On April 3, 2003 American soldiers decided not to enter the area near the shrine in Najaf, Iraq when confronted by angry crowds of people who felt that the shrine would be defiled by the presence of the troops.
The shrine is said to be the burial place of Ali, the son-in-law of Mohammed, the prophet of Islam.
It is Ali who is considered to be the rightful successor to Mohammed by some Muslims, while most Muslims consider Ali to be the fourth Muslim leader after Mohammed. This issue is the cause for the great split between Sunni Muslims and Shia Muslims. The Shia claim that Mohammed himself named Ali his successor by direct revelation from God. The Sunni utterly reject this claim.
The word Shia means "followers". Among the Shia, Ali is highly revered and is ascribed characteristics worthy of deity by some. The Shia are followers of Ali.
Najaf, therefore, is one of the most holy shrines among the Shias and is a place where the faithful make pilgrimages to the tomb of Ali in search of spiritual power, blessings, and healings.
"Everybody smile!" shouted the platoon commander as he told his baffled men to kneel down and point their weapons at the ground, in a surreal act of submission. [The Daily Telegraph, April 4, 2003]
Indeed the spiritual condition of the angry crowds could not be changed by the power and might of the strongest, most effective, and most humane military in the history of civilization.
A change in the spiritual condition of the people of Najaf is the work of the Holy Spirit of God who regenerates those who confess Jesus as their savior from sin. This change of heart comes by means of the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. New life in Christ is available to the people of Najaf if only they will hear the gospel. Who will go and bring this good news to the angry crowds in Najaf?
John Marion
Published April 5, 2003
Other popular articles:Truth For Muslims is bringing a comprehensive, biblical response to Islam in America