Bulletin
Feb. 7, 2010
Palestinian Media Watch
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"A full life with Allah and 72 wives"

Hamas TV sermon details Martyrs' rewards in Paradise
http://palwatch.org/main.aspx?fi=157&doc_id=1638

by Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik
p:+972 2 625 4140 e: pmw@palwatch.org
f: +972 2 624 2803 w: www.palwatch.org

When dying as a Martyr for Allah, the Shahid is immediately forgiven his
sins, he is crowned with honor and he marries 72 dark-eyed wives. These are
among the rewards promised the Muslim believer who dies in battle for Allah.

Six privileges, or kindnesses, to be granted the holy Martyr are mentioned
in a hadith (tradition attributed to the Prophet Muhammad in Islam) and were
explained in a recent Friday sermon broadcast on Hamas TV.

The privileges that are bestowed upon the one who dies for Allah and
mentioned in the hadith are:

1- The Shahid's sins are forgiven
2- He sees his place in Paradise and lives a full life of joy with Allah
3- He is protected from "the Great Shock" on Judgment Day
4- He is crowned with a crown of honor
5- He marries 72 dark-eyed wives
6- He will be able to intervene on behalf of 70 of his family members on
Judgment Day, thereby ensuring them the reward of Afterlife

For years, both the Palestinian Authority and Hamas have promoted the ideal
of dying as a Martyr for Allah. The promotion has been successful.
Palestinian Media Watch has collected many examples of Palestinian children
and adults expressing belief in and desire for Shahada. Men and women aspire
to become Shahids, and parents express pride and happiness when their
children fulfill their aspirations and become Martyrs for Allah. (see links
below.)

The following is the translation from the Hamas TV sermon explaining the
Shahid's six rewards:

"Just as Allah selected the best of His creations, to be prophets and
messengers, so Allah has chosen from among us, and from the best of His
creations, to be the Shahids (Martyrs). ... Oh Allah, grant us Shahada
(Martyrdom) for Your sake, Oh Master of the world! Join us with the Shahids
(Martyrs)! ...
The Shahid of this life and of the Afterlife is one who ascended to Allah
[dying] on the battlefield. ... This is the highest level of Shahada
(Martyrdom). The Prophet said: 'The Shahid has six privileges.' [Sunan
A-Tirmidhi (1663) and Sunan Ibn Majagh (2799), all subsequent quotes are
from this hadith if nothing else indicated. - Ed.]
The first of these privileges:
'He is forgiven [his sins] with the first gush of his pure blood.' ...
Therefore, the Shahid is not washed, but is left bloodied. Why? His blood
will testify for him before Allah about his Shahada (Martyrdom) on
Resurrection Day.
The second [privilege]: 'He sees his place in Paradise.'
If we only knew what Allah has prepared for the Shahids in Paradise, we
would not sit idly in this world. ... Shahids do not die. Shahids live a
full life with Allah. They live in the highest Heaven and in the world of
angels, eating, drinking, walking and enjoying themselves. Therefore Allah
has forbidden us to say that Shahids are dead. He has forbidden us and told
us: 'Do not think that those who are killed in the name of Allah are dead.
No, because they are alive, and their livelihood is with Allah.' [Quran,
Sura 3:169]
...
The third kindness: 'The Shahid is shielded from the Great Shock [on
Judgment Day].'
...
The next kindness: 'A crown of honor is placed upon his head, one stone of
which is worth more than all there is in this world.'
The next kindness: 'He marries 72 of the Dark-Eyed wives.'
One description of the Dark-Eyed [maidens]: 'If one of the women of Paradise
would look towards the earth, she would light up everything between heaven
and earth.' [Sahih Bukhari, 6199]
The next kindness: 'He is a heavenly advocate for 70 family members.'"

[Al-Aqsa TV (Hamas), Jan. 1, 2010]