A Critical Assessment of the Thought of Jihadi Salafism in Suicide Operations

Martyrdom seeking (istishhādi) operations are are among the examples of jihad that is resorted ‎to where there is no other way to deal with the aggressor. On the contrary, suicide operations ‎take place without adherence to the rules and criteria characteristic of martyrdom-seeking ‎operations. There are people who relate themselves to the noble predecessors and consider ‎jihad to be the only way to establishing an Islamic government. Thus, without considering the ‎propitious of circumstances and conditions of jihad and seeking martyrdom, they take ‎recourse to terror and suicide attacks. According to Shari'ah, the act of seeking martyrdom ‎must take place against the aggressor with the permission of a just and qualified Islamic ruler, ‎and that must also be coupled with the intention of drawing closer to Allah and protection of ‎civilians including women and children. None of these criteria are taken into consideration in ‎any of the operations conducted by Jihad Salafists and, therefore, they practically commit ‎suicide. ‎