Is it permissible to describe one who died in a battle between Muslims and disbelievers as a martyr?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : Your Eminence, if a Muslim is killed in any battle between Muslims and disbelievers, do we describe him as a martyr?
The Shaykh : Yes. First of all: May Allah reward you. We do not say that the one killed in jihad is a martyr; we do not say that he is a martyr, even if it was between Muslims and disbelievers. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Riyad as-Salihin 1295 meaning, he is wounded in the cause of Allah Mishkat al-Masabih 3802 His statement: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1656Sahih (Darussalam) means: we have no knowledge of it, but we hope that he is a martyr. For this reason, al-Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) titled this issue with his statement: and he mentioned this hadith that I mentioned to you.
And the author of al-Fath, Ibn Hajar, mentioned a report from 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: "You say: So-and-so is a martyr, and so-and-so is a martyr, and perhaps he was excessive, but say: So-and-so was killed, or died in jihad, or a word to that effect" But despite this, we hope for a person to be a martyr if we know that his condition is righteous, and that he is a righteous man, and that he did not fight except so that the word of Allah would be the highest, then we hope that he is a martyr.
Then, our saying "martyr" regarding this killed person does not benefit him, because if he is a martyr in the sight of Allah, then what is he? A martyr, whether we say it or not. And if he is not a martyr, then our saying that he is a martyr does not benefit him.
The Shaykh : Yes. First of all: May Allah reward you. We do not say that the one killed in jihad is a martyr; we do not say that he is a martyr, even if it was between Muslims and disbelievers. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Whoever is wounded
ما من مكلوم يكلمand God knows best those who are wounded in His path, without coming on the day of resurrection with his wound spouting blood, the colour being that of blood but the fragrance that of musk.
والله أعلم بمن يكلم في سبيله إلا إذا كان يوم القيامة جاء يثعب جرحه دماً، اللون لون الدم، والريح ريح المسكand Allah knows better about who has been injured in His cause
والله أعلم بمن يكلم في سبيلهIt is not said: So-and-so is a martyr.
لا يقال: فلان شهيدAnd the author of al-Fath, Ibn Hajar, mentioned a report from 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: "You say: So-and-so is a martyr, and so-and-so is a martyr, and perhaps he was excessive, but say: So-and-so was killed, or died in jihad, or a word to that effect" But despite this, we hope for a person to be a martyr if we know that his condition is righteous, and that he is a righteous man, and that he did not fight except so that the word of Allah would be the highest, then we hope that he is a martyr.
Then, our saying "martyr" regarding this killed person does not benefit him, because if he is a martyr in the sight of Allah, then what is he? A martyr, whether we say it or not. And if he is not a martyr, then our saying that he is a martyr does not benefit him.