The martyr mentality is actually nothing new and has been imposed by various religious and socio-political ideologies throughout history. The reality is that if a person becomes a martyr just to prove a point, society will continue to live on without them. If one becomes a martyr to receive special rewards, he or she will have died through selfish motives and society cannot guarantee that the rewards promised will actually be received in the “afterlife.” The following teachings from Islamic theology show why Muslims are willing to die for a cause that they are told will result in eternal rewards:
"Martyrs" earn Allah's forgiveness, mercy and paradise:
"And if ye be slain, or die, in the way of Allah, forgiveness and mercy from Allah are far better than all they could amass." (Qur'an: 003.157)
Our Prophet has informed us our Lord's message that whoever of us is martyrd, will go to Paradise." (Sahih Bukhari: Vol. 9, Book 93, No. 621)
Martyrs will be so "greatly rewarded" that they would be willing to repeat their
martyrdom ten times over:
"... I love to fight in the way of Allah and be killed, to fight and again be killed and to fight again and be killed." (Sahih Muslim: Book 020, No. 4626)
"Nobody who enters paradise will (ever like to) return to this world even if he were offered everything on the surface of the earth (as an inducement) except the martyr who will desire to return to this world and be killed ten times for the sake of the honor that has been bestowed upon him."
(Sahih Muslim: Book 020, No. 4635)
The reward for martyrdom is offered to both male and female:
"Never will I suffer to be lost the work of any of you, be he male or female:
...A reward from the presence of Allah, and from His presence is the best of rewards." (Qur'an: 003.195)