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:

I am writing regarding my uncle who passed away recently:
He died due to a accident in the army i.e: he was a solidier, his death was classified as shaheed,
What are the signs of a shaheed, we are still in a misunderstanding about this was he a shaheed or not?
We were told that if after he died and their was still flowing blood that meant he was a shaheed this was his case.... can you please help a.s.a.p
jazak allah

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Answer:

Who is a martyr

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’:

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.

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.

Respected sister, it is really an insignificant matter whether or not one who is a ‘shaheed’ is recognized or called a martyr by the believers or his loved ones on this earth….what is of paramount importance is that one is recognized and honored as a ‘shaheed’ in the Sight of Allah on the Day of Judgment! And rest absolutely assured that it is Allah Subhanah Alone Who Will Decide, Determine and honor who amongst those whose lives were taken on this earth were true ‘martyrs’ in His Cause, and who weren’t.

It is possible that one whom the whole world recognizes as a ‘shaheed’ is not declared a martyr in the Sight of Allah Subhanah, and one whose death and sacrifice went absolutely unnoticed and uncelebrated in the world receives the ultimate honor of being recognized as a true ‘martyr’ in the Presence of the All-Knowing Lord Most Majestic.

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