SUICIDE BOMBING: AN ISLAMIC DOCTRINE?

Why do well educated, affluent Muslims become suicide bombers if Islam categorically forbids such behavior? 

Ahmadiyya Times | Articles | Terrorism
Source & Credits: Rochester Muslim Examiner
Original publication date: September 17, 2009
By Sardar Anees Ahmad | Waterlo, NY


The Washington Times recently reported that the Taliban are buying children, as young as 7 years of age and at prices ranging from $7,000- $14,000, to serve as suicide bombers. Suicide attacks, as shocking and horrifying as they are, become an even more warped phenomenon when religion is used for their justification. How can Islam, a religion which literally bears the name ‘peace’, condone suicide terrorism?

First, suicide bombing is not solely, nor predominantly, a Muslim phenomenon. In the modern era, suicide bombing gained prominence with efforts of the predominantly Hindu ‘Tamil Tiger’ Liberation movement in Sri Lanka. Prof. Robert Pape of Chicago University, an authority on terrorism, considers the Tigers the “leading instigator” of suicide terrorism. In his book Dying to Win, Pape notes that Muslims are guilty for less than half of all suicide attacks. Furthermore, 30% of Muslim suicide attacks are secularly motivated. Pape concludes that it is not religion, but nationalism which spurs this last resort effort to liberate one’s country: “every suicide terrorist campaign since 1980 has had as its central objective to compel a democratic state to withdraw combat forces from territory that the terrorists’ prize … Absent (foreign occupation), we rarely see suicide terrorism.” Indeed, the Tamil Tigers are a nationalist, not a religious, terrorist outfit. Lawrence Wright, author of the Pulitzer Prize winning book on 9/11 The Looming Tower, agrees with Pape’s core argument.

Still, however few, Muslims are guilty of too many suicide attacks. The argument that Muslim suicide terrorists are uneducated is a myth – the majority is well educated. Pape notes that religion, while not the primary factor in motivating terrorism, is still a factor. The occupied party oftentimes exploits religious differences with that of the occupier to legitimize its cause. So does Islam condone suicide terrorism? No.

The Qur’an clearly states “and cast not yourselves into ruin with your own hands” (2:196); “And kill not your own selves” (4:30). Prophet Muhammad declared that intentionally killing oneself is tantamount to damnation and ordered his followers to never long for death (Bukhari). Once, following a battle, a Muslim was lauding the efforts of a man had fought most bravely for the Muslims. On hearing this, Muhammad replied, “Indeed, he is amongst the people of the (Hell) Fire.” It was later discovered that the brave man was wounded in battle and drove his sword into his chest, taking his own life (Bukhari).

Still, why do well educated, affluent Muslims become suicide bombers if Islam categorically forbids such behavior? In the respected conservative mouthpiece Policy Review, an enlightening piece entitled “Religion and Economic Development” argues that economic instability provides fertile ground for the birth of suicide terrorists. Today, despite its grip on oil, the Muslim World’s combined GDP is less than that of Germany. Coupled with a largely non-existent political process, suicide terrorism is the last resort to annihilate a system the terrorist feels alienated from.

But if Islam condemns suicide terrorism, how can terrorists carry out suicide attacks in the name of Islam? The inspiration for the modern day suicide terrorist is Ayman al-Zawahiri, the #2 man for Al-Qaeda. As Lawrence Wright notes, Zawahiri argues that the Muslim world’s situation is so precarious that exceptions regarding suicide must be made. Zawahiri has also misquoted and distorted certain instances of early Muslims in battle to validate suicide attacks. With misguided dreams of rewards that await martyrs in the afterlife, Wright observes that the suicide terrorist’s mentality is not to kill, but to die. It is as Friedrich Nietzsche observed, “Madness is the exception in individuals but the rule in groups.”

Read here:  SUICIDE BOMBING: AN ISLAMIC DOCTRINE?

Sardar Anees Ahmad is a graduate of Binghamton University with a B.A in economics, and has completed studies at Cornell University. He is a monthly religion columnist for the Finger Lakes Times and a contributing member of Majlis Sultanul Qalam, USA (MSQ-USA).  He is a member of The Muslim Sunrise's masthead, the oldest American Islamic periodical.