The types of martyrs covered in this chapter are regarded as martyrs when it comes to the Hereafter. But with regard to the rulings applied in the life of this world, they are not treated like the martyrs killed in battle. Out of His bounty towards this Ummah, Allah Almighty gives the reward for martyrdom to other types of martyrs, as mentioned in the following Hadīths.
1353/1 - Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The martyrs are five: he who dies from a plague; he who dies from an abdominal disease; he who drowns; he who dies because debris fell on him; and he who dies fighting in the cause of Allah.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
1354/2 - He also reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whom do you consider to be a martyr among you?” They said: “O Messenger of Allah, the one who is killed in the way of Allah is a martyr.” He said: “Then, the martyrs in my Ummah would be a few indeed.” They said: “Then, who are they, O Messenger of Allah?” He said: “He who is killed in the cause of Allah is a martyr; he who dies in the cause of Allah is a martyr; he who dies because of plague is a martyr; he who dies from an abdominal disease is a martyr; and he who dies from drowning is a martyr.” [Narrated by Muslim]
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1) Allah Almighty honors this Muslim Ummah as He has increased the types of martyrs so that they will receive greater rewards.
2) He who goes out for the sake of Allah, intending to emigrate in His cause, or dies on the way to Jihad, is a martyr as far as the Hereafter is concerned.
The types of martyrs are not limited to those mentioned in this Hadīth. Rather, there are others, like a woman who dies during her postpartum period and a person who dies from burning, tuberculosis, etc., as mentioned in relevant authentic Hadīths.
1355/3 - ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘Ās (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “He who is killed as he defends his property is a martyr.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
1356/4 - Abu al-A‘war Sa‘īd ibn Zayd ibn ‘Amr ibn Nufayl, one of the ten Companions who were told that they would enter Paradise, reported: I heard the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) say: “Whoever is killed defending his property is a martyr; whoever is killed defending his life is a martyr; whoever is killed defending his religion is a martyr; and whoever is killed defending his family is a martyr.”
[Narrated by Abu Dāwūd and Al-Tirmidhi, who classified it as Hasan Sahīh (sound and authentic)]
1357/5 - Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: A man came to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and said: “O Messenger of Allah, what if a man comes to me wanting to take my money?” He said: “Do not give him your money.” The man said: “What if he fights me?” He said: “Fight him.” The man said: “What if he kills me?” He said: “You would be a martyr.” The man said: “What if I kill him?” He said: “He would be in Hellfire.” [Narrated by Muslim]
1) The property, life, and honor of a Muslim are inviolable. He who dies as he defends any of these is a martyr.
2) We should defend religion with our own lives, and he who dies doing this is a martyr. How far from this are Muslims nowadays! Some of them treat religion as something insignificant and worthless.
3) We should adopt an approach of gradation as we confront an attacker. Our goal should be to repel him, not to kill him. But, if we cannot repel him except by killing him, the Shariah permits us to do so.
4) The Shariah is keenly concerned with preserving and defending five necessary things: religion, life, mind, honor, and property.