The Words of Shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen Concerning Suicide
Bombings
Shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen, may Allaah have mercy upon him,
said in his explanation of Riyaadus-Saaliheen (1/165-166), whilst giving
some points of benefit from the hadeeth of Suhayb, may Allaah be pleased
with him:"That Allaah¹s Messenger, sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam,
said, "There used to be a king amongst those who came before you, and he had
a sorcerer. So when he grew old he said to the king, I have become old so send a
boy to me so that I can teach him sorcery" the hadeeth.
(Riyaadhus-Saaliheen, no. 30)
Fourthly: That it is permissible
for a person to expose himself to danger for a matter of general benefit to the
Muslims, because the boy indicated to the king the way in which he would be able
to kill him, and which would lead to his demise, which was that he should take
an arrow from his quiver etc.
Shaikhul-Islaam (Ibn Taymiyyah) said,
"Because this was a Jihaad in Allaah¹s cause, which caused a whole nation
to truly believe, and he did not really lose anything, since although he died he
would have to die anyway, sooner or later."
But as for what some
people do regarding activities of suicide, tying explosives to themselves and
then approaching Unbelievers and detonating them amongst them, then this is a
case of suicide and Allaah¹s refuge is sought. So whoever commits suicide
then he will be consigned eternally to Hell-Fire, remaining there forever, as
occurs in the hadeeth of the Prophet, sallallaahu alaihi wa
sallam. (i.e., his, sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam, saying, " and
whoever kills himself with an iron weapon, then the iron weapon will remain in
his hand, and he will continuously stab himself in his belly with it in the Fire
of Hell eternally, forever and ever." Reported by al-Bukhaaree, no. 5778 and
Muslim, no. 109, in the Book of Eemaan.)
Because this person has
killed himself and has not benefited Islaam. So if he kills himself along with
ten, or a hundred, or two hundred other people, then Islaam will not benefit by
that, since the people will not accept Islaam, contrary to the story of the boy.
Rather it will probably just make the enemy more determined, and this action
will provoke malice and bitterness in his heart to such an extent that he may
seek to wreak havoc upon the Muslims.
This is what is found from the
practice of the Jews with the people of Palestine so when one of the
Palestinian blows himself up and kills six or seven people, then in retaliation
they take sixty or more. So this does not produce any benefit for the Muslims,
and does not benefit those amongst whose ranks explosives are
detonated.
So what we hold is that those people who perform these suicide
(bombings) have wrongfully committed suicide, and that this necessitates entry
into Hell-Fire, and Allaah¹s refuge is sought and that this person is not a
martyr (shaheed). However if a person has done this based upon
misinterpretation, thinking that it is permissible, then we hope that he will be
saved from sin, but as for martyrdom being written for him, then no, since he
has not taken the path of martyrdom. But whoever performs ijtihaad and
errs will receive a single reward (if he is a person qualified to make
ijtihaad)."
(End of the Shaikh's words)
Shaikh Ibn Uthaimeen: The Suicide Bomber is Not A Martyr And Is In Hellfire