Even before today's Israeli action that accidentally hit civilians, the Palestinian Authority has continued to promote Jihad, Shahada (Death for Allah) and suicide terror as religious imperatives, and to grant the highest status and rewards to the Shahids (Martyrs for Allah) and terrorists.

A recent religious lesson on official PA TV, under the office of Mahmoud Abbas, taught of the immediate rewards of heaven for the Shahid, including the promise of 72 Dark-Eyed Maidens (virgins) of Paradise.

The PA also continues to promote suicide bombings by granting Shahada status to suicide terrorists. Sheik Imad Hamato appearing on PA TV, compares suicide terror to a story (from the Hadith) of a friend of Muhammad who was killed accidentally with his own sword. Muhammad nonetheless granted him Shahid status.

"It’s like the conflict today! One who exploded with a bomb," says Hamato.

He is teaching that with proper intent, self-inflicted death is seen not as suicide but as Shahada. Hamato also points out that a Shahid is granted divine forgiveness “from the first gush of blood.”

Hamato gives a graphic description of the corpse of a Shahid, with “no head, no legs, his body completely burned . . . intestines outside, fingers . . . gone” – very much like the body of a suicide bomber. He explains that while ordinary mortals fear such a death, this is “what the Shahids wish for most of all.”

Click here to see the video:

 http://www.pmw.org.il/asx/PMW_Shahada2006.asx

Following are some excerpts from the PA TV religious lesson:

"Hadith: There is one thing that causes Allah…to elevate his worshipper 100 levels in Paradise, and each level is like the space between heaven and earth. And what is this thing, Allah’s prophet [Muhammad]? It’s the Jihad for Allah. Jihad for Allah…

“A man, when he sees one of his brothers being killed for Allah, those we consider Shahids for Allah, he sees [for example] a person with no head, no legs, his body completely burned. Yes? Intestines outside, fingers are gone, it’s a difficult image. The most difficult thing which we fear is what the Shahids wish for most of all.

"They ask Allah: ‘Oh God, bring us back [to earth] to be killed by the Apache. Bring us back so that the planes will blow us up, that our heads will be cut off from the body.’ What is that? We have criteria, and Allah, praise him, also has criteria. Study the Hadiths that discuss this issue to understand the essence of Shahada for Allah…

"Hadith: One of the Prophet Muhammad’s good friends was preparing a bow and arrow when his own sword struck him and killed him… Is he considered a Shahid or not? Did he commit suicide? It’s like the conflict today! One who exploded with a bomb. People talk about whether or not he’s a Shahid…"

[Hamato continues with the Hadith, that people did not want to pray in memory of a man who was killed by his sword, because they didn’t know if he was a Shahid or committed suicide]. “They said: ‘The man died from his own weapon, and not from the weapon of the enemy.’ Answered Prophet Muhammad: ‘He died in an attempt to be a holy warrior… And his reward for that was doubled…'

"Khamtu says: 'When we talk about Shahid and Shahids, we shouldn’t forget that Allah, praise him, in blessing the blood of the Shahid, he forgives him, from the first gush of blood. Yes, yes. And sees his place in Paradise. He is shielded from the Great Shock and marries 72 Dark-Eyed Maidens (virgins)...'

“I once heard a father of one of the Shahids say: ‘I would pray with my son at night, and ask Allah for Shahada for my son.’ Allah Akbar, God is Great. ‘I asked Allah for Shahada for my son, until Allah gave me joy with his Shahada…”
[PA TV, November 3, 2006]