Schroedinger said:
Martyrs are offered a direct route to heaven and no form of purgatory,
This statement is the most misinterpreted quranic verse by the muslims themselves in my opinion. All these muslim suicide bombers, thinking they are true martyrs, when in reality they portray the route of hell.
The Quran clearly condemns the killing of innocent humans, which is exactly what these men and women are doing. (currently in iraq/palestine/world wide). It boggles the mind that these people think blowing themselves up; killing innocent women/men/children is actually going to send them to heaven, because they are martyrs and fighting in the name of God.
The only way i can see a true martyr is if there is a war underway. Both parties contain military soldiers and a TRUE muslim (with TRUE/HONEST faith - not hatred), fights in the name of GOD after the enemy has attacked his brothers/sisters in islam.
For one to be a true martyr, he must possess very strong faith, NOT HATRED in Islam and his religious views.
During the Prophet (S.A.W)'s time, there was a battle underway. As the muslims were about to claim victory, there was one muslim man that stood over 1 of the enemies and drew his sword to kill him. The enemy spat on his face and the muslim man was enraged and about to finish the kill. When the prophet grabbed the muslim man and told him to leave him alone, the muslim brother asked why, and thats when the prophet told him that after the enemy spat on you, you were about to kill someone out of hatred and not in the name of god.
We true muslims condemn these martyrs (killing the innocent).
I know it might be off topic, but i thought i would just clear things for those non-muslims who are not aware.
Edit: bring on the nasty comments. Its Inevitable!