Islamic Scholar’s Shocking Admission on Prioritizing Religion Over Life

In the aftermath of the 9/11 jihad attacks, former U.S. President George W. Bush confidently declared that the values of the Islamic world mirrored those of the West. Bush’s vision, expressed in a speech in 2002, painted a picture of a shared commitment to morality, learning, and tolerance that could lead to global harmony. He spoke of liberty blossoming in the West Bank and Gaza, with Islam’s values driving “great historical achievements.” However, as the years passed, the stark differences between these values and those of the Western world became increasingly apparent.

A recent example of this divergence came from Tareq al-Suwaidan, a prominent Kuwaiti Islamic scholar and Muslim Brotherhood leader, whose remarks provide a chilling insight into an entirely different set of principles. Speaking on the aftermath of Hamas’s brutal October 7, 2023 massacre, which claimed the lives of 1,200 Israelis, al-Suwaidan praised the attack as an example of divine intervention and extraordinary planning. Dubbed the "Al-Aqsa Flood" by Hamas, the attack was a calculated mass murder that left the world horrified, yet al-Suwaidan celebrated it as a masterclass in leadership and military strategy.

Al-Suwaidan’s statement, recently reported by MEMRI, highlights a vision of “morality” and “tolerance” that contrasts sharply with the Western ideals Bush optimistically ascribed to the Islamic world. Instead of condemning the violence, al-Suwaidan suggested that the Al-Aqsa Flood massacre should be taught in prestigious universities. This sentiment underscores a worldview where the preservation of life is not the highest moral priority, but rather the advancement of Islamic goals by any means necessary.

Al-Suwaidan also acknowledged how this mindset is spreading in the Arab world and even the West, where some youth have begun to idolize figures like Abu Obeida, the spokesman for Hamas’s Al-Qassam Brigades. This disturbing trend has been visible on Western college campuses, where students have praised Hamas and its violent actions.

Despite his praises for the massacre, al-Suwaidan expressed frustration that the victory Muslims had been "promised" has not yet materialized, lamenting the ongoing bloodshed in Gaza. He pointed to a verse in the Qur’an that suggests believers will be rewarded in both this life and the next, and called for further dedication to jihad, even if it means dying for the cause.

In one particularly revealing statement, al-Suwaidan explained that preserving life is not the primary objective of shari’a (Islamic law). Instead, the preservation of religion takes precedence over life itself. “This is why there is a thing called ‘Jihad,’” he noted. If life were the priority, jihad would not exist. His candid admission exposes a key difference between Islamic values as articulated by figures like al-Suwaidan and the Western ideals that prioritize peace and the sanctity of life.

This stark admission calls into question the assumption that Islamic values, particularly as espoused by certain leaders and movements, align with the universal human hopes for prosperity and peace. The prioritization of religion over life explains the continued calls for violent jihad and the pursuit of martyrdom, values that remain at odds with the West’s vision of coexistence and tolerance.

As Israel continues to defend itself against Hamas and Hezbollah, it is crucial to understand the mindset of those who view jihad as a moral imperative. Western policymakers and the global community must take al-Suwaidan’s words seriously and recognize the fundamental differences in values that fuel ongoing conflicts.

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