Posted on 05/31/2004 9:00:49 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
KHOBAR, Saudi Arabia, May 31 (Reuters) - A Christian Arab who was held captive by al Qaeda militants in Saudi Arabia said on Monday he lied to them about his faith and praised their battle against the West, to save his life.
Nizar Hajazeen, a Jordanian software businessmen who was at the Tower hotel in the Oasis compound during the 25-hour drama in Khobar, said the militants lectured him about Islam and their aim to liberate Saudi Arabia from "infidels and crusaders".
The complex where the militants held about 50 foreigners -- including some Westerners -- was their last target in the violence in the eastern Saudi oil city in which they killed at least 22 people.
Hajazeen, 32, had tried to call a cab to go to work on Saturday but the phone lines were jumbled.
"I went down and the Filipino receptionist told me there were terrorists in the compound and gunshots were heard," he told Reuters.
He tried to help security guards close the hotel entrance gate but the lock did not work and a manager recommended he hide, Hajazeen said.
"I went to the room of a Jordanian colleague. Someone banged violently on the door. We opened and there were two men, one with a machinegun, another with a revolver. They were wearing black track suits," he said, adding that one had a wounded arm.
Both were in their twenties.
"They asked us if we were Arab or Westerners. We told them: 'We're Arab'.
"One then asked if I was a Christian or a Muslim. I told him we were Muslims and showed him my colleague's Koran as proof. I told him we supported them and that we were against America and Europe. I had to say that."
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY"
Residents of the compound said the attackers asked everyone they encountered if they were Muslim or Christian, before taking them hostage or killing them.
An Oasis manager said the gunmen shot and killed several Westerners as soon as they entered the complex.
The gunmen made two Indian hotel staff with master keys show them where the Westerners were, Hajazeen said.
His brother called him on his mobile phone to wish him a happy birthday -- a day late -- just as the militants were saying their motive was to drive Americans and Christians from their country.
"They asked me to turn off my mobile but did not take it away as they did with others," Hajazeen said, adding that they told him and his colleague to stay in the room and left.
"We stayed locked in our room. One of us was hiding in the shower, another one was hiding in the bathtub," Hajazeen said, adding that from time to time they sneaked back into the bedroom to watch the news on television.
He said that before commandos freed them on Sunday, compound security guards called his mobile to ask him to check if the militants had rigged his floor with explosives. He found nothing.
"Before the commandos came, there was heavy gunfire and one explosion shook the hotel. We could hear glass being smashed, screams... It sounded like someone was giving out orders."
Saudi security forces later called them out, saying: "Do not be scared."
Making his way to freedom he saw the bodies of four Indians and an Italian cook.
"They had been shot dead. Some were on the staircases."
But you do claim to be smart enough to know that he lost his eternal life?
But you do claim to be smart enough to know that he lost his eternal life?
Peter denied Jesus 3 times. He was forgiven.
They take pride in lying to the infidel. But seeing as how proof of Islamhood is mere recitation of a short phrase, it seems Islams would have no way to know if any of the 1.2 billion Muslims around the world are actually Islami, or if that actually means anything at all.
How's about you not putting motives or words in my mouth?
Really? Even in the OT G-d says so far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our sins from us. It says he crowns us with lovingkindness and compassion and mercy. So high are the heavens are from the earth is how great His love for us. It says He does not reward us according to our sins. And that's in the Old Testament.
This Arab Christian may have faced more being a Christian in that country than any will ever face in their entire lifetime. That's picking up his cross right there.
Your life must really be hell since you are paying for every one of your sins here on earth. Man! I thought that was the purpose of the Ultimate Sacrifice. You now receive Grace, Mercy and Forgiveness, and are now sons and daughters. Would you forgive your children if they lied about you to save their lives? I think G-d is a much greater Father than we are.
No, I am using what you typed against you and, confronted with the facts of what you said you spin like the head of the DNC.
There was no assurance anybody was going to live.
Peter denied Christ three times....and no one was closer to the Lord than he....
He asked for and received forgiveness....I have no doubt that if this man who out of fear for his life preserved it by lying to murderers saved himself and them from killing one of God's own..
Christ is more than adequate to forgive and save this man...who may have failed at this test
but if God has a mind to save him...he will be saved...as salvation is by Grace not by works
lest any man should boast..
That was before Peter was indwelt by the Holy Spirit who gives us power to be Christ's witnesses; it was before he had entered into the fulness of salvation.
The rest of the story is in DocRock's quote. "Matthew 10:32-33 "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven." Like Doc, that was the first thing that leapt to mind when I saw the headline. Like Doc, I was very sad to read this.
Our heroes of faith were very human, but when the test came, they remained standing...(as Paul says)....they did not reject their faith.
Some were torn apart by lions, some cut in half, etc.
We have Thomas More, who was beheaded because he would not recant...
..we have Dietrich Bonhoffer, who would not recant...and was hung.
The bottom line is....those who were 'standing' for their faith, are our spiritual heros and give us encouragement & the will to press on....
Yes, Peter denied Christ 3 times....
..and then Peter repented with all his heart, and eventually was crucified upside down....for preaching the Gospel of the true Christ.
I doubt we will remember the man from this story or know him as someone who encouraged the faithful.
Perhaps he is experiencing extreme guilt right now....
..if he truly knows the Lord, he should also know where to go with his guilt.
The Prophet Muhammad said, "Lying is wrong, except in three things: the lie of a man to his wife to make her content with him; a lie to an enemy, for war is deception; or
a lie to settle trouble between people" (Qu'ran, 6.459).
I think you have it backwards.
Peter walked with Christ. If anybody should have been committed it should have been Peter.
Peter showed us that ANYONE can deny Christ.
Peter denied Christ, and even cursed those who claimed he was one of Jesus' followers. Peter denied he was a believer . Nowhere does the Bible say "And God took away Peter's salvation".
There are people who after suffering for long periods of time, (or seeing a love one suffer) and don't see any answer to prayers, who get angry and die with all kinds of doubts about God.
Do you believe God would allow such a thing to happen to a person right before they die, knowing their faith would fail...just so He could say..."AHA! you denied Me so I'm sending you to hell!!"
How about if someone held a knife to your throat, or at the throats of you family members and said. "You either deny Christ or I am going to cut thier throats, and then your throat". Do you know exactly how you would respond in such a situation?
What if out of fear you failed in your faith and denied Christ? Do you thing God would look at that and say "you denied Me so I'm sending you to hell!!"
In any case, according to what you say a person could never have the peace and assurance of salvation that the Bible teaches, becuase they can never be sure what they might do in the future.
Somehow I think God might be willing to "forgive" a scared human, just trying to stay alive, martyrdom is not so big amoungst Christian believers. It's not as if he pushed others out in front of himself to die in his place is it?
I forgive him.
For class.
Its a LOT more than this. It means going to your death, if that is what you are called upon to do. Revelations speaks of being obediant UNTIL DEATH, then and only then will Christ grant the "crown of life"..to those who DO his will. You "Faith-Only-and-Nuthin-Else" types really have a lot to learn about the concept of obedience. Jesus prefers DOers as opposed to SAYers.
It's a juicy thread though, isn't it?
You're seriously going to tell me this wasn't known before the Al Khobar massacre?
Ever hear of MEMRI? I suggest you go over there sometime and read the Friday Prayers that are posted there.
Mat 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
Mat 7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
How will you act when put in that situation?
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