Militant Islam Monitor > Articles > Farris Hassan: Reading between the lies - Teen's essay echoes Koranic guidelines of Islamist tracts Farris Hassan: Reading between the lies - Teen's essay echoes Koranic guidelines of Islamist tractsJanuary 10, 2006 MIM: Besides sounding contrived Farris Hassan's essay uncannily echoes Koranic verses and could have been extracted verbatim from the book which can be described as a handbook for Islamist entitled: To Be A Muslim by Fathi Yakan and Sacrifice: The Making of A Muslim by Khurram Murad. Both books are part of the Young Muslims organisation online library. Below is the essay from Farris Hassan which was circulated on the internet and meant to serve as a smokescreen for his possible Jihad trip by portraying his Iraq excursion as a humanitarian undertaking meant to "bring a smile to children's faces". Hassan also proclaims his intent to "join the Red Cross" which begs the question of how that goal gave way to an interview with an official in the terrorist organisation Hizbollah. The absurdity of his claims is only superceded by his probable real agenda, and a close examination of the text of his missive shows that his words are in fact a religous text reminiscent of documents written by those who engage in so called "martyrdom operations". Essay by U.S. Teen Who Went to Iraq By The Associated Press http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/journey_to_iraq_essay Excepts from an essay written recently by Farris Hassan, 16, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., who traveled to Iraq without telling his parents: FH: There is a struggle in Iraq between good and evil, between those striving for freedom and liberty and those striving for death and destruction. You are aware of the heinous acts of the terrorists: Women and children massacred, innocent aid workers decapitated, indiscriminate murder. You are also aware of the heroic aspirations of the Iraqi people: liberty, democracy, security, normality. Those terrorists are not human but pure evil. For their goals to be thwarted, decent individuals must answer justice's call for help ... So I will.
FH: Life is not about money, fame, or power. Life is about combating the forces of evil in the world, promoting justice, helping the misfortunate, and improving the welfare of our fellow man. Progress requires that we commit ourselves to such goals. We are not here on Earth to hedonistically pleasure ourselves, but to serve each other and the creator. What deed is greater than sacrificing one's luxuries for the benefit of those less blessed? ...
I know I can't do much. I know I can't stop all the carnage and save the innocent. But I also know I can't just sit here ...
FH: I feel guilty living in a big house, driving a nice car, and going to a great school. I feel guilty hanging out with friends in a cafe without the fear of a suicide bomber present. I feel guilty enjoying the multitude of blessings, which I did nothing to deserve, while people in Iraq, many of them much better then me, are in terrible anguish. This inexorable guilt I feel transforms into a boundless empathy for the distress of the misfortunate and into a compassionate love for my fellow man ..."
Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference. They bless the one who receives them, and they bless the one who gives them. FH: Going to Iraq will broaden my mind. We kids at Pine Crest (School) live such sheltered lives. I want to experience during my Christmas the same hardships ordinary Iraqis experience everyday, so that I may better empathize with their distress. I also want to immerse myself in their environment in order to better comprehend the social and political elements ... * Allah tells us:
Such are the possessions of this world's life; but the nearness toAllah is the best of the goals. [Qur'an 3:14] FH: I plan on doing humanitarian work with the Red Cross. I will give my mind, body, and spirit to helping Iraqis rebuild their lives. Hopefully I will get the chance to build houses, distribute food supplies, and bring a smile or two to some poor children.
FH: I know going to Iraq will be incredibly risky. There are thousands of people there that desperately want my head. There are millions of people there that mildly prefer my demise merely because I am American. Nevertheless, I will go there to love and help my neighbor in distress, if that endangers my life, so be it ...
FH:If I know what is needed and what is right, but do not act on my moral conscience, I would be a hypocrite. I must do what I say decent individuals should do. I want to live my days so that my nights are not full of regrets. Therefore, I must go.
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