If one is killed in battle and signs of goodness are observed in him, is he to be declared a martyr?
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The questioner : I say, O Shaykh, if one who was killed in battle... some signs are found, meaning, for example, he was killed in Afghanistan and it was found that... his hand... had musk and pleasant scents, and...
The Shaykh : This undoubtedly strengthens hope, but I say, why should I expose myself to sin by making a statement that, if I do not make it, does not harm the one who was killed? If I do not testify, and he is a martyr with Allah, does he become not a martyr? And if I testify, and he is not a martyr with Allah, then I have committed a sin and exposed myself to the charge of false testimony regarding what I do not know. So safety is undoubtedly safer, even if this indication is found, if it is found. And I do not like to speak about everything I have heard, otherwise I have heard that some people pour musk into the grave in which the one who was killed will be buried, and then it is announced that they smelled the scent of musk in his grave. Yes, we may not believe this or we may believe it. The important thing is that I say, if the indication is found in this one who was killed, who is in his clothes and blood, and we smell the scent of musk from him, this undoubtedly strengthens hope. But what is required of us? Are we obligated to testify? We are not obligated, and it is not required of us to testify. But yes, we hope that he is a martyr, and our hope is strengthened by this sign that we saw. And if we testify, we are at risk, and if we leave off the testimony, we are safe. If he is a martyr with Allah, he is a martyr whether we testify or not, and if he is not a martyr with Allah, our testimony for him does not benefit him. Yes.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : Yes?
The questioner : ... it is accepted for him.
The Shaykh : How?
The questioner : Meaning... musk... is it accepted?
The Shaykh : If someone like Brother Khalid comes to us, we accept it. If he says, "I smelled the scent of musk from the blood on him," we accept it. How?
The questioner : ... the correct thing is that they took it to Shaykh 'Abd al-'Aziz and...
The Shaykh : The important thing is that there is no objection. This may be one of the miracles granted to a righteous person, and although the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
The questioner : ... meaning.
The Shaykh : I say that what was mentioned is that this is in this world. He says:Sahih al-Bukhari 5533 So this miracle that is for him will be on the Day of Resurrection, but there is no objection if Allah brings it out in this world so that people benefit from it and strive in jihad. Meaning, Allah the Exalted may manifest miracles for those who were killed so that this serves as an encouragement for others and a practical testimony from Allah the Exalted that these people are on the right path and on good. We do not deny this, meaning it is not impossible. So if a truthful, trustworthy person comes to us and says, "I witnessed this thing," we accept his statement. Yes.
The questioner : Shaykh?
The Shaykh : And we hope for the one for whom testimony is given, we hope for him good. Yes.
The questioner : ... meaning if he is buried...
The Shaykh : They say that this one took three of us. Yes.
The questioner : And this.
The Shaykh : Wait until it is your turn. Now, Sa'd ibn Mu'adh, among his special traits, may Allah be pleased with him, is what Hassan ibn Thabit said:
"And the Throne of Allah did not shake for the sake of one who perished *** We heard of, except for Sa'd, the father of 'Amr"
For when he died, may Allah be pleased with him, the Throne of Allah the Exalted shook for him with joy at his soul. Yes.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : This verse is famous in history. Yes? The hadith regarding it is subject to scrutiny, but this verse is famous in history. Yes.
The Shaykh : This undoubtedly strengthens hope, but I say, why should I expose myself to sin by making a statement that, if I do not make it, does not harm the one who was killed? If I do not testify, and he is a martyr with Allah, does he become not a martyr? And if I testify, and he is not a martyr with Allah, then I have committed a sin and exposed myself to the charge of false testimony regarding what I do not know. So safety is undoubtedly safer, even if this indication is found, if it is found. And I do not like to speak about everything I have heard, otherwise I have heard that some people pour musk into the grave in which the one who was killed will be buried, and then it is announced that they smelled the scent of musk in his grave. Yes, we may not believe this or we may believe it. The important thing is that I say, if the indication is found in this one who was killed, who is in his clothes and blood, and we smell the scent of musk from him, this undoubtedly strengthens hope. But what is required of us? Are we obligated to testify? We are not obligated, and it is not required of us to testify. But yes, we hope that he is a martyr, and our hope is strengthened by this sign that we saw. And if we testify, we are at risk, and if we leave off the testimony, we are safe. If he is a martyr with Allah, he is a martyr whether we testify or not, and if he is not a martyr with Allah, our testimony for him does not benefit him. Yes.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : Yes?
The questioner : ... it is accepted for him.
The Shaykh : How?
The questioner : Meaning... musk... is it accepted?
The Shaykh : If someone like Brother Khalid comes to us, we accept it. If he says, "I smelled the scent of musk from the blood on him," we accept it. How?
The questioner : ... the correct thing is that they took it to Shaykh 'Abd al-'Aziz and...
The Shaykh : The important thing is that there is no objection. This may be one of the miracles granted to a righteous person, and although the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
The Day of Resurrection came
جاء يوم القيامةThe questioner : ... meaning.
The Shaykh : I say that what was mentioned is that this is in this world. He says:
but will come on the Day of Resurrection
إلا جاء يوم القيامةThe questioner : Shaykh?
The Shaykh : And we hope for the one for whom testimony is given, we hope for him good. Yes.
The questioner : ... meaning if he is buried...
The Shaykh : They say that this one took three of us. Yes.
The questioner : And this.
The Shaykh : Wait until it is your turn. Now, Sa'd ibn Mu'adh, among his special traits, may Allah be pleased with him, is what Hassan ibn Thabit said:
"And the Throne of Allah did not shake for the sake of one who perished *** We heard of, except for Sa'd, the father of 'Amr"
For when he died, may Allah be pleased with him, the Throne of Allah the Exalted shook for him with joy at his soul. Yes.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : This verse is famous in history. Yes? The hadith regarding it is subject to scrutiny, but this verse is famous in history. Yes.