I had followed the attacks in Mumbai via Twitter but read about the killing of the Singaporean hostage in the news. Recently the Indian government released the transcripts of the terrorists calls with their handlers who are "alleged" to have been in Pakistan.
GUNMAN 1: 'We are on the 10th/11th floor. We have five hostages.'
HANDLER 2: Everything is being recorded by the media. Inflict the maximum damage. Keep fighting. Don't be taken alive.
HANDLER 1: Kill all hostages, except the two Muslims. Keep your phone switched on so that we can hear the gunfire.
GUNMAN 2: We have three foreigners, including women. From Singapore and China.
HANDLER 1: Kill them.
The dossier then notes that the telephone intercept records the 'voices of (the gunmen) directing hostages to stand in a line, and telling two Muslims to stand aside. Sound of gunfire. Cheering voices in background.
The killing was deliberate, The hostages were non-combattants. I thought that the Prophet prohibited the killing of the "old verging on death, women, children and babes". At least this was what I read in
http://www.muhajabah.com/reallysays.htm.
"Set out for Jihad in the name of Allah and for the sake of Allah. Do not lay hands on the old verging on death, on women, children and babes. Do not steal anything from the booty and collect together all that falls to your lot in the battlefield and do good, for Allah loves the virtuous and the pious."
I wonder if the terrorist had even known the Words of his prophet or was his knowledge of Islam dumped down upon him by men with their own agenda. There is a great need for everyone who profess a faith in God to read the teachings for themselves.
I see such blind following even amongst people who call themselves Christians yet follow beliefs that are unChristian. I can't speak for other faiths but as Christians we must remember that God has given us a brain, and He has given us His Words and most important, he has given us a relationship with Him. We are His children, He loves us so much He sent His Son, Jesus to take our place. Is it so difficult to pick up His Words and ponder on them and to seek to know Him? This are times of many false teachers who speaks well and promises much, but we must know God's truth for ourselves or we run the risk of following a David Koresh (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Koresh) or his likes.
Just as I said about the mob killings of Christians, I say again, "The stupid are being led by the evil." It is not about Islam, ot Hinduism, or Judaism or Christianisty or any other religion.
Know the truth for yourself.