Understanding Martyrdom in Islam

Understanding Martyrdom in Islam

Fr. Eliseo R. Mercado, Jr., OMI

Graduate School, Notre Dame University

         There is an evolving worldwide hysteria on Islamic Jihad following the terrorists’ suicidal bombing of World Trade Center, Pentagon and other US targets.  The shock over the massive civilian casualties and targets is shared worldwide.  All major media outlets brought live the tragic drama into people’s homes.

            The worldwide response is shock as well as prayer.  No one prior to the New York and Washington attacks thought of mega terrorists’ attacks against civilian targets and in the USA.  While people know the increasing hate and anger over the American policy in the Middle East and other parts of the world that continue to fuel “extremism”, especially in the Islamic world, nobody has predicted the simultaneous hijacking of commercial planes and use them against civilian targets like the World Trade Centers.

            The attack brought policy makers as well as policy strategists to go back to the drawing board and review their basics on Islam, Islamic Reform, Jihad and Martyrs in Islam.  This short write up is the first in our attempt to “decipher” the broad issues that cause our bones to shiver as the tragedies in New York continue to flash in our television sets.

The Martyrs in the Qur’an

            The word Shahid (martyr/witness) is mentioned 55 times in the Qur’an.  Save three passages, all the uses of the world Shahid is derived from the  meaning of the word Shahadah (confession/testimony). 

            The three passages referred to are Sura IV:69, XXXIX, 69 and LV, 19.

These three gave birth to a certain viewpoint that the word shahid means the person who is killed in the way of God (Al Azhar 1971 part 1 p. 150).  The one who had been killed in God’s way is called shahid, because he had given his life to help in realizing the victory of God’s Faith.  When a Muslim takes part in battle against unbelief and infidels, he offers his life in defense of his faith.  A shahid is the one who had fallen in such battle.

It is true that the term “Martyr” is often used in the Shari’a to describe the person killed while “fighting in the way of God.”  But in the Qur’an itself, the preferred description for those who were fallen  “fighting in the way of God” is “SLAIN” (S II: 154, III, 169 & 157, IV, 174, IX,3).  The Qur’anic preference  of the term “SLAIN”  to “MARTYR” is perhaps contained in S. III, 3.  This flows from the accepted belief that the “fallen” in God’s way is not merely a belief therein and idealism of its beliefs, otherwise none be slain and no blood be shed. But rather the execution of God’s right in these souls brought  by God from the faithful that they willingly accepted to sell at the price with which  He pleased them, that is, the Paradise (Sheik Abdul-Sattar  Al-Sayyid, Mufti of Tartus in Syria, 1391 AH).

Are Terrorists “Martyrs”? 

The attackers of the twin towers in NY, in some sectors, were considered “Martyrs”.  Yet, the Qur’an and traditions are very specific in prescribing assault against children, women and the non-combatants.  “And fight in the Cause of God those who fight you, but DO NOT TRANSGRESS LIMITS; for God loveth not transgressors”.  There are specific acts prescribed for a true “mujahid”.   These are the following:  “Shulul”, fraud, the killing of children, women, the aged, breach of faith, mutilating those who had been killed, the robbing of travellers on public roads, plunder, the narrowing down of  “halting-places” and failing to pay what one owes.”  In fact, ambuscades and blockades of roads and “halting places” for travellers are unqualified for jihad as the Prophet explicitly forbade as narrated by Abu Daud on the authority of the companion, Shal iba Mu’adh.  Not everyone killed in jihad gains martyrdom.  The prophet himself saw the commonly held “martyr” in hell.  The prophet said:  “Go and tell people that none would enter into Paradise save the faithful.

The “Martyr’s Qualities are the more exalted qualities outlined in S. IX, 112. “Those that turn (to God) in repentance; that serve Him, and praise Him, that wander in devotion to the cause of God; that bow down and prostrate themselves in prayers; that enjoin good and forbid evil; and observe the limits set by God;  (they do rejoice) and proclaim the glad tidings to the believers.”

October 09, 2015