MembersTHE SHIITES, THE JEWS AND THE ANTICHRIST

The turmoil in the Middle East has nothing to do with Israel; rather, it is the result of blind hatred between two rival Islamic faiths claiming to be the legitimate heirs of the Prophet Mohammed.

The conflict began a day after Mohammed’s death in 632 AD. A successor to Mohammed had to be chosen and the majority of his followers, who became known as Sunnis, wanted to appoint the most competent army commander of Mohammed’s tribe as caliph, or supreme Muslim leader.

The minority group of Muslims—later called Shiites—insisted that one of Mohammed’s family members should be his successor. They chose his nephew, Ali Ibn Abi Talib, declaring that he was appointed by Allah himself.

Eventually, Mohammed’s companion Abu-Bakr took over the leadership and the Shiites were pushed aside for about 20 years. Then, in 656 AD, they declared Ali as the fourth caliph and first Shiite Imam; but he was assassinated just five years later and his Shiite faction split off from Sunni...