IS THIS THE CREED OF THE TERRORISTS?

IS THIS THE CREED OF THE TERRORISTS?

Cornelius Afebu Omonokhua

A lot has been said and written about the ideology of the terrorists. Some of the findings have proven that it is almost obvious that the use of armed forces alone cannot stop any terrorist operation that is based on a wrong idea especially when it is presumed to be rooted in a religious faith and supported by the Holy Book. The argument whether “a group of terrorists” is a religious sect or not is not a panacea to a peaceful coexistence. What appears to be true is that no terrorist especially in Nigeria has denied that he or she is fighting a religious jihad. They reference the Qur’an and hadith to support their operations. The armchair debate on whether the verses are manipulated or misinterpreted can neither restore the life of the innocent victims of the various suicide bomb attacks nor stop the continuous killing of human beings and violent destruction of properties. What I intend to do here is to draw the attention of those who still believe in the strength of counter narrative and dialogue to conquer the current erroneous ideology of the terrorist so that we can forever live in peace. My reference in this conversation will largely depend on Shaykh Yusufat al-Uyayri’: "The Islamic ruling on the permissibility of Martyrdom operations” (WikiIslam).

A terrorist believes that martyrdom is an express and sure way to Paradise.  In Sharh Sahih Muslim (1/515) and Al-Majmu` (1/277), Nawawi enumerated seven explanations for why the martyr is called shaheed.  Ibn Hajar mentioned fourteen means by which a person can acquire the title, shaheed (martyr). This includes “being killed in the path of Allah” without killing others [Fath al-Bari (6/43)]. According to the Hanafis, a martyr is "one who is killed by the pagans, or is found killed in the battle bearing a mark of any wound, whether external or internal" [Al-`Inayah published on the margins of Fath al-Qadeer (2/142)] and [Hashiyat Ibn `Abideen (2/268)]. Hanafis added that "Anyone who is killed while fighting pagans, or rebels, or brigands, by a means attributed to the enemy, whether directly or by consequence is a shaheed, anyone who is killed by a means not specifically attributed to an action of the enemy is not considered a shaheed" [Zayla`i's Tabyeen al-Haqa'iq, (1/247); see also Al-Bahr al-Ra'iq (2/211)]. For the Malikis, a martyr is "one who is killed while fighting warring unbelievers only, even if killed on Islamic land such as if the enemy attacked the Muslims [Dardeer's Al-Sharh al-Kabeer, (1/425)]. For the Shafi, a martyr is "one who is killed in fighting unbelievers, facing and not running away, for the raising of Allah's word…and not for any worldly motive" [Mughni al-Muhtaj (1/350) & Fath al-Bari (6/129)]. The Hanbalis believes that a martyr is "one who dies in a battle with the unbelievers, whether male or female, adult or not, whether killed by the unbelievers, or by his own weapon in error, or by having fallen off his mount, or having been found dead with no mark, provided he was sincere" [Kash-shaf al-Qina`, (2/113) & Al-Mughni (2/206)].  

The word "martyr" comes from the Greek word mártys (witness). In Christian theology, a martyr is a person who bears witness to the selfless love of Jesus Christ even to the point of giving up his or her life. The death of a Martyr was considered a “baptism by blood”. The early Christians venerated martyrs as powerful intercessors (http://en.wikipedia.org) because they die as witnesses to Jesus Christ. A Martyr does not kill himself to kill even an enemy talk less of innocent people. In Christianity martyrdom is different from suicide. Every true and orthodox Muslim believe that suicide is a major sin and the punishment is Hell [Qur'an 4:29-30; Cf. Tafseer al-Qurtubi, (5/156)]. In support of this, here is another hadith, "Let not any of you wish for death on account of harm which has befallen him. But, if he must, he should pray, 'O Allah! Keep me alive as long as life is better for me, and take my life when death is better for me" (Bukhari and Muslim)

Where then did the terrorists who are bent on destroying life and property today in the name of Allah derive their mandate and creed? Some terrorists have been heard to support their action with the following verses:

·          Allah has purchased of the believers their persons and their goods; for theirs (in return) is the garden (paradise); they fight in his cause, and slay and are slain. (Qur’an 9:111)

·         And there is the type of man who gives his life to earn the pleasure of Allah. And Allah is full of kindness to his devotees  (Qur'an 2:207)

·         Fight them, and Allah will punish them by your hands, cover them with shame, help you (to victory) over them, heal the breasts of believers (Qur’an 9:14).

Shaykh Yusufat al-Uyayri said that the Mujahid based their operations on these verses. The Sahabah understand these verses to mean that one who sells himself for the sake of Allah is not considered to have committed suicide, even if he immerses himself into a thousand of the enemy forces without armour. The sponsors of terrorism perhaps recite this verse: “spend in the Path of Allah, and do not contribute to your own destruction" (Qur'an, 2:195). They do not send themselves and their children out as suicide bombers. But they believe that by empowering others to do so, they are fighting the course of Allah. Abu Ayyub explained that this verse does not apply to one who plunges into the enemy ranks alone, even though it may seem to people that he is destroying himself. What do we make of this statement by Abu Hurayrah? "Among the best of lives for people is a man who clasps the reins of his horse in the path of Allah, rushing on its back; whenever he hears a cry of battle."  

Where is the cry of battle that the terrorists keep rushing to in Nigeria? Are the times and context of the above revelations not different from the world today?  Who is the enemy? Where is the battlefield? From the operations and utterances of the terrorists, we need to ask: Is this the creed (faith) of the terrorists? That Islam is a combination of a militant political / religious ideology; that it is wrong to kill innocent people but only true Muslims are innocent; that Islam is peace but this peace can only be achieved when Islam conquers the world; that all non-Muslim areas are at war; that friendship with non Muslims is haram (forbidden) and that Muslims who do not accept these beliefs must be attacked because they have lost their Islam. Here is a confirmation of this creed in a video released by Abubakar Shekau: “You Goodluck Jonathan should abandon this ungodly power. You should repent and forsake Christianity to accept Islam” (AFP, August 6, 2012). Shekau cites Bukhari who reported that Salamah ibn al-Akwa` was asked, "For what did you pledge allegiance to the Prophet on the Day of Hudaybiyyah?" He said, "For death." There is need for a correct exegesis (interpretation) of these verses from orthodox erudite scholars. True knowledge is a light that illumines the darkest night of conscience. May God restore peace, security and life to this world of anarchy, fear and gloom!