Experience Description:

In the name of God Most gracious and Most Merciful.

(The statement above is always recited by the Muslims before saying or doing something.)

In short, I was learning how to swim. I tried to do an exercise at the depth of four meters, but I was not successful, and I sank to the bottom of the swimming pool. I couldn't hold my breath for long time. I started thinking about death... I surrendered totally and raised my hand stretching out my finger in order to recite the testimony silently in my heart. I saw nothing but a darkness and I felt a strange stillness despite that critical situation....

I began to move myself to the surface pressing the bottom with my feet; I made three unsuccessful and consecutive attempts to escape until I was saved by one of the brothers.

Stillness... darkness... understanding the true meaning of the death.

(The testimony or witness, in Arabic the SHAHADAH it is the first pillar of Islam the Muslims say it to declare their faith at the moment of dying: THERE IS NO GOD BUT ALLAH, MUHAMMAD IS THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH).

NB: (the Muslims are used to call their fellow men brothers as mentioned in the description.)

Background Information:

Gender: Male

Date NDE Occurred: 2001

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? No. Accident Illness, trauma or other condition not considered life threatening

How do you consider the content of your experience? Frightening

Did you feel separated from your body? Uncertain I lost awareness of my body

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal everyday consciousness and alertness? Normal consciousness and alertness

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? Total consciousness.

Were your thoughts speeded up? Incredibly fast

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? Time seemed to go faster than usual

Were your senses more vivid than usual? More so than usual

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. I saw the darkness and felt the great stillness.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. I didn’t hear the sound of water.

Did you seem to be aware of things going on elsewhere? Neither

Did you pass into or through a tunnel? Yes Dark surroundings.

Did you see any beings in your experience? Neither

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased (or alive) beings? No

Did you see, or feel surrounded by, a brilliant light? Neither

Did you see an unearthly light? No

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world? Clearly mystical or unearthly realm

Did you have a feeling of peace or pleasantness? Relief or calmness

Did you have a feeling of joy? Neither

Did you feel a sense of harmony or unity with the universe? Neither

Did you suddenly seem to understand everything? Everything about the universe

Did scenes from your past come back to you? Past flashed before me, out of my control As I am a foreigner (from Jordan), I thought about my parents my mother and father.

Did scenes from the future come to you? Neither

Did you come to a border or point of no return? A barrier I was not permitted to cross; or 'sent back' to life involuntarily

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What was your religion prior to your experience? Moderate

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? No I am Muslim, in my point of view, death can surprise us at any time and it has been created by God to test our good acts.

What is your religion now? Moderate

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? No I am Muslim, in my point of view, death can surprise us at any time and it has been created by God to test our good acts.

Did you seem to encounter a mystical being or presence, or hear an unidentifiable voice? Neither

Did you see deceased or religious spirits? Neither

Concerning our Earthly lives other than Religion

During your experience, did you gain special knowledge or information about your purpose? No

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? No

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? Yes Out of body experience.

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience? No

Have you ever shared this experience with others? No

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience? Yes

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened? Experience was definitely real I truly understood how the soul leaves the body, and how can our previous acts facilitate or complicate this process.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was probably real

At any time in your life, has anything ever reproduced any part of the experience? No

Are there any other questions that we could ask to help you communicate your experience? I suggest that you add the testimonies of those who accompany the people who are dying like the cancerous.