The Goal of Martyrdom
Can any Islamic scholar's credentials be raised higher than being able to boast that his grandfather was the grand imam of Al Azhar, one of the most important mosques in the Arab world? That he graduated from Egypt's most prestigious medical school? Further distinguished by being a youthful member of the Muslim Brotherhood, eventually elevating himself to the leadership of Islamic Jihad?That is a heritage, experience and scholarship to be reckoned with. And of course close confidant of Osama bin Laden. This is the man, Ayman al-Zawahri, who has a monumental bounty on his head: $25-million; no takers yet. His brilliance led to compelling bin Laden to the acceptance that violent jihad was perfectly acceptable to Allah for the greater purpose of achieving a global supervisory role on behalf of Islam.
Suicide attacks are perfectly permissible, in fact most desirable, for they represent the ultimate goal of martyrdom. Ayman al-Zawahri's forte is as a battlefield plotter, but there is nothing conventional about his cunning forays into terror. His focus, like that of Osama bin Laden, was to bring the United States to its knees. He planned the bombings of the U.S. embassies in Tanzania and Kenya.
Masterminded the bombing of the USS Cole, the bombing of the World Trade Center, the 2005 London transit system bombings and of course the infamous attacks of September 11, 2001, an event that no one will ever forget witnessing at a remote through modern telecommunications, as the horror unfolded.
He has an impressive scorecard of hits and slaughter. His fervent service to Death on behalf of Islam has been recognized as he takes on the burden and the glory as the new head of al-Qaeda. His newer purpose will be to avenge the death of bin Laden. And to properly accomplish that he will have to devise something truly terrible and spectacular.
And the world is placed on notice. As it resolves to respond as it must in the name of liberty in service of humanity. The response to Ayman al-Zawahri's plans must be to respect his elevation of martyrdom as the highest accomplishment available to an elite Islamist. And to facilitate him toward that very personal goal.
Inshallah.
Labels: Terrorism, Traditions
posted by Pieface @ Saturday, June 18, 2011
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