11 September 2007

Not of This World?

Bin Laden released another video to mark the 11 Sept. anniversary, featuring the last will of one of the hijackers. Here's a story about it(http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,296372,00.html) that includes an unexpected comment from the terrorist. He says: we are not contending with you for this world. That seems to go against what I understood about Islam, which was that Muslims reject the Christian deferral of ultimate justice to the next life. While Christians take the statement, "My Kingdom is not of this world" to mean they should not expect or try to impose an earthly paradise in this life, or before Jesus returns, Muslims supposedly believe that they can establish a perfect state on earth based on the Sharia. But here's a presumably devout Muslim appearing to disclaim interest in this world, calling it insignificant in Allah's eyes. His attitude probably follows from al Qaeda's obsession with martyrdom, their avowed love of death, and their faith in an ultimate reward in the next life. But wherever he gets the idea, his statement begs the question: if you're not contending with us for this world, then why on earth are you trying to kill people? Perhaps Osama can answer that one at the same time that he explains why martyrdom is glorious for everyone but him.

1 comment:

hobbyfan said...

Osama and his followers have long misinterpreted the teachings of Islam to further their own hateful agenda. There is no martyrdom in what they have done. Al Qaeda has brainwashed who knows how many Muslim men & women such that they have no idea that they have in truth mortgaged, nay, forfeited their future in service to a deranged, bitter zealot with an axe to grind.