Who can be called shaheed? Definition of Shaheed

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

The Prophet Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam said:[1]

الشَّهَادَةُ سَبْعٌ سِوَى الْقَتْلِ فِيْ سَبِيْلِ اللهِ الْمَطْعُوْنُ شَهِيْدٌ وَالْغَرِقُ شَهِيْدٌ وَصَاحِبُ ذَاتِ الْجَنْبِ شَهِيْدٌ وَالْمَبْطُوْنُ شَهِيْدٌ وَصَاحِبُ الْحَرِيْقِ شَهِيْدٌ وَالَّذِيْ يَمُوْتُ تَحْتَ الْهَدَمِ شَهِيْدٌ وَالْمَرْأَةُ تَمُوْتُ بِجُمَعٍ شَهِيْدٌ 

“Martyrdom is of seven types besides being killed for the sake of Allah. The one who dies of the plague is a martyr, the one who drowns is a martyr, the one dies of ‘Dhātul-Janb’ is a martyr, the ‘Mabṭūn’ is a martyr, the one who is burned to death is a martyr, the one who is crushed by a falling building is a martyr, and the woman who dies in pregnancy is a martyr

[Abu-Dawood 3/188 Maktaba Al-Asriyya]

Allamah Abdul Hay Al Lacknawi [Rahimahullah] has stated that the following individuals shall be granted the status of martydom:[2]

1) The one who dies in a noble war,

2) The one who dies during a plague,

3) The one who dies of an internal disease,

4) The one who drowns,

5) The one who dies of pleurisy,

6) The one who dies due to a fire,

7) The woman who dies during pregnancy,

8) The one who is crushed to death,

9) The one had a great desire to die as a martyr,

10) The one who dies of tuberculosis,

11) The one who dies as a traveller,

12) The one who dies due to a venomous sting,

13) The one who dies due to floods,

14) The one who is devoured by an animal,

15) The one who falls from his horse/vehicle,

16) The one dies from a fall,

17) The one who dies upon his bed after leaving for a noble war,

18) The one who dies defending his faith,

19) The one who dies defending himself,

20) The one who dies defending his family,       

21) The one who is killed unjustly,

22) The one who dies in a prison after being imprisoned unjustly,

23) The one who is infatuated with someone else but maintains his/her chastity,

24) The one who dies whilst seeking knowledge,

25) The one who dies during pregnancy, or whilst giving birth, or during the breast-feeding period,

26) The one who patiently remains in a city which has been infected by a plague,

27) The one who prepared for a noble war,

28) The one who killed by a tyrant after commanding the tyrant to refrain from evil,

29) The one who bears patience with his wife’s sensitive nature,

30) The one who recites the following 25 times daily:

اللهم بارك لي في الموت وفيما بعد الموت 

Translation: “Oh Allah, bless me in death and that which is to come after death”

Transliteration: “Allahumma Barik Li Fil Mawt Wa Fima Ba’dal Mawt”

31) The one who performs Salah Al Duha, fasts three days every month, and does not miss his witr Salah whilst at home or whilst travelling,

32) The one who follows the Sunnah of the Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam during times of decadence,

33) The businessman who is trustworthy and honest,        

34) The one who, during his final illness, recites the following forty times:

لا إله إلا أنت سبحانك إني كنت من الظالمين

Translation: “There is no one worthy of worship besides You, You are free from all defects, [My lord forgive me for] Indeed I was from amongst the oppressors”

Transliteration: “La Ilaha Illa Anta Subhanaka Inni Kuntu Min Al Zalimeen”

35) The one who provides food for the people of a city,

36) The one who calls to Salah (Mu’adhin) with the hope of reward,

37) The one who looks after his wife and family, commands them to obey Allah, and provides them with a halal sustenance,

38) The one who sends salutations upon the Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam one-hundred times

39) The one who recites the following every morning and every evening:

اللهم إني أشهد أنك أنت الله الذي لا إله إلا أنت وحدك لا شريك لك وأن محمدا عبدك ورسولك أبوء بنعمتك علي وأبوء بذنبي فاغفر لي إنه لا يغفر الذنوب غيرك

Translation:

Oh Allah! I bear testimony that you are the only Allah, there is no lord besides you alone, you have no partners and Muhammad [Sallallahu Alaihi Wa-Sallam] is your slave and your messenger. I confess of your bounties upon me and I confess of my sins. Forgive me. Verily, no one forgives sins besides you.

Transliteration:

Allahumma Inni Ashhadu Annaka Antallah Allathi Lailaha Illa Anta Wahdaka La Sharika Laka Wa Anna Muhammadan Abduka Warasuluk Abuu Biniamatika Alayya Wa Abuu Bithambi Fagfir Li Innahu La Yagfiru Athunuba Gayrak

40) The one who recites the following three times every morning:

أعوذ بالله السميع العليم من الشيطن الرجيم

Translation:

I seek refuge from Allah, the most hearing, the all-knowing, from the accursed shaitan

Transliteration:

Authu Billahis Sameel Aleem Minas Shaytanir Rajeem

And then recites the following verses:

هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ‌ۖ عَـٰلِمُ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ وَٱلشَّهَـٰدَةِ‌ۖ هُوَ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ (٢٢) هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلۡمَلِكُ ٱلۡقُدُّوسُ ٱلسَّلَـٰمُ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُ ٱلۡمُهَيۡمِنُ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡجَبَّارُ ٱلۡمُتَڪَبِّرُ‌ۚ سُبۡحَـٰنَ ٱللَّهِ عَمَّا يُشۡرِڪُونَ (٢٣) هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡخَـٰلِقُ ٱلۡبَارِئُ ٱلۡمُصَوِّرُ‌ۖ لَهُ ٱلۡأَسۡمَآءُ ٱلۡحُسۡنَىٰ‌ۚ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُ ۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ‌ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ (٢٤)

Translation:

He is Allah, than Whom there is no other God, the Knower of the Invisible and the Visible. He is the Beneficent, Merciful. (22) He is Allah, than Whom there is no other God, the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One, Peace, the Keeper of Faith, the Guardian, the Majestic, the Compeller, the Superb. Glorified be Allah from all that they ascribe as partner (unto Him). (23) He is Allah, the Creator, the Shaper out of naught, the Fashioner. His are the most beautiful names. All that is in the heavens and the earth glorifieth Him, and He is the Mighty, the Wise. (24)

41) The one who dies on the day of Jumu’ah,

42) The one who dies with the hope of gaining martyrdom.

These are forty-two individuals listed by Allamah Lucknawi Rahimahullah. Other scholars have added more individuals to this list.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Ridwaan Ibn Khalid Esmail [Kasak]

Student Darul Iftaa

Katete, Zambia

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.