Reichmuth - The Second Intifada and The Day of Wrath

The Second Intifada and the "Day of Wrath": Safar al-awl and His Anti-Semitic Reading of
Biblical Prophecy
Author(s): Stefan Reichmuth
Source: Die Welt des Islams, New Series, Vol. 46, Issue 3, Anti-Semitism in the Arab World (2006
), pp. 331-351
Published by: BRILL
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/20140741
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THE SECOND INTIFADA AND THE "DAY OF WRATH":

SAFAR AL-HAW?L? AND HIS ANTI-SEMITIC READING OF
BIBLICAL PROPHECY
BY
STEFAN REICHMUTH
Bochum1
in W.
"Put on
your
Shakespeare,
seat belts
is method
yet there
Hamlet
this be madness,
"Though
Polonius
and
for an
prepare
in't"
action-packed
thrill
apocalyptic
er!"
Internet blurb for Blood Moon, an Apocalyptic Novel by Hal Lindsey

to
referred
of the authors
by al-Haw?l?),
(one
http://armageddonbooks.com/hal.html
(3 September 06)
Abstract
after
Few months
one
the most
of
Arabia,
published
and
prominent
his book
Safar
Intifada,
Islamic
scholars
of the al-Aqsa
controversial
the outbreak
Yawm
"The
al-gadab,
al-Haw?l?,
of Saudi
of Wrath",
Day
which
has enjoyed a wide readership both for itsArabic and English versions
in the
internet.
Engaging
literature,
apocalyptical
cal
predict
prophecies
book
claims
The
that,
tions
of
Safar
al-Haw?l?'s
the
violent
the biblical
fers
tions
against
from
quotes
of Christian
quite
of
end
to the
that
contrary,
they
state and
its allies.
over
can
be
the biblical
Prophets,
language
testify
in theMiddle
29 September,
are
which
to a new
2000/29
Jumada
its neighbours.
as indica
read
analyses
even
trans
which
His
orchestrated
East.
Jewish
the bibli
article
The
of the Bible
reading
to the Palestinians.
of return
the U.S.A.,
and
that
view
close
promises
Israel
and
Friday,
wave
current
the widespread
challenges
of the Israel
the final victory
unusually
tion of political
On
the
with
he
fierce
with
stage
of
the
II, 1421,
accusa
extensive
sacralisa
the eve
Wild
his
Ende and Stefan

I am grateful to Gudrun
Flores, Werner
Kr?mer, Alexander
for
and also to Bj?rn Bentlage
comments
and suggestions,
for their valuable
internet sources of this article.
the
Arabic
with
technical
help
? Koninklijke
Also available
Brill NV, Leiden,

online?www.brill.nl
2006
Die
Welt des Islams
46,
332
STEFAN
REICHMUTH
of the Jewish New Year 5761, a bloody confrontation

developed
after Friday prayer, between
the Haram
al-sar?f in Jerusalem
in the prayer and the Israeli police. Several Pal
the participants
on
estinians were
and many others wounded.

in the following days in most
killed
strations erupted
villages of the West
Bank
of the Second
ginning
Violent
was the be
Strip. This
violent protests had been
of the Likud Party, Ariel Sharon,
the Gaza
and
Intifada.
The
sparked by the visit of the head

on the Temple Mount which he had undertaken
under
demon
of the towns and
massive
with a group of
on the
protection
other
Likud
it did
into a period of growing tensions between

Israelis
after the failure of the Camp David negotiations
police
politicians
The visit was regarded as a provo
preceding
day, 28 September.
and international observers, falling as
cation by both Palestinian
and Pal
estinians
(11-25
of bilateral talks (19 September).
July) and the suspension
Nego
of the unresolved
of
tiations had failed mainly because
question
The
and the Temple Mount.
future sovereignty over Jerusalem
over the area, as sug
offer of a limited Palestinian
sovereignty
and the incumbent
Israeli Prime
gested by the U.S. delegation
Minister
Ehud
camp
gious
in
Barak,
Israel.
had
enraged
Sharon's
visit
the Likud
was
Party and
generally
seen
the reli
as
an
ex
of support for lasting Israeli control over the Temple

pression
as a site sacred to Judaism, and as a move
to increase his
Mount
Jew
popularity during the imminent elections. The approaching
eve added
to its symbolic meaning.2
ish New Year's
protest was increasingly expressed
Among Palestinian Muslims,
to a growing
in religious
terms, contributing
on
the subsequent
both sides. Already
Friday
radicalisation
(6 October/7
on
Ra
Salim Tamari,
of the Second
the beginnings
Intifada, see Rema Hammami,
of Another
MEEIP
2000
Rebellion",
(http://www.meup.
Report 217, Winter
L.
(20. 9. 06); also in Joel Beinin, Rebecca
org/mer/mer217/217_hammami-tamari.html
Stein (eds.), The Struggle for Sovereignty. Palestine and Israel, 1993-2005;
Stanford, CA:
Inti
The second Palestinian
Stanford University
Press, 2006, 263-281; Ramzy Baroud,
On
"Anatomy
s
a chronicle
a
Pluto Press, 2006;
of people
struggle, London:
can be found
the
Institute
of
Palestine
Studies
compiled
by
fada:
a detailed
under
chronology
fields.
"Killing
of the second
Intifada",
http://www.leksikon.org/killingfields/
by day chronology
describes
the be
(03.12.05)
(20.09.06);
www.aijac.org.au/updates/Oct-00/121000.html
an Israeli
point of view.
ginnings of the Intifada from
Day
THE
SECOND
AND
INTIFADA
"THE
OF WRATH"
DAY
333
called for a "Day of Anger"

jab), Hamas
(yawm al-gadab), which
led to fresh riots in Old Jerusalem after Friday prayers.3 The "Day
of Anger" was repeated over the following months
and became
as
an
for violent rallies of protest against
established
occasion
the massive
use
of military force by the Israeli army and police

Bank and Gaza. These
rallies gradually
led to
armed resistance and finally to the suicide attacks on Israeli mil
and soon
itary and civilian targets which began on 26 October
came to dominate
the public image of the Second
Intifada.
all over
The
the West
"Day
of
Anger"
comes
out
as
remarkable
phrase,
saturat
ed with religious connotations.

It seems to fuse the expression of
a
to God's
reference
anger with
anger and wrath, as it
popular
ismentioned
in the Qur'?n
and in the Hadit.4 At the same time
as an allusion
to a biblical expression. The
it can be understood
occurs
of
Wrath"
with several variants as
(Hebr. y?m evr?h)
"Day
a term for the day of divine judgement

or punishment
in the
the Proverbs and some of the Prophets
(Ezekiel, Zeph
announces
in particular
the "Day of God's
aniah).5
Zephaniah
as the imminent judgement
Wrath"
out by
which will be meted
Psalms,
to Judah and the whole world, "a day of distress and hard
a
and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom,
ship,
day of devastation
a day of clouds and dark skies, a
day of trumpet blasts and battle
cries". Punishment will fall upon
the towns and countries which
God
sinned against the Lord. This is followed by a prophecy on

to the humbled
the restoration of Jerusalem
and purified rem
nant of Israel, and on the in
return of the dis
and
gathering
servants
of
The
God.6
of the term
persed
apocalyptic
colouring
have
3
Described
um Jerusalem.
Friedensprozesses",
in an article written
Eine
Einheitsfront
Jungle World
from Ramallah
aller
42,
periodika/jungle_world/J2000/42/21.html,
4
as "God's wrath"
In the Qur'?n
Islamisten
11 October
by Arian Fariborz,
freut sich ?ber
2000
?Die Schlacht
des
das Ende
(http://www.nadir.org/nadir/
29.11.2005).
or "by a wrath from God"

(gadaba ll?hi, Q 23:9)
(bi-gadabin mini ll?hi, Q 2:61, 3: 112, 8:16, and others), or even "My wrath"
(gadabi,
see A. J.Wensinck
for similar references
in the Hadtt,
et al., Concordance
et
Q 20:81);
indices de la Tradition Musulmane,
Leiden:
Brill, 1936-1988,
IV, 524ff. (gadabun).
5
Psalm 110:5; Proverbs
1:15.
11:4; Ezekiel 7:19; Zephaniah
6
2:3.
Zephaniah
334
STEFAN
illustrated
is further
in the Book
REICHMUTH
a passage
in Daniel7
and another one
where on the
of the New Testament,
events of the
the
of
dramatic
Christ)
(i.e.,
by
of Revelation8
"Day of His Wrath"

end of the world will unfold.
The
dies irae of the Latin
to go back to these texts.9

to belong
does not appear
of
Wrath"
The
"Day
tradition. It will be hard to prove
ic apocalyptical
Catholic
seems
tradition
to the Islam
that the Pal
initiators of the protest rallies had biblical connotations

But evoking religious motifs and symbols of both Jew
ish and Christian origins certainly has a long tradition in modern
estinian
in mind.
poetry and literature.10 Palestinian

political organisa
tions equally did not hesitate to marshal biblical texts and images
Palestinian
the issues of the holy
when
were
at
stake.
til then had
The
hardly
Islamic
sites or of Palestinian
organisations,
ever done
on
the
national
other
unity
hand,
un
so.
of the term was highlighted

dimension
by the
apocalyptic
in a book on the Intifada
Saudi
Islamic scholar Safar al-Haw?li
in late 2000 or early
and its significance, which he published
soon
and
was
into
both Arabic
and
It
translated
2001.
English,
to
be distributed by different internet sites
English versions began
The
11 September
2001. Its title already indicates a claim to
the eschatological
significance of the Intifada: "The Day
An exegeti
Is the Raj ab Intifada only the Beginning?
of Wrath.
before
unravel
the end of
of the Bible concerning
cal reading of the prophecies
bada3a bi-intif?dat Rajab ?!
the State of Israel" (Yawm al-gadab. Hal
tafslriyya li-nubu?t al-tawr?t can n?h?yat dawlat Isral?)}1
Qiraa
7
8
9
The
8:19, "in the last time ofwrath".

6:17.
Revelation
Daniel
inJudaism, Christianity and Islam,

For a general overview of apocalyptic
concepts
in RGG (Religion in Geschichte und Gegenwart. Hand
the article "Apokalyptik"
4th ed., T?bingen:
Mohr,
1998, vol.
w?rterbuchf?r Theologie und Religionswissenschaft),
see, e.g.,
vol. 1,
in Encyclopaedia
Frederik Leemhuis,
1, 590-602;
of the Qur?n,
"Apocalypse",
111-114, with further references.
io
see
und Is
por Palestinian
poetry,
"Judentum, Christentum
notably Stefan Wild,
lam in der pal?stinensischen
Poesie", WI, 23-24, 1984, 259-297.
11
Arabic version available on the website which contains Safar al-Haw?l?'s writings,
Also on al-Haw?l?'s
30 August,
2006).
(last checked
http://saaid.net/warathah/safar
titled The Day ofWrath. Is the Intifadha
version
Arabic website,
(22.9.2006).
English
13 September,
2001 from a well-known
ofRajah only theBeginning?, first downloaded
THE
INTIFADA
SECOND
AND
"THE
DAY
OF WRATH"
335
cover page of the Arabic version shows an American

flag with an
attached Star of David, whose staff breaks under a shower of fist
shaped stones hurled against it.
writings
is at present one of the most prominent and contro

scholars in Saudi Arabia who through his polemical
against other Islamic currents as well as against Judaism,
himself
calls the Islamic
The
author
versial Salafi
Christianity and western secularism, and even more

through his
the
of
of
the
Saudi
government,
critique
pro-American
politicies
exerted a strong influence on Us?ma Bin L?din and on what he
b.
cAbd al-Rahm?n
of south western
(sahwa) in his country. Safar

"awakening"
al-Haw?l?12 (b. ca. 1950 in the G?mid
region
Saudi Arabia) was professor of kal?m and dean
of the Faculty of Islamic Studies at the Umm al-Qur? Universi

He was dismissed
and arrested together with other
ty in Mecca.
scholars
in 1994, after they had sharply criticized

un
for
government
allying itself with "the American
believers"
and allowing
them to establish a military base in the
to
country. He was released after five years in 1999 and allowed
the Saudi
and preachers
Islamic militant
still available,
e.g. under
http://www.islam,
English web site http://www.alhawali.com/
and also under http://'www.as-sahwah.com/
to be
(22 September
2006). A printed edition remains
of its content was given by Victor and Victoria Trimondi,
website, www.azzam.com;
com/books/0_preface.htm, under al-Haw?l?'s
1 September
en/ (both last checked
2006),
viewarticle.php?articleID=9088c
identified. A first overview
W.
Krieg der Religionen. Politik, Glaube und Terror im Zeichen der Apokalypse, M?nchen:
Fink, 2006, 393-408.
12
on him and access
to many of his works, see
For information
the
especially
Saudi web site already mentioned
which includes
above, http//saaid.net/waratha/safar,
a
note by one of his students, Hadir
S?lih Sanad, written after al-Haw?l?
long personal
was
because
of a stroke in 2005
hospitalized
(http//saaid.net/waratha/safar/02.htm).
For his role in Saudi politics since the 1990's, see the overviews by Guido
Steinberg,
"Islamistische
in Saudiarabien.
Eine Spurensuche
im Lande Usama
Bin
Opposition
Ladins",
ami. Antimilitarismus-Information,
31.Jg., Heft
10, October2001,
94-106
(www.
antimilitarismus-information.de/ami_homepage/ami_archiv/2001/10-01/pdf/0-01/8-saudi
recent but also more
and more
29 August,
sensationalist,
2006),
neu-10-01.pdf,
even found
A
393ff.
der
Trimondi,
one-page
entry on al-Haw?l?
Krieg
Religionen,
by
its
2005,
(29 November
way into Wikipedia
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safar_al-Hawali)
last modified
the interest of Ameri
01:18, 17 November,
2005). He has also roused
can "counterterrorism
cf. Erick Stakelbeck,
"The Saudi Hate Machine",
In
research";
theNational
19, 2003 (http://frontpagemag.com/Articles/Printable.asp?
Interest, December
"Saudi Double
29 November
Talk", In theNational
ID=11388,
Interest, August
2005);
Issue31 /Vol3Issue31 Stakelbeck,
4, 2004 (http://www.inthenationalinterest.com/Articles/Vol3
see the
below.
html) (29 November
2005). For a list of his publications,
appendix
336
STEFAN
resume
2005. His
and
REICHMUTH
with interruptions
until
teaching which he continued
influence on the younger generation
of Saudi scholars
academicians
has been
referred
to him
and Us?ma
considerable,
in his declarations.
After
bin L?din
11 Septem
repeatedly
in other political activities, publish
ber 2001, al-Haw?l? engaged
an open letter to the U.S. president and
a response
ing
initiating
to the declaration
"What we're fighting for", which had been is
intellectuals under
sued by 60 American
stitute of American
Values
and addressed
world.13 He
also
commented
upon
to have founded
the auspices
of the In
to
the
Muslim
mainly
events
in Palestine
and
in
a "Global Campaign Against

1424 his books, book
2003/Sacb?n
for downloading
lets and articles have been made
available
by
to this web
the Saudi dacwa web site Sayd al-naw?fir.15 According
is reported
Since October
Aggression".14
Iraq and
site, readership numbers

range for most of them over 10.000 us
ers which would
seem to surpass
by far the reach of his printed
to be traced. Al-Haw?l?
most
of
which
still
remain
publications,
is thus one
of several prominent
of Islamic learn
representatives
in
the
Arab
world
who
with
their
along
ing
personal
teaching
have come to rely on the internet to circulate
their books, arti
cles, fatw?s and statements, rather than on the established ways
of printed publication.16
the view, propagated

Yawm al-gadab challenges
by religious cir
cles within the Zionist movement
and their Christian evangelical
sympathizers, that the biblical prophecies
predict the final victory
13
from http://66.96.205.195/
Bush", first downloaded
"Open Letter to President
letter.htm (7 December
in the
2001 ), still widely available
-azzam/afghan/htmfatawaopen
net; Arabic version under http://saaid.net/warathah/safar:
Bay?n li-l-umma can al-ahd?t
wa-hit?b il?B?s;
"How we Can Coexist",
http://americanvalues.org/html/saudi_statement.
html (12 November
loc. cit., Ris?la min Makka..
can ayyi say' nud?fic.
2002); Arabic:
14
The Supreme Council
Reuven Paz, "The 'Global Campaign
Against Aggression':
at the Center
and Terrorism
Information
Centre
for
Jihad?",
Intelligence
Studies
(C. S. S), http://www. intelligence.org.il/eng/g_j/rp_f_ll_03.htm.org.il/eng/
2005).
(29 November,
gj/rpJLll-03.htm
15
(30 August,
2006).
http://saaid.net/ warathah/safar/
16
see Gudrun
The best known example
is, of course, Y?suf al-Qarad?w?;
Kr?mer,
on
in Gudrun
Y?suf al-Qarad?w?
Kr?mer
and Sabi
"Drawing Boundaries:
Apostasy",
of Global
Special
ne Schmidtke
Brill,
2006,
(eds.), Speaking for Islam. Religious

181-217, with further reference.
Authorities
inMuslim
Societies, Leiden:
THE
AND
INTIFADA
SECOND
"THE
DAY
OF WRATH"
337
The book claims that, quite to

its neighbours.
the contrary, they can be read as indications of the violent end
of that state and its allies. It was explicitly written in reaction to
of the Israel over
in the United
of important evangelical
groups
entered into a close alliance with the Orthodox
the publications
States who have
since the 1980s.17 The apocalyp

wing of the Zionist movement
tical visions of these groups focus on the state of Israel and its
in God's
plans which He holds for the end of the
special place
as the eternal
world. Arabs and Muslims
figure in these visions
in the decisive battle of Ar
enemies who will be finally defeated
mageddon.18
of the final battle
Visions
and
the impending end of the world,

covers and web site images,
book
by dramatic
found in evangelical web sites in other countries. A
shows the globe with a wild red dragon cover
German
example
and facing three apocalyptic
Middle
East
the
trumpets blow
ing
often
illustrated
can also be
flies on the
flag with the Star of David
owner of an "Internet
longest trumpet. The author of this site,
the "time of wrath" that will
Bible School"19, also dwells upon
is dominated
of the world which
lead to the destruction
by Sa
ing from
the west. A
out to all nations who in

will be meted
punishment
to the Arab
tend to fight a total war against Israel, in particular
even reads the final expulsion
of the Ar
The
author
people.
to the Yemen
into the
and their deportation
abs from Palestine
tan. God's
biblical
known
17
prophecies.
apocalyptic
Al-Haw?l?
writers, Hal
himself mentions
Lindsey,
whose
one
of the best
essays and novels
Eine
Politik und die Neo-Konservativen.
"Religion,
Sicht", in Klaus-M. Kodalle
(ed.), Gott und Politik in USA.
Frankfurt a.M.: Athen?um,
des Religi?sen. Eine Bestandsaufnahme,
1988,
Zionism
and the role played by Christian
126-145. For the historical
background,
The Politics of
Eastern policy, see Paul C. Merkley,
in British and American
Middle
Biblical
Frank Cass, 1998; Irvine H. Anderson,
London:
Christian Zionism 1891-1948,
See
e.g. Allan
aus
Stellungnahme
?ber den Einflue
Mittleman,
j?discher
and Israel, 1917-2002,

interpretation and Middle East policy: The promised land, America,
Florida
of
Gainesville:
2005.
Press,
University
18
of books offered by Armageddon
the large number
See in particular
Books,
"World's Largest Bible Prophecy
Bookstore",
(last checked
www.armageddonbooks.com
1 September
2006).
19
Cf. ?Internet-Bibelschule",
(29 No
http://www.internet-bibelschule.de/index.htm
vember 2005).
338
STEFAN
REICHMUTH
imaginative scenarios of the world's final days. In

his books, too, Islam often represents the major enemy in the fi
nal struggle of the righteous. Only the elect few can hope for re
offer vivid and
demption.
which will
In a final
"rapture"
they will be
taken away from earth
then be completely destroyed.20

this current of Christian Zionism
strongly supportive of
Against
in the United
States,
Israel, and its growing popularity especially
al-Haw?l? with grim sarcasm presents his own reading of the bib
As is to be expected
from an Islamic scholar,
lical prophecies.
conclusions.
he comes to entirely opposite
ex
literature in general draws to a considerable
Apocalyptical
tent on the political positions
taken by its authors, and their pro
phetic arguments are largely framed by these positions for which
a
in the divine plan. Safar al-Haw?l?
is
they claim
special place
no exception
to this rule. His
ruthless critique of the Middle
introductory chapter begins with a

Eastern peace process during the
to him it was an illusionary undertaking

from
1990s. According
of a vertically
the very start. He pours ridicule on the proposal
divided sovereignty over the Temple Mount which was offered by
to this proposal
the Palestinians
the Israeli delegation. According
[...] which
al-sar?f, and Is
only the surface area of the Haram
retain control of the areas below21, "a strange project
was nevertheless
in harmony with the Jewish mind."
(p. 7/4).22
But,
would
control
rael would
he
continues,
even
this minor
concession
was
20
Zondervan
1970;
See, e.g. Hal Lindsey, Late Great Planet Earth, Grand Rapids:
New York: Bantam
The rapture: truth or consequences, Toronto,
Books,
1983; The Final
Front Publ.,
1996; Vanished Into Thin Air: The Hope
Battle, Palos Verdes: Western
of
Front,
1999; The Everlasting
Every Believer, Beverly Hills: Western
at
Oracle House,
2002, and many others, all available
Armaggeddon
and other Christian
also at Amazon.com. On Hal Lindsey
Zionists,
Hatred,
Books
see
Murrieta:
and often
especially
Ste
toArmageddon fLeicester:
InterVarsity Press,
phen Sizer, Christian Zionism. Road map
2004.
21
even men
4. Al-Haw?l?
Rebellion",
Hammami,
Tamari,
"Anatomy of Another
as a third area of remaining
Israeli sovereignty
tions the aerial space above the Haram
as
by the proposal.
provided
22
In this and the following
to al-Haw?l?'s
Yawm al-gadab, the first num
to the English
translation. As the
the
second
text,
paginated
to download
the indicated numbers might vary according
latter iswithout pagination
text.
location of the quoted
format and can only provide an approximative
references
ber refers to the Arabic
THE
SECOND
met with outrage

ment
based
on
INTIFADA
AND
DAY
"THE
Al-Haw?l?
grounds.
339
the futility of any agree
by the Jews, revealing

secular
OF WRATH"
therefore
welcomes
its strong Islamic overtones, as it expresses what

Islamic revival,
he sees as the "spiritual strength of the blessed
which is the only remaining path after the exposure of the futil
the Intifada with
ity of all the secular slogans."

(p. 8/5).
to
of Jewish and Christian
al-Haw?l?
the
According
challenge
Zionism and their eschatological
claims, with which Muslims have
been increasingly confronted, can be countered by their own in
sees this is a legit
He
terpretations of the biblical prophecies.
imate undertaking
since the books which were revealed before
some truth,
contain
the Qur'?n
still
their distort
may
despite
and
Christian
ed transmission. Even
apocalyptic
today's Jewish
he
authors,
expect
christ, yet others
the end of Israel
to
refer
are
argues,
er. Some
those
not
always
in
with
agreement
each
oth
the coming of Christ, others that of the Anti

the battle of Armageddon.
Some even predict
through
parts
of
the
the Intifada. This

ultra-Orthodox
last group
haredim
who
seems
even
to
re
the state of Israel
that the neglect of the

and who believe
was a sacrilege which
the
led to the Ho
halakha,
law,
religious
locaust and which might yet bring about severe punishments
for
in
the
this
be
the heedless
Al-Haw?l?
considers
future.23
Jews
ject
lief as highly attractive, since the end of Israel is of outmost rel

evance
to the "real life situation" of his readers
(p. 13/8). The
sense of urgency constitutes a typical element of nearly all apoc
alyptic writing.
Al-Haw?l?
is clearly fascinated with the results of a positivist read
ing of the biblical texts. To him, it counts as an assessment of his
torical processes
"Any
secular
that is basically
strategic
study
can
as valid as other kinds of analysis:

arrive
at
conclusions
which
are
similar or nearly identical to that which biblical prophecy

states
the end of the State of Israel."
Its great
concerning
(p. 13/8).
exact
lies
in
its
of
which
makes
it a
times,
strength
specification
matter
23
of faith for the believer,
not just a research
See e.g. Gilles Kepel, Die Rache Gottes. Radikale

dem Vormarsch, Munich:
Piper, 1991, 245f.
Moslems,
opinion.
Christen und Juden
He
auf
340
STEFAN
REICHMUTH
sees the need
to refute and destroy the current versions of these

as they present a grave danger to the world and could
prophecies
be used by religious Zionists of Jewish and Christian background.
Here he seems to think of the plans of the extremist Gush Emu
nim to blast
This
which
er. To
the al-Aqsa Mosque

during the 1980s.24
is followed by a full chapter devoted to the "Jewish psyche",
in his eyes is marked
by corruption and the lust for pow
the same, from the
him, the Jews have always remained
times of the Prophet to present-day America where they continue

to exert control over large portions of the economy,
the media,
and politics
But their hope
that through the peace
(p. 26/13).
to
able
be
break
would
process
they
through their neighbours'
barriers
psychological
not
markets has
been
under
to gain control over Middle

Eastern
a
as
fulfilled. They continue
nation
living
and
no
showing
barbarism
enmity,
the wrath of God,
interest in peace, but surviv

and racism (pp. 27f./14f.).
of the accusations
of racism and anti
ing solely through

is quite conscious
Al-Haw?l?
Semitism which he might have
who was
to face.
In order
to court because
to avoid
the fate
of his anti-Se
taken
of Roger Garaudy
to base his writings entirely
mitic statements, al-Haw?l? decided
on the evidence of the Bible, which, according
to him, time and
"If
of
the
the
evil
character
the discussion
of
Jews:
again exposes
the criminal
characteristics
as the Zionists
and behaviour
then the most
of the Jews is anti-Se

anti-Semitic book on
claim,
itself (p. 102/55).
threats and curses di
Al-Haw?l? quotes
the fierce accusations,
at length and
rected by the biblical prophets against their people
with relish, and turns them against the contemporary
Jews and
the state of Israel. The English version even subsumes all who re
mitic,
earth
is the Bible
fuse to believe
in one
under the rubric

of the divine messengers
their
of "Jews" (p. 16, n. 9). Not surprisingly, he also mentions
into
transformed
and
of
apes
pigs (30/16).25
being
punishment
to him, today's Jews have no right to the legacy of
According
threats apply to them.
Abraham
Still, the biblical
(p. 112/63).
24
Seee.g.Kepel,Rache
25
Q5:60.
Gottes, 203-243.
THE
INTIFADA
SECOND
AND
DAY
"THE
OF WRATH"
341
offer a mix of traditional

Islamic anti-Judaism
passages
to the common
of topics belonging
stock of modern
anti
a
to
control
world-wide
the
Semitism, including
Jewish conspiracy
for
and
A
and
lewdness.26
world, greed
money
power, impurity
can
context
in this
is his denial that today's Jews
novel argument
These
and
claim authentic
racial
Semitic
mixture
of
descent;
to him
according
Persians,
Khazars,
Europeans,
they represent
and
Africans,
their
many
only adds to their depravity: "Therefore,
descent
is false, their mother will receive no mercy, and their de
scendants are not Allah's
people"
(pp. 114f./64f.).
others. This
an Islamic interpretation of the

by
the
prophecies
concerning
city of Jerusalem. First of all,
over the
in Mecca
al-Haw?l? reaffirms the priority of the Kacba
are backed
statements
These
biblical
to Islamic tradition the Kacba

sanctuary in Jerusalem. According
was built by Adam or even by the angels. The Kacba?called
in
Arabic
the "Ancient House"
Arabia
"the
(al-bayt al-atlq)?made
font of human
civilisation
and
the center of world
(p.
leadership"
only second. It was the "dis
in
is mentioned
al-aqsa), which
came
41/23). Jerusalem's
sanctuary
tant place of worship"
(al-masjid
the Qur'?n
and which Muhammad
(Q 17:1)
in his famous
visited
was renewed by Solomon with

night journey
(pp. 38ff./21ff.). It
the help of human and jinn? craftsmen, and the present mosque
name "Temple"
also bears its name
(haykal) which
(al-Aqsa). The
the Jews gave to it went along with the corruption of their reli
of which
gion with paganism

rah.
In
accordance
with
they are often accused

Palestinian
widespread
views,
that there are remains of the Solomonic

the al-Aqsa or in its vicinity, and he declares
denies
excavations
have
ple of Solomon.27
as
predecessor
to the medieval
26
27
never
revealed
Al-Haw?l?'s
of
the
Islamic
See
the contributions
The
Second
al-Aqsa
any
Mosque
tradition
of Kiefer
traces
stress upon
of
concerning
and Kr?mer
author
beneath
building
that archeological
the
supposed
the Solomonic
stands
in the To
the
in marked
Tem
building
contrast
the sanctuary of Je
to this volume.
of which only the platform and parts of the surrounding

Temple,
see for the two
wall remain, is not mentioned
by the author;
temples Gudrun Kr?mer,
Geschichte Pal?stinas,
C. H. Beck, 2002, 34ff., 380 n. 12; Theodor
A.
2nd ed., Munich:
Busink, Der Tempel von Jerusalem von Salomo bisHerodes,
1, Leiden:
Brill, 1970.
342
STEFAN
rusalem.
REICHMUTH
focused mainly on the Dome

of the Rock whose
the
had
both
and transformed
revived
by
Umayyads
These
construction
the ancient
Jewish sanctuary.28
toMecca,
he continues,
change of the qibla from Jerusalem
to divine command,
the Prophet carried out in obedience
confirmed
the priority of the Kacba. Jews and Christians
The
which
again
did not heed
prayer
God's
and were
the true direction of

concerning
excluded
from the faith of Abraham
command
therefore
(p. 43/24). Al-Haw?l? also presents many scattered references from

the Bible as evidence
that Mecca
is the "New Jerusalem"
of the
the large crowds of worshippers

or the hajj sea
during Ramadan
cannot
at
he
but
arrive
this
conclusion
son,
argues,
(pp. 47/25f.).
a time when God would no longer be wor
Even Jesus predicted
in Jerusalem or on Mount Garizim
(John 4:21).
shipped
as the biblical "New Jerusalem"
Mecca
is only one item on a long
prophecies.
Anybody watching
in TV broadcasts
from Mecca
interpretations of key terms of the biblical prophe

list is offered with sarcastic generosity to the believers in
the Bible, as a tool which will allow them to solve their disputes
the bibli
ascribes
(p. 49/27). As in Islamic tradition, Al-Haw?l?
cal notions of the "Paraclete",
the "Head of Creation",
and the
list of Islamic
cies. This
to the Prophet of Islam. According

to al-Haw?l?,
"Righteous One"
use of this
Daniel.
he is also the "Son of Man" mentioned
The
by
term for Jesus in the four Gospels

is ignored by him. From the
of
ibn
translation
the
Arabic
al-ins?n, he derives a pecu
English
the "Son of Man",

between Muhammad,
and cIs?
of
the
the
"Son
Woman"
fact
that
Muhammad
(Jesus),
(p. 49/27):
has a father where Jesus only has a (virgin) mother qualifies him
liar distinction
alone
as the "Son of Man"
and
implies his superiority.

interpretations of the prophetic
to the evangelical
texts of the Bible, al-Haw?l?
apocalyptic
for most of the horrible
identifications
Similar
these
28
texts. The
apocalyptic
"beast"
EP
Cf. O. Grabar,
"Qubbatal-sakhra",
traditionen in altkirchlicher und fr?hislamischer
and
tries to find present-day

creatures
that figure in
is Zionism
in its Jewish
and
II, 298f.; H. Russe, Jerusalemer Heiligtums

Zeit, Wiesbaden:
Harrassowitz,
I7ff.; 22
25.
THE
Christian
INTIFADA
SECOND
fundamentalist
and
all who
popes
from him. The
AND
versions.
claimed
"little horn"
"THE
DAY
OF WRATH"
343
"False prophets" were Paul, the

or to receive revelations
to be Christ
and
the "abomination
of desolation"
are
identified with the state of Israel, and

by Daniel
the "New Babylon" with modern Western,
cul
especially American
as the "New
State are branded
ture; not surprisingly, the United
mentioned
Roman
Empire"
(p. 50/27).
with these keys, al-Haw?l? approaches
the Book of
Equipped
its
Daniel with
famous visions, which throughout
the ages have
source
a
to
of
and
historical
provided
major
political
imagination
the Christian world. Occasionally
he also refers to the New Tes
tament and more
he describes
with
The last
specifically to the Book of Revelation.
some irony as a "horror film" to whose atroci
not want
to expose his readers

(p. 73/39).
as
of
al-Haw?l?'s
of Muslim
book,
argument
polem
ics since the early period of Islam, is that many of the biblical
were fulfilled by the coming of Islam. This, howev
prophecies
was
and suppressed by Jews and Christians alike, who
denied
er,
either projected
that fulfilment back to the past or postponed
ties he does
A
central
it to an undefined
the human
future, disappointing
longing for
for
the
of
truth, and peace.
triumph
goodness,
redemption
For al-Haw?l?, however,
these are false views which are in obvi
ous contradiction
with divine wisdom, mercy, and justice.
It be
comes very clear from this argument
that he is less interested in
and
the end of the world than in very tangible and this-worldly hopes
of political?and
military?liberation.
a dream which disturbed
The Book of Daniel
(Dan. 2) mentions
the Babylonian
Nebuchadnezzar,
king: he saw a huge figure with
a golden head, with a chest and arms of silver, a
belly and thighs
iron legs and feet of clay. A stone fell upon
of bronze,
it, shat
tered it and turned into a great mountain
that filled the earth.
to the king: four empires would

the dream
interpreted
follow upon each other and would finally be destroyed by a fifth
one which would
last forever. This prophecy was much discussed
by Jewish and Christian scholars. The first four empires were gen
Daniel
to represent Babylon, followed by the Persians, the

erally assumed
Greek empire of Alexander
the Great, and Rome. There was no
tradition itwas often seen
agreement about the fifth: in Christian
344
STEFAN
REICHMUTH
as
al-Haw?l? takes it as a clear

indicating the rise of the Church;
sign of the rise and final rule of Islam (pp. 61-73/33-39).
Another
famous
vision
of Daniel
the rising
(Dan. 7) describes
from the sea: a winged
lion, a bear, a leop
and four wings, and finally a beast with ten
of four great beasts

ard with four heads
horns, which
with human
killed and devoured
all the others. An evil little horn
on it. This beast will be

eyes and mouth
appeared
and everlasting rule will be given
defeated and put to judgement,
to a fifth being, the "Son of Man" who will descend
from heav
en. He
the chosen
represents
"People of the Saints of the Most
be
who
will
High"
given lasting power and rule over the whole
world
of a fifth, ev
time, the two prophecies
(Dan. 7:27). Over
in religious as well
erlasting empire were variously interpreted
as
terms, especially during the religious wars of the

offers his own interpreta
post-Reformation
period.29 Al-Haw?l?
in political
tion of the last vision:
bear
empire, the
and multi-headed
the lion stands for the British
for the Soviet Union.
The
multi-winged
em
and the Catholic
colonial
leopard represents
or
states.
the
Asian
The
fourth
beast
is
pires,
perhaps
eight
tiger
a
or
States
without doubt
with Is
NATO,
symbol of the United
either France
rael as the little evil horn.
For the saints who will destroy Amer

is
interpretation
required for, as he says, "we will have to
wait only a short time to see" (p. 71/38). Here he clearly refers
ica no
to the Muslim
torious
tioned
muj?hid?n,
armies
elsewhere
coming
whom
from
in the Book
the
he
also
north
or
the vic
identifies with
east,
which
are
men
of Daniel
(p. 81/42).30
Al-Haw?l? devotes an entire chapter
(ch. 9, pp. 81-101/44-55)
to the vision of two evil animals mentioned
in the Book of Reve
lation
them
(Rev. 13), which appear on the shore of the sea. He takes

to represent Jewish and Christian Zionism
(p. 80/42). He
29
for example, were a powerful group within the anti

The "Fifth Monarchy
Men",
of the seventeenth
the English Revolution
century, who were
royalist party during
was the rightful heir
convinced
that the British Protestant nation with its Parliament
a
to that
The Fifth Monarchy Men:
see, e.g., B. Capp,
study in seventeenth
prophecy;
Faber and Faber, 1972; Christopher
London:
Hill, The
centuryEnglish Millenarianism,
1991 [1975].
World Turned Upside Down, London:
Penguin,
30
to Dan.
11:44.
Reference
here is apparently
THE
also
SECOND
connects
abomination
INTIFADA
AND
"THE
DAY
OF WRATH"
345
prophecy on the
the
horn in Jerusa
little
by
"abomination
of
days.31 The
their evil activities with Daniel's

which
lem and which
will be effected
last for 2.300
will
desolation"
in the New
(rujsat al-har?b), which is also mentioned
comes
as
out
most
the
(Matth. 24:15),
important sym
bol for the depravity of the present state of Israel. Al-Haw?l? fires
Testament
another
threats and condemnations

volley of biblical accusations,
of the Jewish people
in order to bring home this point (ch. 10,
pp. 102-107/55-59),
ment as mentioned
their immorality
dwelling upon
in their own sacred book.
and
defile
some Christian
on the
speculations
of
in
own
this
He
abomination
offers
his
cal
timing
Jerusalem.
culation as to its beginning
and the final "day of wrath" which
will end it. Following
those commentators who translate the num
Al-Haw?l?
then scrutinizes
ber of days mentioned

in Daniel
into years, he arrives at the year
of the time of evil: the "Abomination
1966/7 as the beginning
of Desolation"
thus started with the Israeli occupation
of the
Haram
in Jerusalem.32
from another
The
45 days
of duration
for these
evils
are also in
enigmatic
saying in Daniel33
as
our
author
the
thus be
2012
years:
year
terpreted by
might
as
for
the
of
the
of
Wrath".
He
shows
himself
year
hoped
"Day
convinced
that the turning point has already been reached with
derived
comes close to
the Intifada of Raj ab. Incidentally his prediction
that of his American
in
Hal
antipodes:
Lindsey's
apocalyptic nov
el Blood Moon,
the battle between
the "futuristic namesakes"
of
Isaac and Ishmael unfolds
in 2014.34
31
Dan. 8:14. In Christian
this vision is generally re
exegesis of the Book of Daniel
as
of the Temple
in Jerusalem
garded
referring to the desecration
by the Seleucid
ruler Antiochus
IV (d. 163 BCE), which
the Maccabean
revolt. On
the his
sparked
torical background
of the Book of Daniel
and its role in Jewish and Christian
tradi
tion, see e.g. Jean Dani?lou,
"Daniel", Reallexikon f?r Antike und Christentum, Stuttgart:
A. Hiersemann,
1957, 3, 575-585.
32
This isnot quite in accordance
with his reference to Dan. 8:14 before, where the
number
of 2.300
of the Temple.
33
This is based
the tribulations
days describes
the duration,
not
the beginning
of the desecration
on Dan.
the end of
12:11, from which a period of 45 days between
of the believers
and the final restitution of the
cult can be
Temple
inferred.
34
http://www.armageddonbooks.com/hal.html
(3 September
2006).
346
STEFAN
REICHMUTH
That final day will bring judgement not reconciliation

(muh?kama
Al-Haw?li
l? mus?laha,
ch. 11, pp. 108-118/60-67).
again emphat
the state
ically rejects any peace process. On the "Day of Wrath",
States will be defeated by the armies of
of Israel and the United
This will be the fi

and Israel will be annihilated.
the Muslims,
The
author dwells with
nal fulfilment of the biblical prophecies.
on the prophetic
calls to war, especial
enthusiasm
considerable
ly those in Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Joel (pp. 119ff./68ff.), which he

reads as calls to jihad and as a praise of the Muslim warriors. Af
ter this great victory the expelled Palestinians will return to their
The biblical promises are reserved for them, not for

the Jews who will be dispersed
again, except those who convert
to remain as dimmts under Muslim
to Islam or choose
rule. As
homeland.
the Jews of both their state and

attempts to dispossess
and
their biblical heritage, his transfer of the biblical promises
an
to
Muslims
the
Palestinian
conveys
engagement
prophecies
for an Islamic scholar.
with the Bible which is rather unusual
al-Haw?l?
in isolation, the "Day ofWrath" might appear as a blind

and vitriolic attack, built upon forced and distorted
interpreta
tions of biblical texts. But as has been shown, the book has to be
Taken
of current Jewish and Christian apocalyp

tic tendencies,
since it engages with them to such an extent and
to their interpretations of the
even owes many of its own concepts
re-sacralisation
the general
illustrate
Bible. Taken
together they
read
in the framework
in the Middle
of the political
language which could be observed
over
secularist
Zionism was
the last decades. Within
East
Israel,
after 1967 by the militant religious messian

strongly challenged
ism of the Gush Emunim and other Orthodox
Jewish groups, and
the
towards
attitudes
American
region have increasing
political
come under the influence of Christian Zionism. For Muslims,
ly
the demise of secular patterns of political
ideology and the grow
of
nationalism"
"Islamisation
(L. Binder)35 have also opened
ing
the field for Islamist movements
35
On
Religion
the beginnings
of this process,
in the Arab World:
Allies
who
have
increasingly
see already Naseer
or Enemies",
Muslim
Aruri,
World,
domin?t
"Nationalism
67, 1977, 266-279.
and
THE
ed
INTIFADA
SECOND
AND
the "terrain of social utopia"
revolution
ticulation
they
have
to a
of social
"THE
OF WRATH"
Since
(G. Kepel).36
extent
large
DAY
gained
control
347
the Iranian
over
the
and political values in the Arab World.

As Safar al-Haw?l? makes rather creative use of the biblical
used
by his Jewish and Christian opponents,

ment
into the polemic
interaction between
ar
texts
he brings a new ele

Israelis and Palestin
ians. The "Day of Wrath" demonstrates

how a Muslim polemicist
finds in the Bible a promising resource for his anti-Israeli and anti
of the two camps

comparison
of their apocalyptic
thus reveals a striking convergence
language.
Even the Christian millenarian
extremists, whom al-Haw?l? crit
American
icized
would
views and
so sharply as "madmen
end in an unthinkable
apparently
found
aspirations.
their match.
some
stupid stunt that

catastrophe"
(pp. 17f./10), have
To remain within the appropriate
venturing
horses
(Rev. 6) are harnessed
imagery: the apocalyptic
by both
sides to their own carriages and prepared
for battle against each
other. This points to the political motives underlying
the inflat
ed religious rhetoric. At least for al-Haw?l?, the "Day of Wrath"
is not doomsday37 but a day of this-worldly liberation, reckon

or Jesus who will bring it
ing and revenge. It is not the Mahd?
the Muslim fighters gathering from all
about, but the muj?hid?n,
parts of the world.

of
the
state
of
Israel
He
clearly
from
any
separates
the question
speculation
on
of the end
matters
ing the Day of Resurrection

(p. 13/8) and never
ic apocalyptical
doctrines and traditions.
concern
refers to Islam
After September
11, al-Haw?l?'s book may be read as a key text
that provides
important clues to the imagery which has guided
Bin L?din and his Saudi followers in their militant activism. But
the "Day of Wrath"
is also
full of sarcasm
and
conveys
a certain
36
154f.
Kepel, Prophet and Pharaoh,
as done
To present al-Haw?l? as a ?doomsday prophet",
byV. & V. Trimondi, Krieg
der Religionen, 393ff, is thus misleading,
especially when read together with his other
much more positive views of the Americans
and their political
and religious culture,
37
(see also below). His posture as "one of the

to President Bush is
equally misunderstood
to a famous Hadit
about the scholars as
by them (p. 396) as they take this reference
a claim of
as
heirs of the prophets
status for himself.
indicating
prophetical
which
in their overview
they also mention
heirs of the prophets"
in his Open
Letter
348
STEFAN
REICHMUTH
to its topic, occasionally

leaving
of a grim play with the sacred
distance
pression
the end
the author
confesses
the reader with
the im
texts of the enemy. At

cer
be absolute
that there cannot
a bet with the Christian

tainty about future events but proposes
and Jewish fundamentalists
about
their outcome
(p. 130/76).
This confirms the essentially political function of his argument.
is in perfect accordance
way of treating biblical prophecy
and this-worldly character of the wave
the largely political
in re
of Arabic apocalyptic
literature which has been published
His
with
cent
years.38
The
recurring
of
expressions
can also be related
in biblical
language,
views about Israel and America.
radical
anti-Semitism,
to the author's
dressed
frame of
to his apocalyptic
look at the future al-Haw?l? has
In more re
another string to his bow when it comes to America.
cent articles he expressed
considerable
admiration
for the Ameri
In addition
can
that several U.S. presidents adhered

theology of Unitarianism
of the United
States as an
to, and for the historical beginnings
nation". He
monotheist
regrets that they should
"enlightened
Zionist, and crusade gov

up with "an evangelical,
to
the
Muslims
strive
hard to convert that
and
ernment",
urges
sees
to
much
for dacwa work among
nation
Islam.39 He
hope
the Americans
many of whom he regards as second only to the
ended
have
Letter
pursuit of justice.40 His Open
the
traditional
dwelt
upon
already
sympathy
of the Arabs for the United
States, and on their disappointment
with the changes of American
politics since the 1970s. Even if al
his fierce criticism of present U.S. poli
Haw?l? has maintained
Muslims
in their
to President
in the Middle
cies
appear
serious
Bush
now much
on the whole
East, his views of the Americans
more nuanced.
is
This change
clearly related
38
"Das Ende?eine
See Sabine Damir-Geilsdorf,
Gegenw?rtige
politische Wende?
an die Zukunft", Orient, 44, 2003, 257-279.
muslimische
Erinnerungen
39
no. 204, Sa'b?n
min al-Nas?r?",
"al-Muwahhid?n
1425/
Al-Haw?l?,
al-Bay?n,
2004, http://al-bayan-magazine.com/bayan-204/bayan-19.htm
(20 November,
September
"The Monotheists
the Christians",
2005), Engl. Transi.
Among
http://www.islamscience.
com/monotheistsEA2.html
2005).
(29 November,
40
"Nas?ha wa-dikr?",
Al-Haw?l?,
14.4.1424,
wa-azmat
"al-Sahwa
al-tahtit",
wa-1-muw?jaha
30 August,
2006).
(n. d.) both last checked
http://saaid.net/warathah/safar/5.htm,
http://saaid.net/warathah/safar/14.htm
THE
INTIFADA
SECOND
AND
"THE
DAY
OF WRATH"
349
to his growing critique of a blind and arbitrary Islamic activism

can be noticed
in his recent articles. To some extent this
which
may have resulted from increased political pressure which appar

ently was brought to bear upon al-Haw?l? over the last years.41 It
also certainly follows from a line of historical
interest which can
his writings. But "The Day of Wrath" with its fiery

on different web sites, and for both its
is still available
be
identified
message
Arabic
and
of users
large numbers
English versions
This testifies to its persisting
impact upon
and beyond
East.
the Middle
counted.42
have
been
readers
in
Appendix
List of books written by Safar al-Haw?l? as available on the web
site http://saaid.net/warathah/safar/(4
2006), with add
September,
ed reference to printed versions which could as yet be identified.
This seems to be the most comprehensive
collection.
Some are
also
available
under
com (22 September

-
commenting
itself
maj?d,
own website
http://www.alhawali.
2006).
cal? maw?di
al-Taliq
Kit?b
al-Haw?l?'s
upon
min
kit?b
cAbd
al-Rahm?n
commentary
<Fath
al-maj?d>
b. Hasan
Muhammad
upon
on
(Lectures
?l
al-Sayh,
b.
cAbd
Tawh?d,
Fath
al
al-Wahh?b,
al-tawh?d).
on
the creed
of
commentary
(Long
al~Tah?wiyya>
scholar
d. 321/933).
at-Tah?w?,
1 Safar
wa-1-Tat?r
1424/4
(dated
2003)
al-judud
al-Intif?da
April
and
the Second
Israel, America,
(On
Intifada).
wa-tatawwuruh?
wa-?t?ruh?
al-:Alm?niyya..nas'atuh?
fi l-hay?t al-isl?miyya
Sarh
<al-Aq?da
Hanafi
the
early
al-mu?sira.
upon
the
(A study on
Islamic
world).
- Ris?la min Makka./an

of
the American
the origins
of
secularism
and
its influence
ayyi say3 nud?fic7?(Reply to the Open
Intellectuals,
letter
2001).
41
account
The biographical
of his student, Hadir
S?lih Sanad
(http//saaid.net/
see above n. 12), mentions
a ban from
was im
waratha/safar/02.htm,
teaching which
on him in recent years.
posed
42
indicates a number of 10.412 reads
(30.8.2006)
Http://saaid.net/Warathah/safar
on this
for the Arabic
version
since 12.8.1424/9.10.2003
when
it was first placed
site. For the English
version
under
available
http://www.as-sahwah.com/viewarticle.
23.060 reads are given.
(22.9.2006),
php?articleID=9088c
350
-
STEFAN
42 muh?dar?t
mufarraga
[sie]
li-l-sayh
Safar
al-Haw?l?
(Collection
of
lectures).
43 muh?dar?t
mufarraga
[sic]
li-l-sayh
Safar
al-Haw?l?
(Collection
of
lectures).
Z?hirat
al-irj?3 f?
historical
critique
directed
-
REICHMUTH
against
many
including
al-Quds
bayna
a
thesis:
and
(His Ph. D.
theological
and of related
in Islam,
tendencies
in Islam,
belief
and practice
separate
scholars
and
movements).
religious
l-fikr al-isl?ml
of the
Murji'a
all those who
contemporary
l-wacd al-haqq..
wa-l-wacd
Muslims
concerning
Jerusalem).
- Yawm
al-gadab hal bada3a bi-intif?datRajaba!
-
September).
al-sunna
taken
position
al-As?cira
Manhaj
wa-l-jamaa
the Ahl al-sunna
by
fi
l-aq?da
(A
before 11
(2000/2001,
on
lecture
(Short
the middle
in religious
issues).
wa-l-jam?ca
of the As'arite
theological
critique
school).
tatawwur
and
(On Europe
f?
al-fikr al-garb? wa-1-had?ta
of her
and belief)
long-drawn
struggle
against
religion
li-l-umma
wa-hit?b
il? Bus
after
11
can al-ahd?t
(2001,
Septem
Muqaddima
the roots
Bay
an
ber, including the Open

al-Im?n
wa-naw?qiduhu
Letter directed
tract
(Dogmatic
on
to President Bush).
and
belief
its deficien
cies).
and
ways
methods
millat
Mujaddid
M?lik?,
on
(Lecture
wa-dir?sat
al-Qawmiyya
al-Muslim?n
(Polemic
ahl
Wasatiyyat
Mak
(al-Q?hira:
al-muftar?
(A political and theological study on

transmitted by Jews, Christians and
tabat al-Sunna, 1414/1994).

the truth of the prophecies
of
Nationalism).
al-mustaqbal
studying
cAmr b. Luhayy
the prominent
against
one
of the co-founders
(Lecture
the
on
sound
and
unsound
future).
al-sirk f? h?d?
l-zam?n.
wa-d?ciyat
Muhammad
scholar
cAlaw?
Hij?zi
of the Muslim
World
and
League,
his book Sif?3 al-fu?d bi-ziy?rathayr al-ib?d).
tahk?m al-qawan?n>
b. Ibrah?m (rahimahu
li-l-sayhMuhammad
on a fatw? of the former Mufti
of Saudi
(Extensive
commentary
on man-made
b. Ibrahim
Muhammad
laws and
?1 as-Sayh,
Arabia,
the sari a, dated
their necessary
accordance
with
1380/1960).
Sarh
<Ris?lat
ll?h).
Ris?la
min al-sayh
can culam?3 al-umma.
Kasf
al-gumma
il? al-sayh
b. B?z
cAbd al-Az?z
[Saudiarabia],
(n.l.
1412/1991)
of
acter
of
(Long pamphlet addressed
to the leading Saudi scholar;
and
erosion
to grant
about
complaint
the decision
critique
the country,
the
Safar al-Haw?l?
Dar
al-Hikma,
Saudi
the Americans
the
of
in
base
military
the Islamic
char
state).
- Al-Radd
cal? l-hurafiyy?n
(Muhammad 'Alaw?M?lik?) (another polemic
cAlaw?
M?lik? blaming him for his Sufi opinions).
against Muhammad
-
on
in the
its
role
poem
Syria and
(Long
glorious
in
Sal?h
and of Jerusalem,
mentioning
particular
and
Ibn
al-Din's
victories
and
activities).
writings
Taymiyya's
source:
from
another
Also
article
web
the following
important
Malhamat
defence
al-S?m
of
Islam
THE
"Al-Muwahhid?n
al-Bay?n,
INTIFADA
SECOND
min
Sacb?n
al-nas?r?.
1425/Sept-Oct.
AND
"THE
Among
the Christians",
theistsEA2.html(29 November
OF WRATH"
351
Us?luhum..w?qicuhum..mu?n?tuhum",
2004
http://albayan-magazine.com/
bayan-204/bayan-19.htm (29 November
Monotheists
DAY
2005).
2005); English version: "The
http://www.islamscience.com/mono

Reichmuth - The Second Intifada and The Day of Wrath

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The Second Intifada and the "Day of Wrath": Safar al-awl and His Anti-Semitic Reading of

THE SECOND INTIFADA AND THE "DAY OF WRATH":

Internet blurb for Blood Moon, an Apocalyptic Novel by Hal Lindsey

Ende and Stefan

Brill NV, Leiden,

Welt des Islams

of the Jewish New Year 5761, a bloody confrontation

and many others wounded.

sparked by the visit of the head

of the towns and

into a period of growing tensions between

of support for lasting Israeli control over the Temple

called for a "Day of Anger"

of military force by the Israeli army and police

ed with religious connotations.

a term for the day of divine judgement

sinned against the Lord. This is followed by a prophecy on

or "by a wrath from God"

"Day of His Wrath"

dies irae of the Latin

to go back to these texts.9

initiators of the protest rallies had biblical connotations

poetry and literature.10 Palestinian

the issues of the holy

til then had

of the term was highlighted

8:19, "in the last time ofwrath".

inJudaism, Christianity and Islam,

cover page of the Arabic version shows an American

is at present one of the most prominent and contro

calls the Islamic

Christianity and western secularism, and even more

(sahwa) in his country. Safar

of the Faculty of Islamic Studies at the Umm al-Qur? Universi

in 1994, after they had sharply criticized

a "Global Campaign Against

site, readership numbers

the view, propagated

(eds.), Speaking for Islam. Religious

The book claims that, quite to

of the Israel over

since the 1980s.17 The apocalyp

of the final battle

the impending end of the world,

out to all nations who in

essays and novels

and Israel, 1917-2002,

imaginative scenarios of the world's final days. In

taken away from earth

then be completely destroyed.20

introductory chapter begins with a

to him it was an illusionary undertaking

ber refers to the Arabic

met with outrage

the futility of any agree

by the Jews, revealing

its strong Islamic overtones, as it expresses what

ity of all the secular slogans."

the coming of Christ, others that of the Anti

the Intifada. This

the state of Israel

that the neglect of the

lief as highly attractive, since the end of Israel is of outmost rel