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Suicide Bombing in Islam: Difference between revisions
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{{QualityScore|Lead=2|Structure=2|Content=2|Language=1|References=3}} | {{QualityScore|Lead=2|Structure=2|Content=2|Language=1|References=3}} | ||
This article discusses [[suicide]] bombing (martyrdom operations) in [[Islam]], and why a number of scholars have deemed it to be permissible under [[Islamic Law|Islamic law]]. | |||
This article discusses [[suicide]] bombing (martyrdom operations) in [[Islam]], and why it | |||
== | ==Exceptions to norms== | ||
There are many [[hadith]] narrations and [[Qur'an|Qur'anic]] verses forbidding suicide, however, there are also some hadith (and one Qur'anic verse related to one of them) which indicate that killing oneself is allowed under certain circumstances. Just like Muslims are forbidden from eating pork, | There are many [[hadith]] narrations and [[Qur'an|Qur'anic]] verses forbidding suicide, however, there are also some hadith (and one Qur'anic verse related to one of them) which indicate that killing oneself is allowed under certain circumstances. Just like Muslims are forbidden from eating pork, they are allowed to eat it in “certain circumstances”. | ||
==Main Evidence== | ==Main Evidence== | ||
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She requested from Pharaoh - and he acceded to her request - that her bones and her children's bones be gathered in a single cloth and buried. Her children were then thrown into the cauldron one by one before her eyes, until they got to a suckling infant, and it seemed she wavered on account of him, but he said, "O mother! Jump in, for the torture of this world is lighter than the punishment of the Hereafter." '''So she jumped in. '''}} | She requested from Pharaoh - and he acceded to her request - that her bones and her children's bones be gathered in a single cloth and buried. Her children were then thrown into the cauldron one by one before her eyes, until they got to a suckling infant, and it seemed she wavered on account of him, but he said, "O mother! Jump in, for the torture of this world is lighter than the punishment of the Hereafter." '''So she jumped in. '''}} | ||
The narrators of the chain [of Imam Ahmad's version] are reliable, apart from Abu `Umar al-Dareer | The narrators of the chain [of Imam Ahmad's version] are reliable, apart from Abu `Umar al-Dareer (though al-Dhahabi and Abu Hatim al-Razi considered him "truthful", and Ibn Hibban considered "reliable"). A similar hadith is mentioned on IslamQA, fatwa no. 39678 (where it is graded as authentic). | ||
According to Ibn Kathir (and other Mufassirun/Qur'an commentators), as well as Yusuf al-Uyayri, who published a fatwa which used this hadith to justify suicide bombing, Quran 85:11 below is about the incident: | According to Ibn Kathir (and other Mufassirun/Qur'an commentators), as well as Yusuf al-Uyayri, who published a fatwa which used this hadith to justify suicide bombing, Quran 85:11 below is about the incident: | ||
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Ibn Kathir said about it: | Ibn Kathir said about it: | ||
{{Quote| 1=Tafsir Ibn Kathir, [http://www.webcitation.org/64xUSMcl1 The Story of the Sorcerer, the Monk, the Boy and Those Who were forced to enter the Ditch]|2=Then the king said, "Whoever abandons his religion, let him go, and whoever does not, throw him into the fire.'' They were struggling and scuffling in the fire, until a woman and her baby whom she was breast feeding came and it was as if she was being somewhat hesitant of falling into the fire, so her baby said to her, "Be patient mother! For verily, you are following the truth!'') Muslim also recorded this Hadith at the end of the Sahih. }} | {{Quote| 1=Tafsir Ibn Kathir, [http://www.webcitation.org/64xUSMcl1 The Story of the Sorcerer, the Monk, the Boy and Those Who were forced to enter the Ditch]|2=Then the king said, "Whoever abandons his religion, let him go, and whoever does not, throw him into the fire.'' They were struggling and scuffling in the fire, until a woman and her baby whom she was breast feeding came and it was as if she was being somewhat hesitant of falling into the fire, so her baby said to her, "Be patient mother! For verily, you are following the truth!'') Muslim also recorded this Hadith at the end of the Sahih. }}This hadith indicates that killing yourself is allowed in Islam in certain circumstances.The lady killed herself, which benefited Islam, because many people converted to Islam after being amazed by her actions. Hence, many scholars conclude, killing yourself is ok when it is going to “benefit” Islam, like in this incident. | ||
=== Counterarguments === | |||
====="The lady was going to be killed anyway"===== | ====="The lady was going to be killed anyway"===== | ||
The Pharaoh did not pass any definite death sentences, in fact it is possible to say the Pharaoh did not want to kill the lady. Ibn Kathir mentions a hadith in his tafsir that the king/pharaoh said about the lady and her people: | |||
{{Quote| 1=Tafsir Ibn Kathir, [http://www.webcitation.org/64xUSMcl1 The Story of the Sorcerer, the Monk, the Boy and Those Who were forced to enter the Ditch]|2=Then the king said, "Whoever abandons his religion, let him go, and whoever does not, throw him into the fire.'' }} | {{Quote| 1=Tafsir Ibn Kathir, [http://www.webcitation.org/64xUSMcl1 The Story of the Sorcerer, the Monk, the Boy and Those Who were forced to enter the Ditch]|2=Then the king said, "Whoever abandons his religion, let him go, and whoever does not, throw him into the fire.'' }} | ||
So the lady could have saved the life by “pretending” to renounce Islam, which is encouraged in Islam in situations like these (see Qur'an 16:106). | So the lady could have saved the life by “pretending” to renounce Islam, which is encouraged in Islam in situations like these (see Qur'an 16:106). | ||
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IslamQA also mentions: {{Quote|1=Tafsir Ibn Kathir, [http://www.webcitation.org/64xVTEGhF IslamQA, Fatwa no. 39678, The story of the hairdresser of Pharaoh’s daughter]|2= | IslamQA also mentions: {{Quote|1=Tafsir Ibn Kathir, [http://www.webcitation.org/64xVTEGhF IslamQA, Fatwa no. 39678, The story of the hairdresser of Pharaoh’s daughter]|2= | ||
"O So and so, do you have a Lord other than me?’ She said: ‘Yes, my Lord and your Lord is Allaah."}} | "O So and so, do you have a Lord other than me?’ She said: ‘Yes, my Lord and your Lord is Allaah."}} | ||
At that point the lady could have also saved her life by lying and denying she is Muslim ( | At that point the lady could have also saved her life by lying and denying she is Muslim ({{Quran|16|106}}). But she chose to die instead. | ||
====="Hadith is referring to the pre-Islamic era"===== | ====="Hadith is referring to the pre-Islamic era"===== | ||
This argument states that the hadith is pre Islamic and that Islam abrogated all pre Islamic religions. So | This argument states that the hadith is pre-Islamic and that Islam abrogated all pre-Islamic religions. So, it is argued, these hadith can not be used to make rulings. | ||
Many verses in the Quran, however, relate to the pre-Islamic era, a famous one for example is “On that account: We ordained for the Children of Israel that if anyone killed a person - unless it for murder or for spreading mischief in the land - it would be as if he slew all mankind “ [Qur'an 5:32]. “Mischief” is understood to mean disbelief, according to Muhammad, his companions and the famous Muffasirun (like Ibn Kathir and al-Suyuti). This verse is related to the time of Adam and Eve, when Cain killed his brother Abel, so Allah sent down this verse. Many other verses and hadith refer to stories of past times and are nonetheless used to derive rulings, especially when clear evidence to the contrary is absent. | |||
For further information of above verse, see: [[If Anyone Slew a Person]] | For further information of above verse, see: [[If Anyone Slew a Person]] | ||
Muhammad also praised the lady that killed herself in the incident by calling it a “beautiful/pleasant fragrance”, without pointing out that such an act would in his Sharia be prohibited, which is something he could have done and did do in other cases. For instance, while Yusuf (Jospeh) has his brothers and parents prostrate to him in the Qur'an, Muhammad is reported to have explicitly stated that such a practice (prostrating to humans or even prophets) would no longer be permissible in his (Muhammad's) time. | |||
====="The lady could not renounce Islam, it wasn’t allowed then"===== | ====="The lady could not renounce Islam, it wasn’t allowed then"===== | ||
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*There is a hadith about the Quran verse “[[Misinterpreted Qur'anic Verses#Those who blow themselves up are throwing themselves into destruction (2:195)|make not your own hands contribute to your destruction]]“ {{Quran|2|195}}, about a man who rushed into the enemy by himself and got killed. People said he caused his own destruction, but hadith says that what the verse means by destruction is “abandoning Jihad”, and that he didn’t cause his own destruction. | *There is a hadith about the Quran verse “[[Misinterpreted Qur'anic Verses#Those who blow themselves up are throwing themselves into destruction (2:195)|make not your own hands contribute to your destruction]]“ {{Quran|2|195}}, about a man who rushed into the enemy by himself and got killed. People said he caused his own destruction, but hadith says that what the verse means by destruction is “abandoning Jihad”, and that he didn’t cause his own destruction. | ||
* {{Bukhari|9|87|111}} says Muhammad '''intended''' to kill himself by jumping off a mountain | *{{Bukhari|9|87|111}} says Muhammad '''intended''' to kill himself by jumping off a mountain | ||
*According to {{Muslim|20|4631}} Muhammad said “I love that I should be killed in the way of Allah; then I should be brought back to life and be killed again in His way”...." | *According to {{Muslim|20|4631}} Muhammad said “I love that I should be killed in the way of Allah; then I should be brought back to life and be killed again in His way”...." | ||
*A man asks Muhammad "which of men is the best?" Muhammad replies that it is the man who is always ready for battle and flies into it "seeking death at places where it can be expected." {{Muslim|20|4655}} | *A man asks Muhammad "which of men is the best?" Muhammad replies that it is the man who is always ready for battle and flies into it "seeking death at places where it can be expected." {{Muslim|20|4655}} | ||
*Muhammad said: “Surely, the gates of Paradise are under the shadows of the swords." After hearing that martyrdom leads to paradise, a young man pulls his sword and breaks the sheath (indicating that he has no intention of returning) then flings himself into battle until he is killed. {{Muslim|20|4681}} | *Muhammad said: “Surely, the gates of Paradise are under the shadows of the swords." After hearing that martyrdom leads to paradise, a young man pulls his sword and breaks the sheath (indicating that he has no intention of returning) then flings himself into battle until he is killed. {{Muslim|20|4681}} | ||
*Qur'an 9:111 says they “kill and are killed”, sounds like suicide bombers?{{Quote|{{Quran|9|111}}| Allah hath purchased of the believers their persons and their goods; for theirs (in return) is the garden (of Paradise): they fight in His cause, and kill and are killed}} | *Qur'an 9:111 says they “kill and are killed”, sounds like suicide bombers?{{Quote|{{Quran|9|111}}| Allah hath purchased of the believers their persons and their goods; for theirs (in return) is the garden (of Paradise): they fight in His cause, and kill and are killed}} | ||
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This article has shown us at least 3 things: | This article has shown us at least 3 things: | ||
#That killing oneself is allowed in Islam under certain circumstances (like in the hadith of the lady who jumped into the boiling pot, and of the boy who told the king/pharaoh how to kill him) | #That killing oneself is allowed in Islam under certain circumstances (like in the hadith of the lady who jumped into the boiling pot, and of the boy who told the king/pharaoh how to kill him) | ||
#That killing oneself is permissible if it will benefit Islam (like in above mentioned hadiths) | #That killing oneself is permissible if it will benefit Islam (like in above mentioned hadiths) | ||