Hadith No. 1
Hadhrat Abu Hurayrah radiyallahu anhu narrates that Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam said, “Who do you regard as a shaheed among you?” The Sahaabah (radiyallahu anhum) replied, “One who is killed in the path of Allah Ta’ala is a Shaheed.”
Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam said, “In that case, the Shuhadaa in my ummah will be very few in number.” The Sahaabah (radiyallahu anhum) then asked, “Who are they, O Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam?” Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam said,
- One who is killed in the path of Allah Ta’ala is a shaheed,
- One who dies in a plague is a shaheed,
- One who dies due to a stomach ailment is a shaheed,
- One who drowns is a shaheed,
- (and in one narration) One who is killed due to a building collapsing on him is a shaheed.” [Muslim #1914]
WHAT IS THE REWARD OF A SHAHEED?
Hadith No. 2
Hadhrat Abu Darda radiyallahu anhu narrates that Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam has said, “A Shaheed will intercede on behalf of 70 people from his household.” [Abu Dawood #2522]
Hadith No. 3
Hadhrat Miqdaad ibn Ma’di Karib radiyallahu anhu narrates that Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam has said, “For a Shaheed, there are six blessings from Allah Ta’ala.
- He is forgiven immediately.
- He is shown his abode in Jannah.
- He is saved from the punishment of the grave.
- He will be saved from the horrific terror (on the day of Qiyamah).
- He will be made to wear a crown of honour. One emerald on this crown is worth more than the entire world and its contents.
- He will be made to marry 72 wives from the hoor-e-een.”
[Tirmizi #1663]
Hadith No. 4
Masrooq (rahmatullahi alayh) says that we asked Abdullah Ibn Mas’ood radiyallahu anhu about the aayah “Do not think that those who have been killed in the path of Allah Ta’ala are dead. Rather they are alive and they are sustained by their Rabb.”
Ibn Mas’ood radiyallahu anhu replied, “We had also asked the same question. Their souls are placed in the bodies of green birds. For them will be chandeliers hanging from the arsh. They will move about in Jannah wherever they wish. Thereafter they will rest on those chandeliers.
Their Rabb will then announce to them, ‘Do you wish for anything?’ They will say, ‘Is there anything more that we can wish for as we move about freely in Jannah.’ Allah Ta’ala will ask them three times. When they will see that Allah Ta’ala will continue asking they will say, ‘O Allah we wish that our souls be returned to our bodies, so that we will be killed in your path another time.’ When Allah Ta’ala will see that they do not have any need, He will leave them.” [Muslim #1887]
Hadith No. 5
Hadhrat Anas radiyallahu anhu narrates that Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam has said, “There is no person who, after he dies and enters into Jannah, will wish to go back into the world, except a Shaheed, even though he has no possessions in this world. He will desire that he is sent back into this world, and is killed 10 times over because of the honour that he received through it.” [Bukhaari # 2817]
Hadith No. 6
Hadhrat Abu Hurayrah radiyallahu anhu narrates that Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam said, “A Shaheed does not feel the pain of his killing except like one who feels the pain of a mosquito bite.” [Tirmizi # 1668]
Conclusion:
Hadhrat Sahl ibn Hunaif radiyallahu anhu narrates that Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam has said, “Whoever pleads to Allah Ta’ala for martyrdom sincerely, Allah Ta’ala will grant him the rank of Martyrs even though he dies on his bed.” [Muslim #1909]
May Allah Ta’ala crown us all with the honour of martyrdom. Aameen.