practical and interpretive issues

Submitted by bos (United Kingdom), Mar 25, 2008 at 10:00

I would guess that your knowledge of the Quran and hadith is more thorough than mine, i'm not a student of islam just a dabbler with limited time.

But while the hadith list other forms of martrydom I have wondered about the fact that prior to listing them the Prophet stated that Abdullah ibn Thabit was recieving his reward according to his intentions, ie because he had prepared for jihad. I basically wonder how this aspect would colour, (especially among the more militantly inclined) the islamic scholars interpretation, How many would conclude that adulterous women executed by 'collapsing wall' in afghanistan were off to paradise with special status and intercessionary rights?

another issue is that the Hadith while certainly being revered and assigned varying acknowledgements of authority, are still not the Quran. Also non military martydom did not enter the islamic lexicon until the ninth century, (after the islamic world had experienced plague?)

finally, you can choose to die in war through suicidal courage, or through homicidal suicide. you cant choose to have a wall fall on you. I will go out on a limb and say that no islamic scholar will agree that deliberately copulating with a plague victim so you die the same way will get you to paradise, and they will all reject suicide as an access route, even by drowning or burning.

Bukhari 4:46 "I heard Allah's Apostle saying, "The example of a Mujahid in Allah's Cause-- and Allah knows better who really strives in His Cause----is like a person who fasts and prays continuously. Allah guarantees that He will admit the Mujahid in His Cause into Paradise if he is killed, otherwise He will return him to his home safely with rewards and war booty"

I maintain that the only practical guaranteed route into paradise lies in military action that you cannot survive, and that mitigating that serves to create a 'debate environment', friendlier to islamist apologists than it should be.

Perhaps if you know, you can direct me to where the quran or hadith say that non violent martydom carries the same reward as military martydom (i'm not saying it doesnt, just interested, especially considering, childbirth martydom and 70 virgins!?)

Re the OT, God doesnt say Kill unbelievers he says 'kill specific groups of people I have declared to be enemies' not pretty reading from the God is love point of view, but a significant difference often overlooked.

(I realise this isnt a structured response, my apologies)

Peace

Ps I only have adequate access to bukhari, are you able to point me towards a user friendly on line resource for the others? it would be appreciated if you are.

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