In the Egyptian daily al-Gumhuriya, Dr. Abdallah al-Naggar, a religious columnist, decided to expound upon the source of Moslem victory over non-believers. He traced it to the Moslem ?love of death.?
Al-Naggar?s article provides an insight into the Moslem view of the non-Moslem prioritizing of life over other values when he writes that they ?protect their [own] lives, as criminals do? or ?like a miser protects his money.? As explained by al-Naggar, it is a trait that is condemned by the Quran: ?[Allah] has already said about them: 'You will find that they are the people who protect their [own] life more than anyone else.' In this verse, the term 'life' is given without the definite article, to indicate that they protect all kinds of life, even if it be a life of humiliation and misery.? It is, accordingly, disgraceful that ?what is important as far as they are concerned is to live, even if their fate is a humiliating life, being kicked or whipped on their backsides.?
In contrast, the Moslems do not fear death, but welcome it, according to the author, especially when is in the context of Jihad. In that case, it is ??a profitable bargain, selling their lives to Allah? in exchange for eternal paradise in the hereafter. Indeed, writes al-Naggar, Moslems ?do not fear the enemy? and do not protect their lives, [because] Allah has promised them one of two good things: victory or martyrdom. Each of these is a great hope...? Whereas non-believers ??do not enter into battles seeking martyrdom [and] do not act in order [to attain] martyrdom,? Moslems do such things and ?[t]his is the secret of the believers' victory over their enemies.?
However, al-Naggar does recognize a side-benefit to the infidel obsession with life: ??their protection of their life has become an incentive for them to bolster their status by means of science and inventions. They have explored all means of defending their lives?? This scientific advancement allows the enemies of Islam to ?impose their inferior ideas on humanity through force of arms?? Unfortunately, writes al-Naggar, ??the men of truth have been negligent; they have not excelled at science and have not explored means that will guarantee their triumph in their struggle against men of falsehood.?
On the other hand, the infidel success at innovation and manufacture of weapons, as great as it is, writes the al-Gumhuriya columnist, is not the ?key to victory.? Rather, quoting the Islamic scriptures, al-Naggar writes ?As Allah has already said: ?Many a small group has, with the help of Allah, overcome large groups,? adding, ?Oh believers, if you stand by Allah, He will stand by you.??
Al-Naggar?s article provides an insight into the Moslem view of the non-Moslem prioritizing of life over other values when he writes that they ?protect their [own] lives, as criminals do? or ?like a miser protects his money.? As explained by al-Naggar, it is a trait that is condemned by the Quran: ?[Allah] has already said about them: 'You will find that they are the people who protect their [own] life more than anyone else.' In this verse, the term 'life' is given without the definite article, to indicate that they protect all kinds of life, even if it be a life of humiliation and misery.? It is, accordingly, disgraceful that ?what is important as far as they are concerned is to live, even if their fate is a humiliating life, being kicked or whipped on their backsides.?
In contrast, the Moslems do not fear death, but welcome it, according to the author, especially when is in the context of Jihad. In that case, it is ??a profitable bargain, selling their lives to Allah? in exchange for eternal paradise in the hereafter. Indeed, writes al-Naggar, Moslems ?do not fear the enemy? and do not protect their lives, [because] Allah has promised them one of two good things: victory or martyrdom. Each of these is a great hope...? Whereas non-believers ??do not enter into battles seeking martyrdom [and] do not act in order [to attain] martyrdom,? Moslems do such things and ?[t]his is the secret of the believers' victory over their enemies.?
However, al-Naggar does recognize a side-benefit to the infidel obsession with life: ??their protection of their life has become an incentive for them to bolster their status by means of science and inventions. They have explored all means of defending their lives?? This scientific advancement allows the enemies of Islam to ?impose their inferior ideas on humanity through force of arms?? Unfortunately, writes al-Naggar, ??the men of truth have been negligent; they have not excelled at science and have not explored means that will guarantee their triumph in their struggle against men of falsehood.?
On the other hand, the infidel success at innovation and manufacture of weapons, as great as it is, writes the al-Gumhuriya columnist, is not the ?key to victory.? Rather, quoting the Islamic scriptures, al-Naggar writes ?As Allah has already said: ?Many a small group has, with the help of Allah, overcome large groups,? adding, ?Oh believers, if you stand by Allah, He will stand by you.??