Former gangster who took more than 150 lives now leads others towards faith, peace

HE was once one of the most feared men in Australia’s criminal underworld.

A skilled shooter, he never hesitated to pull the trigger and his aim never missed. He claimed the lives of more than 150 people.

Violence, drugs and organised crime were part of his everyday life.

But today, that same man sits calmly with prayer beads in hand, lips softly repeating the name of Allah SWT. His heart found peace through Islam.

“I killed more than 150 people. Maybe even more. After 150, I stopped counting,” he admitted in a recent interview with YouTuber Lily Jay.

He shared that his journey to Islam began after he was sentenced to nine years in prison for a shooting incident.

Behind bars, in the silence and loneliness, he started to reflect on his life and that was when everything changed.

“While I was in prison, I did a lot of thinking. That’s where I found God. I found Allah and I chose to follow His path,” he said.

It was in prison that he began learning the Quran, praying five times a day and joining the Friday congregational prayers. His sincerity did not go unnoticed as fellow inmates even began calling him “Abang Imam.”

He did not just lead prayers. He also offered advice and support to other prisoners, helping them find their way too.

“This is what I need to do for my religion. We can choose to be good. We can also choose to be bad. Alhamdulillah, I chose to be good.

“The real peace comes when you truly surrender yourself. Now, the only fear I have is the fear of Allah,” he said.

After completing his sentence, he was deported from Australia. However, his spiritual journey did not end there.

He now dedicated his life to guiding youths, helping them steer clear of crime and violence.

“The greatest gangster isn’t the one who’s killed the most people. The greatest gangster is the one who can wake up for Subuh and pray five times a day,” he said.

However, his path to redemption was not without heartbreak.

His wife suffered an injury that required hip surgery. What was supposed to be a routine procedure took an unexpected turn and she died.

"One thing that brought peace to my heart and soul was that a week before she was admitted to the hospital, she embraced Islam. I had goosebumps. Yes, she became a Muslim. It was unimaginable, just a week before she passed away.

“Before she passed, I whispered the shahadah into her ear three times. On the third time, a tear rolled down her cheek. I knew she heard me,” he shared.

His wife passed away on a Friday, during Ramadan.

Before ending the interview, he eft a message for young people to hold firmly to their faith which was to pray five times a day and surrender to God.

“You could have all the money in the world, but if you don’t know God, you’re still the poorest person alive because when you die, you can’t take a single cent with you.

“But if you pray five times a day, surrender your soul to Allah and follow the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, then you’re the richest person on earth,” he said.