Martyrdom and sacrifice in Islam: theological, political and social contexts

Meir Hatina (Editor), Meir Litvak (Editor)

Research output: Book/ReportBook

Abstract

Martyrdom in the Muslim world is increasingly integral to conversations about international security. Over the years, the belief system around self sacrifice has become key to understanding the Middle East and its political relationships with the West, although much of the literature and conversation has been restricted to modern concepts of jihadism. The recent spate of scholarship relating to suicide bombers and jihadists studies these concepts without a broader understanding of the principle of martyrdom. This work expands on the chronology of self-sacrifice within Islam and contextualises the use of suicide bombings using details of the rise of martyrdom in places such as Iraq, Lebanon, Chechnya and Pakistan. It historicises the background in which 'jihad' has been glorified while also exploring contemporary methods of recruitment, like the use of the Internet.
Original languageEnglish
Place of PublicationLondon; New York
Number of pages359
ISBN (Electronic)1350987115, 1784535087, 1786720264, 178673026X, 9781350987111, 9781784535087, 9781786720269, 9781786730268
StatePublished - 2017

Publication series

NameLibrary of modern religion
PublisherI.B. Tauris
Volume55

Keywords

  • Death -- Religious aspects -- Islam
  • Martyrdom -- Islam
  • Self-sacrifice -- Religious aspects -- Islam
  • Suicide bombers
  • הקרבה עצמית -- היבטים דתיים -- אסלאם
  • מוות -- היבטים דתיים -- אסלאם
  • מות קדושים -- אסלאם
  • מחבלים מתאבדים
  • الشهادة -- إسلام
  • الموت -- أبعاد دينيّة -- إسلام

ULI publications

  • uli
  • Death (Islam)
  • Death -- Religious aspects -- Islam
  • Islam -- Political aspects
  • Islam and politics
  • Martyrdom (Islam)
  • Martyrdom -- Islam
  • Politics and Islam
  • Self-sacrifice -- Religious aspects -- Islam
  • Suicide bombers

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