Following are excerpts
from an interview with Sheik Adel Al-Kalbani, former Imam of the Al-Haram
Mosque in Mecca, which aired on Al-Arabiya TV on October 12, 2011.
Sheik Adel Al-Kalbani:
No one can deny the existence of the black-eyed virgins, and I pray
that Allah grants them to you, me, and our viewers, but the issue is
how one attains them. The problem is when the path to attaining a black-eyed
virgin is limited to the use of explosives belts.
Interviewer: You
believe that this is a manifestation of the frustration of the youth...
Sheik Adel Al-Kalbani:
Yes. This is a hastening one's death, which reflects despair of changing
the reality through prayer to Allah. Although I do not entirely agree
with it, it is reported that Sheik Ibn Baz, Allah have mercy upon him,
said: "Life for the sake of Allah is more difficult than death
for the sake of Allah."
Interviewer: Why
don't you agree with this?
Sheik Adel Al-Kalbani:
Because it is written that death for the sake of Allah is a goal in
and of itself, and that a person who dies for the sake of Allah is worthy
of praise. However, this is true only when it is done for the sake of
Allah, not when one considers assassinating someone or destroying a
certain place, in the belief that a black-eyed virgin will be awaiting
him the moment he dies, and so he dons an explosives belt and places
his trust in Allah...
Interviewer: Such
a person is merely seeking pleasure...
Sheik Adel Al-Kalbani:
Yes, but in a mistaken way.
[...]
Interviewer: You
consider a person who puts on an explosives belt to be committing an
Islamic-style suicide?
Sheik Adel Al-Kalbani:
Yes.
Interviewer: That
is a courageous opinion.
Sheik Adel Al-Kalbani:
It's not my opinion only. I discussed this at length with Sheik Ibn
Al-Uthaymeen.
Interviewer: So
you consider martyrdom operations to be suicide?
Sheik Adel Al-Kalbani:
It is undoubtedly suicide. It is the killing of one's self. He will
be judged by Allah for his intentions, but from our perspective, it
is the killing of one's self.
Interviewer: What
did Sheik Ibn Al-Uthaymeen say?
Sheik Adel Al-Kalbani:
He said that this is suicide.
[...]
