Obama and Islam

In a move that I long anticipated, notice the following:

White House Muslim recruiting: By book

Chicago Tribune, Washington Bureau – March 29, 2009

In a bid to get more Muslim Americans working in the Obama administration, a book with resumes of 45 of the nation’s most qualified — Ivy League grads, Fortune 500 executives and public servants, all carefully vetted — has been submitted to the White House…

Now, Muslim Americans — who according to a recent study overwhelmingly backed Obama in the November election — have been carefully watching the administration’s every step.

Most expressed disappointment with Obama’s initial silence during Israel’s offensive in Gaza. They’ve been encouraged by the video message the president issued recently to the Iranian people on the eve of the Persian holiday of Nowruz and want more diplomacy with nations such as Syria and Iran. They’ve been troubled by FBI admissions of sending what activists call “agent provocateurs” into mosques and the bureau’s break in ties with Muslim-American organizations such as the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR.

Community leaders hope the White House will consider Muslim Americans for posts in the administration…

A White House aide confirmed the Obama administration had received the resumes, noting that it is “not unusual” for the administration to consider lists of job candidates suggested by constituent groups.

“We’re still very much in the middle of the (hiring) process, even when it comes to very senior government employees. These things take time and they’re all based on finding the right fit,” said the aide, who declined to be identified because he is not authorized to speak publicly for the administration…

Eboo Patel, founder and executive director of the Chicago-based Interfaith Youth Core, said Muslims need to ask themselves what they can do for their country.

“While that question would have made many feel squeamish in the Bush administration, asking that question in the Obama administration should elevate us,” said Patel, who was recently appointed to the president’s advisory council on faith-based and neighborhood partnerships. “During the era of Obama, it feels right to ask and answer that question.” http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2009/03/white_house_muslim_recruiting.html

I have long been writing that I felt that President Obama would likely be more sympathetic to Islamic interests than previous US presidents. This may be a chance for him to prove it.

Regular readers may be aware of something that Forbes published last October:

Is Barack Obama the “promised warrior” coming to help the Hidden Imam of Shiite Muslims conquer the world?

…a pro-government Web site published a Hadith (or tradition) from a Shiite text of the 17th century. The tradition comes from Bahar al-Anvar (meaning Oceans of Light) by Mullah Majlisi, a magnum opus in 132 volumes and the basis of modern Shiite Islam.

According to the tradition, Imam Ali Ibn Abi-Talib (the prophet’s cousin and son-in-law) prophesied that at the End of Times and just before the return of the Mahdi, the Ultimate Saviour, a “tall black man will assume the reins of government in the West.” Commanding “the strongest army on earth,” the new ruler in the West will carry “a clear sign” from the third imam, whose name was Hussein Ibn Ali. The tradition concludes: “Shiites should have no doubt that he is with us.”

(Taheri, A. Obama and Ahmadinejad. Forbes.com 10.26.08, for more details, please see Barack Obama in Islamic Prophecy?).

And while I DO NOT feel that Barack Obama is a secret Muslim, I do believe that his presence and his actions will help lead to the rise of an Islamic leader consistent with the following that was published by the old Worldwide Church of God nearly 30 years ago:

But who is the “king of the south”?…in verse 40 we skip to “the time of the end”…The verse undoubtedly found partial fulfillment in the offensive of 1896…But Mussolini did not finish the prophecy…Just as there is yet to be a final “king of the north”…there may very well emerge in the same manner a final “king of the south”–an overall leader of an Arab-Moslem confederation, possibly bearing the very title Mahdi……a prophetic psalm (Psalm 83) provides additional insight into the Mideast picture. Germany (Assyria in Bible prophecy) and perhaps the rest of Europe will be in league in the future with a union of Arab nations…But in the end, this European-Arab alliance will prove short-lived…And the king of the north shall come against him [the king of the south]…The Arab-Moslem Confederation will, of course, be thrown into chaotic disarray in the fact of invasion. (Arab World in Prophecy, Plain Truth magazine, December 1979)

The situation seems to be becoming set for an Islamic leader to rise up, and if many believe the Shi’ite prophecy, many Muslims would tend to expect this military leader to rise up possibly during the time that Barack Obama is US President.

Some articles of related interest may include:

Is There A Future King of the South? Some no longer believe there needs to be. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? What does the Bible say?
The Arab World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam?
Prophecy Obama: Prophecies of Barack Obama? Eight reasons why Barack Obama is apocalyptic and eight reasons why Barack Obama is not the Antichrist. Here are biblical and non-biblical prophecies, from around the world, that seem to discuss Barack Obama. Did Nostradamus predict Barack Obama dealing with the Antichrist? Might Barack Obama set the stage for the kings of the North and South as at least one Shiite prophecy suggests? This is the longest and most complete article on this page on Barack Obama prophecies.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States Some claim that Barack Obama is the prophesied “son of Kenya”, based up an early 20th century writing.
Barack Obama in Islamic Prophecy? There is actually a 17th century Shiite prophecy that some believe that Barack Obama will fulfill that will lead to a rising up of Islam.