies. That may seem easy when you don't have any. But when you have opponents, persons who have left marks in your flesh, then that is the real test of authenticity for the believer, the test that shows whether you are really Christian."
65 reviews
June 1, 2015
Por vezes o preço a pagar para se converter a uma religião é demasiado alto...e ao longo do livro é nos relatado isso mesmo. E a sorte que é vivermos num país onde livremente é possível cada um expressar a sua religião.
No entanto, as dúvidas que a personagem coloca enquanto muçulmano, acho que os cristãos também colocam.
É um livro interessante que vale a pena ler:)
Profile Image for Atwalys Tristan.
331 reviews12 followers
January 16, 2023
Un livre essentiel et o combien nécessaire qui décrit le parcours, l'épopée incroyable d'un irakien musulman ☪️ converti au christianisme . Un récit poignant et bouleversant qui met la lumière sur les persécutions vécues par les chrétiens d'Orient.
Profile Image for João Pedro.
83 reviews1 follower
February 27, 2024
Que história bonita e bem contada.
A história de um homem que nos ensina tanto e que faz colocar toda a nossa vida em perspetiva!
Profile Image for daphné.
32 reviews
November 15, 2025
reco d’alexis car on lui lisait dans son camp russe, j’aurais kiffé la routine d’un irakien catho mais ça parlait trop de religion en fait #je ne suis pas la fille de ma mère
Profile Image for Augustine Hilander.
13 reviews3 followers
May 18, 2017
Conversion at such a cost. He truly had to take in every relationship and see what his conversion would cause in the lives of the people he loved.
Profile Image for Hamisoitil.
510 reviews21 followers
August 12, 2015
Voici une lecture que je viens de terminer sur ma liseuse et que j'ai tout simplement adorée et j'en ressors complètement bouleversée.
Le prix à payer de Joseph Fadelle est le récit/témoignage d'un musulman converti au christianisme. Du coup, nous raconte sa rencontre avec un chrétien dans l'armée ; son parcours, sa vie, ses galères, la prison pour avoir choisi Jésus au Prophète... ou la Bible au Coran sous le régime Hussein en Irak.
Ce témoignage est vraiment addictif et l'auteur nous fait passer par différentes phases émotionnelles . On a les nerfs, on flippe, on pleure, on souffre pour lui.

Mais le plus cruel dans cette histoire presque tragique, c'est le comportement de sa famille envers cet homme. Totalement abjecte, méprisable, hallucinante voire dégueulasse avec une emprise sur lui qui ne va pas s'effacer du jour au lendemain, jusqu'à son mariage forcé avec une musulmane.

Un parcours semé d’embûches et d'épines pendant plusieurs années avec pour seul but, vivre sa foi au grand jour et se faire baptiser au nom de Jésus.
Un récit captivant, poignant qui fait réfléchir sur le regard des autres, de la famille, la foi...
Le non droit du changement dans un pays à 90% islamique et, où les chrétiens devaient se cacher pour ne pas se retrouver en prison voire pire.


Pour ma part, je pense que tout le monde peut lire ce livre. Toutes religions confondues. On ne peut pas sortir indemne d'une histoire pareille. L'auteur nous touche avec des mots simples mais bien choisis pour bien nous faire comprendre cette souffrance accumulée tout au long de sa vie chrétienne que ce soit chez les musulmans (se cacher pour ne pas se faire choper) et les chrétiens (quand il se présente en tant que musulman devenu chrétien). Les portes qui se ferment et cette difficulté à avancer pour vivre sa foi pleinement.
D'ailleurs, on le voit comparer certains textes du Coran à la Bible, notamment la place de la femme au sein du couple et le comportement que l'homme et/ou son mari doit avoir envers elle. Complètement aux antipodes de l'autre.
Bien qu'il ait souffert, la fin reste sublime.
Du coup, je vous le recommande chaudement. Vraiment une très belle découverte.
Profile Image for Gaby.
184 reviews18 followers
Read
December 14, 2016

Empecé a leer este libro gracias a la ferviente recomendación de mi madre... y teniendo en cuenta las abismales diferencias en nuestros gustos literarios, supuse que iba a odiarlo. Sin embargo no lo odié; no lo amé, pero tampoco lo odié.

La trama del libro es muy simple y a la vez fuerte: qué estás dispuesto a soportar por tu Dios? Para Joseph Fadelle fue perderlo todo; y esto nos hace reflexionar acerca de cuán difícil es defender tu fe cuando formas parte de la minoría, cuántos obstáculos debe superar una persona para defender sus creencias, y cuán lejos están dispuestos a llegar algunos hombres sólo porque "no les gusta tu Dios".

Este libro te hace reflexionar muchas cosas, y en mi caso particular me enseñó muchas cuestiones del Islamismo de las cuales no tenía idea. No deja de sorprenderme la intensidad del odio que pueden sentir algunas personas que sólo conocen la intolerancia; jamás dejaré de temerles a quienes odian a otros por ser diferentes. Pero tampoco deja de maravillarme el poder de la fe y la bondad que hay en las personas. Este libro muestra ambas: la luz y la oscuridad en nosotros, el odio y el amor, la intolerancia y el perdón.

Pero a pesar de que la trama es muy interesante, no pude superar el hecho de que no me gustó la narración del autor, era tan entusiasta que de a ratos bordeaba lo irrisorio, y aunque me conmoví por todas las desgracias por las que tuvo que pasar, por alguna razón no llegué a empatizar del todo con él. Creo que simplemente no conecté con la voz del autor.

Recomiendo el libro para todas aquellas personas que creen en algo superior a ellas mismas, y que están dispuestas a pelear por ello.
Profile Image for Catherine.
128 reviews5 followers
December 27, 2012
Very rare memoir by an Iraqi Muslim convert to Catholicism. I was very moved by his story and the miraculous grace that accompanied him throughout his harrowing escape to the West. My only critique is that there was no commentary to put the story in context or to update us on Mr. Fadelle's current situation and safety. An introduction by a bishop explaining the Iraqi bishops' initial refusal to baptize Mr. Fadelle would have been really helpful, and an epilogue explaining how he is kept safe today also would have been great and would have lent legitimacy to this otherwise amazing conversion story.
Profile Image for Antonia.
7 reviews
September 23, 2016
Como cristiana puedo decir que la historia de este hombre verdaderamente me impacta. Es un verdadero ejemplo a seguir. Hace poco estuvo en mi país y dio una charla muy buena con relación a su libro, que nos dejo a todos impresionados por la fortaleza y la fe que posee. Muy pocas personas en este mundo tienen esa fe y la aprecian verdaderamente. Sin duda este es un libro que nos hace darnos cuenta de muchas cosas y, en mi experiencia personal, me hizo darme cuenta de lo afortunada que soy por la libertad que poseo. Sin duda un libro inolvidable.
Profile Image for Santiago Vieto Rodríguez.
30 reviews17 followers
April 27, 2022
Impresionante testimonio, que en particular me ha parecido demostrar con gran fuerza como Dios prueba, pero nunca abandona a los que a Él se confían y se entregan a la verdadera Fe por entero.

Muy interesante para abrir los ojos de muchos que se creen posible la unión de las falsas religiones con la única verdadera, sobre la terrible realidad en que se encuentran por ejemplo los países sometidos a la "Sharia", futuro próximo de la Europa anestesiada y sin Fe, si no hay una intervención Divina.
Profile Image for Susan.
9 reviews
February 10, 2013
This book is inspiring, moving and hard to put down! I've heard about Christians being persecuted in the Middle East, and now I can better understand what it is like for them. Joseph Fadelle and his family went through such extreme hardship to even get baptized,let alone go to church, and I can easily practice my (Catholic) religion anytime I like. It sure put things in perspective. I didn't realize how much I take for granted.
Profile Image for MP Garza.
25 reviews
September 30, 2020
It truly is a book that will lighten your faith again. It is easy to be caught up in your routined life and take your religion for granted. However, reading about the struggles that many eastern converts have to surpass in order to live their faith peacefully leaves you dumbstruck. This autobiographical novel will lead you to a more personal relationship with Christ because it will enable you to reconsider your current relationship with him.
11 reviews1 follower
October 4, 2015
Extraordinario libro, donde se muestra la Fe de un hombre convertido a Cristo y el precio que le significó esta conversión. De fácil lectura, entretenido nos hace reflexionar sobre nuestras propias convicciones, Muy recomendable para entender el mundo en que vivimos.
Profile Image for Padre Fernando.
3 reviews5 followers
November 20, 2015
Buen libro que nos muestra el camino de conversión de un musulmán al cristianismo, muy interesante es la consideración del Corán que hace al inicio de su conversión que es lo que realmente le hace decidirse a ser cristiano.
Profile Image for Michelle.
123 reviews
September 23, 2020
Extraordinario relato. De esos libros que no quieres dejar de leer. Me hizo valorar mi fe y abrazar con más amor mi vida. Me hizo también ser consciente de la realidad de muchos que sufren porque no tienen libertad religiosa. Libro genial
Profile Image for Madzian.
3 reviews
August 17, 2023
Książka bardzo ciekawa, przedstawiająca sposób postrzegania chrześcijan przez muzułmanów, ich prześladowań. Zdecydowanie polecam książkę, pokazuje jakie trudy autor musiał przejść by zostać kim chciał.
Profile Image for Emily.
230 reviews1 follower
did-not-finish
April 14, 2013
I didn't actually finish this book, I just can't find it... Anyways, it'll become a "current read" again once I find it.
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