The Difference Between Martyrdom in the Cause of Allah and Suicide Operations

Question:
From Libya, a listener sent this message. He is (K. A. H.), our brother. He says in his message: I am a university student, and through my reading of the book *Islam* by the orientalist Henri Massé, which was translated by Bahij Shaban, and which was introduced and annotated by His Eminence Dr. Mustafa al-Rafi'i and His Eminence Shaykh Muhammad Jawad Mughniyyah, two issues remained in my mind that were not clarified well, and I consider them two important issues. They are: We know that martyrdom is what a Muslim does when he fights for his faith and dies in its cause, striving, and thus becomes a martyr. However, the concept of the willingness to sacrifice has created confusion in my mind regarding the concept of martyrdom and suicide.
So guide us, may Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
The martyrdom for which Allah has prepared Paradise for its people and praised its people is that which stems from a desire for what is with Allah, sincerity to Allah, and jihad in His cause. A man asked the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), saying: “O Messenger of Allah, do you think that if I am killed in the cause of Allah, will I enter Paradise? Will my sins be forgiven for me?” — or as he said. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: .
So the believer who fights in the cause of Allah, hoping for the reward of Allah and seeking the victory of the religion of Allah, this is the one who strives in the cause of Allah, and he is the martyr if he is killed. He has the ruling of martyrdom for which Allah promised Paradise to its people.
As for the ruling in this world, everyone who is killed in the cause of Allah is not washed and no prayer is performed over him, and the action is based on the apparent, and his intention is to Allah. So if he is killed in the cause of Allah, dying in the battle by being killed, he is not washed and no prayer is performed over him, but he is buried in his clothes, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did with the martyrs of the Day of Uhud.
And as for his ruling with Allah, if he is killed while patient, counting on the reward, facing forward and not turning back, monotheistic toward Allah, intending His noble Face, then his sins are forgiven for him, and he will be among the people of Paradise. But it came in other narrations from the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: .
So the meaning of the debt is: that his debt is not lost upon him, but he is given his right, either by Allah being pleased with him on the Day of Resurrection out of His grace and kindness, or by giving him from the good deeds of this martyr what corresponds to the debt. So the martyr is in a good state, and the owner of the debt does not lose his right, but Allah is pleased with him as He wills (Exalted and Majestic is He). Yes.

The presenter: May Allah reward you with good. The topic of sacrifice and martyrdom in the cause of Allah, Shaykh Abdul Aziz, it seems he is asking for a comparison between them or a distinction between them?

The Shaykh: I do not understand what he means by sacrifice.

The presenter: That he becomes a suicide bomber.

The Shaykh: If his intention by that is to challenge people, and to strive in attacking the enemies, even if he is killed in the cause of Allah, this is required, if the enemy is from the known disbelievers, and he strove in the cause of Allah, and he proceeded to jihad, even if he is killed, great good is hoped for him, even if he is killed, just as Anas ibn al-Nadr did when the people retreated on the Day of Uhud, he advanced to jihad until he was killed. The people were retreating and he was advancing toward the enemy, and he strove until he was killed, and they found in him eighty-odd wounds, between sword cuts and spear thrusts. And Allah was pleased with him.
So the result is: that sacrifice, which is advancing toward the enemy with a desire for martyrdom in the cause of Allah and a desire to fight the enemies, this has great virtue and much good. Yes.

The presenter: So: this is not considered suicide?

The Shaykh: As long as it is for Allah, if it is for Allah, no showing off and no seeking reputation, if it is for Allah, his intention is not showing off or seeking reputation, and it is not his intention the homeland, but his intention is fighting in the cause of Allah, then this has great good for him.

The presenter: May Allah reward you with good, and this is not considered suicide?

The Shaykh: It is not considered suicide, no.

The presenter: May Allah bless you.