The dramatic police shootout with terror suspects in the northern Paris suburb of Saint-Denis resulted in a female blowing herself upduring the raids. This is said to the first time that French police has dealt with a suicide bomber during police raids. Those who committed the multiple terrorist attacks in Paris were also suicide bombers.
As the suicide bombers claim to belong to the Muslim community, the perpetrators' actions are considered to be endorsed by Islam. I do not have to apologise for their evil actions but as a Muslim, I am absolutely repulsed at the carnage caused by these terrorists. The fact that the perpetrators of this carnage espouse rhetoric linking their senseless murders to the religion of Islam disgusts me even further.
The sad reality of our modern world is that from Europe to the Middle East, Australia to South East numerous cities across the Muslim world are wrapped in a fog of absolute terror afflicted by devastating and horrific massacres. In order to pursue political and territorial dominance, one of the key methods used by these terrorists (in Islamic terminology known as khawarij) is suicide bombing.
Through their evil actions of killing civilians, these militants show no regard for God or humanity, yet their misguided claim is that through suicide-bombings, they will enter Paradise and be in the company of 72 virgins. Contrary to their belief, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) has said that whoever kills a non-combatant individual will not even smell the fragrance of Paradise. [Bukhari]
The new phenomena of suicide bombings is alien to Islam. Islam has made clear that those who commit suicide will be in hell-fire. Allah commands:
"O Believers!... do not kill yourselves, for truly Allah has been the Most Merciful to you. If any do that in rancour and injustice, soon shall We cast him into the Fire..." (Qur'an 4:29-30).
The Qur'an further states "make not your own hands contribute to your destruction" (Qur'an 2:195) In addition, the Prophet of Islam has warned: "Whoever kills himself with a piece of iron [i.e a weapon] will have that weapon in his hand, thrusting it into his belly in the Fire of Hell forever and ever." [Bukhari].
The killing of oneself and other civilians through suicide bombing is unequivocally considered as unlawful (haraam). There are clear warnings in the above-mentioned statements from Islamic scriptures for a would-be suicide bomb warrior.
The terrorists tend to target civilians and cause mayhem and loss of many lives. It is a well-established principle of Islam that civilians shall not be targeted or killed, even in a war situation. They are protected through Divine verses and many traditions (ahadith) of the Prophet. The Qur'an states:
"As for such [people] who do not fight against you on account of [your] faith, and neither drive you forth from your homelands, God does not forbid you to show them kindness and to behave towards them with full equity: for, verily, God loves those who act equitably" (Qur'an 60:8)
Contrary to the popular misconception that Islam is a religion that endorses violence, in true terms the emphasis is very much on inclining towards peace and resorting only to aggressive means in retaliation for the purposes of self-defence.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) is reported to have specifically prohibited, the killing of women: "Never, never kill a woman." [Ibn Majah]. Yet, in many of these suicide missions, ranging from last weeks' horrific attacks in Paris to Lebanon, Tunisia, Syria, Iraq, London, Pakistan, New York and many more, the victims include women and children.
In case anyone was in doubt, these traditions/sayings of the Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him) do not apply to only Muslim non-combatants but rather to every human being. Muslim jurists have unanimously agreed that non-combatant women and children must not be killed. This principle of Islamic law is regularly breached by the terrorists.
In addition, warning against any harm to non-Muslims, the Prophet (peace be upon him) has also stated:
"Remember! Whoever is cruel and hard on a non-Muslim, curtails their rights, burdens them with more than they can bear, or takes anything from them against their free will; I (Prophet Muhammad) will complain against the person on the Day of Judgment."[Abu Dawud]
A suicide bomber does not only cause chaos and carnage in society (which is against Islam) but he or she commits at least five additional crimes according to Islamic law, namely (i) killing civilians, (ii) mutilating their bodies, (iii) committing suicide (iv) destroying assets and properties of others and (v) violating the "trust" of fellow citizens and breaking the law of the country.
The war against terrorists, khawarij ideology can only be won through countering their toxic and poisonous ideology with orthodox Islamic teachings. It is a moral obligation on the whole of society to condemn and prevent such toxic ideology being promoted or implemented.
It is apparent that these murderers do not follow any particular faith since no faith, in particular Islam which has at its core peace and tolerance, endorses taking of innocent lives and causing carnage in societies. These terrorists must be brought to justice. But that is not enough, we must all work harder to ensure that breeding grounds and monetary sponsors of such hate-filled and toxic ideology are exposed and dealt with appropriately under the law.
As a Muslim, I will not remain silent and let the terrorists present a distorted image of my faith and as a Brit, I will not stay silent on attacks on our societies.