shaheed
Noun: 1. A martyr, especially one who dies in a religious cause: The term "shaheed" is an Arabic word adopted into English, primarily used to denote a person who is considered a martyr for their faith or a sacred cause. In Islamic contexts, it traditionally refers to someone who dies fulfilling a religious obligation, particularly in defense of Islam. 2. A term applied to suicide bombers in specific political contexts: In modern political discourse, particularly in coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the term is sometimes applied by some groups to individuals who carry out suicide bombings, considering them martyrs for a national or religious cause.
- Noun:
- The community honored the soldier as a shaheed who died defending his homeland.
- The news report noted that the militant group referred to the attacker as a shaheed.
- The concept of carries significant theological and cultural weight. Its application is often subjective and deeply tied to the perspective of the community using it. What one group considers a , another may view differently.
- In journalistic and academic writing, the term is often used in its original Arabic form (italicized or in quotes) to denote its specific cultural and contextual meaning, rather than using the more general English word "martyr."
- Shahid (n): An alternative transliteration of the same Arabic word.
- Shahada (n): The Islamic declaration of faith. The word is derived from the same root, relating to "witnessing."
- Martyr (n): The closest general English equivalent, though it lacks the specific Islamic connotations.
- Martyr
- Witness (in the theological sense of bearing witness to faith through death)
The meaning and application of "shaheed" are highly context-dependent and often contentious. Its primary definition is rooted in Islamic theology concerning martyrdom. Its secondary, more specific application to suicide bombers reflects a particular modern political usage and is not universally accepted within Islamic scholarship or by all Muslims. Understanding the speaker's or writer's perspective is crucial to interpreting the term.
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Arabic term for holy martyrs; applied by Palestinians to suicide bombers