Are those who died in road and traffic accidents considered martyrs?

In His mercy, Allah Almighty has bestowed upon those He has honored many causes of martyrdom and varying ranks within it. Al-Miqdam Ibn Ma’di Karib (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “A martyr has six bounties from Allah: He is forgiven with the first drop of blood spilt, he is shown his place in paradise, he is protected form the torture of the grave, he is shielded from the great terror [of the Day of Judgment], he is adorned with the mantle of faith, he is married to maidens of paradise, and he is allowed to intercede for seventy members of his family” (recorded by Imams Ahmad and Ibn Majah).

Causes of martyrdom

Numerous hadiths and non-prophetic reports have been narrated explaining the causes of martyrdom. These include the hadith of Jabir Ibn ‘Atik (may Allah be pleased with him) who narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) asked those who were present at the time of the death of Abdullah Ibn Thabit (may Allah be pleased with him), “What do you consider to be martyrdom?” They said, “Being killed in the cause of Allah.” He said, “Martyrdom is of seven types other than being killed in the cause of Allah:  A person who dies of the plague is a martyr, a person who drowns is a martyr, a person who dies of pleurisy is a martyr, a person who dies of an abdominal disease is a martyr, a person who dies in a fire is a martyr, a person who dies under a collapsed building is a martyr, and a woman who dies in childbirth is a martyr” (recorded by Imams Malik in Al-Muwatta`, Ahmad — and the wording is his — Abu Dawud, and  al-Nisa`i).

The prevailing view among scholars and exegetes of the Sunnah is that the term ‘martyrdom’ mentioned in the above-mentioned hadith and others like it refers to martyrs of the Hereafter, i.e., those who die in any of the ways mentioned above, receive the reward of a martyr in the Hereafter only. They are considered martyrs in the Hereafter in terms of divine reward, but not in terms of the legal rulings related to martyrs in this world.  Accordingly, they are washed and shrouded like other deceased individuals. Imam al-Nawawi wrote in Sharh Sahih Muslim (12:63), “The scholars said that the meaning of the martyrdom of all of those, other than those killed in the cause of Allah, is that they will receive the reward of martyrs in the Hereafter. As for in this world, they are to be washed and the funeral prayer is to be performed over them.”

Victims of road accidents

The different causes of martyrdom mentioned in hadiths revolve around a single underlying meaning — a severe or extremely painful illness while taking the necessary precautions and following safety measures and means of protection to prevent harm, particularly in cases of drowning, burning, or building collapse. Otherwise, they bear the sin of negligence in taking proper precautions. Imam al-Nawawi stated in Sharh Sahih Muslim (13:63), “The scholars said that such deaths constitute martyrdom by the grace of Allah Almighty due to their severity and the intense pain they involve.”  This understanding is realized in cases of deaths resulting from road accidents, whether the death occurs immediately at the time of the accident or later due to complications arising from the accident-related injuries. The observed reality shows that such deaths occur due to the decree and will of Allah, in the absence of deliberate action on the part of the victims to end their own life or any neglect in following the established safety and precautionary measures.  Consequently, in general, such cases are not devoid of one of the causes of martyrdom mentioned in the Sunnah.  In fact, some cases may involve multiple causes, thereby increasing the reward and recompense.

The ruling

Based on the above, a person who dies in road and traffic accidents and the resulting injuries is considered among the martyrs of the Hereafter, provided they did not neglect to follow the established safety and precautionary measures, and did not deliberately place themselves in the way of danger with the intention of taking their own life. Otherwise, the matter is left to their Lord, the Almighty.

And Allah Almighty knows best