The phrase "Allah will know his own" is usually used to explain such apparently callous unconcern [for the deaths of Muslim civilians]; 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.
Jesus said of the end times that no one knows either the day or the hour, but Mohammed was a bit more precise apparently:
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.Lewis finds that significant.
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.
Michael Ledeen has long been of the opinion that Iran already has nukes --it just lacks an effective delivery system. His Iranian sources have a habit of being wrong, however. And before we batten down the hatches, it's good to recall that Islamists have a habit of big talk.
Furthermore, it's hard for me to believe that if Iran does have a bomb, an airstrike on its nuclear facilities isn't in the works. Still: pray hard for the safety of Israel and its neighbors. And it's never a bad idea to get right with God --since Allah will know his own.
