Walid Phares.: "21 Egyptian Coptic Christians Murdered by the Terrorist group IS could be declared as martyrs."

The 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians Murdered by the Terrorist group IS could be doctrinally declared as martyrs. HT: Walid Phares.

It was learned from well informed sources in the that "the 21 Egyptian Christian Copts who were slaughtered by the Jihadists of the Islamic State on the sole basis of their Christian faith, could be doctrinally declared as martyrs.

The question is who would be the designating party, the Coptic Orthodox Church or the Vatican? 

Both Churches elevate individuals to martyrdom, some even to Sainthood, on the sole ecclesiastic basis and consideration of killed because of their faith and not other political, military or ideological considerations." Such possible decision could have significant ramifications on the moral and psychological levels, worldwide.

The Meaning of Martyrdom for Christians and Muslims

The meaning of martyrdom is radically different for Christians and Muslims. This difference is based on how, according to their religious beliefs, they look upon each other.

The word "martyr," in both the Christian and Islamic traditions, means "witness." In this regard, "martyr" refers to a witness for the faith. The Greek word (martus) signifies a witness who testifies to a fact of which he has knowledge from personal observation.

Eventually, the term "martyr" was applied exclusively to those who died for their faith. Martyrdom, nonetheless, was always clearly distinguished from suicide or anything suggestive of suicide. According to St. Gregory of Nazianzus, it is mere rashness to seek death, but it is cowardly to refuse it. In the modern age, G.K. Chesterton has remarked that the Christian "must desire life like water and yet drink death like wine."

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that " [m]artyrdom is the supreme witness given to the truth of the faith: it means bearing witness even unto death" (no. 2473).

Islam also distinguishes martyrdom from suicide. Its tradition clearly and forcefully condemns suicide. Accordingly, the Koran says: "Do not kill yourselves, Allah is merciful to you, but he that does that through wickedness and injustice shall be burnt in fire." Similarly, the prophet Abu Huraira states: "The one who throws himself from a mountain and kills himself will be eternally in hell."

At the same time, according to Islamic tradition, anyone who kills himself for the sake of Allah is doing something not suicidal but sacrificial, and therefore is considered a martyr.Here Islam and Christianity part company.

"Therefore, the one who blows up the enemies of Allah by blowing up himself as well cannot be considered a suicide, and he is, Allah willing, a martyr." The author cites a number of Islamic authorities, including the Koran, and comes to a conclusion that is not only non-Christian in its essence, but one that should be shocking to Christians:

Through the above evidence from the [Koran] and the Sunnah, it is clearly demonstrated that the "Islamic-bombing-assault' or the 'martyrdom operation' is Islamically legitimate as far as it is within the framework of Islam. The concept of martyrdom (shahada) in Islam is to be understood in light of the Islamic concept of the Holy Struggle (jihad).

The meaning of martyrdom is radically different for Christians and Muslims. This difference is based on how, according to their religious beliefs, they look upon each other. The Christian sees the Muslim, as well as anyone else, as his neighbor whom he is commanded to love. The Muslim quite easily, and consistent with the Koran, sees his fellow Christian as an infidel. In this purview, it is at least theoretically possible, given the Islamic tradition, for a Muslim to involve himself in a "martyrdom operation" in which he, together with Christians and other "infidels," are killed (in the name of Allah, to be sure). This is certainly an important concern and can be a serious obstacle in the path of peaceful relations between Muslims and Christians. Inter-religious dialogue is most desirable, but its basis must be in truth and not mere wishful thinking.

Christians do not seek martyrdom. They seek love, friendship, peace, and the God who has instituted these values and has commanded their adoption. They also hope that their Muslim neighbors will reciprocate in kind. They do not desire martyrdom either for themselves or for their Muslim neighbors. But they will accept martyrdom rather than renounce their faith. In this way, the Christian is a witness, as the word "martyr" suggests. But he is primarily a witness to love, and, like His Holiness John Paul II, a witness to hope. Hmmm......In layman terms: In Christianity the one killed is the Martyr; In Islam the one doing the Killing is the Martyr.Read the full text here.