Forgiveness of Sin and Debt for the Martyr of the Sea

The questioner:
He says: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. Shaykh Ibn Qudamah (may Allah have mercy on him) mentioned in his book *Al-Kafi* that the martyr of the sea is forgiven his sins and his debt. Is this correct?

The Shaykh:
Anyone who dies in a sudden accident, such as drowning, fire, or any other cause—meaning, being killed or suffering a heart attack—and is a Muslim, is a martyr. However, he is not like the martyr of the battlefield. He is a martyr in the Hereafter, but in this world, he is treated like other funerals: he is washed, shrouded, and prayed over. He is treated like other funerals, but in the Hereafter, he has the reward of the martyrs.

The questioner:
Is the debt of the martyr of the sea forgiven?

The Shaykh:
What distinguishes the martyr of the sea? The ruling for all martyrs is the same: they are forgiven for everything except the debt. The debt is a right belonging to a human being, and a human being's right is not waived except by his forgiveness or by paying it to him.