Comments on: The Link Between Islam & Suicide Attacks (or is there?) http://muslimmatters.org/2007/06/10/the-link-between-islam-suicide-attacks-or-is-there/ Discourses in the Intellectual Traditions, Political Situation, and Social Ethics of Muslim Life Tue, 22 May 2012 19:03:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Who Speaks for Islam? Part 3b | MuslimMatters.org http://muslimmatters.org/2007/06/10/the-link-between-islam-suicide-attacks-or-is-there/#comment-19789 Who Speaks for Islam? Part 3b | MuslimMatters.org Mon, 12 May 2008 15:36:27 +0000 http://muslimmatters.org/2007/06/10/the-link-between-islam-suicide-attacks-or-is-there/#comment-19789 [...] best research on this has been done by Robert Pape (referred to sometime ago on MM), author of Dying to Win: The Logic of Suicide [...] [...] best research on this has been done by Robert Pape (referred to sometime ago on MM), author of Dying to Win: The Logic of Suicide [...]

]]> By: The Psychology of the Suicide Bomber | MuslimMatters.org http://muslimmatters.org/2007/06/10/the-link-between-islam-suicide-attacks-or-is-there/#comment-18210 The Psychology of the Suicide Bomber | MuslimMatters.org Sat, 19 Apr 2008 17:58:46 +0000 http://muslimmatters.org/2007/06/10/the-link-between-islam-suicide-attacks-or-is-there/#comment-18210 [...] The Link Between Islam & Suicide Attacks (or is there?) [...] [...] The Link Between Islam & Suicide Attacks (or is there?) [...]

]]> By: Amad http://muslimmatters.org/2007/06/10/the-link-between-islam-suicide-attacks-or-is-there/#comment-3463 Amad Tue, 12 Jun 2007 20:41:37 +0000 http://muslimmatters.org/2007/06/10/the-link-between-islam-suicide-attacks-or-is-there/#comment-3463 Unfortunately, like so many other touchy issues, we are wandering off-topic. The point of the article was that in REALITY, based on RESEARCH, there is no such widespread link between Islam and suicide attacks. I was also very specific in my previous comment and continue to insist that no credible scholar will have a credible opinion that permits the murder of innocent civilians. This is against the crux of justice and humanity as set forth in the Quran. If any scholar has stated something that remotely resembles such a position, then we have to be very careful, as Abu Noor pointed out, in examining the context and reasons for it. At the same time, we have to remember that scholars are humans and can make mistakes, and we cannot take a 'strange' opinion on a certain matter as prevailing over the common, mainstream opinion held by a vast majority of scholars. With that said, this topic is now closed. Unfortunately, like so many other touchy issues, we are wandering off-topic. The point of the article was that in REALITY, based on RESEARCH, there is no such widespread link between Islam and suicide attacks.

I was also very specific in my previous comment and continue to insist that no credible scholar will have a credible opinion that permits the murder of innocent civilians. This is against the crux of justice and humanity as set forth in the Quran.

If any scholar has stated something that remotely resembles such a position, then we have to be very careful, as Abu Noor pointed out, in examining the context and reasons for it. At the same time, we have to remember that scholars are humans and can make mistakes, and we cannot take a ‘strange’ opinion on a certain matter as prevailing over the common, mainstream opinion held by a vast majority of scholars. With that said, this topic is now closed.

]]> By: Abu Noor Al-Irlandee http://muslimmatters.org/2007/06/10/the-link-between-islam-suicide-attacks-or-is-there/#comment-3460 Abu Noor Al-Irlandee Tue, 12 Jun 2007 17:58:06 +0000 http://muslimmatters.org/2007/06/10/the-link-between-islam-suicide-attacks-or-is-there/#comment-3460 While it is important for us as Muslims to know the ruling on any issue, if Mr. Pape's analysis is correct such attacks will only continue and in fact increase as long as occupation continues and will involve Muslims as long as it is Muslim lands which are occupied. This is because it is believed that such tactics "work" militarily and politically. While it is important for us as Muslims to know the ruling on any issue, if Mr. Pape’s analysis is correct such attacks will only continue and in fact increase as long as occupation continues and will involve Muslims as long as it is Muslim lands which are occupied. This is because it is believed that such tactics “work” militarily and politically.

]]> By: Abu Noor Al-Irlandee http://muslimmatters.org/2007/06/10/the-link-between-islam-suicide-attacks-or-is-there/#comment-3459 Abu Noor Al-Irlandee Tue, 12 Jun 2007 17:36:49 +0000 http://muslimmatters.org/2007/06/10/the-link-between-islam-suicide-attacks-or-is-there/#comment-3459 The anonymous comment and Amad's response perfectly exemplifie a major intellectual problem with the discussion around this issue. Terms are not defined and therefore are not used to mean the same thing by all persons in the discussion. Many people assume that "suicide bombing" means a random bombing of civilians/non-combatants. If that is the question than that should be addressed, although that would have the same ruling whether the person killing those civilians killed him or herself in the process or not. If there was a military target that was permissible to strike, as an occupying soldier would be under both international law and Shariah then the question becomes whether the fact that a person kills themselves in the process of striking at that target renders the act impermissible due to the Shariah prohibition on suicide. It is there that at least some scholars have argued that no, it is permissible and is not considered suicide due to the niyyah of the attacker. In the real world all "sides" of the debate are often vague on sorting out these questions. Also, it is undeniable that scholars who are in extreme situations such as war and military occupation, are influenced in the rulings they will give based on the reality they live with. In certain ways this is permissible and in fact obligatory since any scholar giving an opinion must understand the reality he/she is addressing. In other ways, this is unfortunate and wrong if it means that a person is simply following their desires or their political program and giving it the stamp of Shariah. Allaah knows best. The anonymous comment and Amad’s response perfectly exemplifie a major intellectual problem with the discussion around this issue. Terms are not defined and therefore are not used to mean the same thing by all persons in the discussion.

Many people assume that “suicide bombing” means a random bombing of civilians/non-combatants. If that is the question than that should be addressed, although that would have the same ruling whether the person killing those civilians killed him or herself in the process or not.

If there was a military target that was permissible to strike, as an occupying soldier would be under both international law and Shariah then the question becomes whether the fact that a person kills themselves in the process of striking at that target renders the act impermissible due to the Shariah prohibition on suicide. It is there that at least some scholars have argued that no, it is permissible and is not considered suicide due to the niyyah of the attacker.

In the real world all “sides” of the debate are often vague on sorting out these questions. Also, it is undeniable that scholars who are in extreme situations such as war and military occupation, are influenced in the rulings they will give based on the reality they live with. In certain ways this is permissible and in fact obligatory since any scholar giving an opinion must understand the reality he/she is addressing. In other ways, this is unfortunate and wrong if it means that a person is simply following their desires or their political program and giving it the stamp of Shariah.

Allaah knows best.

]]> By: oldschool http://muslimmatters.org/2007/06/10/the-link-between-islam-suicide-attacks-or-is-there/#comment-3458 oldschool Tue, 12 Jun 2007 17:35:53 +0000 http://muslimmatters.org/2007/06/10/the-link-between-islam-suicide-attacks-or-is-there/#comment-3458 On a side note, I don't support suicide bombings, but I am sick of apologetics. wal fitnatu akbaru minal qatal. On a side note, I don’t support suicide bombings, but I am sick of apologetics. wal fitnatu akbaru minal qatal.

]]> By: oldschool http://muslimmatters.org/2007/06/10/the-link-between-islam-suicide-attacks-or-is-there/#comment-3457 oldschool Tue, 12 Jun 2007 17:34:19 +0000 http://muslimmatters.org/2007/06/10/the-link-between-islam-suicide-attacks-or-is-there/#comment-3457 ...unless in your opinion a 'respectable' scholar is the one who doesn't support suicide bombing. …unless in your opinion a ‘respectable’ scholar is the one who doesn’t support suicide bombing.

]]> By: Amad http://muslimmatters.org/2007/06/10/the-link-between-islam-suicide-attacks-or-is-there/#comment-3456 Amad Tue, 12 Jun 2007 16:29:58 +0000 http://muslimmatters.org/2007/06/10/the-link-between-islam-suicide-attacks-or-is-there/#comment-3456 No 'respectable' scholar considers murder of civilians as being 'permissible'. No ‘respectable’ scholar considers murder of civilians as being ‘permissible’.

]]> By: Anon. http://muslimmatters.org/2007/06/10/the-link-between-islam-suicide-attacks-or-is-there/#comment-3455 Anon. Tue, 12 Jun 2007 15:08:13 +0000 http://muslimmatters.org/2007/06/10/the-link-between-islam-suicide-attacks-or-is-there/#comment-3455 Also, we should bear in mind that many respectable scholars do actually consider this stuff permissible- even if we disagree with them. Also, we should bear in mind that many respectable scholars do actually consider this stuff permissible- even if we disagree with them.

]]> By: abu ameerah http://muslimmatters.org/2007/06/10/the-link-between-islam-suicide-attacks-or-is-there/#comment-3454 abu ameerah Tue, 12 Jun 2007 14:52:18 +0000 http://muslimmatters.org/2007/06/10/the-link-between-islam-suicide-attacks-or-is-there/#comment-3454 Suicide bombings and similar acts are not a new phenomena in the world. Such acts have been perpetrated by non-Muslims in the past w/ both "religious" and "secular" justifications. We delude ourselves when we: 1) don't confront and deal with the complex issue of suicide bombings...or...2) Deal w/ it as a "Muslim" or "Islamic" issue only. Suicide bombings and similar acts are not a new phenomena in the world. Such acts have been perpetrated by non-Muslims in the past w/ both “religious” and “secular” justifications.

We delude ourselves when we: 1) don’t confront and deal with the complex issue of suicide bombings…or…2) Deal w/ it as a “Muslim” or “Islamic” issue only.

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