Canadian Sheikh Younus Kathrada In Friday Sermon Titled 'Jihad And Martyrdom': 'Martyrs Receive 72 Virgins In Paradise, Nobody Has The Right To Mock This — We'll See Who Has The Last Laugh; May Allah Make Us Martyrs, Grant Victory To The Mujahideen, Curse The Jews'

On December 3, 2023, the Muslim Youth Victoria YouTube channel livestreamed a sermon delivered by Canadian Islamic scholar Sheikh Younus Kathrada titled "Jihad and Martyrdom." In the sermon, Sheikh Kathrada listed the seven blessings received by a martyr when he is killed while waging jihad for the sake of Allah, which include receiving 72 black-eyed houri virgins in Paradise. Kathrada said that the enemies of Islam mock the Muslims about the promise of 72 virgins and label mujahideen as terrorists, but are in fact jealous of the Muslims, adding: "Let's see who has the last laugh." He also cursed Muslims who similarly mock the idea of receiving 72 virgins in Paradise, elaborating that Allah's martyrs have sacrificed everything for His sake and for the sake of Islam, and that nobody has the right to mock them. In addition, he praised the mujahideen in Gaza, Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kashmir, and said: "I beg of Allah to make us of those who have been martyred in His cause." He concluded his sermon by asking Allah to grant victory to the mujahideen all over the world, to annihilate the Jews, and to liberate the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

Sheikh Younus Kathrada: "And our Messenger, the Prophet Muhammed, has said, that the martyr has seven blessings from Allah: [First, all his sins are] forgiven from the moment his first blood is shed. Are we living this? That man who dies on the battlefield, defending Islam, and the lands of Islam, fighting for me and fighting for you, that man who the media labels a terrorist—Allah blesses him. All of his sins are forgiven. Who can scoff at that? [Second], he will be shown his place in Paradise. [Third], he will be spared the trials of the grave. [Fourth], he will be secure on the day of the greatest terror, that is the Day of Judgment. [Fifth], there will be placed on his head a crown of dignity, one ruby of which is better than this world and all that it contains.

"[Sixth], he will be married to 72 black-eyed houris, the 72 virgins that they laugh about and they mock us about. Let's see who has the last laugh. The enemies of Islam mock and laugh at this because they are jealous. Believe me! As much as they may mock—And by the way, if any of us who claim to be Muslims are mocking along with them, then may you be wretched like them, and may you enter the Hellfire together, for mocking the words of your messenger [Muhammed]. Shame on you if you mock this, as the enemies of Allah mock it. Whether they like it or not, this is the reality. The martyr will have 72 black-eyed houris, those maidens in Paradise. And [seventh], he will be permitted to intercede on behalf of 70 of his relatives. When the companions of the prophet [Muhammed] realized the status of martyrdom and the value of the martyrs, guess what they did? They strove to be among the winners, those who would attain martyrdom for the sake of Allah. And I say that this was the way among the Companions of the Prophet, but also right up until this day, those soldiers of Allah, those who are striving to defend Islam and the lands of Islam, whether it be in Gaza, in Palestine, whether it be in Iraq, in Afghanistan, in Kashmir, wherever it will be, they also appreciate the value of martyrdom, and so they are striving to attain martyrdom.

"The enemies and opponents of Islam mock the mujahideen, they label them as terrorists, and whatnot. I warn myself and the rest of you: Let us not mock those who are fighting for the sake of Allah. What right do you have to mock them? They have sacrificed everything. They have sacrificed their homes, they have sacrificed their families, their children, their wealth, and they have left their lands—all to defend Islam and the lands of Islam. They are fighting to please Allah. They are fighting for the highest levels in Paradise, and we think that we can mock them? What have we done? What have we sacrificed? Whatever we have sacrificed has been for worldly and temporary gains. That's what we have sacrificed for. But not them. So don't you dare be among those who label the mujahideen as terrorists and so on and so forth. They mock them, but Allah honors them.

"I beg of Allah to make us of those who have been martyred in His cause, Oh Allah, support the mujahideen fighting for Your sake everywhere. Oh Allah, make their feet firm, strengthen their hearts, and grant them tranquility. Oh Allah, support them against their enemies and Your enemies. Oh Allah, support our oppressed brothers everywhere. Oh Allah, take their hands and hasten their victory. Oh Allah, support our brothers waging jihad in Gaza. Oh Allah, annihilate the plundering and transgressor Jews. Oh Allah, show us the black day that You inflict upon them. Oh Allah, we ask you to liberate the Al-Aqsa Mosque."