Jihad, Martyrdom, and the Torments of the Grave
Why do some Muslims become suicide bombers or “martyrs”? In fact, these two near antithetic words — on the one hand, broken, desperate suicides, on the other, heroic martyrs — intrinsically demonstrate the radically different epistemologies the average Westerner and Muslim will articulate their answer through. In other words, that Westerners consider them suicides while Muslims consider them martyrs in and of itself speaks volumes on motivation.
To the secular Western mind, such Muslims are simply frustrated: oppressed and depressed, and with nothing to lose, these Muslims (so the logic goes) end their suffering in the name of some “noble” cause — be it the “liberation of al-Aqsa” or the razing of U.S. skyscrapers. All their talk about Islam, “obligations,” or 72 dark-eyed virgins is but a cover for their true motivation: “revenge” on the one hand, escape from an oppressive existence on the other. Most recently, “shame” has been cited as another culprit: al-Qaeda has been raping and thereby shaming women — and men — into becoming “martyrs.”
Conversely, from a purely Muslim point of view, becoming a martyr is not only a guarantee to eternal paradise — which, if many secular Westerners deem “silly,” the devotees of Allah take very seriously — but a paradise that may appeal to some of man’s most libidinous desires. Thus, whereas the Christian heaven is purely spiritual — “they shall neither marry nor give into marriage” (Matthew 22:30) and not necessarily “enticing” — some Muslim accounts of paradise are downright hedonistic.
Scriptural references demonstrative of this are many. Consider Koran 36:55-56: “For the inhabitants of paradise on that day shall be engaged in joyous activities [shughlin fakihun] — they and their wives, reclined on raised cushions.” A number of the most authoritative exegetes, such as Ibn Kathir (see here), have interpreted “engaged in joyous activities” as meaning “they will be busy deflowering virgins.” (See also al-Jalalayn‘s tafsir, where he concurs.)
That said, it is of course difficult to accept that any Muslim man would become a suicide bomber primarily because he wants to copulate in perpetuity — even if Islam’s prophet is on the record saying that men in heaven will have the sexual potency of 100 men (to better handle the countless maidens). Also, what about women, who have increasingly taken to becoming suicide bombers? Surely sex is not their motivation.
However, before concluding that Muslims become suicide bombers purely out of desperation, frustration, or shame, it should be borne in mind that, aside from the theological guarantee of a hedonistic paradise, there is yet another, antithetical reason that may subtly compel Muslims to seek martyrdom.
This is the little-known doctrine of ‘adhab al-qabr, or the “torments of the grave.” Anyone familiar with Islam’s texts has repeatedly come across this curious phrase; anyone who has listened to Muslim sermons has been severely warned against it. The torments of the grave are a very real doctrine that has the tendency to drive believers to despair — I have watched grown men and women on Arabic satellite relay the terror this doctrine has worked in their lives — making them eager to do whatever is necessary to avoid it.
Based on a close reading of Islam’s texts, the following account represents Sunni Islam’s standard teachings of after-death experiences:
First, the soul is said to return to the corpse while it is interred. As the pallbearers carry the body to the grave, its soul follows behind crying, “Oh my, wherever are they taking me?!” — all while the gaping grave moans, “I am the house of strangeness; I am the house of loneliness; I am the house of dust; I am the house of worms.”
After being laid to rest by the gravediggers, the dead “hear” the gravediggers as they walk away — implying, as the forthcoming torments suggest, and ulema maintain, that the dead experience “physical” sensations. (Perhaps this is why Muslims are in the habit of offering audible “greetings” to the dead — who “hear” — whenever they pass their graves?)
Every soul, once entombed along with its body, is tried by two angels. The hadith states: “His [the dead's] soul returns to his body; then two angels arrive and sit him up for questioning” — specifically, “Who is your lord, what is your religion, who is your prophet?” If he answers Allah, Islam, and Muhammad, respectively, he is granted paradise; if not, the torments begin.
While these questions appear deceptively easy to answer, and thus even the most nominal Muslim should be able to pass this ghoulish inquisition unscathed, the reason Muslims fear failing the test may be associated with Islam’s infamous fatalism: “Those who believe, Allah will strengthen with a firm word, in this world and the hereafter; but the unjust he leads astray [in this world and the hereafter]. Allah does what he will” (Koran 14:27). Ulema have interpreted this verse as revolving around the angels’ interrogation and the ability of the dead — or rather, Allah’s desire for them — to answer right or wrong.
As for infidels and nominal Muslims (al-muslim al-‘assi), their response to each of the angels’ questions is inevitably: “Uh, uh … I don’t know.” After being verbally chastised by the angels and a “voice from heaven,” the torments begin in earnest.





big world
#1 steel pipe – Not big enough. Not these days.
What is really sad is the simple fact that, without Jesus Christ, these people will in fact confront the “torments of the grave”. One day soon, we will ALL discover this fact and confront Jesus Christ at our own judgment. Tho’ many disbelieve this and can not accept it, we will ALL one day discover what is truly REAL. Unfortunately, then, it’ll be too late…
What md said. “IHS”
I watched a link where a woman explained why it was her duty to send her son to martydom. You could tell she was in torment yet emphatic. It was so heartbreaking there was no alternative for her. And the interviewer (woman) was so cold and haughty. I don’t think there will be forgiveness for the ones who send these mothers and fathers to the terrible duty of teaching their children suicide and murder.
there is an excellent analyse here (in french) too :
Catherine Leuchter
No, It’s the 21st Century. It’s time for *everyone* (christians included) to give up their silly superstitions.
Hey fellow Christians,
Let’s be careful that we don’t parallel what these poor misguided souls propagate. I, too, believe Jesus Christ to be the Way, the Truth and the Life. (True) Christianity is the best hope for mankind. However, to say that anyone who hasn’t made a public declaration of faith in Him to the satisfaction of worldly authorities will go to hell is overstepping. That means that Mohandas Ghandi and Dr. Seuss are burning in hell right now. I can’t accept that. Christianity is beautiful because of the love it professes, not because of hellfire and brimstone. Yes, Jesus said “no one comes to the Father except through Me”; that simply means that no one can wholly understand the true beauty of the Living God except by living the life Christ laid out for us (i.e. Matthew chapters 5-7) and by contemplating His words. Let’s not lump ourselves in with the barbarians.
#7 continue
like what? And please reveal what you believe because you seem to know what Christians believe.
#8
who are you talking to or talking about? What fellows.
Oh good we have the evangelicals show up on this thread. How about actually commenting on the piece instead of preaching to us?
Thanks for such a good piece explaining the mentality of those who choose to be homicide bombers in the name of Allah.
Seems to me that if you get yourself blowed up or incinerated (Mohammad Atta), then if there’s nothing left to bury how can there either be a grave torment, or a body to torture repeatedly? I wonder if that’s why families of deceased terrorists refuse to accept any remains that have been collected … that it’s not a shame/humiliation thing but they just don’t want to bury the remains and have their loved terrorist son (or daughter) risk suffering.
Excellent piece. The hubris of Americans is overwhelming sometimes. We assume that others think and believe as we do therefore they will respond to our way of thinking. The Japanese of WWII disproved this once for us but go back to reassuring ways of thinking therefore the Islamists can’t possibly believe what they say they believe. My question is what will it take for our elite to understand the Islamists mean what they say. Since they act like they mean it, it doesn’t take a rocket-scientist to comprehend it.
Parabellum,
You live in a universe many billions of light years wide and we now pretty much believe it was all squeezed into a space less than one atom large at creation.
Now that’s miraculous. Just because some men believe there might be an added dimension to reality, call it spiritual, there is no cause to label that silly.
I believe in a spiritual world. A dimension beyond our own. I further believe Jesus Christ came to show mankind how to get there.
That may be silly to you but silly to me is believing man evolved from apes when there is absolutely no evidence this ever happened. Silly is as silly does.
Informative article.
Did you know the belief that Islamic martyrs get 72 virgins to amuse them when they get to heaven is a mistranslation between ancient Aramaic and modern Arabic.
What the ancient texts really promise is 72 raisins.
Some people are going to be so very disappointed
@ # 11,
search for Shahada, sahid, amaliya fida iyya,
it’s about martyrdom, the auto-sacrificieds get direct to Dar al Miqama or al Janah
@ #13
Just how much effort is required for you to remain so willingly naive?
Joel C. Rosenberg makes the same comments, amongst others, in “Inside the Revolution”.
Well, it isn’t surprising. Fear has been used as a motivator seemingly since the time dirt was
invented.
Hey Scott, it’s all silly. And I’ll bet my religion is sillier than yours. What is my religion? None of your business. I made it up on my own based on my life experiences, not based on what someone who might have lived 2000 years ago might have said to some other folks who might have lived 2000 years ago and was written down by some other guys who might have lived 2600 years ago, who we don’t really know who they are, and we don’t know if they were just making it up to impress their girlfriends. Truth is, no one knows even ONE THING about what happens when we die. No one. So, I don’t care if you believe in the Energizer Bunny, Jack in the Beanstalk or AlGore. Your religion is YOUR business and most folks don’t care what you believe in. Maybe your right, maybe I’m right. Doesn’t matter right now. But, if I am right, well, never mind. Look, I know that your religion tells you to “spread the word” and you seem to be trying to do that. But, I don’t really want to listen to that. I do not proselitize my religion because I don’t want to spend what time I have left in a rubber room. But, I firmly believe that I understand how the world works. That aside, I am trying to understand what is going on in this country now and looking for ways to improve my life and maintain myself for the 20 or so years that I have left given that the economy is being flushed down the toilet and there are other ‘religious’ folks trying to kill me. So, please, keep on topic.
This is a very interesting and informative article. Thank you Pajama’s Media for branching out and having scholarly articles like this one. Please have more.
Birdog, seems like somebody struck a nerve . . .
Just one thing about Jesus. He said there was life after death. He also lived & said alot of things I live by. He also said he was the son of God. He said we should love God, & love our neighbor as ourselves. Alot of people, like me, believe he said & lived alot of important truths, & demonstrated better than anybody else how to treat our fellow man.
With all those good things to his name, I cannot comprehend him also being a liar. Therefore, I am compelled to believe he actually is the son of God, & that there is life after death, even though I struggle with those concepts, have little proof of them, & can barely understand them.
How could a man so good, also be a liar? So either you believe the whole of Jesus, or none of it. This business of thinking he is a prophet or a “good man” comparable to other “good men” is rubbish.
Christianity, as much as other religions, philosophers, & self taught wise men like yourself hate to admit, has no parallel on earth.
P.S. Regarding the article. “not washing properly after urinating” = eternal torture? Why would you ever have children & expose them to the risk? This mohammad a prophet? Are you kidding me? Any day care worker or nurse taking care of elderly in a nursing home has more divinity in there little finger than this PHONEY Christ wannabe ever had in his entire wasted life.
Am I being to subtle for you? I will get to the point.
islam = satan’s religion
Any questions?
Islam simply needs to be destroyed. We have to reverse the trend globally of islam growing and winning more and more battles against the rest of the non-muslim world. They’re systemically terrorifying people all around the world into not critizing them and spreading their religion and culture through intimidation. You see it everywhere from the Balkans, to Russia, the Middle East, the Philipines, and even in Europe. They kidnap people who are against their islamic agenda and cut their heads off ritualistically and then have the nerve to videotape it and send it to Western news agencies to brag about it to intimidate people from trying to stop them from carrying out their goals of islamizing the region they’re operating in and then the world.
Western liberals, let alone arab liberals, can’t even make controversial films critizing islam or they get systematically targetted and murdered by islamists. They’re spending billions on evangalism efforts throughout the entire world and are converting people by the thousands each day. They target our prison populations and release all kinds of propaganda from youtube videos to buying billboards on the sides of buses. They creeate international terrorist organizations to weaken and strike “infidel” nations and to prevent world powers from thrawting their attempts to islamize large parts of the developing world. They systematically carry out large scale immigrations to all parts of the world to create 5th columns with the goals of long term demographic control of those countries so they can grow the islamic empire without using large scale conventional means like they did in the past since they’re too weak to do it that way now.
They hijack international governing bodies and take over their human rights commissions and try to slyly ban criticism of what they’re doing through lofty Western sounding rhetoric. They write biased books, make biased documentaries, and create islamic organizations throughout the entire world which pretend to be enlightened and are simply trying to prevent but discrimination against muslims, but in reality are front groups for imperialistic islamist groups. They breed like rabits in order to take over countries. They systemically persecute and kill non-muslims. They take over whole countries. They brainwash the world into hating Israel. And Western liberals are there supporting them the entire way.
THIS ALL MUST END IF WE WANT TO REMAIN FREE FROM ISLAMIC IMPERIALISM.
I can live with religious folks as long as they keep their high position with God, Gods or Goddesses out of my affairs and not attempt to force their superstitions down my throat.
Lan Astelam, I will not submit, that goes for Muslims, Jews, Christians, Catholics, Buddists and Hindus Etc, Etc, Etc.
It’s your Religion and not mine so lets keep it that way.
Barry 0351 The only way that will continue to work for you is if Islam is kept out of American bureacracies because their historical pattern and their future plan is that they cut the heads off of people who will not submit.
And they will also stone to death and cut the heads off those who do submit and then don’t follow the rules.
It’s in your best interests to not put Islam in the same list as Jews, Christians, Catholics, Buddhists and Hindus. None of them ever declared they would kill you if you didn’t convert. Islamists do make that declaration and have frequently demonstrated that they are perfectly serious about it.
Great explication! I’m reminded of Hebrews 2:14-15 “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too (Jesus) shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.”
Islam most particularly is a religion that exploits the fear of death! One might say that it is enslaved and enslaving, because its ONLY prophet, Mohammad, REJECTED the escape from bondage that Jesus provided by his death on the cross; he REJECTED the revealed truth that God in Christ Jesus has opened the gates of the prison, because he REJECTED that Jesus rose from the dead, having REJECTED the Gospel message that Jesus was even crucified!
How would he have known, 6 CENTURIES after the events in question? “Jibreel” told him, a spirit being that no one else saw or heard.
As far as I’m concerned, Islam is the religion of the Anti-Christ. It came from hell.
“Raises the question.” Not “begs the question.” “Begging the question” is the name of a logical fallacy, and does not mean “begs someone to ask the question.”
OK, this thread has wandered far from the point of the original article, which was to inform us of a doctrine that we’re all not that aware of, which motivates some of these poor teenagers to kill themselves and others. I’ve often wondered (as have others) how Mohammed Atta and his cohorts could be in titty bars in Florida arguing over their bar tab (when Muslims aren’t supposed to drink or look at naked women) and then go kill themselves (also prohibited in Islam) in the name of their religion. This sort of explains it, though I still think that cultural factors have been understated. We in the West tend to believe anyone who says that they did something evil for religious motives, regardless of evidence to the contrary, like what I stated above. I firmly believe that Muslim and Arab feelings of powerlessness, poverty, and shame (at the weakness of their countries compared with the West) are at the heart of much of what’s going on right now. How many Muslim scholars harp on the fact that Muslims used to rule the world and be the most advanced civilization? The pride surrounding that fact, the despair that things have gone in a different direction, and the anger they feel towards those who (in their view) have tricked them, and stolen their prosperity, is palpable. Anyone who tries to define this in purely religious terms is wearing blinders.
I agree with much of what the above post has said. Poverty and powerlessness has little to do with it. SE Asians (except the mohammedian Filipinos, Malays and Indonesians) are hit with horrible poverty and do not blow themselves up or kill innocent civilians, cut off heads in videos, throw acid on women because they cannot afford a pepsi.
The issue with the ME is a cultural issue, which religion is a major factor but not the sole factor.
For what it’s worth, I reckon that all humans have an innate tendancy to form religious belief. It has a lot of beneficial influences. It helps people adjust to their mortality and it binds communities together…….
To have evolved such a powerful tendency and to hold it right up to death looks very much like a Biological Adaptation.
Those who say that keep your religion to yourself are those who are either the ones who do bad things and they want to keep on doing them so they criticize those who are religious and want to keep the order of God, or are the ones who are stupid, or just simply ignorant because this country trains people to be ignorant. If each one of us had our own little world where we lived alone than ok you can keep your religion to yourself but hello! it’s almost 6 bilion of us living together in ONE WORLD! wow i almost forgot that! how ignorant is the one who says keep your religion to yourself? In this earth which we live in there is a way we live in, which is a way of life! So if it is not the same as everybodys then of course there is a problem! How can some people be gay and the others not be affected by it. Or how come it’s ok for some people to kill “like americans killing other” but others killing americans it’s not ok? in this world we are one family coming from one person the first one Adam. Take one family for example; Father, Mother, Brother, Sister living in one house as a family, and someone gives a house to the father. If the father wants the TV in the living room, the son wants it in the bathroom, doughter wants it in her bedroom, and mother wants it in the kithchen. Yes it’s a problem. Solution is simple get more TV’s. hahahah. Yeah sure. The Comander in the army should listen to the soldiers because they know more and better than the experienced comander. Wrong! God tought Adam what is good for him to eat and what is not good. Eat dirt since you want to keep religion to yourself. Mine tells me to eat fruits and vegetables and meat, which are good for me and dirt is not good it will actually kill me after a while. So one religion says eat good and one bad. Yes of course there is more than one way of live. The rest apart from the True one are the Satans. No one can deny that we will die. So know for sure that the short time that you are here, you are here to be tested by your creator! And of course you gonna choose different religions (way of life) other than the one The Creator tought to Adam father of mankind. Because God gave us the ability to choose and we are the only creation who can choose, and of course between two things only, to believe or not to believe. So to test us whether we are obedient like other creatures like the Sun, Earth, Moon, trees, oceans, which obey and have one choice given to them by the Creator except to OBEY, and they do it so good it’s wonderfull. Sun rises from the East always, earth spins 24 every day, trees go up not down (apart from roots that is another topic) so this creature “mankind” says Yes God did sent me warners to keep on the right path but i know better than God! Who ever says that he/she knows for the Creature better that the One Who Created it, then how can this creature who says so live in the same earth as the ones who obey the live prescribed by Creator. Yeah take the doctors prescription and give it to your dog, and you will get well then. hahahha. O how ignorant this mankind is. Well the only way for you “mankind to pass the test or trial of your Creator is to take the prescription the Creator gives you. Or Fix the computer yourself because you “without experience at all” know better than the geek squad. hahahahahha. Which prophet ever tought that the Creator who doesn’t need anything or anyone needs a son. or the Creator needs to become part of the creation? Yeah make a big cake and jump in the Middle and let others eat You.hahahahaha. How Can the Creator disappear while we are His creation, and die and leave us living. Common which prophet tought or came with the message that God needs something, i asked already? None of course. Noah called people to one God. Not son of God or GodSon or cross! Abraham Called to One God. Lot Called to one God. Jesus Called to One God. but sure did the Satan fool alot of people. as most people are easy to misguide. Like the people of Noah, or Abraham, or Lot, most of them were killed. So before i their times God sent the punishment Himself, to the people who ascribed partners to GOd. But Since the Time of Moses GOd gave the blessing of killing the infidel (the one who corrupts other human beings and invents other ways of live like being gay or killing inoccent is ok etc.) to the “believers” not just anybody “believers in Oneness of God”. if you read a “little bit” of history you will see that the Jews fought to spread the live prescribed by God, and forced others into their religion which of course in the time of Moses that was the right path and religion and way of life because the Torah was not corrupt and there was no need for the bible. The point of the matter is that the Jews “believers at that time” fought did Jihad against the unbelievers. But the Jews “believers at that time” started corrupting and changing the book, and God out of his mercy sent them more prophets because they were the chose people only because they “Believed in Oneness of God”, not that Moses is son of God. but the Jews just thought too much of themselves just like any human who doesn’t control himself “buy constantly being obedient to God by the teachings in His book” when is given power, and started corrupting their book. So God sends Jesus “Isa is his Arameic name” which christians and orthodox refuse to call him that way because they don’t want to believe in Isa nor do they want to beleive in the bible which in Isa’s time was the correct way to live. Which christian whill turn the other cheek like it says in the bible? i dare you? ahhahhahahaha. Christians did, are and looks like they are doing the biggest killings. I mean WWI, WWII, how many people in hiroshima, nagasaki, dresden “what a holocoust”…etc. many many more, were killed and are being by christians, not to mention Muslims, innocent ones, babies and women and old men of course! Millions just in WWI and WWII, no Muslim killed Jews in fact Muslims offered their shelter to Jews. America who itself admitted to have the world fattest and dumbest people are saying “hold on world stop what you are doing because we have a better way of life that you we are dumb and fat and we will teach how to do it” man i don’t want to be fat and dumb no thanks i want to be healthy and smart , “well i will kill you and anyone else be it a child or whatever if you don’t do it”, can’t we just live in peace, ” Yes if you are fat and dumb like me (America),” sad but true. Fix your own problems America! (America): ohh i can’t too many people.
Ok than take the prescription of God!
America; no i don’t want it i will give it to the muslims.
Thanks but no thanks we the Muslims have it well preserved, unchanged untouched by the hands of evil and wicked human and satan sickness.
Bush said “you either with us (killing the innocent because those mujahideen are tough) or against us.
Little sissy go fight your self.
Thousands of Americans who experience war they don’t want it, and how do they go there?
They are given a Bible in one hand a Porn magazine in the other and some head phones “Watch videos from YOUTUBE of americans abroad for facts” of crazy music because they are scared.
they go there to fight for money, but muslims fight for belief so of course God is going to help the Muslims.
While the Muslims are suffering God is calling upon christians to turn to Him.
But the Stuborn Christians who don’t live by the bible but by manade law “Democracy” which only benefits Bush and Obama and the likes of them!
Common who is a christian Bush hahah Obama hahahah turn your other cheek so the Muslim can smack you.
Of course you will not turn because you don’t believe in what Isa ohh sorry Jesus was sent with.
Jesus said if they rob you let them take your money, if they kill you let them, because he was ceartain about the afterlife.
So if a true christian follows the Bible i respect Him/Her and for sure this Bible will lead Him/Her to the Quran.
If you think what i wrote is stupid your fooling yourself because ain’t gonna harm me, only you will make yourself crazy jump up and down and sit and cool and than say “it is true what you are saying, but i stil ain’t gonna believe”, sure i know so take Hell as your eternal abode. hahahhahaa
May Peace Be Upon the Believers