This is the statement made by the chechan jihadis. I have read this rhetoric from other jihadi sites also. Anyone knows exactly where does this statement comes from? What is the historical context? I have read that Kafirs are terrified of death because they have no faith in the hereafter, while the muslims are not afraid because if they have lived a pious life then they can look forward to heaven. Now where does the transition to where “love death more than life” or more "keen on dying than on living " arises?
“I swear by God we are more keen on dying than you are keen on living,” a black-clad male hostage-taker said in the broadcast. “Each one of us is willing to sacrifice himself for the sake of God and the independence of Chechnya.”
“Even if we are killed, thousands of brothers and sisters will come after us, ready to sacrifice themselves,” declared a female hostage-taker, covered in a black robe except for her eyes.
It comes from Quran.
But the key is that "they are more keen on dying than living" in the way of allah "Fi Sabil allah". Now you can come up with thousnad arguments of what is Sabil allah and what is not. but I just rememberd this aya from chapter two
2:96 And verily, you will find them the greediest of mankind for life and (even greedier) than those who - ascribe partners to Allâh (and do not believe in Resurrection - Magians, pagans, and idolaters, etc.). Everyone of them wishes that he could be given a life of a thousand years. But the grant of such life will not save him even a little from (due) punishment. And Allâh is All-Seer of what they do.
please read 2:94 and 2:96 as well, these are just few ayas and there are many more reagarding this issue.
I guess that is the crux of the challenge for the Kaffir. To us life is to be enjoyed and is precious. But to the strict adherents of the verse above, life is not as dear. The only problem I see that, suicide is haram otherwise the jihadis could have achieved what they want to do anyway. End their life.
Hmmm... I have to research some more, as I vaguely remember this is part of a message sent by a muslim general in the time immediately following the time of the Prophet Muhammad (Sallalah o alaihay wassalam).
As a backdrop, the enemy was several times more in number and weaponary than muslim forces. The enemy general sent a message to the muslim general (maybe Khalid bin Waleed [Razi Allah tallah anha] or someone similar) and told him that the muslims will be routed in the event of a war because they are totally out-numbered, and thus they should give up and surrender.
The muslim general replied back, and among other words used the phrase "How can your forces defeat us, when my men (muslims) have as much desire to die in the name of Allah than your guys have the desire to live". And sure enough, the muslim forces defeated the enemy.
As I said, I am not sure exactly which muslim general was he, but it was right about the time of Prophet.