In the Name of Allah, most Compassionate, most Merciful

 

 

 Suicide bombing is a major controversial issue specially in this century. With the advent of bombs, people can load them up on their bodies or vehicles and bomb an enemy target. Islam condemns killing any soul unjustly. So if a person is committing suicide bombing then he is willing killing himself thus a suicide.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 2.446 Narrated by Abu Huraira 
The Prophet said, "He who commits suicide by throttling shall keep on throttling himself in the Hell Fire (forever) and he who commits suicide by stabbing himself shall keep on stabbing himself in the Hell-Fire." 

So it is no question that any forms of suicide is prohibited in Islam. What about a suicide in which the enemy would be killed also? 

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 5.515 Narrated by Abu Huraira
We witnessed (the battle of) Khaibar. Allah's Apostle said about one of those who were with him and who claimed to be a Muslim, "This man is from the dwellers of the Hell-Fire." When the battle started, that fellow fought so violently and bravely that he received plenty of wounds. Some of the people were about to doubt (the Prophet's Statement), but the man, feeling the pain of his wounds, put his hand into his quiver and took out of it, some arrows with which he slaughtered himself (suicide). Then some men amongst the Muslims came hurriedly and said, "O Allah's Apostle! Allah has made your Statement true; so-and-so has committed suicide." The Prophet said, "O so-and-so! Get up and make an announcement that none but a believer will enter Paradise and that Allah may support the religion with an unchaste (evil) wicked man."

So a person who does suicide while in fighting for the sake of Allah is not spared from the hellfire!

Some people might say that battle of Badr was a suicide for the Muslims, or the time when a Sahabah use to jump alone in the middle of the enemy and fight them. Well in this mode of thinking, anytime a person fights another person, it would be classified as suicide! To distinguish between suicide and getting killed for the sake of Allah and make the matter clear, we only need to define both types of killed.

Simply put, suicide is when a person kills his own self with his own hands, i.e. shooting, bombing, stabbing or drinking poison, while being killed for the sake of Allah is when a disbeliever finishes the job for the believer. To be a martyr while fighting, a disbeliever has to kill a believer.

Strategically, suicide bombing seem very efficient now a days, with the kill ratio of anywhere from 1:0 to 1:1000 or even more. But Islam doesn't allow anything no matter how efficient it seems if it contradicts Quran or Sunnah. If a person comes to the level that he/she has to commit suicide, then Allah has given the option of hijrah and let go of jihad in those circumstances. But if a person wants to show Allah that he would give his life for Islam, then he might die in manner of the martyred Sahabas. The bottom line is, suicide bombing would not end the suffering of any nation. It is Allah alone who grants victory.

Quran 8:10. Allah made it only as glad tidings, and that your hearts be at rest therewith. And there is no victory except from Allah. Verily, Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise. 

Quran Surah al fath (48)

7. And to Allah belong the hosts (armies) of the heavens and the earth. And Allah is Ever All-Knower, All-Wise.

20. Allah has promised you abundant spoils that you will capture, and He has hastened for you this, and He has restrained the hands of men from you, that it may be a sign for the believers, and that He may guide you to a Straight Path. 

21. And other (victories and much booty there are, He promises you) which are not yet within your power, indeed Allah compasses them, And Allah is Ever Able to do all things. 

22. And if those who disbelieve fight against you, they certainly would have turned their backs, then they would have found neither a Wali (protector) nor a helper. 

23. That has been the Way of Allah already with those who passed away before. And you will not find any change in the Way of Allah. 

24. And He it is Who has withheld their hands from you and your hands from them in the midst of Makkah, after He had made you victors over them. And Allah is Ever the All-Seer of what you do. 

 

 

 
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