| Introduction to A Pitch for Martyrs Christianity preaches that death is just a doorway to a better life. Lead a good god-fearing life in the here-and-now, be kind to your fellowmen, threat others as you would like to be treated, and the hereafter will be yours, where you will bask in the glory of the Lord and be free from all earthly wants and desires. Islam preaches that death is just a doorway to a better life. Lead a god-fearing life in the here-and-now, scrupulously follow Allah’s instructions and His Messenger's example, fight those who will not submit to His Will and the hereafter will be yours, where all your earthly wants and desires (sex being front and center) will be fulfilled in ways you can only imagine. The Christian God gave those who believe in Him freewill to do much as they please except in one area. He will decide when it is time to cross the threshold into His Kingdom. Allah has taken away the believers freewill except in one area. Believers can, under certain circumstances, decide when they will cross over into His Dominion. Yes, suicide for all the wrong reasons, reasons that have nothing to do with the advancement of Islam, is discouraged. For example, getting yourself killed fighting over material possessions. 4:29 O believers, do not consume your wealth illegally, unless there be trading by mutual agreement among you; and do not kill yourselves. Allah is indeed merciful to you! The above revelation is the verse most often quoted as proof that Allah does not condone suicide bombers; that He is categorically against taking one’s own life. Verse 4:29 is not a universal proscription against taking your own life (if it is a verse about suicide at all); an interpretation to which the Taliban and Al-Qaeda obviously subscribe. The Koran encourages, young men mostly, to fight in the Cause of Allah, and not to fear death, for death in the Cause of Allah means instant access to Paradise and all the sex that a young man can handle, and then some. Young unmarried woman are promised to be wedded to one of these young men if they too take their own life, and usually that of others, in the Cause of Allah. This encouragement to seek early access to Paradise, bypassing a terrifying zombie-like existence in the grave, by committing a murderous self-immolation act in the name of Allah, is why some have labelled Islam a death cult. Encouragement to risk one’s existence in the here-and-now for a better life in the here-after can be found throughout the Koran. I have used surah 3, The Family of ‘Imran, to fashion A Pitch for Martyrs from this surah alone so as to show how pervasive and persuasive this death argument is.
|
