by Aylin Kocaman
In October, the Palestine Committee of the Arab Lawyers Union honored a suicide bomber. A law student who entered a restaurant in Israel in 2003 and blew herself up, killing herself and 21 people, was honored by the lawyers’ union. The 21 people she killed included a pregnant woman and three children.
This honor is thought-provoking. But before that, I want to consider the logic of a suicide bomber. Why does a person become a suicide bomber?
The majority of Arab countries were to some extent touched by post-World War II communism. The Ba’ath Party that became strong in Egypt, Syria and Iraq, the Shanghai bloc that was established under Chinese auspices and quietly placed Arab countries and Iran under its protection, and al-Fatah, which grew under Yasser Arafat’s leadership, never concealed their communist/socialist leanings. It is no secret that much blood was shed by Arab socialism mixed with extreme nationalism in Arab countries. Those who are unaware of that history should have a look at the situation in those countries now or how Hafez Assad’s legacy is preserved in Syria.
Such savagery is inevitable in the socialist or communist mindset. In that worldview, putting an end to one’s own life is as much a contribution to world progress and to the “cause” as putting an end to someone else’s life. Therefore, putting an end to one’s own life, regarded as valueless, in order to put an end to other lives also regarded as worthless, is an even greater contribution in the eyes of this savage system. This is an extraordinarily false logic, but the subject of separate criticism.
If a suicide bomber perpetrates his action in the name of Islam, then that is a disgrace. There are the most profound and terrible errors here. A Muslim cannot kill. This is a sin. God reveals in the Koran that “…if someone kills another person – unless it is in retaliation for someone else or for causing corruption in the earth – it is as if he had murdered all mankind.” (Koran, 5:32) The verse is explicit. Just like it is a sin and murder to kill someone else, it is also a sin and murder to kill oneself. It is not jihad, but a sin to blow oneself up in a restaurant. Those who honor and glorify such things and imagine that the person has become a martyr are applauding murder, not jihad.
I know this, because I am a Muslim. A Muslim with a passionate love of God. I love God, and I also love the people He creates. I learned how to love from my Lord, and I have a religion that tells me to keep love alive. My faith is written in the Koran. I did not learn my religion from nonsense, traditions and fabrications.
This is not the jihad in the religion I learned from the Koran. Jihad means to strive through knowledge and science to bring someone to the truth and to establish communication with love and respect; not to kill him.
This is not the martyrdom I learned about from the Koran. Martyrdom means death while striving on the path of God while seeking to spread the love, friendship and brotherhood demanded by Islam.
In the religion I learned from the Koran, killing is a murder and a sin. It is not a virtue to be honored.
I read in the Koran that as a Muslim I must love and protect Jews and Christians. But suicide bombers and their supporters spread the propaganda of a religion that commands others’ deaths. No, their faith is not mine. And their religion is not the religion of God, either. Very few of those who follow that faith may realize that. The representatives of that union that imagines it is right to honor that young girl, who may have been encouraged to become a suicide bomber by radicals, a suicide bomber who murdered innocent people, may be unaware of that fact, as well. There are many people who imagine this false religion to be true and who seek to adhere to it.
The problem is this : People who do not know their own religion are being diverted toward nonsense. And unless they learn their own religion and the true love in the Koran, there will continue to be suicide bombers and those who honor them. Bombs are not the way to teach them the truth. The only way is correct education. And in order to provide a true education, people of love from among Muslims, Christians and Jews must all come together. Once the power of unity has been established, then those people on the wrong path will begin to listen to us.
The writer is a commentator and religious and political analyst on Turkish TV and also a peace activist. She is a host on the Building Bridges Show (http://bit.ly/NYvG5V) She writes as an op-ed columnist for the Jerusalem Post, the Washington Post and several online newspapers in Turkey.
Thank You for a thorough and well articulated posting as it relates to the ongoing struggle in southern Israel. Allah, God, Hashim, is spreading the truth by your penning this article. When the true words of the Holy Qur’an and Allah’s will is presented to the Radicals, they then become responsible for willfully denying the Book the Claim to Love.. The wrongs extend to tel Aviv as well, with a more inciteful, hell bent policy of build baby build, as far as new Settlements south of Jerusalem are concerned. Plenty of fault to go around, all intended to leverage stronger bargaining positions. As we have been commanded by our Creator, We are winning the Struggle for Peace .The Turkish-Islamic Union is a creation ordained by God. Peace is just ahead.
Islam denounces terrorism. Islam means peace. We should tell world that we are brothers and sisters. We are sons of Abraham. We should love each other. This article is very important. Thank you Aylin Kocaman.
Great article Ms Kocaman!
As a muslim I fully agree with you.
I liked what I read in Aylin Kocaman’s artcile. As clear as in her other articles she is spreading the Koran’s love message. I agree with her, I am also a devout Muslim and read the Koran several times and have not come across any statement that promotes killing.
Interesting.
But, the problem is that Arab Muslim fundamentalist suicide bombing is because they consider it retaliation against the western world. And it was started well before the 20th century, probably 200 years before Israel was even there. They claim that Koran promises them 70 virgins in heaven.
T.
Thank you Tony, for the inquisitive posting. I am an American Muslim now, and a true believer in the Peaceful and loving faith of True Islam, but before I came to Allah, I was no friend of the Radicals. The Writer and several respondents should be considered Masters of The Holy Qur’an, as Messengers of Peace. I am a Novice still but will tell you that the Holy Qur’an and the other Holy Books Plainly states that the Jews will live in the Holy Land to the end times. This IS Allah’s, Gods, Hashim’s will. Let the Radicals, Hezbollah and Hamas,say what they will, and continue to defy Gods will. The Turkish-Islamic Union will place tremendous pressure upon the Radical Proxies, as well as their backers to tone down the violence. This, the aTurkish- Islamic Union, is all so God’s will. insha’Allah. God Bless, Brother.
The things done by these radicals cause a misconception about true Islam. In Islam there is love compassion understanding respect for other faiths and there is absolutely no oppression. There are historical records that Prophet Mohammad has excellent relations with Christians and Jews living in the Arab region and he made laws protecting their rights of property and worship. So we take the Prophet Mohammad as an example and not these radicals who dont have the slightest idea about the true nature of Islam.
I enjoyed reading this article. I do believe that the way to bring about peace is through education. I believe education about the holocaust is a way to build bridges to peace. I have read articles wherein young Palestinian students visited Yad Vashem. For the first time, they saw their “occupiers” through different eyes. They realized that they had no where else to go after WWII. I think Palestinians should be required to study and read on the holocaust. I feel Jewish children should be required to study and read about Nakba. I believe that if each side can relate to one another emotionally, that will help build bridges to peace. I am saddened that Hamas will not allow teaching of the holocaust to young Palestinian children. I am even more saddened that this measure had been condoned by UN committees.
Thank you for writing this article. I hope all the world hear your voice, because all the idea you spread is true and I agree with you. I am a Turkish, ex-Christian, Muslim elhamdulillah. And as you say, the only way is; correct education. If people understand the real morality of Koran, everybody would want to live it insaAllah. Waiting for your next articles.
Moving article from which everyone can learn something written by a sincere person and a devout muslim…..Killing a human being is like killing all people. It is a sin. Committing suicide is also murder and a sin in the sight of Allah. Problems between Israel and Palestine cannot be solved with murdering innocent people. We as muslims have a responsibility to be compassionate and protective towards Christians and Jews as they are the people of the book mentioned in the Koran.
Such a freshening sight to see such articles preaching peace. It is so rare nowadays. Thank you Ms. Kocaman for helping put peace in people’s hearts, which they lack so much nowadays. I am actually relieved to learn that Islam has got nothing to do with those radicals, which my heart already told me before I even knew the facts. I knew deep down that no religion from God can command such atrocities, and as a historian, I know better than to judge religions based on the practices of people. Religion is one thing, the practicers of it, is another. If anyone wants to learn what a religion, or a teaching or an ideology preaches, do not look at the actions of the people who claim to be its followers, but look at the source. That would be wiser.
Thank you again and I wish you the best in your endeavours.
The ones who are willing to kill innocent people more and more and claiming that they are Muslims, inreality they are totally away from Kuran. Islam is a religion of peace. This is a highly important subject and I love the article.
that a very good article Aylin, the world needs to learn about true Islam. An obvious characteristic of radicalism is its anger. This disposition can be clearly seen in the speeches, writings and demonstrations of radicals. However, anger is not an attribute of Muslims. Terror and religion are completely opposed to each other. Terrorism adopts the way of aggression, murder, conflict, cruelty and misery. But according to the Qur’an, all these things are kinds of oppression. Allah enjoins peace, harmony, goodwill and compromise.
Great piece. And very important messages throughout.
A great article. The whole world including muslims need to be explained the real meaning of Jihad. They have to understand that Islam doesn’t emphasizes on killing people to spread Islam.