Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Shall be obliged if you could provide an enlightenment on the hadith “5 kinds of Martyrs” especially regarding those who have died of disease of his belly.

Those innocent who drown out of natural calamities of Tsunami or floods, and due to earth quake or landslides and buried under the ashes of volcanoes is understood.

Thank you and May Allah reward your efforts on tabligh.

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Answer:

Different type of martyrs

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Other than the believer who is killed by the disbelievers in a battlefield when defending or furthering the Cause of Islam….the Messenger of Allah (saws) also included several other forms and types of deaths amongst the rank of ‘martyrs’ or ‘shaheeds’:

Abu Hurairah reported that Allah's Messenger (saws) said:"He who is killed fighting for Allah's Cause is a martyr, he who dies in the Cause of Allah is a martyr, he who dies in an epidemic is a martyr, he who dies from a stomach disease is a martyr, and the one who dies of drowning is (also) a martyr."

Narrated by Muslim.

Al-Muwatta Hadith 16.36

Yahya related from Malik from Abdullah ibn Abdullah ibn Jabir ibn Atik that Atik ibn al-Harith told him that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said: ‘What do you consider dying a martyr to be?" They said, "Death in the way of Allah." The Messenger of Allah (saws) said, "There are seven kinds of martyrs other than those killed in the Way of Allah. Someone who is killed by the plague is a martyr, someone who drowns is a martyr, someone who dies of pleurisy is a martyr, someone who dies of a disease of the belly is a martyr, someone who dies by fire is a martyr, someone who dies under a falling building is a martyr, and a woman who dies in childbirth is a martyr."

Sa'id ibn Zaid reported that the Prophet (saws) said: "He who is killed while guarding his property is a martyr, he who is killed while defending himself is a martyr, he who is killed defending his religion is a martyr, and he who dies protecting his family is (also) a martyr."

Related by Ahmad and Tirmidhi.

When one is constantly engaged in and strives one’s utmost to further the Cause of Allah Subhanah, and it is his intention and humble prayer unto his Lord Most Gracious that his life be taken or sacrificed in the Cause of Allah Subhanah, and thus chosen as a martyr by the Lord…..even if the life of such a person is cut short by a natural calamity or a deadly disease, then it is expected that the Lord Most Gracious will include such amongst His believing servants as martyrs.

But if one denies Allah, and/or is negligent in performing his obligatory duties unto his Lord Creator, and/or lives his life preferring the luxuries of this world in preference to the Hereafter…..and this person never wished or hoped, leave alone strived that his life be spent furthering the Cause of Allah….then regardless of when, how, and where death approaches such a person….even if he dies in a natural calamity or from a deadly disease, such a person will have no rank worthy of mention in the Presence of the Lord All-Knowing, All-Just.

Your Question:…..especially regarding those who have died of disease of his belly.

Just as in our age and times, the diseases of AIDS or Cancer etc. are considered incurable diseases which ultimately lead one to their deaths….in the time of the Prophet (saws) it seems that the ‘disease of the belly’ was considered one amongst the absolutely incurable diseases which would ultimately lead one to their deaths. The Messenger of Allah (saws) gave glad tidings to those sincere believers who die of an epidemic or an incurable disease that the Lord Most Gracious will, if He so Wills and Pleases, include them amongst the martyrs. And Allah Alone Knows Best.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan