SPECIAL REPORT “Martyrs will be rewarded with 72 virgins in paradise.” This has been the oft-used concept to encourage Muslim men to carry out various activities, including terrorism, which has been perceived by some as a way to achieve martyrdom.

Although the Quran states that all Muslim males, and not just martyrs, will be rewarded with virgins, there is also the ‘hasan’ (good) hadith (report on sayings of the Prophet Muhammad) that refers to the “72 virgins” concept as one of the rewards for the martyr, leading many to be further enticed by this belief.