British Airways Employee Rajib Karim "Conspired to Blow Up Plane"

The Qur'an commands Muslims to "fight those who believe not in Allah" (Qur'an 9:29). As we read about more and more terrorist attacks and attempts in the media, we're slowly learning that some Muslims actually take Muhammad's teachings seriously.

A British Airways employee conspired with a radical preacher to blow up a US-bound aeroplane, a court has heard.

From his Newcastle home, Rajib Karim shared details of his BA contacts in e-mails to Muslim cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, Woolwich Crown Court was told.

The computer expert worked for the airline in the city and had access to BA offices there and at Heathrow.

Mr Karim, 31, denies plotting to blow up an aircraft and gaining a UK job to exploit terrorist purposes.

The Bangladeshi national has already pleaded guilty to three other terror charges, the jury was told.

On the first day of the trial, the court heard how Mr Karim came to the UK in 2006 and got a job with BA.

The jury was told that Mr Karim established a "deep cover", joining a gym, playing football and never airing extreme views.

It is alleged that he was communicating with a terror cell as well as Anwar al-Awlaki, who has never been caught and is believed to be hiding in the mountains of Yemen.

Jonathan Laidlaw QC, prosecuting, said the defendant was preparing himself or others for terrorist attacks.

He said the court would hear that Mr Karim was an extreme jihadist.

"He believes that terrorism, including the murder of civilians, is permissible to establish a true Islamic state.

"The defendant was anxious himself to carry out such an attack and he was determined to seek martyrdom - to die and to sacrifice himself for his cause," Mr Laidlaw said. (Read more.)

Hmmm. Now where would this guy get the idea that martyrdom is important in Islam?

Sahih al-Bukhari 2785—Narrated Abu Hurairah: A man came to Allah’s Messenger and said, “Guide me to such a deed as equals Jihad (in reward).” He replied, “I do not find such a deed.”

Sahih al-Bukhari 2787—Allah guarantees that He will admit the Mujahid in His Case into Paradise if he is killed, otherwise He will return him to his home safely with rewards and war booty.”

Sahih al-Bukhari 2795—Narrated Anas bin Malik: The Prophet said, “Nobody who dies and finds good from Allah (in the Hereafter) would wish to come back to this world, even if he were given the whole world and whatever is in it, except the martyr who, on seeing the superiority of martyrdom, would like to come back to the world and get killed again (in Allah’s cause).”

Sahih al-Bukhari 2796—Narrated Anas: The Prophet said, “A single endeavor (of fighting) in Allah’s cause in the afternoon or in the forenoon is better than all the world and whatever is in it.”

Sahih al-Bukhari 2797—Narrated Abu Hurairah: The Prophet said, . . . “By Him in Whose Hands my soul is! I would love to be martyred in Allah’s Cause and then come back to life and then get martyred, and then come back to life again and then get martyred and then come back to life again and then get martyred.”

Sahih al-Bukhari 2810—Narrated Abu Musa: A man came to the Prophet and asked, “A man fights for war booty; another fights for fame and a third fights for showing off; which of them is in Allah’s Cause?” The Prophet said, “He who fights that Allah’s Word (i.e., Allah’s religion of Islamic Monotheism) be superior, is in Allah’s Cause.”

Sunan An-Nasa’i 3099—It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Prophet said: “Whoever dies without having fought or having thought of fighting, he dies on one of the branches of hypocrisy.”

Sunan Ibn Majah 2763—It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah said: “Whoever meets Allah with no mark on him (as a result of fighting) in His cause, he will meet Him with a deficiency.”