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70 virgins in Heaven? Another misconception

A picture taken from a video distributed to journalists in recent days through intermediaries and obtained by AFP on March 5, 2013 reportedly shows Abubakar Shekau (C), the suspected leader of Nigerian Islamist extremist group Boko Haram, flanked by six armed and hooded fighters in an undisclosed place.

It was one Hamas activist, Muhammad Abu Wardeh, who was reported to be recruiting terrorists for suicide bombings in Israel more than a decade ago that said:  “God would compensate the martyr for sacrificing his life for his land. If you become a martyr, God will give you 70 virgins, 70 wives and everlasting happiness.”  All the informed Muslims knew certainly that Wardeh was only shortchanging his recruits.


This has become widespread to the extent that non-Muslim and mischief makers who have no modicum of knowledge about Islam use this false assertion to denigrate the religion, especially when the dare devil bombers or blood thirsty group struk. They say: Hey! they want to go to heaven and acquire 70 virgins and other bla bla…

It is only a sick and despicable mind that feels that it has a right to attack, steal, murder and cause harm to others.

One, suicide which is qatlu nafsi-hi is strictly forbidden in Islam, and it is followed by the punishment of Allah. The flesh and body are not our own possession but a trust granted to us in order to preserve our spirit.  So, we cannot attempt to blow up the divine work of art entrusted on us. We cannot also destroy it by going on hunger strike; it is unacceptable in Islam.

The Quran which guides the actions and activities of any Muslims says: Suicide is forbidden. “O ye who believe!… [do not] kill yourselves, for truly Allah has been to you Most Merciful. If any do that in rancour and injustice, soon shall We cast him into the Fire…” (Qur’an 4:29-30). Then the Prophet says “Indeed, whoever (intentionally) kills himself, then certainly he will be punished in the Fire of Hell, wherein he shall dwell forever”, [Bukhari (5778) and Muslim (109 and 110)].

What the Hadith referred to is matayr which is (sahid) contrary to killing of oneself.  Martyrdom is everywhere praised and encouraged. Again, the Prophet said: “The most excellent jihad is that for the conquest of self.” “Whoever suppresseth his anger, when he has it in his power to show it, God will give him a great reward.” “Do you love your Creator? Love your fellow beings first.”
“Wish not or supplicate for death before its taime cometh.”

Secondly, paradise is described in great sensual detail in Suratul Waqiah; Q56 verses 12-40 and other chapters as well as the hadiths.  Also, Q55 verses 54-56 ; Q 76 verses 12-22.

In one of the verses, Hurun moqsuratun fil-khiyam.  Meaning: Fair ones are reserved in the Garden. Yes!, the Quran talks about damsels, but in a context that most people especially the non-Muslims have misrepresented and always paint in a derogatory manner to suit their interests and purposes.  There is no where in the Qur’an where 70 virgins was mentioned as a reward for killing people.

In paradise, there are many things that you cannot describe or comprehend except with spiritually assistance.  Allah mentioned in Qur’an many things about Paradise.  Comparing the earthily with that in heaven is mismatch. It is not about emotional and biological relationships, it is not about the way we relate here on earth.

The Qur’an says: In Gardens of Bliss: A number of people from those of old, And a few from those of later times,(They will be) on Thrones encrusted (with gold and precious stones), Reclining on them, facing each other. Round about them will (serve) youths of perpetual (freshness), With goblets, (shining) beakers, and cups (filled) out of clear-flowing fountains: No after-ache will they receive therefrom, nor will they suffer intoxication: And with fruits, any that they may select: And the flesh of fowls, any that they may desire. And (there will be) Companions with beautiful, big, and lustrous eyes,- Like unto Pearls well-guarded. A reward for the deeds of their past (life). Not frivolity will they hear therein, nor any taint of ill, Only the saying, “Peace! Peace”. Q56 v 12-26
Jihad

Non-Muslims are quick to refer to Islamic term of Jihad. Not many of them read the Qur’an or the hadiths to know exactly what the term means. Those of them who take Comparative studies or those who assume to know usually have a warped knowledge of the term as a result of sentiment of ‘mine is the only way’.   They have refused to be guided by the substance in what they read, rather they twist it and allowed themselves to be ruled by sentiment.

You will be surprised by the idea of a Pastor on Jihad, or the meaning a student at the seminary will give to Jihad. Even when you explain to them, they still hold firmly to what they think they know because it serves them a purpose. I have had to explain ‘Jihad and the virgins’ a number of times to some of my non-Muslim colleagues, yet, it has not changed anything; they still hold on to their idea.

Islam is all about mercy, about virtue, about sacrifice and about duty to humanity. It encourages moral perfection and any activity that is far from these, no matter the colouration, is not Islam. As Muslims, there is no room for fanaticism, for hatred, for racism, for terrorizing or killing innocent people in Islam, even in a state of war.  Shedding innocents’ blood constitute a form of injustice that can not be tolerated by Islam.

Combative dimension
The Qur’an states that to kill one innocent person is like killing all of humanity. Now, for the umpteenth time, Jihad, which literally means ‘struggle,’ has an internal, societal and combative dimension. The internal dimension of Jihad encompasses the struggle against the evil inclinations of the self, and the spiritual project to adorn the self with virtues such as justice, mercy, generosity and gentleness.

Secondly, the societal dimension includes struggling against social injustice and creating a communal identity based on charity, respect and equality; while the third aspect of jihad is only to be used as self-defense against aggression or to fight oppression, and, even at that, it is strictly within the limit of good conduct, justice and preservation of life of the innocents and the sanctity of the environment. For those who don’t know, this latter type of Jihad can only be declared by a legitimate, recognized religious authority, not any individual or a group of people with no legal identity or acceptability.

 By Ishola Balogun

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21 comments

  1. Hahaha,so the reason for the killing is 70 virgin they will break and 70 wife's. Wow... Lame.

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    Replies
    1. U read but what U undastand is different because of D sentimental attachment

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  2. indeed there are madmen in muslim community as in every religion community.but to associate crime wit d entire muslim community population is a crime itself which many people fall into including our politicians & d media.law abiding citizens who happen to be a muslim pays heavily when these kind of sensationalism take place in d media as a result of terror attacks.on one hand d terrorist doesn't like him & consider all other muslim as a non believers for not agreeing wit them.they wouldn't hesitate to kill him & d rest of d believers

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  3. Good write up,but you need to educate your fellow Muslims more because most (not all) of acts of terrorism are perpetuated by Islamic fundamentals who do all things under the banner of Islam.

    Once they are educated and all this madness dies, then perception of islam will change. But to claim peace when all we see are atrocities, i think it's managing your religions .PR.

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  4. Hahaha Ishola Balogun beware lest your fellow muslims declare fatuah (verdict of death)on you for mis-interpreting your so-called Quran.why do you have to labour to interprete quran and Jihad as a concept; if your Holy books are not disjointed,ambigous,unarticulated and perplaxing. Jihad is War there is no any other interpretation. We know that war can never be used in a positive light as you are contending to do. Christians have no need of your teachings and explanation for we know that Islam epitomizes Violence; take a good look at all arab Nations sunni vs Shite killing themselves. Where is your so-called brotherhood or is that myterdom to?

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  5. Ishola Balogun, I have been around this country and have stayed with Muslims that are not of Hausa origin and have seen the level of openness and tolerance amongst them. You as a Yoruba approached your Islam with open mind but our brothers from the North approach the same with closed and vindictive mind. Ishola, do you know that when they kill non Muslims they also kill Muslims that are not of Hausa origin? I advice you to dare take this your enlightenment campaign to the North because they need it to change their religious view. How many Yoruba men being Muslims have attempted suicide bombing of any kind since this their struggles or is it that the Yorubas are fake Muslims as claimed by the Hausas.

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  6. muslims are peaceful in preaching but violent in practise. Lets deal wit reality not heresy.

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  7. We are becoming more concious of our duty to the whole humanity by the day. This is write-up is kind we need we need to educate non-muslims about us and Muslims about our oversights caused by the neglect of the use of social media rather than relying on Money mongering Islamic preachers only. I'm sure and happy that Isola has enriched me Knowledge more to answer frivolous questions from Stiff-Necked propangadists. ( Remember; Prophet Muhammed told us seek knowledge till death cometh viz Art, science, other cultures, Islamic theology, spiritual uplifment etc but unfortunately we muslims picked only the islamic theological aspect among the lot. Let's wake up . Thank you very much Isola Balogun for this beatiful refresher online course. May Allah enrich your knowledge and Wisdom .

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  8. anonymous@9.07, u have said it all....the people that need this crusade and sermon, na ur muslim brothers and sisters... muslim own too much abeg...even my uncle who was a muslim used to fight my mum, cos she was a christian, as enlightened as he was...he placed his religion before family... no muslim can convince me by mare words...action speaks louder. But bros, how come your fellow muslims are easily brain washed?

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  9. Madness!
    What is a right thinking person looking 4 with 70 women?
    Try spending the night with 3 Warri girls let me see if u are not taken to an emergency room d following morning.
    Mtcheeew!

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  10. the promises for the jihadist in qura'an and hadith were; 70 of his relatives distine to hell will be save, 70 beautifull ladies and everlasting joy in heaven. These promises were there in the qura'an and hadith. May be if you want to denying them . It says to every drop of mujahi's blood, allah will bless it manifold. There is no time on earth where muslem did not preach hatred against (wal nasara) i chrirtians or jews (wal- yahudu) calling them wal- kafirun. Please stop being hypocrite and denying the fact that is found in qura'an and hadith. What islam teaches was that love mumuni(muslem) but hate kafirun (nasara and yahudu).

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  11. the promises for the jihadist in qura'an and hadith were; 70 of his relatives distine to hell will be save, 70 beautifull ladies and everlasting joy in heaven. These promises were there in the qura'an and hadith. May be if you want to denying them . It says to every drop of mujahi's blood, allah will bless it manifold. There is no time on earth where muslem did not preach hatred against (wal nasara) i chrirtians or jews (wal- yahudu) calling them wal- kafirun. Please stop being hypocrite and denying the fact that is found in qura'an and hadith. What islam teaches was that love mumuni(muslem) but hate kafirun (nasara and yahudu).

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  12. Anonymous 11.34 am. Mind ur words. Y are u behaving like animal 2 call our holy Quran wiz such word. Qur'an is holy in it totallness. Dats y we dont hav old and new! Dats y its not written by PAUL. its not revised by any 1. Its not contradicted and dats y its not HOLY.

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    1. Anonymous 8:06PM, you have affirmed yourself that QUran is not HOLY.Hahaha, Thank you

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  13. Leave that which you are in doubt for that you are in no doubt. He that has ears let him hear. Good work you've done Mr Ishola Balogun,may God continue to increase you in knowedge and strenght(Amin)

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  14. How come every terrorist shout allau Akbar before committing an atrocity? Have you ever seen anyone kill in the name of Jesus?

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  15. Oh GOD,what a pity.with such broad explinations and with clear evidence and proofs the fools refuse to believe not because they did not agree or understand the massege delivered to them but because their hearts has been sealed with a disease of doubt,uncertain,envy and hypocrise.they walk with their eyes wide open but yet they are blind spiritually.Pls bros dont be discourage by their foolish comments, continue with your good work GOD will surely reward your effort.and for those church attendants that call themself modern christians is part of their culture and tradition to humiliate and killing of PROPHETS and preachers that were sent to them,the JESUS they claim salvation in worshiped was not left out.He was humiliated and was attempt to be murdered in a broad day light by those same people who served and worship today .oh what a trangressors ,a confused ill hearted generation!

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  16. NICE CLARIFICATION, BUT I AM TOO CERTAIN YOU GOT THE WRONG AUDIENCE.... YOU SHOULD EXTEND THIS TO YOUR FELLOW MUSLIM BROTHERS AND PREACHERS. BECAUSE NO MATTER THE STANCE, THE FACT THAT THE NOTION IS A WEED IN YOUR RELIGION, THAT ONLY YOU GUYS CAN UPROOT.

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