Many are sure that the shahid is a suicide bomber. In these people they see only evil, and nothing more. However, if we consider this issue from a Muslim point of view, then everything looks very different. And how is it to understand who is right and who is not? Let's find out who the martyrs are in Islam, and why today half the world's population is afraid of them.
Well, in order to find answers to these questions, you need to look into the very heart of Islamic culture. Learn about their traditions and laws, as well as hear what true believers have to say about it. Therefore, let's put aside prejudice and try to get to the bottom of the truth.
Shahid: translation of the word and its meaning
If you translate the word "shaheed" from Arabic, you get something like "witness" or "testify". At the same time, this concept initially had two interpretations. According to the first, a martyr is a witness to a crime who is ready to testify at the trial. The second said that this is a man who was martyred in the war.
It is the second interpretationconsidered correct. At the same time, there are special rules according to which the deceased can be considered a martyr.
Who is a shahid?
Now let's figure out why the martyrs are called martyrs, that is, witnesses. Well, there are many theories that can explain this interpretation. However, they all boil down to the following conclusions:
- Dying for his own faith, a Muslim testifies to the power of Allah.
- The angels themselves tell the Lord about the heroism that the martyr commits.
- The existence of martyrs in itself proves the reality of paradise.
Who is able to become a martyr?
Shahid is a martyr who died for the glory of Allah. That is, only a true Muslim who wholeheartedly believes in the power of the Almighty and his deeds can become them. Here you need to understand one important point: the act of heroism should be performed only in the name of faith. If a Muslim is driven by a thirst for fame or political convictions, then in the eyes of Allah he will never become a martyr.
Besides this, there are two types of martyrs, which are very different from each other. So let's look at them separately.
Shaheed of Eternal Life
If a true Muslim dies from a violent death, then he becomes a martyr of eternal life. That is, in the world of the living, he will not be perceived as a martyr. Consequently, the funeral will take place according to established traditions: the imam will perform all the rites necessary for the repose and read the necessary prayers. But in the afterlife such a person will be consideredmartyr, which will give him certain privileges.
In what cases can a Muslim be called a martyr of eternal life? This happens if he dies at the hands of bandits, due to illness, accident or catastrophe. In addition, all women who die in childbirth also become martyrs in the eyes of Allah.
Shahid of both worlds
It is a completely different matter if a Muslim dies on the battlefield in the name of Allah. In this case, he becomes a martyr of both worlds. His soul immediately goes to heaven, where he takes a place next to the throne of the Almighty.
At the same time, the deceased Muslim can be immediately interred. Unlike the previous case, here it is no longer necessary to conduct funeral rites or read prayers. Shahids of both worlds do not need them, as their body and soul have already proven their purity before Allah.
The fine line between faith and madness
Unfortunately, today the term "shaheed" is increasingly used to refer to suicide bombers. In particular, this was the name given to the bandits who committed the September 11th terrorist attack in America. Why did they turn from great martyrs into villains who are hated by the whole world?
Actually, journalists are largely to blame. It was they who dubbed the terrorists by this name, although most Muslims do not agree with this. After all, if you believe the Koran, then it is not fitting for a person to do such evil. It's one thing to protect yourself and your loved ones, but quite another to kill innocent people.
And yet many suicide bombersconsider themselves shahids. They actually believe that their war is sacred. Therefore, their death is nothing but a way to show the disbelievers the power of Allah.
Shahid Belt
If we talk about shaheeds, then we cannot ignore another sinister creation, which today is closely associated with their activities. In this case, we are talking about the martyr's belt, thanks to which more than one hundred people died. What kind of device is this?
Shahid's belt is a very insidious explosive that is easy to hide under clothing. It is needed so that the killer can slip unnoticed into the crowd of people and blow himself up with them.
The first to use these devices were Palestinian terrorists. So, the Israeli General R. Eitan mentioned in his notes that back in 1974 he was lucky to neutralize one of these suicides. And although initially only a few dared to resort to such harsh methods, with the advent of the Hamas terrorist organization, everything changed dramatically. And the fault was the ideological training of their fighters. After all, they actually believed that by undermining themselves, they become martyrs.
Women in holy war
Shahid is not only a man. Women can also become "witnesses" to the glory of Allah. But at the same time they cannot fight with men on an equal footing. That is, Muslim women should help their husbands in battle, but only in a peaceful way. For example, treating the wounded, procuring supplies, carrying water to the battlefield, and so on.
As for the war itself,many Islamic sages insist that women should not take up arms. This taboo can be broken only in the most extreme cases, when they simply have no other choice.
If we talk about terrorists who undermine themselves in the crowd, then their deeds cannot be interpreted as acts committed for the glory of Allah. Therefore, most Muslims do not perceive them as martyrs.
