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Alashuko The Fighter Crew
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 Posted: Thu Aug 08, 2013 5:39 am
Is masturbation a sin? I always felt like it was ok because it was releasing the evil thoughts and I wouldn't be hormonal like most times. But I don't really lust when doing it, I just think of the thoughts that got me going to begin with and then I imagine it so that memory can go away. But I'm asking if its wrong to do such a thing and was I wrong.
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Posted: Thu Aug 08, 2013 8:07 pm
Alashuko The Fighter Is masturbation a sin? I always felt like it was ok because it was releasing the evil thoughts and I wouldn't be hormonal like most times. But I don't really lust when doing it, I just think of the thoughts that got me going to begin with and then I imagine it so that memory can go away. But I'm asking if its wrong to do such a thing and was I wrong. Here's a couple resources to help you out, that helped me out: http://www.christiananswers.net/q-eden/sexaddictiontips.html http://www.bereanbiblechurch.org/transcripts/matthew/som/5_28-30.htm http://www.chastity.com/chastity-qa/pornography-etc/masturbation/masturbation-harmfu http://marriage-missions.com/about-us-2/sex-before-marriage-testimonies/ http://www.lovematters.com/lakitagarth.htm If you're wondering why I have so many specific (and maybe nonspecific) resources at hand, well, I'm sure you can figure out that I've struggled with what you're experiencing. Sans my list of links, though, I would encourage you to read, I think it's in 1 Peter, where it talks about keeping your vessel in holiness. That verse, I think, doubly (and metaphorically) is talking about your wife/wife to be, and your own body. To answer your question more plainly, don't be deceived by the lie that says "it's okay to masturbate, as long as you don't lust." Think about what masturbating encourages in your mind. It gives you temporary relief from your urges, because it fulfills an urge for sexual gratification, but those urges come back, and usually come back soon and stronger. What you are instructed to do in Christ is offer your body as a living sacrifice to the Lord, and defiling it with sexual sin (which masturbation is, or at least opens you up to) means that you no longer have a holy offering to present to the Lord. Will He forgive you if you confess your sins before Him, and rededicate yourself? Absolutely. Do you still reap the guilt and the shame of having sinned against your holy Father? Also Absolutely. Your guilt and shame and confusion are because of grieving the Holy Spirit that lives within you, who wants to lead you into all righteousness. Short short version: anything that fulfills your sexual desires apart from marriage is sin, so, yes, masturbation is sin. Peace, bro, and don't be deceived.
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Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 2:18 am
I'm going to answer this from a Muslim perspective
Well, since Allah Almighty completely detests the act of zina (fornication or adultery) (Noble Verse 17:32 and Noble Verse 24:2), and He is the one who created the sexual desires in men and women, then therefore, it would make perfect sense for those who are weak to use masturbation as a shield for them from committing an act of zina.
Semen and orgasm, which are generated from either masturbation or sexual intercourse are a must for the body to exert. It is beyond our human-control to prevent sexual desires from rising within us, especially in the pornified West! GOD Almighty created semen to be ejaculated from the human body while experiencing a sexual experience. No human can hold his/her semen in their body. Therefore, it is safe to use masturbation as a shield to protect you from the act of zina (fornication) until you get married. But please try to avoid it as much as possible! Masturbation is not a free license for getting addicted to lust and pornography.
To me, and the way I see masturbation is this: It is Allah Almighty's Grace upon those who are too desperate, AGAIN, TOO DESPERATE, to have sex to vent out the sexual frustration and the unbearable temptation that they might have in them. That's all I am saying. I am not in anyway, shape or form saying that lust and pornography are allowed in Islam. But since we're all weak humans, and since masturbation is a mean to vent out our sexual frustrations, especially when we're single and desperate, then limited masturbation might be allowed, especially in this (morally speaking) pornified hell that we live in here - called the West, where everything is literally too sexual and sexually arousing.
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Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 8:59 am
Islamic Teacher I'm going to answer this from a Muslim perspective Well, since Allah Almighty completely detests the act of zina (fornication or adultery) (Noble Verse 17:32 and Noble Verse 24:2), and He is the one who created the sexual desires in men and women, then therefore, it would make perfect sense for those who are weak to use masturbation as a shield for them from committing an act of zina. Semen and orgasm, which are generated from either masturbation or sexual intercourse are a must for the body to exert. It is beyond our human-control to prevent sexual desires from rising within us, especially in the pornified West! GOD Almighty created semen to be ejaculated from the human body while experiencing a sexual experience. No human can hold his/her semen in their body. Therefore, it is safe to use masturbation as a shield to protect you from the act of zina (fornication) until you get married. But please try to avoid it as much as possible! Masturbation is not a free license for getting addicted to lust and pornography. To me, and the way I see masturbation is this: It is Allah Almighty's Grace upon those who are too desperate, AGAIN, TOO DESPERATE, to have sex to vent out the sexual frustration and the unbearable temptation that they might have in them. That's all I am saying. I am not in anyway, shape or form saying that lust and pornography are allowed in Islam. But since we're all weak humans, and since masturbation is a mean to vent out our sexual frustrations, especially when we're single and desperate, then limited masturbation might be allowed, especially in this (morally speaking) pornified hell that we live in here - called the West, where everything is literally too sexual and sexually arousing. Amen to the west part. So what exactly is Islam if you don't mind me asking? Isn't that the religion of the extremists that tried 9/11?
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Alashuko The Fighter Crew
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Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 9:16 am
Well to answer simply Jesus says on the sermon on the mount that if you look at a woman lustfully you are committing adultery with her in your heart.
So yes, I would say it is a sin.
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Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 4:44 am
Alashuko The Fighter Islamic Teacher I'm going to answer this from a Muslim perspective Well, since Allah Almighty completely detests the act of zina (fornication or adultery) (Noble Verse 17:32 and Noble Verse 24:2), and He is the one who created the sexual desires in men and women, then therefore, it would make perfect sense for those who are weak to use masturbation as a shield for them from committing an act of zina. Semen and orgasm, which are generated from either masturbation or sexual intercourse are a must for the body to exert. It is beyond our human-control to prevent sexual desires from rising within us, especially in the pornified West! GOD Almighty created semen to be ejaculated from the human body while experiencing a sexual experience. No human can hold his/her semen in their body. Therefore, it is safe to use masturbation as a shield to protect you from the act of zina (fornication) until you get married. But please try to avoid it as much as possible! Masturbation is not a free license for getting addicted to lust and pornography. To me, and the way I see masturbation is this: It is Allah Almighty's Grace upon those who are too desperate, AGAIN, TOO DESPERATE, to have sex to vent out the sexual frustration and the unbearable temptation that they might have in them. That's all I am saying. I am not in anyway, shape or form saying that lust and pornography are allowed in Islam. But since we're all weak humans, and since masturbation is a mean to vent out our sexual frustrations, especially when we're single and desperate, then limited masturbation might be allowed, especially in this (morally speaking) pornified hell that we live in here - called the West, where everything is literally too sexual and sexually arousing. Amen to the west part. So what exactly is Islam if you don't mind me asking? Isn't that the religion of the extremists that tried 9/11? Islam is peaceful submission to God Almighty
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Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 4:47 am
RyuShikyo Yagari Well to answer simply Jesus says on the sermon on the mount that if you look at a woman lustfully you are committing adultery with her in your heart. So yes, I would say it is a sin. I believe this is the verse Matthew 5:28"But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart."And I for one don't agree with it It ignores the basic nature of humanity. If men did not look at women with lust (and have an emotional and physical reaction) the human race would have died out long ago as a result of low reproductive rates. Lust is necessary to keep babies coming.
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Posted: Thu Aug 15, 2013 1:52 pm
Alashuko The Fighter Islamic Teacher I'm going to answer this from a Muslim perspective Well, since Allah Almighty completely detests the act of zina (fornication or adultery) (Noble Verse 17:32 and Noble Verse 24:2), and He is the one who created the sexual desires in men and women, then therefore, it would make perfect sense for those who are weak to use masturbation as a shield for them from committing an act of zina. Semen and orgasm, which are generated from either masturbation or sexual intercourse are a must for the body to exert. It is beyond our human-control to prevent sexual desires from rising within us, especially in the pornified West! GOD Almighty created semen to be ejaculated from the human body while experiencing a sexual experience. No human can hold his/her semen in their body. Therefore, it is safe to use masturbation as a shield to protect you from the act of zina (fornication) until you get married. But please try to avoid it as much as possible! Masturbation is not a free license for getting addicted to lust and pornography. To me, and the way I see masturbation is this: It is Allah Almighty's Grace upon those who are too desperate, AGAIN, TOO DESPERATE, to have sex to vent out the sexual frustration and the unbearable temptation that they might have in them. That's all I am saying. I am not in anyway, shape or form saying that lust and pornography are allowed in Islam. But since we're all weak humans, and since masturbation is a mean to vent out our sexual frustrations, especially when we're single and desperate, then limited masturbation might be allowed, especially in this (morally speaking) pornified hell that we live in here - called the West, where everything is literally too sexual and sexually arousing. Amen to the west part. So what exactly is Islam if you don't mind me asking? Isn't that the religion of the extremists that tried 9/11? omg no. I'm sure our resident Muslim will be able to give you a much better answer than I ever could, but Islam is one of the three Abrahamic religions (the other two being Christianity and Judeism). Islam shares many similarities with Christianity. The main defining difference is that Muslims do not believe that Jesus was the Messiah; rather, he is portrayed as a prophet. The "main character," if you will, in Islam (besides God, or as He is called in Islam, Allah) is the prophet Mohamad. Jews have Moses, and Christians have Jesus, obviously (although Jesus in Christianity differs from both Moses and Mohamad in that Jesus is the Son of God, at least if you're Christian, whereas Moses and Mohamad lacked divine parentage but are instead highly respected prophets who are credited with being God/Allah's "main guys" in their respective religions). It is true that there are Muslim extremists who have been responsible for acts of terrorism, and 9/11 is generally believed to have been perpetrated by an especially vicious Islamic extremist group, but it's very important to understand that these violent extremists do not represent Islam as a whole. I believe there are actually more Muslims worldwide than there are Christians, and the vast majority of them are NOT terrorists. Most Muslims are not so different from you or me. They worship God and try to live according to His laws peacefully and non-violently, just like most Christians and Jews. Saying that Al Queada and other violent Muslims extremists represent all Muslims is like saying that the Spanish Inquisition accurately reflects the attitudes of all Christian. Again, I'm sure Islamic Teacher can give you a better and more in-depth answer, and will hopefully correct and/or clarify any iffy or inaccurate information I just posted, but I hope my limited understanding of Islam is at least somewhat accurate and I hope it gives you at least some idea of what Islam is about.
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Posted: Thu Aug 15, 2013 4:17 pm
Anyway, regarding the topic of the thread....I actually find nothing wrong with masturbation. And I don't say this so that I can wank it guilt-free. I personally do not masturbate, as strange as that may be to some people. But it's not because I find any fault with self-pleasure. I've just never really found it appealing. For me, a great deal of the pleasure I get from sex comes from making my sexual partner feel good. If I had to put a number on it, I'd say that as much as 70% of my enjoyment of sex stems from making my partner feel good. I know it sounds cheesey, but I get off on getting my partner off. Masturbation lacks that element of pleasing someone besides myself, so it hold very little appeal for me. It's the same reason I'd rather perform oral sex than receive it. I know I'm an oddity among men, but for me sex is most enjoyable when it is a shared experience. Since masturbation lacks that element of shared pleasure, I literally have no interest in it. Again, this is not any sort of moral choice that I've made. I just find it tedious, if not impossible, to get off all on my lonesome.
I hope none of that is TMI. I'm not trying to be vulgar or inappropriate in any way, I'm just explaining an unusual facet of my sexuality that's relevent to the topic.
My personal disinterest in masturbation not withstanding, I think masturbation is normal and healthy. Most adolescents experiment with pleasuring themselves at some point. It's a normal part of sexual development. Orgasms are healthy, and masturbation is the most risk-free means of achieving one. The vast majority of people start having sexual desires quite some time before they're ready, in any sense of the word, to have partnered sex. Sex with a partner has many potential risks and consequences, both physically and emotionally. Now, I find trying to portray sex as this scary, life-ruining act rather appalling, but it's still a fact that responsible sex with a partner requires more thought, more maturity, more preparation (not to mention having a willing partner) than masturbation. Most 12 or 13-year-olds are not mature enough to handle a sexual relationship with another person responsibly. I think most would agree. But most kids that age ARE physically mature enough to have sexual desires. We homo sapiens are sexual creatures. We are as God made us, and God gave us sex drives and made sexual sesations pleasurable. I see no reason to try to instill a sense of shame in children regarding their own healthy, natural urges. Genitals, and the pleasure they can feel should not be seen as bad or vulgar.
I've met plenty of grown adults who find words like "p***s" and "v****a" to be these awful, unspeakable words, but why are such words any more shameful than words like "clavicle" or "cranium." They're just words for parts of the human body and should be no more shameful than...I don't know, elbows. The human body is a beautiful, amazing thing. That's something that holds true regardless of ideology, too. But especially if you are a person of faith, especially of an Abrahamic faith, the human body is God's ultimate creation, so important and unique that God chose to create us in His image. We are the only creation that was given the honour to be created by the divine, in the very image of divinity itself. The human body and all its workings were God's masterpiece, yet so many of us live our lives being ashamed of certain aspects of our God's miraculous creation!
I seem to be in a minority, too, which I've always found odd. Before I went to conservatory to study violin, I had plans to be a doctor. I took a human atatomy class in which I had the oppertunity to disect human cadavars. Yeah, "ewww gross" is how most people react to the idea of cutting up dead people, but that class really drove home for me how truly awe-inspiring our bodies are. We are expertly designed, finely tuned machines that put even the most advanced technologies developed by man to shame. I know I've been rambling, but it's because I can truly not find the words to articulate how amazing our bodies really are. And I personally cannot believe that God would want us to be ashamed of His exquisite masterpiece. And I know that if Genisis is taken literally, our shame has its roots in original sin, the eating of the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge and man's exile from Eden, but that's all the more proof that God never wanted us to feel ashamed of our genitals and their functions.
And I'll admit here and now that I'm a hypocrite, because throughout my life I have harboured a great deal of shame about my body for various reasons, not the least of which is that I was raised to embrace the attitude that gentitals and sexual actions were dirty and shameful. Even sex between a husband and wife was still treated as something that was not to be discussed and was definitely treated as if sex was still shameful even when sanctioned by God!
My mother has instigated some rather uncomfortable conversations recently for whatever reason (maybe it's her most recent attempt to show me that she's okay with me being gay so long as we can gossip about men as if we're gal pals or something...but that's a whole other topic) and revealed that my paternal father, her husband til death did them part, never saw her fully naked. she would always undress beneath the blankets and always kept a sheet pulled up to her chin before and after coitus, and the actual act would take place in the dark, under the covers. I always just thought that was something done in films to avoid earning a less "family friendly" rating by avoiding any real nudity. I really didn't think any real people did that. You allow a man to physically enter your body but you're not comfortable letting him see your breasts? I can empathise with body image issues, I've struggled with them myself my whole life, but if I'm having sex with someone, especially the person I married and plan to spend the rest of my life with, I'm not going to hide my body from this person. It would feel almost like keeping some really enormous secret from them, when this is the one person I've decided to trust with every single piece of me. Plus from a purely practical standpoint sex in the dark is a lot more difficult than popular culture would have us believe. Not to mention that when you're having sex with your spouse, someone you hopefully find attractive, not being able to see them, even just their face, seems to remove a great deal of intimacy from something that is SUPPOSED to be arguably one of the most intimate things you can share with another person. I realise that my marriage is vastly different from the marriage of my parents, for too many reasons to even list, but am I wrong in my belief that having sex with your spouse, the person you've vowed to love for the rest of your life, should be...I don't know, not totally devoid of intimacy? And I don't even have the romantic ideals about sex that a lot of people have. Many people think that the way I view and experience sex is sad and empty, but at least I want to be able to see my partner while we have cynical, empty sex. At least I want to be able to see well enough that I can kiss him on the mouth rather than accidently kissing his elbow because we refuse to be able to see one another. And at least, even in spite of my damaged sexual psyche, I still want the person I've been with for nearly haIf my life see me without my clothes on. I mean, please tell me if my feeling about this are unusual, because I feel like this is one of the few sexually-related topics where my views are well withinthe range of normal.
Anyway, as I'm often prone to do, I've gotten derailed and ranted for a long time about something not 100% relevant, but I guess my point is just this: your body is a miraculous creation in both form and function, and masturbation is normal and healthy, and your sexuality is nothing to be ashamed of. Even if you believe that masturbation is wrong, I just hope that such a view of not rooted in shame, because sexual desires, the way your body reacts to those desires, and sex itself is nothing to fear or feel ashamed of. And a simple piece of advice for our teenage members: an ability to discuss and think about things of a sexual nature without fear or shame is only going to help you in your future relationships and/or marriage. Communication in general is vitally important to cultivating and maintaning a happy marriage, and being able to communicate openly and honestly about sex with your spouse is probably the single most important thing to do if you want a healthy and satisfying sex life for both you and your spouse. Adn before anyone chimes in with this accusation, I am NOT implying that good sex is the only, or most important facet of a good marriage. But it is important all the same. Nobody is happiest when they're sexually frustrated. wink
Anyway. Yeah. I hope anyone with the stamina to read all this at least finds something I said worthwhile.
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Posted: Fri Aug 16, 2013 10:57 am
Islamic Teacher I'm going to answer this from a Muslim perspective Well, since Allah Almighty completely detests the act of zina (fornication or adultery) (Noble Verse 17:32 and Noble Verse 24:2), and He is the one who created the sexual desires in men and women, then therefore, it would make perfect sense for those who are weak to use masturbation as a shield for them from committing an act of zina. Semen and orgasm, which are generated from either masturbation or sexual intercourse are a must for the body to exert. It is beyond our human-control to prevent sexual desires from rising within us, especially in the pornified West! GOD Almighty created semen to be ejaculated from the human body while experiencing a sexual experience. No human can hold his/her semen in their body. Therefore, it is safe to use masturbation as a shield to protect you from the act of zina (fornication) until you get married. But please try to avoid it as much as possible! Masturbation is not a free license for getting addicted to lust and pornography. To me, and the way I see masturbation is this: It is Allah Almighty's Grace upon those who are too desperate, AGAIN, TOO DESPERATE, to have sex to vent out the sexual frustration and the unbearable temptation that they might have in them. That's all I am saying. I am not in anyway, shape or form saying that lust and pornography are allowed in Islam. But since we're all weak humans, and since masturbation is a mean to vent out our sexual frustrations, especially when we're single and desperate, then limited masturbation might be allowed, especially in this (morally speaking) pornified hell that we live in here - called the West, where everything is literally too sexual and sexually arousing. Huh, I didn't realise that Islam took such a practical view of masturbation. For whatever reason I've always thought that Islam was more sexually restrictive than Christianity. And as always, I appreciate your insight. I'm always learning something new from you. smile
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Posted: Sat Aug 17, 2013 7:41 am
SinfulGuillotine Islamic Teacher I'm going to answer this from a Muslim perspective Well, since Allah Almighty completely detests the act of zina (fornication or adultery) (Noble Verse 17:32 and Noble Verse 24:2), and He is the one who created the sexual desires in men and women, then therefore, it would make perfect sense for those who are weak to use masturbation as a shield for them from committing an act of zina. Semen and orgasm, which are generated from either masturbation or sexual intercourse are a must for the body to exert. It is beyond our human-control to prevent sexual desires from rising within us, especially in the pornified West! GOD Almighty created semen to be ejaculated from the human body while experiencing a sexual experience. No human can hold his/her semen in their body. Therefore, it is safe to use masturbation as a shield to protect you from the act of zina (fornication) until you get married. But please try to avoid it as much as possible! Masturbation is not a free license for getting addicted to lust and pornography. To me, and the way I see masturbation is this: It is Allah Almighty's Grace upon those who are too desperate, AGAIN, TOO DESPERATE, to have sex to vent out the sexual frustration and the unbearable temptation that they might have in them. That's all I am saying. I am not in anyway, shape or form saying that lust and pornography are allowed in Islam. But since we're all weak humans, and since masturbation is a mean to vent out our sexual frustrations, especially when we're single and desperate, then limited masturbation might be allowed, especially in this (morally speaking) pornified hell that we live in here - called the West, where everything is literally too sexual and sexually arousing. Huh, I didn't realise that Islam took such a practical view of masturbation. For whatever reason I've always thought that Islam was more sexually restrictive than Christianity. And as always, I appreciate your insight. I'm always learning something new from you. smile
Thank you smile
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Posted: Sat Aug 17, 2013 7:45 am
SinfulGuillotine Alashuko The Fighter Islamic Teacher I'm going to answer this from a Muslim perspective Well, since Allah Almighty completely detests the act of zina (fornication or adultery) (Noble Verse 17:32 and Noble Verse 24:2), and He is the one who created the sexual desires in men and women, then therefore, it would make perfect sense for those who are weak to use masturbation as a shield for them from committing an act of zina. Semen and orgasm, which are generated from either masturbation or sexual intercourse are a must for the body to exert. It is beyond our human-control to prevent sexual desires from rising within us, especially in the pornified West! GOD Almighty created semen to be ejaculated from the human body while experiencing a sexual experience. No human can hold his/her semen in their body. Therefore, it is safe to use masturbation as a shield to protect you from the act of zina (fornication) until you get married. But please try to avoid it as much as possible! Masturbation is not a free license for getting addicted to lust and pornography. To me, and the way I see masturbation is this: It is Allah Almighty's Grace upon those who are too desperate, AGAIN, TOO DESPERATE, to have sex to vent out the sexual frustration and the unbearable temptation that they might have in them. That's all I am saying. I am not in anyway, shape or form saying that lust and pornography are allowed in Islam. But since we're all weak humans, and since masturbation is a mean to vent out our sexual frustrations, especially when we're single and desperate, then limited masturbation might be allowed, especially in this (morally speaking) pornified hell that we live in here - called the West, where everything is literally too sexual and sexually arousing. Amen to the west part. So what exactly is Islam if you don't mind me asking? Isn't that the religion of the extremists that tried 9/11? omg no. I'm sure our resident Muslim will be able to give you a much better answer than I ever could, but Islam is one of the three Abrahamic religions (the other two being Christianity and Judeism). Islam shares many similarities with Christianity. The main defining difference is that Muslims do not believe that Jesus was the Messiah; rather, he is portrayed as a prophet. The "main character," if you will, in Islam (besides God, or as He is called in Islam, Allah) is the prophet Mohamad. Jews have Moses, and Christians have Jesus, obviously (although Jesus in Christianity differs from both Moses and Mohamad in that Jesus is the Son of God, at least if you're Christian, whereas Moses and Mohamad lacked divine parentage but are instead highly respected prophets who are credited with being God/Allah's "main guys" in their respective religions). It is true that there are Muslim extremists who have been responsible for acts of terrorism, and 9/11 is generally believed to have been perpetrated by an especially vicious Islamic extremist group, but it's very important to understand that these violent extremists do not represent Islam as a whole. I believe there are actually more Muslims worldwide than there are Christians, and the vast majority of them are NOT terrorists. Most Muslims are not so different from you or me. They worship God and try to live according to His laws peacefully and non-violently, just like most Christians and Jews. Saying that Al Queada and other violent Muslims extremists represent all Muslims is like saying that the Spanish Inquisition accurately reflects the attitudes of all Christian. Again, I'm sure Islamic Teacher can give you a better and more in-depth answer, and will hopefully correct and/or clarify any iffy or inaccurate information I just posted, but I hope my limited understanding of Islam is at least somewhat accurate and I hope it gives you at least some idea of what Islam is about.
We Muslims do believe Jesus (peace be upon him) to be the Messiah
We just don't believe he was the divine son of God
Numerous titles are given to Jesus in the Quran and in Islamic literature, the most common being al-Masīḥ ("the Messiah"). Jesus (pbuh) is also, at times, called "Seal of the Israelite Prophets", because, in general Muslim belief, Jesus was the last prophet sent by God to guide the Children of Israel. Jesus is seen in Islam as a precursor to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and is believed by us Muslims to have foretold the latter's coming.
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Posted: Sat Aug 17, 2013 9:33 am
Islamic Teacher We Muslims do believe Jesus (peace be upon him) to be the Messiah We just don't believe he was the divine son of God Numerous titles are given to Jesus in the Quran and in Islamic literature, the most common being al-Masīḥ ("the Messiah"). Jesus (pbuh) is also, at times, called "Seal of the Israelite Prophets", because, in general Muslim belief, Jesus was the last prophet sent by God to guide the Children of Israel. Jesus is seen in Islam as a precursor to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and is believed by us Muslims to have foretold the latter's coming. Oh, okay, neat. I knew Jesus was significant in Islam, I just wasn't sure exactly where He fit into the big picture beyond being recognised as a prophet. Thanks for clearing that up. I have a question. In both Judaism and Christianity, suicide is generally considered to be a very grave sin. Especially in Judaism and Catholicism (I'm not so sure about other denominations of Christianity, but my overall impression is that offing yourself is not condoned by the majority of Christians; Catholics just take it VERY seriously, to the point where family members of Catholics who have killed themselves often find it difficult, if not impossible, to get a Catholic funeral for their loved one, and/or have their loved one buried in consecrated ground. In most cases suicide is grounds for post-mortem excommunication). Anyway, I know that Muslim suicide bombers do not represent mainstream Islamic ideology, but I'm unclear on what the actual Muslim view on suicide is. I seem to remember either reading or being told that it was condoned if it was done in the name of a just cause, which is what Muslim extremists use to justify their actions, but I don't know how correct or not that is. Throughout history, Christians who have died for their faith have been venerated, but only if they die by the hand of another. Martyrdom has long been considered one of the most honourable, Christ-like things a Christian can do. An enormous amount of saints have been martyrs, and it's not difficult to understand why. Someone who would rather die than renounce their God is clearly a person of strong faith. So I guess my question is how does Islam differ from Christianity in terms of suicide and martyrdom?
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Posted: Sat Aug 17, 2013 10:03 am
SinfulGuillotine Islamic Teacher We Muslims do believe Jesus (peace be upon him) to be the Messiah We just don't believe he was the divine son of God Numerous titles are given to Jesus in the Quran and in Islamic literature, the most common being al-Masīḥ ("the Messiah"). Jesus (pbuh) is also, at times, called "Seal of the Israelite Prophets", because, in general Muslim belief, Jesus was the last prophet sent by God to guide the Children of Israel. Jesus is seen in Islam as a precursor to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and is believed by us Muslims to have foretold the latter's coming. Oh, okay, neat. I knew Jesus was significant in Islam, I just wasn't sure exactly where He fit into the big picture beyond being recognised as a prophet. Thanks for clearing that up. I have a question. In both Judaism and Christianity, suicide is generally considered to be a very grave sin. Especially in Judaism and Catholicism (I'm not so sure about other denominations of Christianity, but my overall impression is that offing yourself is not condoned by the majority of Christians; Catholics just take it VERY seriously, to the point where family members of Catholics who have killed themselves often find it difficult, if not impossible, to get a Catholic funeral for their loved one, and/or have their loved one buried in consecrated ground. In most cases suicide is grounds for post-mortem excommunication). Anyway, I know that Muslim suicide bombers do not represent mainstream Islamic ideology, but I'm unclear on what the actual Muslim view on suicide is. I seem to remember either reading or being told that it was condoned if it was done in the name of a just cause, which is what Muslim extremists use to justify their actions, but I don't know how correct or not that is. Throughout history, Christians who have died for their faith have been venerated, but only if they die by the hand of another. Martyrdom has long been considered one of the most honourable, Christ-like things a Christian can do. An enormous amount of saints have been martyrs, and it's not difficult to understand why. Someone who would rather die than renounce their God is clearly a person of strong faith. So I guess my question is how does Islam differ from Christianity in terms of suicide and martyrdom?
Suicide
Islam, as with other Abrahamic religions, views suicide as one of the greatest sins and utterly detrimental to one's spiritual journey. A verse in the Quran instructs;
"And do not kill yourselves, surely God is most Merciful to you."
— Quran 4:29
Most Muslim scholars and clerics consider suicide forbidden and similarly include suicide bombing as being equally forbidden.
Abu Dawud: "This puts suicide bombing and suicide into proper perspective within Islamic traditions, ultimately denouncing suicide of any form."
The prohibition of suicide has also been recorded in statements of hadith, (sayings of Muhammad). For example:
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, "He who commits suicide by throttling shall keep on throttling himself in the Hell Fire (forever) and he who commits suicide by stabbing himself shall keep on stabbing himself in the Hell-Fire."
—Sahih al-Bukhari, 2:23:446
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, "Whoever purposely throws himself from a mountain and kills himself, will be in the (Hell) Fire falling down into it and abiding therein perpetually forever; and whoever drinks poison and kills himself with it, he will be carrying his poison in his hand and drinking it in the (Hell) Fire wherein he will abide eternally forever; and whoever kills himself with an iron weapon, will be carrying that weapon in his hand and stabbing his abdomen with it in the (Hell) Fire wherein he will abide eternally forever."
— Sahih al-Bukhari, 7:71:670
Furthermore, Jafar al-Sadiq, the sixth Shia Imam, has said the following with regards to suicide:
Abi Walad said, I heard Aba Abd Allah say: “Whoever kills himself, intentionally, he will be in the fire of hell for eternity.”
Martyrdom
A Martyr in Islam is called a Shahid
A shahid is considered one whose place in Paradise is promised according to these verses in the Qur'an:
Think not of those who are slain in Allah's way as dead. Nay, they live, finding their sustenance in the presence of their Lord; They rejoice in the bounty provided by Allah: And with regard to those left behind, who have not yet joined them (in their bliss), the Shuhada's [martyrs'] glory is in the fact that on them is no fear, nor have they (cause to) grieve.
—Qur'an 3:169-170
Allah hath purchased of the believers their persons and their goods; for theirs (in return) is the garden (of Paradise): they fight in His cause, and slay and are slain: a promise binding on Him in truth, through the Law, the Gospel, and the Qur'an: and who is more faithful to his covenant than Allah? then rejoice in the bargain which ye have concluded: that is the achievement supreme.
—Qur'an 9:111
The Quranic passage that follows is often misinterpreted to mean that martyrs are promised Paradise, but it is also promised to those who die. In other words, it is not the way that a Muslim dies that determines if they go to Paradise or not, rather, it is their faith and deeds.
Those who leave their homes in the cause of Allah, and are then slain or die,- On them will Allah bestow verily a goodly Provision:Truly Allah is He Who bestows the best provision.
—Qur'an 22:58
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is reported to have said these words about martyrdom:
By Him in Whose Hands my life is! I would love to be martyred in Allah's Cause and then get resurrected and then get martyred, and then get resurrected again and then get martyred and then get resurrected again and then get martyred.
—Collected by Muhammad al-Bukhari, Sahih al-Bukhari
The Prophet said, "Nobody who enters Paradise likes to go back to the world even if he got everything on the Earth, except a Mujahid who wishes to return to the world so that he may be martyred ten times because of the dignity he receives (from Allah).
—Collected by Muhammad al-Bukhari, Sahih al-Bukhari
Several Hadith also indicate the nature of a Shahid's life in Paradise. Shahids are thought to attain the highest level of Paradise, the Paradise of al-Firdous.
Haritha was martyred on the day (of the battle) of Badr, and he was a young boy then. His mother came to the Prophet and said, "O Allah's Apostle! You know how dear Haritha is to me. If he is in Paradise, I shall remain patient, and hope for reward from Allah, but if it is not so, then you shall see what I do?" He said, "May Allah be merciful to you! Have you lost your senses? Do you think there is only one Paradise? There are many Paradises and your son is in the (most superior) Paradise of Al-Firdaus.
—Collected by Muhammad al-Bukhari, Sahih al-Bukhari
Further more, Samura narrated
The Prophet said, "Last night two men came to me (in a dream) and made me ascend a tree and then admitted me into a better and superior house, better of which I have never seen. One of them said, 'this house is the house of martyrs.'
—Collected by Muhammad al-Bukhari, Sahih al-Bukhari
Classifications of Shahid
There are at least 5 different kinds of martyrs according to Hadith.
Allah's Apostle said, "Five are regarded as martyrs: They are those who die because of plague, abdominal disease, drowning or a falling building etc., and the martyrs in Allah's cause.
—Collected by Muhammad al-Bukhari, Sahih al-Bukhari
One who dies protecting his property is also considered a martyr according to Hadith:
I heard the Prophet saying, "Whoever is killed while protecting his property then he is a martyr.
—Collected by Muhammad al-Bukhari, Sahih al-Bukhari
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Posted: Sat Aug 17, 2013 10:44 am
Wow, thank you so much for taking the time to answer my question so thoroughly. You truly live up to your username. smile
I've been meaning to read the Qur'an, I just haven't gotten around to it yet. I know we have one at home, but is there any English translation that you find better than others?
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