September 11 Observed

By Steve Crain

Do you recall where you were on Sept. 11, 2001, when you heard about a major assault on American targets?

“The Sept. 11 attacks (called Sept.11, Sept. 11th or 9/11) were a series of four coordinated suicide attacks against targets in New York and Washington, D.C. on September 11, 2001,” according to Wikipedia.org. “On that morning, 19 terrorists from the Islamist militant group al-Qaeda hijacked four passenger jets. The hijackers intentionally crashed two planes into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center (WTC) in New York City; both towers collapsed within two hours. Hijackers crashed a third plane into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. When passengers attempted to take control of the fourth plane, United Airlines Flight 93, it crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, preventing it from reaching its intended target in Washington, D.C. Nearly 3,000 died in the attacks.”

When I heard of the World Trace Center attack, I was in the Gulistan Carpet dye lab located in Wagram, N.C. The lab manager’s wife called, and he found pictures on the Internet. I stood beside him and watched video coverage of smoke billowing from the WTC North Tower.

“At 8:46 a.m., five hijackers crashed American Airlines Flight 11 into the World Trade Center’s North Tower 1 WTC),” records Wikipedia, “and at 9:03 a.m., another five hijackers crashed United Airlines Flight 175 into the South Tower (2 WTC). Five hijackers flew American Airlines Flight 77 into the Pentagon at 9:37 a.m. A fourth flight, under the control of four hijackers, crashed United Airlines Flight 93 near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, at 10:03 a.m., after the passengers fought the hijackers. Flight 93’s ultimate destination is believed to have been either the Capitol or the White House.”

I recall thinking on Sept. 11, 2001, “How could this happen in America?” I guess I imagined our country was bulletproof.

After the 9/11 attacks, we learned more about Islam, the religion that allegedly motivated the hijackers who brought down the Twin Towers.

“Islam” (Arabic origin) literally means “submission (to a supposed god known as ‘Allah’).” A follower of Islam is called a “Muslim,” meaning (from Arabic) “one who surrenders.” Islam is monotheistic (meaning “belief in one god”), and Islamic beliefs are basically found in the Qur’an (meaning “a book” or “reading”). The Qur’an was dictated by Muhammed (around 570-632 A.D.), who was illiterate; he claimed he received messages from the angel Gabriel. Muhammed is considered by Muslims to be the last prophet sent from God. The following information is found at Wikipedia.org: Muslims believe Islam is the complete version of a “primordial” (existing from the very beginning) faith that was revealed at many times and places before, including through Abraham, Moses and Jesus, whom Muslims consider prophets. Muslims claim previous messages and revelations have been corrupted over time. They consider the Qur’an to be both the unaltered and the final revelation of God.

From Christiancourier.com: “The Bible is found to be without error. … But the Koran, despite its claims, lacks the marks of divine revelation. Its sub-standard treatment of women is no secret… The book contains numerous historical inaccuracies and anachronisms, i.e., the chronological misplacement of persons, events, etc.”

I spent 11 days in Egypt in 2004, working on a carpet-manufacturing project for Gulistan Carpet. An American who worked for the Egyptian company hosting us introduced me to a young Egyptian Muslim, whom I’ll call Amon. Amon spoke English and led our project. One day at lunch, I mentioned my faith in Christ.

“I’ve been to Christian weddings,” said Amon, a husband and a father.

After more discussion, I said, “We believe in one God, but we believe in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit: three revelations of our God.”

“Oh, God has no father; God has no son,” Amon said.

I didn’t want to get into an argument in Egypt. I prayed silently that Amon would someday know the truth of these words: “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’” (John 14:6 NIV).

Remember 9/11 and pray for those who would wage “holy war.” They need Jesus, the Prince of Peace.