SON OF HAMAS- A BOOK REVIEW

Son of Hamas is a real life story written in a wonderful form; that’s to say Mossab Yousef is a wonderful writer. You will both enjoy the pieces of real Estates called Israel and its occupied territories, its beautiful structures, the landmarks of the Country and their utmost belief and Culture.

I had always wanted to understand the way of terrorists; what made them tick, why they did what they did. This book answers all these questions and also leaves us with a clear understanding about the real theory behind the war in the Middle East that has being going on for decades now.

A friend of Mosab, who was well-educated with a masters degree and a well-paid job with a Wife a two kids, was identified as a suicide bomber. We thought it was only the poor ones that did this. Years later his Wife would come to ask for money. Even the terrorist organizations were not providing for the families whom they sent their Father and husband to die. What was he thinking?

“What kind of life have I lived? What was I free to share about my life? What have I sacrificed everything for? For  Palestine? For Israel? What did I have to show for being a Shing Bet superspook? Was my father home with his family? Was Israel safer? Where my people better? Had the bloodshed stopped? , I felt I had sacrificed a third of my life for nothing, ‘A chasing after the wind as King Solomon’ described in Ecclessiastes 4:16”

“We are fighting a war that cannot be won with arrest, interrogations and assignations. Our enemies are Ideas and Ideas don’t care about Incursions and curfew. We can’t blow up an idea with a Merkava. We are not your problem, you are not ours” (Mosab says to the Israeli Secret Service)

                Mosab Yousef came from a family that was deeply rooted in Islam, His grandfather was an Imam and his father continued in his steps becoming An Imam and Also one of the Prominent people in Parkistan territories and he was also one of the Founders of Hamas; which was a prominent terrorist organization.  Yet Mosab was able to help his people and find light for himself which is Jesus Christ. In the midst of a thick cloud chocked with lies, deceit, selfishness, blood and hate; he found a hope.

                He tells us that the Islamic life is like a ladder where there are three rungs. The first rung is where you believe that Allah is all Merciful and gracious. The second is where you become charitable to the people around, build schools and hospitals. The third of the rung is Jihad.  And the most feared are the one in the second rung because you don’t know the minute they would decide to join the third rung.  Most Traditional Muslims are at the foot of the ladder; always feeling guilty for not really practicing Islam.

Jihads are Fundamentalists. They are out there for the Preservation of Islam and didn’t the Quran say if there were invaders in your country, you should fight them off.

 With all this in Light, I am glad this book was written, to answer my questions and other people’s questions. Also point out that Individual need to change their ideology; it might take time but it can happen. It is also a call to Christians that Our Evangelical mission is a great call and that no matter how the middle –east might look unattainable, it is a goal that can be reached. Let’s keep Changing our world with the gospel and not Religion that kills; One Individual at a time.