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| quote: | Originally posted by sterilis
so how come theres always talk about these 70 virgins. give the the real interpretation of it and where people have misunderstood it. |
That one I'm not sure about, so I'll need to research it properly to do any justice to it in a response. But I'll tell you this much. Suicide is strictly forbiden in Islam and is pretty much a one way ticket to hell, not terribly different from the Judeo-Christian take on it. Plus, the term 'jihad' means 'struggle', not holy war, like 'struggling' to be a better person for example. It is true that this 'struggle' can manifest itself in many different forms, including a call to arms. But there's tons of restriction on what considered legitimate warfare and what isn't, and warfare is only allowed as a last resort against an agressor for self preservation. Killing women, children, the elderly, defensless civilians, or anyone who doesn't pose any actual physical threat, or destroying property for example are strictly forbidden and akin to war crimes. Engaging in any one of those actions automatically makes a legitimate armed struggle illegitimate in an Islamic context, so it's no longer Jihad and is considered an act of agression. Which is why I have to laugh when people call terrorism/suicide bombings Jihad, far from it. So even what 'colateral damage' is really against the spirit of armed jihad and a violation of it's principles. Here's a verse from the Quran that partially addresses what I just mentioned:
"Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not do aggression, for Allah loves not the aggressors. Fight in the way of Allah against those who fight against you, but begin not hostilities. Lo! Allah loveth not aggressors. And slay them wherever ye find them, and drive them out of the places whence they drove you out, for persecution is worse than slaughter. And fight not with them at the Inviolable Place of Worship until they first attack you there, but if they attack you (there) then slay them. Such is the reward of disbelievers. But if they desist, then lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. And fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is for Allah. But if they desist, then let there be no hostility except against wrongdoers." [Al-Baqarah 190-193]
Keep in mind the context of this Surah and period of revelation was at a time when Muslims were being persecuted and driven out of their respective homes, cities, and villages.
Anways, I sort of digressed there. No, I'm not entirely sure about the '70 virgins' bit so I won't say anything about that. What I do know for a fact is that if you're slain in [a legitimate defensive and non-agressive] battle or because just you happen to be a Muslim, is considered martyrdom. And martyrs are promised paradise. Any language used to describe that reward isn't necessarily meant to be interpreted literally. For example, it makes little sense to perceive heaven as being a place where literally "river of milk and honey flow" beneath whatever it was (I can't recall what the verse was at this moment).
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"The Greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge." -Stephen Hawking
"First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me— and there was no one left to speak out for me." -Martin Niemöller
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