Can we stop suicide bombers this way?

Just read what is written on the entrance door of a famous foreign fast food franchise in Islamabad, Pakistan. This is first Kalma and for every Muslim it is the first step to enter Islam. These verses from the Holy Quran mean "With the name of Allah, the most merciful and the beneficent. There is no God other than Allah and Mohammad (Peace be Upon Him) is the messenger of Allah."

The intentions of inscribing these holy verses here are primarily to tell any suicide bomber looking to attack a Western target is that the people who patronise or run this establishment are Muslims, so that the would be attackers who are mistakenly dubbed as Islamic militants, turn away and spare their Muslim fellows.

Administrators at a Pakistani non-governmental organisation Devolution Trust for Community Empowerment (DTCE) had thought about it too. Their office was located right in front of the Danish embassy in Islamabad which faced clear threats after the publication of caricatures of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) in Danish media in late 2005.

There were suggestions that Quranic verses should be written along the boundary wall of the office, so that any bomber coming for Danish embassy, might not mistakenly enter DTCE.

But these fears came true on June 2, when a huge car bomb exploded outside Danish embassy, but it caused more damage to DTCE office killing six people and wounding 25 others. All except one were Pakistan nationals.

Writing Quranic verses outside the buildings is not a solution. Suicide bombers have stricken several mosques which are decorated with Quranic calligraphy. Attacks on places of worship are strictly forbidden in Islam even during war.

Suicide is haram or forbidden in Islam, so is killing of any human being whatever faith he may have is also strictly forbidden and declared one of the greatest sins. But who are these suicide bombers? Should we call them Muslims or Islamic militants? They are not doing any service to Islam by openly violating its basic principle and this is respect for human life. So they should not be called Islamic militants, but just militants as they have no religion. There is not a single religion in the world which allows killing human beings.

Comments

jeff said…
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Athar said…
A nice article. Because of the attitude of the extremist, islamic militants, whatever you call them, today when i go to the mosque to offer prayers, the very first feeling that i get is the fear of a suicide bomber in the mosque. It is beyond my understanding what sort of jehad is this, where the sacred places of worship are also not safe. Today, going to mosques, specially on Juma, festivals and exhibitions has become quite fearsome. Though nearly all prominent and noted mosques of the cities have set up a security system, inspite of that the fear "WHETHER WE WILL BE ABLE TO GET BACK HOME TO OUR LOVED ONES" is there. Almighty Allah bless us all and the country(Ameen).