# Why beheading? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 3, 2014, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-beheading/697423 "2014-09-03T22:52:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2014, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-beheading/697423/1 "2014-09-03T22:52:44Z")
I’m sure you’ve all heard about the recent murders in the Middle East, filmed decapitation. Why do the murderers choose this as the method of killing their hostages? Is there some religious or cultural significance, like how the ancient Greeks believed if one was left unburied ones soul would not leave for the afterlife? Is it just the most shocking and visceral thing they could think of? ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2014, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-beheading/697423/2 "2014-09-03T22:57:05Z")
“When you meet the unbelievers, strike the necks…” — Qur’an 47:4 ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2014, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-beheading/697423/3 "2014-09-04T05:10:35Z")
I read an article earlier today that touched upon this. (Sorry, forgot where.) The gist of the article was that Muslims around the world are speaking out in revulsion against this. Various professors of religious studies, all having Islamic-sounding names, were interviewed and quoted. One of them noted something to the effect: Beheading as a means of execution was popular both around the era of Mohammed, but was already in use before that, and continued to be used. Allegedly, it was thought to be one of the quicker and more merciful methods of execution, given the available execution technologies of the day. Today, no doubt that ISIS/ISIL/whatever is using it specifically for its terror and intimidation potential; but probably also because of their badly warped (besides being badly extreme) notions of Islam. ETA: Sorry, after a rather quick google search, I can’t find quite the same article. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2014, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-beheading/697423/4 "2014-09-04T07:45:39Z")
I seem to remember a hanging when Bush II went after the man (who tried to) murder his daddy. We in the west got to learn about the “Drop Charts” a hangman is supposed to use. Anyway, one of the people we decided needed killing was hung with too much slack in the rope - he fell so far that his momentum caused his head to pop off, instead of breaking his neck. There was a brief mention of “in the Muslim culture, beheading is the most horrible thing you can to do a person”. Never saw mention before or after of beheading and Islamic/Muslim ideology. ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2014, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-beheading/697423/5 "2014-09-04T07:57:58Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > There was a brief mention of “in the Muslim culture, beheading is the most horrible thing you can to do a person”. > Never saw mention before or after of beheading and Islamic/Muslim ideology. I think people who’ve seen someone buried up to their neck and then seen for the next thirty minutes having stones thrown at that person until they were killed, after first having the stones examined to ensure they weren’t too big and would kill the person too quickly, or heard that sometimes the victims will try to bite their tongues off to quicken the death, would challenge the idea that “beheading” is the worse thing that happens. That said, for some reason, the Salafis(more commonly known as Wahhabis by westerners) are big on it. It’s what the Saudis use for execution AndI believe they have a limited number of sacred swords that do it. That said, in Iran, we generally execute by hanging. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2014, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-beheading/697423/6 "2014-09-04T08:07:28Z")
Beheading is old school, and ISIS are all about the old school. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2014, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-beheading/697423/7 "2014-09-04T21:02:20Z")
Then we need to get medieval on there ass and send over some pipe hitting n\*&^\*^s with a pair of pliers and a blowtorch. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2014, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-beheading/697423/8 "2014-09-04T22:52:31Z")
Thanks for the replies, seems these people are intent on forging ahead to the eighth century. ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2014, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-beheading/697423/9 "2014-09-04T23:34:47Z")
I would guess it makes a better photo op for them. If they were doing it in private (and not intending to use the severed head as a prop later) they probably wouldn’t bother. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-beheading/697423/10 "2014-09-05T00:07:54Z")
> [@Ibn\_Warraq](#): > > \. > > That said, for some reason, the Salafis(more commonly known as Wahhabis by westerners) \. Any idea why, in this era of instant communication, why the two names persist? Where does each come from? Is one an old term that needs updating? By what name to they use for themselves? Can you translate either into English? “The Only True Muslim” or some such? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-beheading/697423/11 "2014-09-05T04:43:35Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > I seem to remember a hanging when Bush II went after the man (who tried to) murder his daddy. > > We in the west got to learn about the “Drop Charts” a hangman is supposed to use. Anyway, one of the people we decided needed killing was hung with too much slack in the rope - he fell so far that his momentum caused his head to pop off, instead of breaking his neck. > There was a brief mention of “in the Muslim culture, beheading is the most horrible thing you can to do a person”. > Never saw mention before or after of beheading and Islamic/Muslim ideology. What on Earth are you on about? ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-beheading/697423/12 "2014-09-05T05:23:50Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > What on Earth are you on about? Trying to offer possible motivations - you know, what the OP seeks? The screwed-up execution explains why the news reported allegedly inquired to find out why the stink about it. It would not be the first time a reported was way off base when speaking about a culture different from his own. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-beheading/697423/13 "2014-09-05T06:10:26Z")
**Moderator Note** > [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > Then we need to get medieval on there ass and send over some pipe hitting n\*&^\*^s with a pair of pliers and a blowtorch. While we do allow folks to have some fun in GQ once the question has been addressed factually, let’s not do it with implied racial slurs. No warning issued. ---
**Author:** ![Ramira](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ramira/32/344_2.png) [@Ramira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ramira)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-beheading/697423/14 "2014-09-05T08:39:43Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > There was a brief mention of “in the Muslim culture, beheading is the most horrible thing you can to do a person”. > Never saw mention before or after of beheading and Islamic/Muslim ideology. This is made up, like many things said about Islam and muslims, even here on this board. > [@usedtobe](#): > > Any idea why, in this era of instant communication, why the two names persist? the names mean different things. > [@](#): > > Where does each come from? The wikipedia has some reasonable descriptions [Salafism](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salafi_movement) [Salafist Jihadism](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salafist_jihadism) which I think is better called Takfiri salafism [Wahhabism](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wahhabi_movement) > [@usedtobe](#): > > Trying to offer possible motivations - you know, what the OP seeks? The speculation without knowledge spreads ignorance. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-beheading/697423/15 "2014-09-05T09:13:15Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > **Moderator Note** > > While we do allow folks to have some fun in GQ once the question has been addressed factually, let’s not do it with implied racial slurs. > > No warning issued. Sorry. It’s a quote from Pulp Fiction. No slur intended. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-beheading/697423/16 "2014-09-05T11:04:05Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > Trying to offer possible motivations - you know, what the OP seeks? > > The screwed-up execution explains why the news reported allegedly inquired to find out why the stink about it. It would not be the first time a reported was way off base when speaking about a culture different from his own. What were you talking about with “Bush II”? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-beheading/697423/17 "2014-09-05T14:01:08Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > What were you talking about with “Bush II”? The second President Bush said in a speech about Sadam Hussein, “Besides, he tried to kill my Dad!” ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-beheading/697423/18 "2014-09-05T14:20:19Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > Sorry. It’s a quote from Pulp Fiction. No slur intended. [Moderating] To avoid misunderstanding, it’s always best to indicate that you are quoting a movie or other reference. I recognized the quote, but not everyone is familiar with every line of dialogue from _Pulp Fiction_. Also note that the fact that something is a quote is not a defense against rule violations. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-beheading/697423/19 "2014-09-05T15:02:41Z")
> [@yoyodyne](#): > > “When you meet the unbelievers, strike the necks…” — Qur’an 47:4 This is a religion? ---
**Author:** ![Ramira](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ramira/32/344_2.png) [@Ramira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ramira)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-beheading/697423/20 "2014-09-05T16:01:14Z")
> [@Lukeinva](#): > > This is a religion? Yes, it is one of the religions of Abrahim. Do you think it lacks a character? [Perhaps it is better to say](http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0520.htm#16): > [@](#): > > And when the LORD thy God delivereth it into thy hand, thou shalt smite every male thereof with the edge of the sword; ? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-beheading/697423.md?page=2)