SUICIDE BOMBERS: WHOSE TEACHINGS DO THEY FOLLOW?

When you can go nowhere because you can see nothing, your surroundings are totally in darkness, and everthing gets dark. Nothing can make you happy. People, in your mind, are dark, they are all in darkness. This is the age of darkness. You then make your mind up to brighten the world. Illuminate it with anything in harmony with you the the teachings you internalized. Yes, you have got the right to do something about it, we must do something to straighten this messy condition up, even though by killing ourselves, suicide, and bang every dark things! In a sense, you are the new messengers of new era and bang-bang-bang is your dogma to brighten the world. Once again, the world might be suprised watching another bang of another suicide bomber in Indonesia, a country of unity in diversity, a concept that is supposed to be internalized and realized in tolerance. But utterly contrary to it, we are as though showing off the opposite. This might not be reasonable to any sensible man but might be very much reasonable for those who have been brainwashed to clear up the world and enlighten it with something right. The weltanschauung comes up in different forms for different persons with different background and education. One party sees it this way, another that way, and the other neither of them. What we have to do is to understand how come such a thing can happen and what pushes the action that a man is willing to commit suicide. Different Worldview

We might simply put this into two categories: those who are for the suicide bombings and those who are against them. For those who are for them, this is the most effective ways of changing the evil world with the good one. They think this is the best dimension of jihad, which literally means struggle or work hard. In their mind, the Quranic verse, Let those fight in the cause of Allah Who sell the life of this world for the hereafter. To him who fighteth in the cause of Allah,whether he is slain or gets victory - Soon shall We give him a reward of great (value) (4:74) supports their way. And they may never want to know either other rationales which actually suggest the right and the better way of being a devout Muslim or the methods of trading their lives with afterlife rewards, such as the following: Invite all to the way of your God with wisdom and beautiful preaching. And argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious. For your God knows best who have strayed from his path and who receive guidance. And if you do respond to an attack, respond no worse than they did. But if you show patience, that is indeed the best course. Be patientfor your patience is from God . . . Indeed, God is with those who restrain themselves and those who do good. (16:125-128) The oppositionists, who are the largest majority of Muslims (regardless of their schools of thought or madzahib), have their own stance dealing with other people or outsiders. For them killing an innocent being is equal to killing the whole humankind as the verse of Holy Quran suggests: Whosoever kills an innocent human being, it shall be as if he has killed all mankind, and whosoever saves the life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind. (5:32) In addition, fighting is for defensive purpose only, Permission (to fight) is given to those who are being attacked, because they have been wronged. And surely God measures out

help for them. (They are) those who have been expelled from their homes in defiance of right,- (for no cause) except that they say, our Lord is Allah.. (22:39) That is why; some great Islamic scholars condemn such actions done by those who claim as mujahid (striver/fighter in the cause of Allah). Shaykh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah, the supreme religious leader of Saudi Arabia, issued a fatwa (religious edict) that equated suicide bombings with suicide, which therefore is not allowed in Islam. He explained, What you call suicide bombings in my view are illegitimate and have nothing to do with jihad in the cause of God. I am afraid it is another form of killing oneself." Ayatollah Khamenei said, "Mass killings of human beings are catastrophic acts which are condemned wherever they may happen and whoever the perpetrators and the victims may be". Shaykh Yusuf al-Qardawi, concerned with Bali attack in 2002, said, Islam not only prohibits attacking non-Muslims who do not launch attacks against Muslims, but it also urges Muslims to treat those nonMuslims with due respect and kindness, especially non-Muslims who live along with Muslims within the Islamic territories. Ayatollah Kashani called such a terroristic attack as "catastrophic", and demanded a global mobilization against the culprits. Their opinions should make young Muslim generation aware of what they have done, watched, and read. They are supposed to think not only twice but thousand times to do such a thing. What their fellow brothers/sisters have done has contradicted Islamic teachings. The Prophet (PBUH) said, Indeed, whoever (intentionally) kills himself, then certainly he will be punished in the Fire of Hell, wherein he shall dwell forever), [Bukhaaree and Muslim]. Precaution Measures All parties should involve in overcoming this phenomenon if we do not want to see the condition getting worse. We cannot solely rely on the government efforts to deal with this

complicated problem. It so complicated for it is concerned with ones mentality, a kind of being brainstormed negatively. We are, first of all, supposed to be able to map the Suicide Bombers so that we may know the perpetrators the first time what and who they are. What backgroundeducation, economic condition, age, etcthey have. This information will surely help us identify them and we can easily take any precaution measures. Second, all questions following any hideous acts, such as why do they do such things?, what pushes them to detonate themselves, and bang up all social and religious facilities indiscriminately whether mosques or churches have to be answered. By so doing, we cannot only eradicate such criminalistic and barbaric actions, but also prevent such potentials to be realized. Furthermore, public figures, in this case the great learned and influential ulama, must have big portions in straightening up the lost and twisted thought of the generation tirelessly. They have to make use of any thing to discourage such tremendous things. One thing we have to realize that those who involved in the suicide or the same kind were and are based their actions on the religion teachings, mostly, especially in Indonesia. We, therefore, have to depict over and over again what Islam is, the true spirit of Islam revealed to the world. The only and the best model for all of the Muslim across the world, i.e. the Prophet Muhammad, not other figures whoever they are. They might be admirers or followers of any of Islamic scholar but they have to keep in mind that they can keep their loyalty or act on what the figures say only if they are in harmony with the Prophet. When they see any strange thing that goes against the Prophets teachings, then they have to leave them all at once. Accordingly, when the Prophet (PBUH) is reported to have said, None amongst you should make a request for death, and do not call for it before it comes, for when any of you

dies, he ceases [to do good] deeds and the life of the believer is not prolonged but for goodness ( Saheeh Muslim), it is the perfect life to lead. Finally, we just cant overlook the economic aspects of the (potential) perpetrators. According to Michael Stevens (2002), the West has exported its economic, political, and cultural systems with little regard as to how they might be received. While globalization has no doubt generated wealth, it has also produced economic inequality, threats to language and community, and support for oppressive regimes. Many believe that it has also contributed to the uprooting of traditional values and customs. These unanticipated costs may continue to generate hostility among those harmed, humiliated, or left behind by the new world order. Anyway, in what order we are right now, once again if the religious teachings come to be the rationale for either us or, even, the hard liners, then we have to commit ourselves to it. The Quran has stated, We made you to be a community of the middle way, so that (with the example of your lives) you might bear witness to the truth before all mankind. (Quran, 2:143) Pekalongan, September 27, 2011 Abdullah

Dear Sirs: First let me introduce myself again, for I once sent you an article long time ago. Name: Address: Occupation: Interests: Abdullah Jl. Jlamprang V/90, Krapyak Kidul Pekalongan Teacher of English, book translator Reading, writing, traveling.

I am interested in writing social phenomena in our society whether dealing with social life or religion. And Id like to actualize my interest in articles with the hope it/they can meet your standard and be published in The Jakarta Post. Wishing the publication of this, I wish also to have your feedback/reply that I might learn from you for my upcoming correction and betterment. Wishing all of you luck, I thank you very much for the attention you pay. Faithfully, Abdullah P.S. I attach my photograph in my resume.