Divine Reward Quotes
One Islamic belief that has stood since the inception of the religion is that if a true believer who is defending the faith in a jihad is killed, he will immediate be transported to Paradise where he will receive the best of the other world. If a Muslim dies under normal circumstances, he is judged and may or may not attain Paradise depending on his past life. However, if he dies in jihad, all past sins are immediately erased and he is guaranteed Paradise. This quotation is exactly what is told to Muslim fighters and suicide bombers today (see {635766}, {588728} and {590762}) and it is just as effective as ever in persuading men to fight and sacrifice themselves. The Roman Catholic Pope issued a similar edict in the Crusades and fights of both religions were willing and almost anxious to die in battle. In modern times Christian leaders do not make such appeals and if they did, few would believe them.
Fanatic Muslims believe that suicide bombers when they blow themselves up have done so to defend Islam and therefore will not only go directly to heaven but will get 72 Virgins when they get there. Most of the suicide bombers are young men with very little or no sexual experience. At the time that Trainor made this remark, there had been an enormous increase in suicide bombers in the Iraq war.
Despite the many sexist aspects of Islam, Muhammed was in some respects amazingly modern. He outlawed female infanticide, then a commonly observed custom. He’s ordered the faithful not to favor male children over females, and Islamic law allowed women to inherit and control property long before Christian nations ever did.
This is the type of person who suicide bomber recruiters seek out.
This for many suicide bombers provides much of the motivation and overcomes the prospect of suicide. According to Islamic doctrine, those killed in “the cause of Allah” go immediately to Paradise, unlike those who die a natural death. And when in Paradise, the males get 72 beautiful virgins.
