This paper analyses the concept of martyrdom in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It gives a brief overview of the respective traditions and then jumps to present-day Jihadism and martyrdom in the context of violent Jihad. Thus the phenomenon of suicide operations is dealt with in historical and political perspective, not ignoring the theological-ethical discussion among Muslim and Islamist scholars. Who is a martyr? That is the question this paper is concerned with.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Martyrdom in religion
2.1 General aspects
2.2 Jewish martyrdom
2.3 Christian martyrdom
2.4 Martyrdom in Islam
2.4.1 Qur'ān
2.4.2 Sunna
3 Martyrdom in contemporary Jihadism
3.1 Terminology
3.2 Contemporary phenomena
3.3 Sayyid Qutb
3.4 Abū Muḥammad al-Maqdisī
4 Suicide operations (‘amalīyāt fidā’īya)
4.1 General aspects
4.2 Yūsuf al-Qaraḍāwī’s position
4.3 Al-Maqdisī on suicide operations
5 Conclusion
Research Objectives and Key Topics
This paper examines the evolution of the martyrdom concept from its historical roots in monotheistic traditions to its modern manifestation in contemporary Jihadist ideology. It specifically investigates the discourse surrounding suicide operations, focusing on the interpretation of Islamic normative sources by influential ideologues to legitimize or condemn such acts.
- The historical development of martyrdom in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
- Jihadist terminology and the radicalization of the "martyr" archetype.
- The doctrinal influence of Sayyid Qutb on modern Jihadist worldview.
- The specific theological arguments used by Abū Muḥammad al-Maqdisī regarding suicide operations.
- The broader debate among contemporary Muslim scholars concerning the legitimacy of violence against civilians.
Excerpt from the Book
3.4 Abū Muḥammad al-Maqdisī
Abū Muḥammad al-Maqdisī is a Jihadist of a different generation than Qutb. He was born in 1959, seven years before Qutb was executed, in the West Bank city of Barqa (sometimes also Burqa) near Nablus. His original name ‘Iṣām al-Barqāwī points to his birth place whereas his changed nisba al-Maqdisī (the Jerusalemite) “is simply a reference to the most important city nearest to where al-Maqdisi was born.” Growing up in Kuwait and studying religion in Saudi Arabia later on, al-Maqdisī came into contact with Sayyid Qutb’s writings whom he admired for his radical ideas of takfīr and jihād vis-à-vis Muslim rulers. Although Qutb was not a Salafi, al-Maqdisī, despite some criticism, incorporated many of Qutb’s ideas – e.g. “that the rulers are infidels and their laws are un-Islamic” – into his own ideology.
In general, al-Maqdisī agrees with the classical defensive jihād (jihād dafʿ), which can be seen in his support for the mujāhidūn in Afghanistan both against the Soviets in the 1980s as well as against the US army after “9/11”. However, his focus is not so much on these struggles but rather on waging jihād against Muslim rulers who allegedly commit kufr and shirk by adhering to man-made legislation. Here, takfīr of Muslim potentates as practiced by the medieval Ḥanbalī scholar Ibn Taymīya (1263–1328) against the Mongols of his time comes on the scene. Al-Maqdisī’s contribution can be seen in rendering the concept of al-walāʾ wa-l-barāʾ (“loyalty and disavowal”) into a radical political approach to any given government, most explicitly that of Saudi Arabia, which he criticizes harshly “for not applying the sharīʿa in full, even though it pretends to do this.”
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter outlines the relevance of martyrdom in history and contemporary Jihadism, establishing the research goal of tracing the concept from early religious origins to modern radical interpretations.
2 Martyrdom in religion: This chapter provides a comparative overview of martyrdom in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, identifying shared patterns of witnessing and suffering for one’s belief.
3 Martyrdom in contemporary Jihadism: This chapter analyzes the shift of the martyrdom narrative into modern political and Jihadist contexts, specifically examining the contributions of Sayyid Qutb and Abū Muḥammad al-Maqdisī.
4 Suicide operations (‘amalīyāt fidā’īya): This chapter investigates the theological debate concerning the legitimacy of suicide operations, contrasting the positions of scholars like Yūsuf al-Qaraḍāwī with the radical interpretations of al-Maqdisī.
5 Conclusion: This chapter summarizes the evolution of the martyrdom concept and reflects on how modern Jihadist discourse has detached it from its classical boundaries to justify indiscriminate violence.
Keywords
Martyrdom, Jihad, Jihadism, Suicide operations, Islamic theology, Takfīr, Sayyid Qutb, Abū Muḥammad al-Maqdisī, Yūsuf al-Qaraḍāwī, Martyr, Monotheism, Radicalism, Sharia, Sovereignty, Modernity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this research?
The paper explores the concept of martyrdom, tracing its historical roots in monotheistic religions and analyzing its transformation into a central pillar of contemporary Jihadist ideology.
What are the central thematic areas covered?
The themes include the historical development of the martyr archetype, the radicalization of the concept in the 20th century, and the theological justifications for suicide attacks.
What is the primary objective of the work?
The goal is to provide a clear picture of how Jihadists interpret normative Islamic sources to legitimize contemporary violent phenomena, specifically suicide operations.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The work utilizes a historical-comparative approach, tracing doctrinal developments through primary religious texts, secondary historical literature, and specific case studies of ideologues.
What does the main body focus on?
The main body examines the transition from classical definitions of martyrdom to the specific radical ideologies of Sayyid Qutb and Abū Muḥammad al-Maqdisī, and the subsequent debate on suicide tactics.
Which keywords define this work?
Key terms include martyrdom, Jihād, Takfīr, radicalism, and the specific names of influential contemporary Jihadist thinkers.
How does al-Maqdisī justify suicide attacks?
Al-Maqdisī attempts to distance these operations from the prohibition of suicide by reclassifying them as legitimate acts of sacrifice and military necessity within his broader framework of takfīr.
What is the significance of the "loyalty and disavowal" concept?
Al-Maqdisī uses the concept of al-walāʾ wa-l-barāʾ to argue that Muslims must reject governments that do not strictly apply Sharia, effectively transforming it into a political tool for rebellion.
How does the author contrast Qutb and al-Maqdisī?
While both emphasize the concept of jahiliyya, al-Maqdisī is analyzed as a younger, more focused ideologue who bridges older radical thought with the practical implementation of takfīri operations.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Matthias Messerle (Autor:in), 2017, Martyrdom in Islam and Contemporary Jihadism. The example of Abū Muhammad al-Maqdisī and the problem of suicide operations, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/369421
