the-islamic-ruling-on-the-permissibility-of-self-sacrificial-operations-suicide-or-martyrdom

Definition of Martyrdom Operations, and Their Effect on <strong>the</strong> Enemy
Martyrdom or self-sacrifice operations are those performed by one or more people, against
enemies far exceeding <strong>the</strong>m in numbers and equipment, with prior knowledge that <strong>the</strong>
operations will almost inevitably lead to death.
The form this usually takes nowadays is to wire up one’s body, vehicle, or suitcase, with
explosives, and <strong>the</strong>n to enter amongst a ga<strong>the</strong>ring of <strong>the</strong> enemy, or in <strong>the</strong>ir vital facilities, and
to detonate in an appropriate place <strong>the</strong>re in order to cause <strong>the</strong> maximum losses in <strong>the</strong> enemy
ranks, taking advantage of <strong>the</strong> element of surprise and penetration. Naturally, <strong>the</strong> performer
of <strong>the</strong> operation will usually be <strong>the</strong> first to die.
Ano<strong>the</strong>r technique is for an armed Mujāhid to break into <strong>the</strong> enemy barracks, or area of
assembly, and fire at <strong>the</strong>m at close-range, without having prepared any plan of escape, nor
having considered escape as a possibility. The objective is to kill as many of <strong>the</strong> enemy as
possible, while knowing that he will almost certainly be killed also. 8
The name ‘suicide-bombings’ used by some, is wrong and inaccurate; and in fact this name
was chosen by <strong>the</strong> Jews to discourage our bro<strong>the</strong>rs from such activities. How great is <strong>the</strong>
difference between East and West! For <strong>the</strong> one who commits suicide - because of his
unhappiness, lack of patience and weakness or absence of Īmān, he has been threatened with
Hell-Fire, and has earned <strong>the</strong> Curse of Allāh. And as for <strong>the</strong> one who sacrifices himself, he
has not embarked upon <strong>the</strong> operation, except due to <strong>the</strong> strength of his Īmān and sincerity,
and to bring victory to Islām, by sacrificing his life to raise <strong>the</strong> Word of Allāh!
As for <strong>the</strong> effects of <strong>the</strong>se operations on <strong>the</strong> enemy, we have found, through <strong>the</strong> course of
our experience that <strong>the</strong>re is no o<strong>the</strong>r technique which strikes as much terror into <strong>the</strong>ir hearts,
and which shatters <strong>the</strong>ir spirit as much. On account of this, <strong>the</strong>y cowardly refrain from
mixing with <strong>the</strong> population, and from oppressing, harassing and looting <strong>the</strong>m. They have
also become occupied with trying to expose such operations before <strong>the</strong>y occur, which has
distracted <strong>the</strong>m from o<strong>the</strong>r things. All praise belongs to Allāh. Many of <strong>the</strong>ir imminent plans
were foiled, and fur<strong>the</strong>rmore, Putin issued a severe condemnation of <strong>the</strong> Home Affairs and
8 Ano<strong>the</strong>r form of a martyrdom operation – which is mentioned in <strong>the</strong> book, “Martyrdom Operations:
The Highest Peak of Martyrdom” – is, “or that he goes by himself, without wearing any explosives, to
attack a place of <strong>the</strong> enemy which contains many explosive materials; and it is not possible to
destroy it, except by him to explode those materials (by shooting at it, etc), while he is in its midst
(and thus, is martyred). And <strong>the</strong>re are many forms of martyrdom operations, which is not possible
for us to count <strong>the</strong>m and mention <strong>the</strong>m here. So <strong>the</strong> one who sacrifices himself – using explosives,
or fire (as in <strong>the</strong> story of <strong>the</strong> People of <strong>the</strong> Ditch), or any o<strong>the</strong>r method – <strong>the</strong> <strong>ruling</strong> is <strong>the</strong> same, and
<strong>the</strong> goal is <strong>the</strong> same (to raise <strong>the</strong> Word of Allāh, and benefit <strong>the</strong> Dīn, and cause harm and casualties
against <strong>the</strong> enemies of <strong>the</strong> Muslims) – <strong>the</strong> means of <strong>the</strong> death are various, but <strong>the</strong> death is always <strong>the</strong>
same.”
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