To the editor:
As I begin this letter, my mind is on the Arab mindset instead of the Hebrew mindset. What do many Muslims believe and why? Who is the 12th imam?
This is the leading question between the Shiite and the Sunni Muslims. It’s all based on what one man said he heard Muhammad say: “I heard Muhammad saying Islam will continue to be strong to 12 Muslim rulers. He then said a sentence which I did not hear. My father said all of them (those rulers) will be from Quraysh.” (Jabir bin Samura, prophet Muhammad)
The Shiites of Iran believe that the 12th imam was born around 868 CE and went into hiding around the age of 5. His name was Mohammed ibn Hasan who was the 12th imam in Muhammad’s lineage. Many even believe that he will return with the Messiah — this imam will be their Mahdi (Messiah).
Although Shiites and Sunnis often battle against each other, as we have seen in Iraq, a common effort among both groups is to destroy Israel — it is a critical part of Islam taking control in the world and thus ushering in the Mahdi.
This should help all to understand why neither the Palestinians nor any other Islamic militant group — even though they make pacts and agreements with nations and Israel — will ever produce maps of their area with Israel displayed on them. They say Israel and America are a hindrance to the coming of their Messiah. Big Satan (that’s us) and little Satan (Yisrael) must be destroyed.
Billy Wilson
Rockingham