Is it permissible to apply the title of martyr to one who died on the battlefield?
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The questioner : Following up on this question, before we leave, is it permissible to declare someone a martyr, or to say specifically that so-and-so is a martyr if he dies in battle, as happens in this time?
The Shaykh : The truth is that people in this time have been lenient and have greatly expanded the use of the term "martyrdom," even applying it to one who was killed by treachery, for example. This was a very strange phenomenon in our Syrian lands; for instance, a person would be killed on a moonless night, and when they carried his funeral procession, they would say, "The martyr is the beloved of Allah, and the killer is the enemy of Allah." They made this one who was killed a martyr, even though he might have been one of the most sinful of sinners. Therefore, applying the title of martyr to a general category is a matter of divine legislation; that is, we stop at what the Shari'ah has prescribed and do not add to it, as we gave an example earlier regarding one who was killed in a car accident.
As for this last question, the truth is that declaring a person a martyr who died on the battlefield, or who died from one of those illnesses mentioned previously, is something we hope for, but we do not assert it definitively regarding Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He). This is because martyrdom, as is clear to you all, requires that his struggle be in the path of Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He), as came in some hadiths, though there is weakness in it because it is narrated by 'Abdullah ibn Lahi'ah al-Misri, who narrated it with his chain to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): This hadith, although it has some weakness in its chain, has a correct meaning.
It happened during the time of the Messenger (peace be upon him) that one of the Companions was seen in some battles and expeditions fighting the polytheists with intense ferocity, to the point that the Companions of the Messenger (peace be upon him) were unable to match it, even though they were all brave and heroes. Nevertheless, when they saw the extreme bravery of that man in fighting the polytheists, they urged them to mention that bravery to the Messenger (peace be upon him). So they said, "O Messenger of Allah, so-and-so did such and such." His (peace and blessings be upon him) response was very terrifying, where he said:.
Then they saw him in the second battle, and he only increased in fighting and ferocity, so they said to the Messenger again, and he said: Thus, three times. The narrator of this hadith is the Imam al-Bukhari in his *Sahih* from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him). Abu Hurayrah said: When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: We almost doubted, because the news of the Messenger (peace be upon him) apparently contradicted the bravery of this Companion. But, praise be to Allah, it was not for his Companions to doubt. However, he said, "We almost doubted," meaning we did not doubt, but because of the strong contradiction between this man's jihad and the Prophet's testimony that he is in the Fire, he said, "We almost doubted." So one of the Companions said, "I will take charge of this man." So whenever he would charge at the polytheists, the second man would appear with him to see his outcome, because he was certain of the truth of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his testimony that he is in the Fire, because Allah said regarding him (peace and blessings be upon him): [An-Najm 53:3-4] So he followed him, as it is said, like his shadow. Wherever he charged, he went with him, until he saw him and saw his outcome and end: the wounds accumulated on him, so he could not bear them, and he put the point of his sword, meaning the tip of the sword, in his belly and leaned on it, so it came out of his back and he died. So the man ran to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) to tell him, "O Messenger of Allah, so-and-so, whom we told you about such and such, and you said he is in the Fire, did such and such," meaning: he killed himself. So he (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: And therefore he (peace be upon him) said in some hadiths: .
This man is a good example to alert the Muslim that it is not permissible to be certain that so-and-so is a martyr in the sight of Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He), because we have the appearance, and Allah takes care of the hidden matters. We only say: We hope that he died a martyr, because that is the appearance.
The Shaykh : The truth is that people in this time have been lenient and have greatly expanded the use of the term "martyrdom," even applying it to one who was killed by treachery, for example. This was a very strange phenomenon in our Syrian lands; for instance, a person would be killed on a moonless night, and when they carried his funeral procession, they would say, "The martyr is the beloved of Allah, and the killer is the enemy of Allah." They made this one who was killed a martyr, even though he might have been one of the most sinful of sinners. Therefore, applying the title of martyr to a general category is a matter of divine legislation; that is, we stop at what the Shari'ah has prescribed and do not add to it, as we gave an example earlier regarding one who was killed in a car accident.
As for this last question, the truth is that declaring a person a martyr who died on the battlefield, or who died from one of those illnesses mentioned previously, is something we hope for, but we do not assert it definitively regarding Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He). This is because martyrdom, as is clear to you all, requires that his struggle be in the path of Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He), as came in some hadiths, though there is weakness in it because it is narrated by 'Abdullah ibn Lahi'ah al-Misri, who narrated it with his chain to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
Many a slain man between the two ranks, of whose intention Allah is best aware
رُبّ قتيل بين الصفّين الله أعلم بنيّتهIt happened during the time of the Messenger (peace be upon him) that one of the Companions was seen in some battles and expeditions fighting the polytheists with intense ferocity, to the point that the Companions of the Messenger (peace be upon him) were unable to match it, even though they were all brave and heroes. Nevertheless, when they saw the extreme bravery of that man in fighting the polytheists, they urged them to mention that bravery to the Messenger (peace be upon him). So they said, "O Messenger of Allah, so-and-so did such and such." His (peace and blessings be upon him) response was very terrifying, where he said:
He is in the Fire
هو في النارThen they saw him in the second battle, and he only increased in fighting and ferocity, so they said to the Messenger again, and he said:
He is in the Fire
هو في النارHe is in the Fire
هو في النار(3) Nor does he speak from [his own] inclination. (4) It is not but a revelation revealed,
وما ينطق عن الهوى * إن هو إلا وحي يوحىAllah is the Greatest, Allah and His Messenger have spoken the truth. Indeed, Allah supports this religion with the wicked man, and indeed, a man may do the deeds of the people of Paradise in what appears to people, while he is from the people of the Fire, and indeed, a man may do the deeds of the people of the Fire in what appears to people, while he is from the people of Paradise
الله أكبر ، صدق الله ورسوله إن الله لينصر هذا الدين بالرجل الفاجر ، وإن الرجل ليعمل بعمل أهل الجنة فيما يبدو للناس وهو من أهل النار ، وإن الرجل ليعمل بعمل أهل النار فيما يبدو للناس وهو من أهل الجنةDeeds are only by their endings
إنما الأعمال بالخواتيمThis man is a good example to alert the Muslim that it is not permissible to be certain that so-and-so is a martyr in the sight of Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He), because we have the appearance, and Allah takes care of the hidden matters. We only say: We hope that he died a martyr, because that is the appearance.