Martyrdom in Islam

Hello, Ali

My predominant take is a psychological one, and I have been teased recently about the Muslim attitude to children and my perception that it objectifies them and turns them into “things” rather than views them as people in their own right.   This particularly links in to the continued Islamist indoctrination of little children in Gaza and the West Bank and elsewhere into Jew hatred.   I can find little in learned journals, however, about Arab/Muslim child rearing.

What can you tell me about Arab/Muslim customs of child-rearing which might predispose parents to giving up their children to the Hamas and Fatah death cult?   This is against human nature, the instinct of which is to protect the young rather than use them for score political points.

Do Arabs objectify their children?  Do they value them less? I don’t think so.

A large mural encouraging children to become martyrs by walking on mine fields.

Yes it is against human nature to destroy one’s child deliberately.  The problem is not reserved to Arabs.  All Muslims engage in this irrational conduct.   This attitude is common among all cultists.  How can we forget that over 900 Americans followers of James Jones drank a poisonous Cool Aid after administering it to their children in Guyana? Of course what they did was against human nature.

During the Iran Iraq war children were encouraged to walk on mine fields in front of tanks to clear the way.  Parents sent their children to do this knowing they will not come back. It absolutely makes no sense.

To understand this we have to understand the mindset of Muslims. Muslims are taught that this life is worthless. It is only a testing ground. The real life is the one that follows in the afterlife.  All cults teach this baloney.  Here, there is suffering. There, one will find boundless bounties and happiness.   This life can be tempting and if we get too attached to it we will lose the one in the hereafter, is the narrative.  Muslims grow up learning that a few years of lousy living in this world is not worth losing the eternal life in paradise.

Death, not life, is the focus of the life of a Muslim. Muhammad said a wise person is one who always thinks about his death.

A Muslim is also never sure whether he will make it to paradise.  He could end up in hell despite his best efforts. There is no guarantee.  Allah is quite whimsical and may choose to send to hell those who do good deeds and there is no one who can question his decision.  Allah abides by no law, including his own. He does as he pleases.

Humans’ journey through life is compared to that of migrating birds that may land to eat and drink. But if they become too attached to this world they will miss their destination.  The temptations of this world, its luster and lures can entangle the soul.  A bird whose wings are muddied cannot fly and will not reach his final abode.

The more one is attached to this world the less he will have the chance of getting into the paradise.  Everything can act as attachment and test – money, family, children are all tests. Life itself is an attachment.

There is only one guarantee to reach the paradise.  It is to give up everything and become a martyr.  A martyr will not feel his death.  He won’t suffer. The pain is guaranteed to be less than the pain caused by an ant’s bite.  But the rewards are humongous.

This is a bargain no Muslim wants to lose.  Isn’t blowing up oneself against human nature?  It is not that Muslims objectify their own selves. It is because of this belief. If martyrdom is so great why should they deprive their children from it?

Muslims don’t think they are sacrificing their children. They think they are ensuring their eternal life. This is the best gift they can give to their children. They realize their inability to ensure a decent future for them in this world, but they know for a “fact” that their eternal life is secured if they become martyrs.

Muslims talk about martyrdom all the time. They eulogize it and consider it the noblest thing one can do and the highest station one can achieve.   Getting education, going after science and becoming the next Einstein does not appeal to a Muslim child as much as martyrdom does.  Becoming an Einstein requires hard work and genius, the chances are that you won’t make it. Becoming a martyr requires one act of courage and you are set for eternity.

Large murals glorifying martyrdom

Martyrdom is the highway to greatness. Martyrs will have streets named after them.  They will receive universal recognition and admiration.  Muslims have low self-esteem. This aggression that you see in the Muslim world is an expression of their abysmally low self-esteem.  Give them the promise that they will be heroes and celebrities overnight and they will give up their life for it.

Now, don’t assume that the answer is providing a better life for Muslims.  The more comfortable Muslims become the guiltier they feel.  They think the ease of life is an impediment between them and God.  God of Islam wants Muslims to suffer hardship to prove their devotion to him.  When he loves someone he send more calamities to him in order to test him. Go figure. He loves the poor. Too much comfort will make Muslims feel guilty and will actually push them to renounce everything and become martyr. The great majority of suicide bombers have been wealthy kids.

One way to eliminate Jihad is to reduce Muslims into abject poverty.  In poverty Muslims don’t wage jihad.  Just stop buying their products and they will starve to death. Jihad is mandatory only when Muslims are strong and their chances of winning are greater.  Another way to end jihad is to help them see Islam is a lie. I prefer the latter way.

Blood fountains in Iran glorified martyrdom

Martyrdom is a mindset.  It is eulogized in the media, in the schools, by teachers and parents. No one can deny its merits or speak against it because it is stated in the Quran.

In Iran, during the war, there were fountains colored in red to symbolize blood and martyrdom. Maybe they still exist.

A cousin of mine said he used to go to a cemetery and lie in a grave contemplating martyrdom and his own death. He was in his early teens.  Since dead bodies used to come every day from the war, the graves were ready for them.

You must live among Muslims, or better grow up as one to understand this mindset.  There is virtually nothing that a Muslim thinks is better than martyrdom.  This is the highest station a human can reach.

I hope this  answers your question.

Ali Sina