Is one who dies suddenly (of a heart attack) a martyr?

The Shaykh : Yes.

The questioner : Peace be upon you

The Shaykh : And upon you be peace. Yes.

The questioner : I have questions.

The Shaykh : Raise your voice, because your words were lost.

The questioner: I ask whether sudden death is considered martyrdom or not?

The Shaykh : A martyr!? May Allah will that it not be a regrettable death.

The questioner: How, if you please?

The Shaykh : It differs from one person to another. Sudden death, for one who was prepared to meet Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and had fulfilled all the rights obligatory upon him, whether they were rights due to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) such as prayer and fasting, or rights due to the servants of Allah such as zakah and charity and the like, if he had fulfilled all the obligations and had no debt upon him, and died suddenly, then there is nothing wrong with that. But if he was an open sinner, or a licentious person, or one who was negligent, and died a sudden death, then this is a regrettable death, because he was not prepared for such a death. For this reason, it is obligatory for the Muslim to always be prepared for this hour, which may overtake him suddenly. Therefore, he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: , unlike others.