The Hamas Incident

At a time when we are all aspiring for peace in our world we can do no better than be objective in our examination of statements and facts. The son of a Hamas founder, Mosab Hassan Yousef, after spying for Israel , converted to Christianity, affirming that “Islam is a religion that teaches people to kill.” You find the whole story in the daily newspaper Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 5, 2010 issue, at the section covering World news—page A26. He likewise added some strong statements like: “it is not a religion of peace….the more you follow the steps of the prophet of Islam and the God of Islam, the more you get close to being a terrorist.”

In the face of the preceding comments let’s just observe the facts without getting angry or reacting negatively. We observe the deaths and victims of war and brutalities. You heard the Latin proverb that states Contra factum non valet argumentum (You cannot argue against facts). After all, we are only aspiring for peace to save precious lives. We want to bring peace to our world. Islam and Christianity are the biggest world religions. As the person, Mosab Hassan Yousef said: “To be honest with you, being killed is not the worst thing that can happen….If they want to kill me…let them do it, and they will be responsible for my blood.” His purpose of the exposé is to prevent more deaths in the enmities and hostilities continuing between Israelis and Palestinians. At this juncture, we ought to remember the advice of the late Pope John Paul II whose prophetic words can only show how important is Jesus’ rule of forgiveness. John Paul II had emphasized this at an international dialogue between all religions at Assisi , Italy . There can be no peace without justice, but there can be no justice without forgiveness.

We must wonder why he converted to Christianity. What are his honest reasons. Let us at least investigate if he is telling the truth. After all Jesus had said: “Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and the door shall be opened for you. Because everyone who asks always receives, everyone who seeks always finds, everyone who knocks will always have the door opened to him” (Mt. 7:7). People can make mistakes. Let us only try to correct and right whatever wrongs we may have made. Only God does not make mistakes or commit a wrong act.