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Thanks for your question.
First of all, I’d like to explain the Qur’anic verse you cited in your question. In an attempt to understand the Qur’an, one needs to read the whole verse and try to grasp its meaning in relation to both the preceding and following verses.
The reason for this is that the Qur’anic verses all complement each other. Not only that, to understand the words and the messages of Allah imbedded in the Divine Book, one needs to get acquainted with all the historical facts relating to each verse or verses, especially the events that led to their revelation. For the Qur’an was not revealed in a vacuum, rather, it was sent to guide and to address issues being faced in particular circumstances.
For instance, for the verse you cited, there’s a story or an incident behind its revelation. This is according to the renowned Qur’an exegetes, Ibn Khathir, Al-Qurtubi, At-Tabari and others. The verse has to do with what happened in the wake of the Battle of ‘Uhud, in which the Quraishi idolaters waged a bloody war against the Prophet (pbuh) and his Companions. The Muslims suffered heavy causalities in this battle due to the archers having disregarded instructions given by the Prophet (pbuh). He told them to stay put in their position and not to leave it under any circumstances.
In a nutshell, as the Quraishi idolaters were on their way to Mecca. This was after snatching what can be termed a narrow victory from Muslims. It occurred to Abu Sufiyan, one of the Meccan chieftains, that this was a golden chance they shouldn’t let pass by without making use of. As the Muslim army lost their balance in the battle, it gave the polytheists a chance to have the upper hand and they wrecked havoc on the Muslims. They killed as many as possible, while others fled.
Thus, Abu Sufyan and his group thought that it was a fatal strategic fault not to have seized the chance to inflict greater harm on the Muslims and even exterminate them once and for all. So they thought of returning back and finishing the task. At this juncture, fear crept into their heart and they found no guts to proceed forward!
Such is divine influence sister! It’s Allah’s scheme not to let down His followers, no matter how shaky their belief is. As long as they learn from their mistakes and return to Him, Allah responds to them and grants them His support. A sign of this support is that He casts terror in the hearts of the disbelievers, for they were the party that disobeyed his orders. He made this known to His Prophet and to all Muslims that He will always support those who follow His Right Path. He says: O ye who believe! If ye will aid (the cause of) God, He will aid you, and plant your feet firmly.
But those who reject (God),- for them is destruction, and (God) will render their deeds astray (from their mark).
That is because they hate the Revelation of God; so He has made their deeds fruitless.
Surah 47 Verses 7 - 9
So, sister, the verse you quoted does not imply violence or aggression. Yes, it talks about terror, but not in the sense believed by some Westerners who would like to take any Qur’anic verse as supporting their claim that Islam supports terrorism! To understand this verse deeply, it should be read in connection with the previous and following verses. Allah says: O ye who believe! If ye obey the Unbelievers, they will drive you back on your heels, and ye will turn back (from Faith) to your own loss.
Nay, God is your protector, and He is the best of helpers.
Soon shall We cast terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers, for that they joined companions with God, for which He had sent no authority: their abode will be the Fire: And evil is the home of the wrong-doers!
Surah 3 Verses 149 - 151
So the meaning of the whole three verses, according to Al-Qurtubi, is: ‘O believers, if you follow the disbelievers, i.e. the Meccan polytheists (some say it referred to the Jews and Christians) who urge you to forsake Islam and revert back to paganism, you will fall back to darkness! Hence, you will turn losers, for no one will come to your aid. But if you stay put and keep firm on the right path, Allah will protect you and will cast fear into the hearts of those disbelievers. Thus, they won’t dare to attack you. This is because they have rejected Allah’s Way and ascribed unto Him partners.’
So sister, this verse is by no means a call for violence or terrorism in the sense of killing the innocents. Indeed, this is not the message of Islam. So this breaks the link you made between the verse and the incident of September 11th. For, even if it is construed in a general sense, it is just stating a fact that deviating from the rules set by the Lord of the World will bring nothing but panic and constant fear. This is not the message of Islam alone. It’s the same message preached by all the Prophets preceding Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, and it explains the fate of the previous nations who perished for disobeying their Lord.
Now, to the second point of your question, i.e. the issue of suicide. There is really a misunderstanding that made you draw a line between committing suicide, for no purpose than despair, and killing oneself in the cause of God. That’s good.
I will pause briefly on the point you made that Christianity taught you that suicide is a sin, no matter what the circumstance. This actually relates to suicide on an individual level. It’s abhorrent for a person to take his own life intentionally. This is also what Islam dictates. This is very clear in all that renowned Muslim scholars have said and written. I don’t want to repeat that. The Qur’an also has made itself clear on this. Allah says: O ye who believe! Eat not up your property among yourselves in vanities: But let there be amongst you Traffic and trade by mutual good-will: Nor kill (or destroy) yourselves: for verily God hath been to you Most Merciful!
Surah 4 Verse 29
Also, the Prophet (pbuh) has made it clear that, whoever kills himself intentionally, with whatever means, will be made to repeat the act in the Hereafter, using the same weapon! In other words, he/she will be subject to repetition of pain and torture. The Prophet says:
‘Whoever commits suicide with a piece of iron will be punished with the same piece of iron in Hell. Whoever commits suicide by throttling shall keep on throttling himself in Hell [forever], and whoever commits suicide by stabbing shall keep on stabbing himself in Hell [forever].’
So, Islam’s stand on this is very clear sister.
However, when causing your own death is part of resisting aggression and injustice, this case is different. In such case, the act will be deemed as striving in noble cause of upholding truth and justice, as well as defending honor and dignity. In other words, it will be viewed as taking place in Allah’s cause. This is the rule governing the case of getting killed while in self-defense; while resisting oppression, while trying to defend your house, your property, your dignity etc. If one gets killed in this course, he/she will be deemed as martyr.
That’s why we notice the word ‘died in the cause of Allah’ oft-repeated in the Qur’an and sunnah of the Prophet, to make it clear that one may die or get killed in a noble cause. This is not peculiar to Islam. It’s there also in Christianity. This is despite that the modern Christians would like us believe that it’s only in Islam that some people claim that committing suicide can be in God’s cause, and taking along with him other people.
No sister, in the Bible we have also some examples of people who have done just the same as the Palestinians are now doing! For instance, in Judges (Chap 16: 26-30) you read the story of Samson who, filled with desire to avenge himself on the oppressors, he called unto God ‘O Sovereign LORD, remember me. O God, please strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes.’ And he further said: ‘Let me die with the Philistines!’
In this way, ‘Samson killed himself to avoid being ‘made sport of’ by the Philistines, after his capture and infamous haircut, taking his tormentors with him. Samson's act of faith earned him a place among the saints of Christianity! (Hebrews, 11:32) Zimri (1 Kings 16:18) usurped the throne of Israel; when he failed, he burned down the palace around himself.’
Check this link please, if you want to check it:
(The Bible, Christianity and Suicide)
So sister, it’s clear that suicide is forbidden, killing innocent civilians is forbidden. But when we talk about martyrdom, this is something else; it’s a highly commendable act of worship in all religions, not only in Islam. Maybe in Islam, it’s highly stressed due to all forms of persecution and torture that the early Muslims were subject to, in the dawn of Islam, just because some people opted to worship God, the Lord of the Universe, instead of idols or mortals. As we know, it’s illogical for them to wait helpless for their enemies to exterminate them, God gave them permission to resist the aggression. He urged them to strive hard for upholding truth and justice, as well as for rescuing the oppressed people like them. In return for this noble work, God promised them in heaven full enjoyment that a mortals’ mind cannot grasp.
I hope this clarifies the confusion you have, sister. May God be with us all!
See also the answer :Why are suicide bombers considered to be martyrs?
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