Martyr

The act of suicide goes against Islam, but martyrdom as an act of war, does not.

‘Istishhad’ is an Arabic word meaning “death of a martyr”, “heroic death”, or simply “Martyrdom”.

Along with its historical significance within Islam this term as in recent times gathered great momentum and significance as a political and military term.

The inclusion of martyrdom into modern day battle terminology is referred to as ‘martyrdom operations’; this is when a militia group or larger territorial army actively seek out targets and commit suicide as an act of martyrdom, in an offensive manner to immobilize or unsettle the enemy.

According to Islam, a Muslim who martyrs themselves in the defence of Islam (Jihad) or to destroy infidels (non-Muslims) in battle, is bestowed the honourable title of ‘Shahid’.

Martyrdom in Islam is not necessarily a position of victimization, torment, and suffering at the hands of an oppressor, but rather, during times of war, becomes an act that underlines bravery, heroism, and self-sacrifice, and therefore adopting a military backbone.

The term ‘suicide bomber’ was first used in modern military terms to describe the terrifying Japanese Kamikaze fighter pilots who intentionally crashed war planes into enemy targets during WWII. The term is now an military expression used in close combat civil warfare to describe what is known in Islam as ‘Istishhad’, and the attackers as ‘Shahid’ or ‘Fedayeen’.

“Let those fight in the way of Allah who sell the life of this world for the other. Whoso fighteth in the way of Allah, be he slain or be he victorious, on him We shall bestow a vast reward”. (Quran 4:74)

“And there is the type of man who gives his life to earn the pleasure of Allah”.    (Quran 2:207)

“And do not kill the soul which Allah has forbidden, except by right”.           (Quran 17:33)