Firstly: In Islamic terminology, a martyr (shahīd) is one who dies in battle against the enemies of Islam with the intention of fighting for Allāh and raising His word.

However, the Prophet (peace be upon him) mentioned other types of martyrs who were also killed, even though not on the battlefield. For instance, it is narrated by At-Tirmidhī on the authority of Sa῾īd ibn Zayd that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever is killed defending their property is a martyr, whoever is killed defending their religion is a martyr, whoever is killed defending their life is a martyr, and whoever is killed defending their family is a martyr.” In the Musnad (᾽Aḥmad’s collection), it is narrated: “Whoever is killed defending their property is a martyr, whoever is killed defending their family is a martyr, whoever is killed defending their religion is a martyr, and whoever is killed defending their life is a martyr.” These individuals are considered martyrs in rank.

The difference between these mentioned individuals and martyrs in the strict sense of the term lies not in the rulings of the afterlife but in the rulings of this world, such as washing the body, shrouding, and the funeral prayer. A battlefield martyr is not washed or shrouded and is buried in the clothes they were killed in, nor is a funeral prayer performed for them. Meanwhile, those who fall under the categories mentioned in the ḥadīths are washed, shrouded, and prayed over.

Secondly: The Prophet (peace be upon him) also mentioned those who receive the reward of a martyr without having the rank of a martyr, in various narrations, for those who die in specific ways, such as by burning, drowning, or being crushed.

For instance, Abū Hurayrah (may Allāh be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “What do you consider martyrdom?” They said: “O Messenger of Allāh, whoever is killed in the cause of Allāh is a martyr.” He said: “In that case, the martyrs of my ᾽ummah would be few.” They asked: “Then, who are they, O Messenger of Allāh?” He replied: “Whoever is killed in the cause of Allāh is a martyr, whoever dies in the cause of Allāh is a martyr, whoever dies of plague is a martyr, and whoever dies of stomach disease is a martyr.” Ibn Miqsam added: “I bear witness on your father in this narration that he said: ‘And the drowned is a martyr.'” [Narrated by Muslim and others].

In a narration by Al-Bukhārī: “The martyrs are five: those who die of plague, those who die of stomach disease, the drowned, those who are crushed by a collapsing building, and the martyr in the cause of Allāh.”

In Ibn Mājah’s version: “Being killed in the cause of Allāh is martyrdom, dying of plague is martyrdom, a woman dying in childbirth is martyrdom, drowning is martyrdom, being burned to death is martyrdom, and dying of pleurisy is martyrdom.”

These individuals receive the reward of the martyrs without having their rank or worldly rulings.

Thirdly: One who participates in a demonstration to support our brothers and sisters in Palestine and is killed or dies receives the reward of the martyrs in the hereafter. Similarly, if one is killed for wearing Islamic attire or a symbol of the fighters, such as the Palestinian keffiyeh, they receive the reward of a martyr in the hereafter, even if the worldly rulings do not apply to them. Such a person is to be washed, shrouded, and prayed over, and it is permissible to call them a martyr in terms of seeking reward from Allāh.

As for their reward in the hereafter, if their intention was to support the truth, they will receive the reward of the martyrs.

Fatwā issued by Dr. Khālid Naṣr