Martyrdom in Islam

The ultimate objective of a Muslim is to please Allah and do everything possible to attain high rank among the people He loves. But such noble and lofty objectives demand great sacrifices. Sacrifices come in various shapes, sizes and levels and can be performed through different conduits. The greater the sacrifice greater will be its reward and eventually highest rank in the eyes of Allah. Among the great sacrifices martyrdom (Shahadah) holds the highest rank. Martyrdom is the sacrifice of one’s soul for the sake of Allah in order to spread His religion and defeat His enemies. The Holy Prophet greatly emphasized the magnitude of shahadah as well an the concept of Jihad in his companions and the followers there and then to come.

Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said: “I swear by the One in Whose Hands my soul is, I wish that I would fight for the sake of Allah (i.e., Jihad ) and get martyred, then return and fight again and get martyred, then return and fight again and get martyred” (Bukhari & Muslim) This ahadith shows the significance of martyrdom and a reflection of deep love and overwhelming desire; a desire to attain Shahadah, which is one of the greatest paths to Paradise. 

According to an ahadith martyr has six bounties in the life hereafter

·         He will be forgiven with the first drop of his blood that is spilt

·         He will see his place in Paradise (at the time of death)

·         He will be saved from the ‘Great Horror’ (on the Day of Judgment)

·         A Crown of Dignity will be placed on his head, which contains many corundums, each one being more precious than this life and all that it contains

·         He will have seventy two Women of Paradise

·         He will be allowed to intercede for seventy of his family members (who would have otherwise gone to hell).” (Tirmidhi & Ibn Maajah).

Martyrdome is the noblest of the deaths. A Muslim should pray for such a glorified death.