Is Osama Bin Laden a martyr? [Video]
In this video, Ustadh Muhammad Umar from Ramadhan Foundation from the UK presents a very insightful analysis of Osama Bin Laden and discusses his perceived martyrdom. Watch the video to find out more.
The reaction of the foundation has been sought through mails and messages despite a press release through its Press Officer, Muhammad Shafiq, expressing the vital points of their standing. The chairman, Ustad Mohammed Umar, made a statement and we produce here what he said in substance.
Osama Bin Laden was the one of the most wanted men and he was recently assassinated in Pakistan. His view, philosophy, deeds and his supposed global jihad against the West are totally abhorrent to the teachings of Islam, diametrically opposed to what Islam teaches and to the message of the Holy Prophet (SAW). His view and ideology were rejected by the majority of Muslims. It cannot be claimed that he was a good man because he orchestrated the worst crimes one can think of. You cannot place bombs on you and blow yourself because others do not share your view.
[pullquote_left]Osama Ben Laden was not an authority in Islam. His view, philosophy, deeds and his supposed global jihad against the West are totally abhorrent to the teachings of Islam[/pullquote_left]Osama Ben Laden was not an authority in Islam. Muslims judge people according to the teachings of the Holy Quran, the final testimony sent to men, and the Hadiths of the Prophet (SAW). Some 1400 years ago, at the Battle of Badr where the Muslims had to defend themselves against an aggression, the Prophet stipulated regulations to abide by in a state of war: No women, children, or elderly should be killed, nor animals, nor trees should be cut down …This declaration is a universal fatwa and Muslims give preference to his teachings over all fatwa’s or opinions of any scholar and they are applicable at all ages till the Day of Judgment.
Ultimately whoever goes against his teachings goes against Islam. Ben Laden may have had some valid points but the legitimization of the killing of innocent people, women and children is against the teachings of Islam. Muslims do not support such an ideology, irrespective of the reasons or the person behind it. Violence is violence. War is war. Evil is evil, whether perpetrated by Muslims or non-Muslims. Ben Laden was responsible for the death of scores, thousands of people around the world, specifically Muslims. To make an analogy with what Bush or Blair did in Iraq is unjustified. Killing one or a million does not make difference in killing and should never be legitimized.
It is unfair to impute his deeds to his Wahhabi or Salafi mentality because all Wahhabi and Salafi scholars condemned him and his ideology. In fact, in the 80’s, well before terrorism became a massive issue, Masul al hani, a Wahhabi hadith scholar, issued a fatwa. His father said (rightly or wrongly) there was no jihad, no holy fighting, no holy war even in Palestine and that Muslims should migrate from Palestine. The late Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Abdallah bin Baas, issued a fatwa some thirty years ago declaring suicide bombing haraam.
Al Qaida is an offshoot of Wahhabi and Salafi which went to an extreme. We call it Khawarijj, a radical extremist movement during the fourth caliphate, under Ali ibn Abu Twalib (RA). They believed it was permissible to kill anyone who held an opinion contrary to their stance and ideology. Naturally they were rejected by all the scholars of the time.
Whether or not he was responsible for the 9/11 attack, Allah (SWT) knows best. But allowing the killing of the innocent is bizarre, ridiculous and condemnable. Had he lived in the Islamic Classical period, he would have been outlawed, arrested and charged with treason. We want to make it clear to everyone, Muslims and non-Muslims, that we absolutely reject his ideology because of its non-conformity to the teachings of Islam.
However, in a civilized society, Muslims believe that whatever the crime, a criminal should be arrested, charged in a court of justice and given the right of defense, not killed in this way and his body dumped in the sea.
May Allah (SWT) in His Mercy protect Muslims and non-Muslims alike and send His blessings on the Prophet (SAW). May the world become a peaceful place where war is criminalized and the killings stop. We are all the children of Adam, brothers and sisters in humanity and may we all live in harmony, something quite feasible.
Abdool Rahman Dauharry
Abdool Rahman Dauharry is Rector of Victoria College, Mauritius. Formerly, language and literature teacher, he also taught Islamic Studies at secondary level.