In Islam, as in Judaism and Christianity, there are certain beliefs concerning the cosmic struggle at the end of time — Gog and Magog, anti-Christ, Armageddon, and for Shiite Muslims, the long awaited return of the Hidden Imam, ending in the final victory of the forces of good over evil, however these may be defined. Mr. Ahmadinejad and his followers clearly believe that this time is now, and that the terminal struggle has already begun and is indeed well advanced. It may even have a date, indicated by several references by the Iranian president to giving his final answer to the U.S. about nuclear development by Aug. 22. This was at first reported as “by the end of August,” but Mr. Ahmadinejad’s statement was more precise.
What is the significance of Aug. 22? This year, Aug. 22 corresponds, in the Islamic calendar, to the 27th day of the month of Rajab of the year 1427. This, by tradition, is the night when many Muslims commemorate the night flight of the prophet Muhammad on the winged horse Buraq, first to “the farthest mosque,” usually identified with Jerusalem, and then to heaven and back (c.f., Koran XVII.1). This might well be deemed an appropriate date for the apocalyptic ending of Israel and if necessary of the world. It is far from certain that Mr. Ahmadinejad plans any such cataclysmic events precisely for Aug. 22. But it would be wise to bear the possibility in mind.
It really seems that while dealing with a complex and multi-dimensioned foreign policy issues, all the neo-cons want to do is what they did with Iraq: clutch at straws, invent bogeymen and fabricate lies. That Bernard Lewis, a man still appreciated even by his political enemies as a scholar of some note, has sunk to scare-mongering in lieu of policy advocacy is sad and scary.
If Ahmadinejad controlled the military, I would worry.
I’m no Iran hand, but the experts agree the Iranians won’t even have nuclear weapons for years, nevermind Aug. 22!
And not to mention that history (both recent and old) shows that Iran is quite pragmatic when it comes to their foreign policy (i.e. they probably would not invite their own destruction).
Does the full article say that?
This is idiotic reasoning based on false erudition. So Lewis knows how to convert dates. Pat him on the head and mix him a martini- he must be tired after all that exertion. Perhaps he can use similar apocolyptic reasoning to explain certain decisions by the Bush Administration such as their stance on Iran and the dithering on Lebanon.
Essentially, yes. The full thing is pasted below.
August 22
By BERNARD LEWIS
August 8, 2006; Page A10
During the Cold War, both sides possessed weapons of mass destruction, but neither side used them, deterred by what was known as MAD, mutual assured destruction. Similar constraints have no doubt prevented their use in the confrontation between India and Pakistan. In our own day a new such confrontation seems to be looming between a nuclear-armed Iran and its favorite enemies, named by the late Ayatollah Khomeini as the Great Satan and the Little Satan, i.e., the United States and Israel. Against the U.S. the bombs might be delivered by terrorists, a method having the advantage of bearing no return address. Against Israel, the target is small enough to attempt obliteration by direct bombardment.
It seems increasingly likely that the Iranians either have or very soon will have nuclear weapons at their disposal, thanks to their own researches (which began some 15 years ago), to some of their obliging neighbors, and to the ever-helpful rulers of North Korea. The language used by Iranian President Ahmadinejad would seem to indicate the reality and indeed the imminence of this threat.
Would the same constraints, the same fear of mutual assured destruction, restrain a nuclear-armed Iran from using such weapons against the U.S. or against Israel?
* * *
There is a radical difference between the Islamic Republic of Iran and other governments with nuclear weapons. This difference is expressed in what can only be described as the apocalyptic worldview of Iran’s present rulers. This worldview and expectation, vividly expressed in speeches, articles and even schoolbooks, clearly shape the perception and therefore the policies of Ahmadinejad and his disciples.
Muhammad’s night flight on Buraq.
Even in the past it was clear that terrorists claiming to act in the name of Islam had no compunction in slaughtering large numbers of fellow Muslims. A notable example was the blowing up of the American embassies in East Africa in 1998, killing a few American diplomats and a much larger number of uninvolved local passersby, many of them Muslims. There were numerous other Muslim victims in the various terrorist attacks of the last 15 years.
The phrase “Allah will know his own” is usually used to explain such apparently callous unconcern; it means that while infidel, i.e., non-Muslim, victims will go to a well-deserved punishment in hell, Muslims will be sent straight to heaven. According to this view, the bombers are in fact doing their Muslim victims a favor by giving them a quick pass to heaven and its delights — the rewards without the struggles of martyrdom. School textbooks tell young Iranians to be ready for a final global struggle against an evil enemy, named as the U.S., and to prepare themselves for the privileges of martyrdom.
A direct attack on the U.S., though possible, is less likely in the immediate future. Israel is a nearer and easier target, and Mr. Ahmadinejad has given indication of thinking along these lines. The Western observer would immediately think of two possible deterrents. The first is that an attack that wipes out Israel would almost certainly wipe out the Palestinians too. The second is that such an attack would evoke a devastating reprisal from Israel against Iran, since one may surely assume that the Israelis have made the necessary arrangements for a counterstrike even after a nuclear holocaust in Israel.
The first of these possible deterrents might well be of concern to the Palestinians — but not apparently to their fanatical champions in the Iranian government. The second deterrent — the threat of direct retaliation on Iran — is, as noted, already weakened by the suicide or martyrdom complex that plagues parts of the Islamic world today, without parallel in other religions, or for that matter in the Islamic past. This complex has become even more important at the present day, because of this new apocalyptic vision.
In Islam, as in Judaism and Christianity, there are certain beliefs concerning the cosmic struggle at the end of time — Gog and Magog, anti-Christ, Armageddon, and for Shiite Muslims, the long awaited return of the Hidden Imam, ending in the final victory of the forces of good over evil, however these may be defined. Mr. Ahmadinejad and his followers clearly believe that this time is now, and that the terminal struggle has already begun and is indeed well advanced. It may even have a date, indicated by several references by the Iranian president to giving his final answer to the U.S. about nuclear development by Aug. 22. This was at first reported as “by the end of August,” but Mr. Ahmadinejad’s statement was more precise.
What is the significance of Aug. 22? This year, Aug. 22 corresponds, in the Islamic calendar, to the 27th day of the month of Rajab of the year 1427. This, by tradition, is the night when many Muslims commemorate the night flight of the prophet Muhammad on the winged horse Buraq, first to “the farthest mosque,” usually identified with Jerusalem, and then to heaven and back (c.f., Koran XVII.1). This might well be deemed an appropriate date for the apocalyptic ending of Israel and if necessary of the world. It is far from certain that Mr. Ahmadinejad plans any such cataclysmic events precisely for Aug. 22. But it would be wise to bear the possibility in mind.
A passage from the Ayatollah Khomeini, quoted in an 11th-grade Iranian schoolbook, is revealing. “I am decisively announcing to the whole world that if the world-devourers [i.e., the infidel powers] wish to stand against our religion, we will stand against their whole world and will not cease until the annihilation of all them. Either we all become free, or we will go to the greater freedom which is martyrdom. Either we shake one another’s hands in joy at the victory of Islam in the world, or all of us will turn to eternal life and martyrdom. In both cases, victory and success are ours.”
In this context, mutual assured destruction, the deterrent that worked so well during the Cold War, would have no meaning. At the end of time, there will be general destruction anyway. What will matter will be the final destination of the dead — hell for the infidels, and heaven for the believers. For people with this mindset, MAD is not a constraint; it is an inducement.
How then can one confront such an enemy, with such a view of life and death? Some immediate precautions are obviously possible and necessary. In the long term, it would seem that the best, perhaps the only hope is to appeal to those Muslims, Iranians, Arabs and others who do not share these apocalyptic perceptions and aspirations, and feel as much threatened, indeed even more threatened, than we are. There must be many such, probably even a majority in the lands of Islam. Now is the time for them to save their countries, their societies and their religion from the madness of MAD.
Mr. Lewis, professor emeritus at Princeton, is the author, most recently, of “From Babel to Dragomans: Interpreting the Middle East” (Oxford University Press, 2004).
Uh-huh. In context, the excerpt is even nuttier.
This isn’t my area of expertise, but why is a nut like this considered any kind of scholar? He’s clearly a delusional paranoid.
At this point, I’d say he’s trading on scholar achievements from the early 1980’s and before.
Errr….what is the significance of 22 August? It is the last day of the Iranian month of MORDAD. I was writing something about this deadline at work, and it took me all of five minutes to find out why they had chosen this date. This doesn’t prove that Mr Ahmadinejad isn’t planning ‘cataclysmic events’. But it does show either that Lewis’s research skills are declining with age, or that he is just…a scaremonger.
Issandr, yes, they won’t have nuclear weapons… but who needs nuclear weapons if za MAHDI returns?!
He’s a very old man and intellectually not what he once was (re: This isn’t my area of expertise, but why is a nut like this considered any kind of scholar? He’s clearly a delusional paranoid.)
His older scholarship is interesting, but he is a historian and in essence a medaievalist. It speaks to the thinness of scholarship that a medaievalist is quoted regarding modern events.
i believe over the last few years, Mr. Lewis has developed hate islam – hate iran syndrome. may b its just the old age (i hope so) or else this can be just termed as intellectual bankkruptcy or may b just another way of hogging attention.
whatever it is , its in bad taste and very unbecoming of an ex princeton prof.
Well, there have been news reports of Iranians being killed in Lebanon…..
Senile old bigot. He used to be much better at clothing his bigotry in academickese.
His ilk will always quote religious nuts as though their most outrageous statements represent or predict the political behaviour of their communities. Rather like taking Bush’s remarks about Catholics not going to heaven or Billy Graham’s remarks about Muslims or the Crusade remarks that US military officer made in the early days of the Afghanistan war and claiming that these indicate that the American political leadership believes it is fighting a crusade against Muslims. People tend to forget that Khomeini behaved fairly rationally in Iran’s war with Iraq and had no messianic qualms about drawing back from that conflict.
Lewis’ ideas about Islamists and those who believe they are defending Islam being “irrational” and immune to conventional military logic or deterrence are sadly common among US policymakers and even security studies and IR scholars these days. These are the people who know nothing about the Middle East and are desperately looking for a way to get on the terrorism bandwagon to stay relevant. They lap up that Paul Berman fellow and I’m sure they love Lewis too.
Seems like the TV programs, CNN and others, are going all out to prepare the People of the United States for W W III, or theUnited States’ invasion of another country in the near future. The Bush Adminstration and the Press gave us much false information prior to our invasion of Iraq that the a lot of people, myself included, will not trust this adminstration or any of the other elected officials that have supported our invasion of Iraq. The Military industrial Complex and the Oil Companies will do anything to keep a war going some place in the world. The in of all wars (August 22) could be peace if the leaders of the world really wanted peace.
Lol, end of the world theory? Funny enough, the 22th of august, is my birthday. Fun fun, I was checking wiki O pedia, and I found that, not just the Mahdi will return, but Jesus as well 😛 And both will fight against the forces of evil, then then, wth … Sounds like a good movie plot -.-
Doubtless a Muslim edit to reek-o-pedia. The New Testament text concerning Christ’s return says that no man will know the day or the hour. And the idea that Christ would be allied with the devil (any other so-called “prophet”) is anathema in Biblical doctrine.
[…] You can read the full article in the WSJ (if you are a subscriber) or at WorldNetDaily or you can go here to read the article and the liberal Leftist responses. […]
Someone please tell me where the # 14 fits in with 1427? I understand the 27 but why 14?
From the Qu’ran, its the dajal, a devil stuff, which will return first. After much destruction, then the madhi, and Jesus, will return. After which, the madhi, will give his forces to our liege lord, Jesus, then bla bla bla … Good wins. LoL, anyway, I don’t really believe in all that bs, but it was quite funny to read.
I know something ridiculous. Islamic fascists are going to run planes into the world trade center and they are going to collapse to the ground. “What? No way. You’re delusional. And a bigot.”
Also, Hitler is going to slaughter millions of Jews. “No way, it’s the modern age. We would KNOW that was going on and we would stop it.”
Iran doesn’t need to produce it’s own nuclear weapon, they can buy one from North Korea.
how about, millions of muslims will get slaughtered, but hey, who cares, I mean, they got what they deserved even if only 100 out of those millions who died actually deserved it …. another one for your list jessica -.-
Will get slaughtered if what? My post did not mention a certain course of action to take. However, I do think it is prudent to understand what could happen and be on high alert, and to not assume that Iran will take a similar path to what is has taken in the past. Because now, there is a different leader in power, with a different, and strongly anti-semitic, anti-american ideology. I think that would make him a bigot to the highest degree.
I am a Christian who cares deeply about Muslims and who morns for their sufferings. I morn for the misunderstandings that exist between the West and the Mideast. I also morn for innocent kids who’s minds are warped by lies before they are given the chance to learn how to think for themselves. This can happen anywhere, not just in the Muslim community and it is a terrible tragedy.
A warning of things that could happen. If you will not have an open mind here, that what is it going to take to get your attention?
Most of you all say he is a nut job but not one clear thought on your own as to what can happen. Do you really think we are safe? Do you really think if we put our gun down first others will not shoot? What are you going to say and who are you going to point to if it does happen? I know, you will be first in line to bitch, when you could have reacted sooner.
How about now at this time, this week a plot to blow more of US out of the sky? It isn’t a political ploy, it is real life and one day it will come to an end. What kind of an end do you want for you and your kids?
Everyone in the world do not play fair, they do not uphold our laws, they think they are justified.
So go ahead and plant your head up your A __ just like those who watched as the WTC fell saying, How did they do this, why, why did no one connect the dots?
Here is a big dot right in front of you and time is ticking away.
When it comes down to us or them, I vote US.
I couldn’t have said it any better than that Glenn….
Not to mention those “way out left nutjobs” are pro-life and support abortion….What does that tell you about the WTC was brought down by our own Gov.
They really need to not take stuff like this as a joke….But it is ok Bill Clinton was only killing our country because he was to busy staining dresses….Bush can’t lie to the country but Clinton can and get away with it…..(“I did not have sexual relations with that woman”).
Well, there is a problem, Glenn, Who are ‘them’? Terrorists, Muslims, Muslims Extremists. Your president, decided to connect the dot, and actually, this ideology is to let the Middle-East burn, creating, MORE, extremists, why? To save the ‘us’? At least for me, he gives me the impression, he want to have us all in a nice little camp, and gas us -.-
Same thing like 9/11, how many people, who lost precious ones, wanted to get revenge. Now, in Iraq, Palestine, Lebanon, since when, do these guys want ‘revenge’ and WHY? Thats the real issue, Peace can be attained, but not by barbarious means, like Killing all of them, to protect the ‘us’.
And Jessica, Sorry if I over-reacted, because, as a Muslim, who doesn’t live in the middle-east, and who has the privilege of being, in a peaceful and democratic country, I really, fear, for the future, of my children, with that whirlpool of hate, that is consuming a lot of people in the world.
Imho, revenge is NEVER the solution. But how do I tell that to a person who saw his precious ones killed in front of his eyes.
“I really, fear, for the future, of my children, with that whirlpool of hate, that is consuming a lot of people in the world.”
taysiir, the feeling is completely mutual. I think some of the issue is, because you, as a Muslim and myself as a Christian, we read the same thing, and come out with totally different interpretations. I read Bernard Lewis’s comments (not just those above, but his other writings), and I hear a respect for Islam that says, “West, give Islamic countries a helping hand, then, get out of their way and let them do it, because they are smart enough to handle it themselves.” I think that was the point of Iraq, and it could have been a pretty “clean” war, however, the administration did not account for, or expect, that the extremists would cause so much trouble.
I know there are also Christian extremists, and when I hear the stories…like bombing an abortion clinic…I roll my eyes and I am very disappointed because I wonder how they could use the Bible to justify that act. The point is, they are not true followers of Jesus Christ, they have twisted his words, and because of that, I really fear for their souls–because I can’t imagine how angry that makes Jesus. I feel the same way for the Muslim extremists. I feel they are people, not different than me, who, for some reason, have gotten their minds twisted. What we really need to fight is the social structure that is allowing this to happen. These extremists are succeeding in developing hate between the West and the Middle East, that is what they want, and we have to rise above it, otherwise they will win.
In my Christian circles, I can assure you, there is no hatred of the Middle East, or of Muslims. There is simply the understanding that, we are all God’s people, and that, because of the condition of this world, we are all also tempted by evil. Some people succomb to it. But, we, as Christians would welcome our homes, our dinner tables to Muslims, not just American Muslims, but Muslims from all over. And the Christians I know do not desire any sort of “forced” conversion of Muslims. We know, I know, that forced conversion simply is not possible, because acceptance of Jesus’s forgiveness is purely a matter of heart, and cannot be imposed from the outside. Truly, there is just a desire to understand Muslims, to share the message of Jesus, and if someone decides to take that message, than, well, that is up to them. And if they do accept it, we will rejoice.
So, I hope as Muslims and Christians, West and Mideast, that we can start to work thru the misunderstandings that are breeding this hate. Let’s not let the terrorists win.
I really hope that as well, as I see myself as a Human first, then as a muslim, I really wished, a lot of those extremists, would understand that as well. Thanks a lot for your answer. It went directly to my heart 🙂
I have to 100% agree with Jessica, and am also a Christian myself..BUT I do have to say that some force is needed to protect people against that Evil that surrounds us…There are good Muslims and bad Muslims and the bad ones I strongly believe that they are so twisted in killing “all” that don’t believe in Allah should die. This is very concerning to me and to see that my son is in this hate filled world, will only make my Faith in JESUS CHRIST grow stronger…Not omly for me but for my Family….
I do believe We as Christians and Muslims could become “true” friends if the good Muslims would stand up to the hate filled Muslims that are teaching kids at the age of 3 to kill Americans and anyone that dont believe their way…
As I said it takes some force to prove to those insane people that they will not get the upper hand if it comes down to a real War….
Taysiir, answer me this please………Why is it that only the young Extremist Muslims are the only ones blowing up themselves and not the ones brainwashing them?
Come on now, grow a backbone and standup!!!!!
Only the good Muslims can really put an end to this Bullshit…
Peace and hope your family is safe….
Thank you also, taysiir. 🙂 I have appreciated your comments.
Well, my answer would be, take for example that kid who survived the lebanon bombing, the first thing she/he would asked, who killed my parents, why did they kill my parents? Right now, I feel like answering, War is bad, War killed your parents. When you grow up, try to stop all wars.
But, thats far from the real answer, who pressed the trigger, who ordered that person to shoot. Thats one of the many reason, more youngsters like myself (lol, they are kids younger than me already dying on the battlefield -.-), feel compel, to protect their love ones, by joining terrorism or freedom fighters or w/e they are called. (meh, too bad am a pacifist, and a fat one as well, hehe :P)
But, I don’t believe, that will bring peace. More people will die on both side of the conflict, and that flames will continue to spread through the heart of all these kids.
Some kids, sadly got brainwashed by extremism, but there are also, more of those, who fight in the name of revenge. Extremists leaders, will only use the casualty of the war, as a tool itself to recruit more people to their cause, while pointing at the US/Israel and shouting, “They are the ones who pulled the trigger on your family”
But I do agree, that with the support of the majority of the Muslims, who actually, just want to live in peace, and with their way of life, that so many people, are so eager to see disappear. I found this very nice article, at how, certain crackheads, can easily, defamed a whole religion while their passive extremist views.
http://www.docstrangelove.com/2006/08/13/meet-the-enemy/
Just reading from various bloggers response, to text defending islam, want me to puke, at the stupidity of their posts.
It’s up to the good Muslums of the world to stand up and take a stand against their misguided brothers and sisters, instead of standing by to watch them destroy lives and invoke fear among the “non-believers.”
I don’t understand why there hasn’t been a movement yet or some sort of uprising from the good ones. I’m sure it’s embarrassing enough to know that thier religion is being used to manipulate and twist the minds of the young and downtrodden to do these horrific things all in the name of Allah, or Mohamed or whoever it is that they convinced themselves to die for.
I think we have to take into consideration what Mr. Lewis has pointed out. Knowing the hatred that the Iranian President has for Isreal and the US is not comforting, seeing that he wants to wipe Isreal off the map. I would not be suprised if Iran holds a nuke or two.
Just my thoughts, and I’ve enjoyed reading the thoughts before me and would suggest that the one’s who think Mr. Lewis is losing his mind, should probably rethink the situation at hand and not be so quick to shrug off an idea that’s backed with some strong statements. Remember, it’s not a prediction. But when you put 2 and 2 together, it just makes sense that we shouldn’t be so naive to think that nothing would happen. I certainly hope nothing does happen. But don’t forget, these people are willing to die for thier beliefs, and for them it’s a win win situation should we all die together. Scary thought, huh?
I seriously doubt the world will end on August 22. There will be struggles until the end of time, whenever that will be. With that said, you must look at the beliefs being stated by Ahmadinejad. He has publicly stated he believes the Hidden Imam will return very soon and that he has been called upon by God to prepare for his return. His preparation is to start the war to eradicate all non-Muslim infidels. That sounds plenty serious to me as a non-Muslim. As a Christian who believes the New Testament, I believe we will see the false prophet appear, he will create a 7 year peace treaty and in the middle of it, he will claim to be God and turn his intention to the total destruction of Israel. Just as Israel is about to be destroyed, Jesus will return at that very moment to destroy those intent on their destruction. In the Muslim prophesy, the 12th Imam aka Hidden Imam, aka Mahdi Imam, aka Muhammad, leads the Islamic nations in the attack on the Non-Muslim world (Israel and her allies) and at the near point of victory for the Muslims, the anti-Christ will then appear to help the non-Muslims in their battle, but the Hidden Imam will be victorious once and for all time. Do you now see the problem? Islam is a faith as Christianity is a faith. They are as strong in their belief as we are in ours. Although I have never read the Qu’ran, (no intention) I am sure there are things in there which substantiate the belief in the minds of muslims.
For God so loved the muslims that he gave his uniquely born son that whosover believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Thats it> Faith alone in Christ alone. Those who claim that Allah is God have perverted the grace of God. They seek salvation by work. God does not need your work. The sins of the world(all the world) were paid for on the cross.
Christ was either the son of God or a terrible liar. He said he takes away the sins of the world. No man comes to the Father except by me. How can they say he is a great teacher but not the son of God. He is one or the other. I pray that you will see who Christ really is. For he is not willing that any should perish. I don’t care what religion you are Buddist,Baptist,Catholic,Jew or Muslim if you believe that salvation comes by your works you have no salvation.Christianity is a relationshipp not a religion Salvationt is a gift of God not of works lest any man should boast. Heaven is not for those who are smart enough,moral enough,good looking enough,rich enough it is a free gift for any who would believe that Jesus is the Christ knowing that they cannot measure themselves against the perfect righteousness of God. Behold I stand at the door at knock.
Amen.
🙂
THE SKY IS FALLING!!!!!
I know the real reason Lewis thinks the world will end on August 22nd, but its not Iran. http://silkworms.chinesetriad.org/?p=334“ rel=”nofollow”>Paris Hilton’s CD comes out the same day
I strongly believe that America is not very tuned to the Arab mentality. I would suggest to all of you to read the Koran and see what it has to say before you people begin defending what you do not understand.
Hugging tress and listening to John Lennon records is a thing of the past. We are ALL involved in a religous war and those my friends are the ones the last the LONGEST and are the most vicious. The greatest genocide committed by man was the Muslim invasion of India which killed over 20 million souls. Move a few centuries into the future and leave it to that moron Ghandi and the poet Acbeq to give the invaders their own homeland which is now named Pakistan (“Land That Is Pure”)! Great job you pair of idiots for you split your own country in two to appease the Muslims.
Now the idiotic Americans want to do the same. All of these liberals want to appease, keep this up and you will one day split america in two just to appease the coming Muslims.