Copyright: 2010

Publisher: Tyndale

ISBN: 9781414333076

Son of Hamas is the gripping story of a young man who is the son of one of the founders of Hamas.  He tells his own story, going all the way back to his grandfather and his father as imam's in the Muslim faith all the way through his seeking asylum in the United States because of his work for Shin Bet, the Israeli internal security force tasked with finding terrorists within the homeland.  The amazing transformation of his life from son of a Hamas leader to working for the Israeli intelligence community is inter-twined with the equally amazing story of his journey from the Muslim faith to the Christian faith all the while working closely with men of the Jewish faith. 

Switching Sides - Politically

Mosab was a hardened youth ready to fight against the Israelis in pursuit of justice and freedom for his Palestinian brethren.  As a teenager he was arrested by the Israelis, tortured and interrogated for weeks on end.  During this time he was approached by a member of Shin Bet who offered him the opportunity to work for the Israelis in exchange for protection and an end to the torture.  After some thought Mosab agreed but secretly his goal was to come back and kill the young Shin Bet officer once he had earned his trust.

Since it would have been suspicious to release Mosab too soon, he was transferred to another prison and forced to serve another 6 month term.  During this time he witnessed the darker side of the Hamas movement.  He saw them torturing their own and he saw the power struggles within the group that were motivated not by a desire to help the Palestinians but rather to further each individuals agenda.

Over time Mosab began to realize that Hamas was doing as much damage to the Palestinian people as any other group was doing.  He determined that if he truly wanted to help his people, the best thing he could do was help the Israelis take down the terrorist wing of Hamas.

Switching Sides - Religiously

Mosab's father and grandfather were both good Muslim men of great faith.  They both had a strong desire to help their people and serve their God.  Mosab grew up wanting to be just like them but while in prison the first time he began to see some of the inconsistencies of the Muslim faith. 

Not long after this, while he began his work with Shin Bet he was invited to join a group of Christian youth engaged in Bible study.  He began to study the Bible, justifying it first in his own mind and then to others by saying that the Bible was a great historical book and a good Muslim should be a good student of history. 

Over time (six years by his own account) he began to see that what he had grown up believing about the Muslim faith could not be reconciled with the world around him.  Further he began to see that the Muslim faith was inconsistent within itself.  Gradually he converted to Christianity, eventually being baptized by a visiting Christian while still working for Israeli intelligence. 

At the end of the book Mosab points out that he doesn't consider himself to be a good or mature Christian.  He makes no claim to having it all figured out... he just knows that Christianity is the truth for which he had been seeking.

Lessons Learned

This book was a fascinating read.  The author has a unique perspective on this part of the world and he freely shares what he believes to be the weaknesses of both the Palestinian point of view as well as the Israeli.  He doesn't try to paint a pretty picture of any of the players in the region, he simply lays it out the way he sees things. 

With the recent events in Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood has been a topic of discussion.  Many Conservatives are up at arms because an American official recently pointed out that the Muslim Brotherhood isn't 100% a terrorist organization.  In Son of Hamas, Mosab gives a bit of the history of both the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas.  Both organizations were started as humanitarian institutions rather than political.  Both organizations have elements that are less than noble but they also have their good sides. 

Americans would do well to learn more about the history of the organizations which they so glibly talk about on their cable news shows.  Glenn Beck and others are making lots of money talking in conspiratorial tones about groups with mysterious sounding names.  It's time we do our homework and learn about these folks... and not just the bad things we can dig up.

Conclusion

I think every American should read this book.  The story gives insight into a world that most of us can't even imagine.  I found myself coming to the end of the book wishing there were more because I felt I had learned so much in the reading.