The Practice of Beheading in Islam
The act of beheading a human as a sacrificial offering to a deity was a common practice in ancient times, as seen in Babylon, as a demonstration of faith and devotion to the god. However, since the time of Abraham, this practice was abolished and replaced with animal sacrifice and circumcision (heads are still cut, but with less violence).
Nevertheless, the practice remained in the context of oath-taking, where, if an oath was made, one was bound to sacrifice the youngest child. We see an example of this in the story of Muhammad’s grandfather, who vowed to God that he would sacrifice twenty of his sons if he fathered ten male children. However, the tenth son turned out to be Muhammad’s father, and on the day of sacrifice, God replaced the human offering with a camel.
However, since the rise of Muhammad and his ultimate victory in Mecca, we witness a return to beheading—this time against those considered the enemies of God. Muhammad is recorded in his hadiths as saying: “I have been granted victory through terror,” or “If you encounter the enemy, strike their necks,” or even “Whoever brings me the head of such-and-such person will be rewarded with paradise.” As a result, his followers competed to prove their bravery and loyalty. Thus, Muhammad established this practice as a way to deal with Islam’s enemies; the transition shifted from human sacrifice of a “beloved” offering to the sacrifice of an “enemy” who was considered an enemy of God.
This practice is particularly evident during the surprise attack on the Jewish tribe of Banu Qurayza, intended as an example for other tribes that refused to embrace Islam. The tribe was given an ultimatum: convert to Islam, leave the Arabian Peninsula, or face death. This incident resulted in the execution of approximately 700 Jewish men, who were beheaded above a trench before their bodies were collectively buried in a mass grave. Every resister had to appear, bow, and extend his neck to be beheaded in the name of submission to God.
The practice of beheading became a routine method employed by Muhammad’s successors to spread fear and humiliate the enemy. It should not be forgotten that the head represents human dignity, and cutting it off is a fatal blow to one’s honor. The purpose, therefore, was twofold: on one hand, to permanently disgrace the enemy, and on the other, to instill terror in the hearts of future adversaries who dared to oppose the spread of Islam and God’s command.
Furthermore, the annual sacrifice of a sheep, performed by the head of the household to commemorate the Abrahamic tradition, is not just an act of faith but also a test of courage to demonstrate masculinity and readiness to act when necessary. In most civilizations, animal sacrifice is traditionally carried out by a butcher. However, in Islam, the head of the household is required to acquire this skill by performing the ritual slaughter at least once a year as a sign of submission to the divine message.
Thus, just as the life of an infidel or apostate is considered halal (permissible), the act of beheading such an enemy of God becomes an ordinary practice that earns its perpetrator a place in paradise. For international Islamist extremists, this practice serves as evidence of unwavering faith—one that does not waver in carrying out the divine command, no matter the cost.
