What is the meaning of martyrdom as mentioned in the hadith of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him)? The hadith states, "There are five types of martyrs: the one who dies from plague, the one who dies of an abdominal illness, the one who drowns, the one who dies under a collapsed structure, and the one who is martyred in the cause of Allah." Does this mean that individuals who die in such circumstances are to be treated as martyrs, such that they are not washed, shrouded, or prayed over?

 

The martyrdom referred to in the hadith of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned in the question is legal martyrdom. This means that those who die from one of the causes mentioned in the hadith receive the reward of a martyr in the Hereafter and are designated martyrs in the Hereafter, rather than in this world. Therefore, they are to be washed, shrouded, and have the funeral prayed performed over them.

 

Types of martyrs

It is established in Islamic law that martyrs are classified into three types:

1. Martyrs in this world and in the Hereafter: This applies to those killed in battle, during confrontations with rebels or highway robbers. This is the meaning intended in the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), “Whoever fights to make the word of Allah supreme does so in the way of Allah”
   (recorded by Bukhari and Muslim from the narration of Abu Musa al-Ashʿari (may Allah be pleased with him). This is known as true martyrdom.
2. Martyrs in this world only: This refers to who are killed in the course of battle or during confrontations with rebels or highway robbers, but who transgressed by taking from the spoils of war before they were distributed; those who are killed while fleeing from the battlefield; those who participate in battle with ostentatious intent; and the like. All of these are considered martyrs in terms of worldly recognition and rulings — they are not washed or prayed over, and do not receive the reward of martyrs in the Hereafter.
3. Martyrs in the Hereafter only: This refers to those who die from causes such as abdominal diseases, plague, drowning, being trapped under a collapsed structure, or a woman during childbirth, and the like. This type of martyrdom is known as legal martyrdom. Those who die from the causes mentioned above attain the status and reward of a martyr in the Hereafter; however, the worldly rulings of martyrdom do not apply to them. They are washed, shrouded, and the funeral prayer is performed over them.

 

 

The luminary Kamal al-Damiri lists the three types of martyrs in his book Al-Najm Al-Wahaj (3/71):

• Martyrs in this world and in the Hereafter: This category includes those who attain the status of martyrs both in this world and in the Hereafter. They are neither washed, shrouded, nor prayed over. It refers to those who take part in battle with the aim of upholding the word of Allah.
• Those who are recognized as martyrs in this world only: This applies to those who engage in battle for the sake of show or personal prestige and are killed, those who die while fleeing from battle, or those who have taken from the spoils of war before they are distributed. Such individuals are not washed or prayed over; they do not receive the reward of martyrs in this world and in the Hereafter.
• Martyrs in the Hereafter only: They include anyone who dies from an abdominal disease, plague, drowning, fire, venomous bites, under a collapsed structure, pleurisy, or fever, as well as anyone killed by a Muslim, a dhimmi, or a rebel outside the battlefield. Such individuals are considered martyrs in the Hereafter, but not in this world. For instance, ʿUmar and ʿUthman (may Allah be pleased with them both) were both washed after their deaths, and are unanimously acknowledged as martyrs.

 

The meaning of martyrdom referred to in the hadith to which it is obligatory to wash, shroud, and pray over them

Scholars agree that the martyrdom mentioned in the marfuʿ hadith (directly attributed to the Prophet) cited in the inquirer’s question refers solely to martyrdom in the Hereafter. This means that anyone who dies from such causes attains the reward of a martyr in the Hereafter, without being subject to the rulings that apply to martyrs in this world. Due to the severity, intense pain, and suffering involved, these and similar causes are among the ways by which Allah Almighty graciously grants the reward of martyrdom to those who endure them with patience and with expectation of reward.

In explaining the hadith, Imam al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said in Sharh Sahih Muslim (13/63), “Scholars have said that these causes are considered martyrdom by Allah’s grace, due to their severity and the intense pain they involve. They maintained that the martyrdom of all such individuals — except those killed in the way of Allah — means that they will receive the reward of martyrs in the Hereafter, while still being washed and having the funeral prayer performed over them.”

 

The position of various scholars

• Imam Zayn al-Din Ibn Nujaym, the Hanafi scholar, mentions in Al-Bahr Al-Ra`iq (2/211) that a person who dies a natural death, falls from a height, dies in a fire or under a collapsed structure, or drowns, is not considered a martyr, i.e., in this world. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) declared that those who pass away in such circumstances are all martyrs; thus, they receive the reward of martyrs.
• The Maliki scholar, al-Qadi Abd al-Wahhab, noted in Al-Ishraf (1/359) that all Muslim martyrs, apart from those killed on the battlefield, are to be washed, shrouded, and have the funeral prayer performed over them.
• Imam al-Nawawi, the Shafi'i scholar, observed in Al-Majmu' (5/264) that martyrs who die from causes other than engaging in combat against disbelievers, such as those who die from abdominal diseases; plague; drowning; under collapsed structures; away from their homeland; women who die in childbirth; and those killed by Muslims, disbelievers, or oppressors outside legitimate combat and the like, must be washed and have the funeral prayer performed over them, according to scholarly consensus. The term ‘martyrdom’ mentioned regarding them refers to their status in terms of their reward in the Hereafter, not in terms of being exempt from washing and the funeral prayer.
• Sheikh al-Buhuti, the Hanbali scholar, stated in Kashf Al-Qina' (2/119) that a martyr who does not die in battle, such as one who drowns and the like, must be washed and prayed over.

 

The ruling

Based on the above, the martyrdom referred to in the hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is considered legal martyrdom. Accordingly, whoever dies from the causes mentioned therein receives the reward of martyrs in the Hereafter and is recognized as a martyr in the Hereafter, not in this world. Such individuals should be washed, shrouded, and have the funeral prayer performed over them.

And Allah the Almighty knows best.