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Sahih MuslimThe Book on Government

The martyrs are five: the one who dies from plague, who dies from an abdominal disease, who drowns, who dies because debris fell on him, and the one who dies fighting in the cause of Allah

Chapter: About the Martyrs

Authentic hadith of Sahih Muslim Sahih Muslim 1915a

Narrator:Abu Hurayrah

وَحَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ سُهَيْلٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ مَا تَعُدُّونَ الشَّهِيدَ فِيكُمْ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَنْ قُتِلَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ قَالَ ‏"‏ إِنَّ شُهَدَاءَ أُمَّتِي إِذًا لَقَلِيلٌ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالُوا فَمَنْ هُمْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ ‏"‏

مَنْ قُتِلَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ وَمَنْ مَاتَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ وَمَنْ مَاتَ فِي الطَّاعُونِ فَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ وَمَنْ مَاتَ فِي الْبَطْنِ فَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ ‏"

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: the one who dies from a plague, the one who dies from an abdominal disease, the one who drowns, the one who dies because debris fell on him, and the one who dies fighting in the cause of Allah."

In another narration, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) asked the Companions: "Who do you consider to be martyrs amongst you?" They replied: "The one who is killed fighting in the cause of Allah is a martyr." He said: "If so, then the martyrs among my Ummah would be few." The Companions asked: "O Messenger of Allah, then who are the martyrs?" He replied: "The one who is killed fighting in the cause of Allah is a martyr, the one who dies naturally in the cause of Allah is a martyr, the one who dies of a plague is a martyr, the one who dies of an abdominal ailment is a martyr, and the one who drowns is also a martyr."

Reported by Muslim (No. 1915a).

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Explanation

The martyrs, in general, are five: one who is afflicted with a plague (a deadly epidemic) and dies of it, one who dies from an ailment in his abdomen, one who dies from drowning provided that he went to the sea for a lawful purpose, one who dies from debris, such as a wall falling on him, one who is killed while fighting for the sake of Allah, which is the highest level of martyrdom, and also one who dies in the way of Allah but not in the physical fight. The first four martyrs mentioned are considered martyrs in the Hereafter, meaning that they are not subject to the rulings pertaining to martyrs in this worldly life, so their bodies are washed and funeral prayer is offered over them. The number of martyrs mentioned in the Hadīth is not all inclusive.

Explanation in Arabic

الشهداء في الجملة خمسة، الذي ضربه الطاعون ومات به وهو وباء فتاك، والذي يموت بمرض البطن، والذي يموت من الغرق وقد ركب البحر ركوبا غير محرم، أو في السيول والمسابح ونحوها، والذي يموت تحت الهدم كأن سقط عليه جدار، والمقتول في سبيل الله تعالى ، وهو أعلى الأنواع، وكذلك من مات في سبيل الله بسبب غير القتال، والشهداء الأربعة الأول شهداء في أحكام الآخرة لا الدنيا فيغسلون ويصلى عليهم، والعدد في الحديث ليس للحصر.

  • فضل الله ورحمته بعباده المؤمنين.
  • الشهداء قسمان : شهيد الدنيا، وشهيد الآخرة.
  • تصحيح المفاهيم الخاطئة المستقرة في أذهان المدعوين.
  • العدد في الحديث ليس للحصر.

Classical commentary

An-Nawawi — Sharh Sahih Muslim

قَوْله صَلَّى اللَّه عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : ( وَمَنْ مَاتَ فِي سَبِيل اللَّه فَهُوَ شَهِيد ) فَمَعْنَاهُ : بِأَيِّ صِفَة مَاتَ , وَقَدْ سَبَقَ بَيَانه. قَوْل الْعُلَمَاء : وَإِنَّمَا كَانَتْ هَذِهِ الْمَوْتَات شَهَادَة بِتَفَضُّلِ اللَّه تَعَالَى بِسَبَبِ شِدَّتهَا وَكَثْرَة أَلَمهَا , وَقَدْ جَاءَ فِي حَدِيث آخَر فِي الصَّحِيح " مَنْ قُتِلَ دُون مَاله فَهُوَ شَهِيد وَمَنْ قُتِلَ دُون أَهْله فَهُوَ شَهِيد " وَسَبَقَ بَيَانه فِي كِتَاب الْإِيمَان , وَفِي حَدِيث آخَر صَحِيح " مَنْ قُتِلَ دُون سَيْفه فَهُوَ شَهِيد " قَالَ الْعُلَمَاء : الْمُرَاد بِشَهَادَةِ هَؤُلَاءِ كُلّهمْ غَيْر الْمَقْتُول فِي سَبِيل اللَّه أَنَّهُمْ يَكُون لَهُمْ فِي الْآخِرَة ثَوَاب الشُّهَدَاء. وَأَمَّا فِي الدُّنْيَا فَيُغ…

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Scholars’ grades

ScholarGradeApplies toWork
Muslimd. 261 AH Authenticصحيح The hadith صحيح مسلم No. 1915
Grades of other versions (3)
  • AuthenticAl-Albani صحيح — صحيح الجامع (6449)
  • Authentic chainShu'ayb al-Arna'ut إسناده صحيح على شرط مسلم — تخريج صحيح ابن حبان (3186)
  • AuthenticIbn Hibban أخرجه في صحيحه — صحيح ابن حبان (3186)

Other versions

Not graded Riyad as-Salihin 1354

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Whom do you reckon to be martyr amongst you?" The Companions replied: "The one who is killed in Allah's way." He said, "In that case, the martyrs among my people would be few." The Companions asked: "O Messenger of Allah! Then who are the martyrs?" He replied, "He…

وعنه قال‏:‏ قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏:‏ ‏"‏ما تعدون الشهداء فيكم‏؟‏ قالوا‏:‏ يا رسول الله من قتل في سبيل الله فهو شهيد‏.‏ قال‏:‏ ‏"‏إن شهداء أمتي إذًا لقليل‏!‏‏"‏ قالوا‏:‏ فمن يا رسول الله ‏؟‏ قال‏:‏ ‏"‏من قتل…

Authentic Mishkat al-Masabih 3811

'Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Whom do you reckon to be the martyr among you?” His hearers replied, “The one who is killed in God’s path is the martyr, Messenger of God.” He said, “The martyrs among my people would then be few. He who is killed in God’s path is a martyr, he who…

" إِنَّ شُهَدَاءَ أُمَّتِي إِذًا لِقَلِيلٌ: مَنْ قُتِلَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ وَمَنْ مَاتَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ وَمَنْ مَاتَ فِي الطَّاعُونِ فَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ وَمَنْ مَاتَ فِي الْبَطْنِ فهوَ…

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Also reported by… (5)
  • التمهيد لابن عبد البر (3352)مَنْ تَعُدُّونَ الشُّهَدَاءَ فِيكُمْ قَالُوا : مَنْ قُتِلَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ ، فَقَالَ رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : إِنَّ شُهَدَاءَ أُمَّتِي إِذًا لَقَلِيلٌ : مْنَ قُتِلَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ ، وَمَنْ مَاتَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ ، وَمَنْ مَاتَ مِنْ طَاعُ
  • الجزء الثاني من مسند أبي هريرة (86)مَنْ قُتِلَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ ، وَمَنْ مَاتَ بِالْبَطْنِ فَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ ، وَمَنْ مَاتَ فِي الطَّاعُونِ فَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ
  • صحيح ابن حبان (3265)مَنْ قُتِلَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ، فَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ ، وَمَنْ مَاتَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ ، وَمَنْ مَاتَ فِي الطَّاعُونِ فَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ ، وَمَنْ مَاتَ فِي بَطْنٍ فَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ
  • مستخرج أبي عوانة (5906)مَنْ قُتِلَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ ، وَمَنْ مَاتَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ ، وَالْمَطْعُونُ شَهِيدٌ ، وَالْمَبْطُونُ شَهِيدٌ
  • مسند أبي داود الطيالسي (2519)مَنْ قُتِلَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ، فَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ ، وَمَنْ مَاتَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ، فَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ ، وَالْمَطْعُونُ شَهِيدٌ ، وَالْمَبْطُونُ شَهِيدٌ

On the same subject

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 2829

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Five are regarded as martyrs: They are those who die because of plague, Abdominal disease, drowning or a falling building etc., and the martyrs in Allah's Cause."

الشُّهَدَاءُ خَمْسَةٌ الْمَطْعُونُ، وَالْمَبْطُونُ، وَالْغَرِقُ وَصَاحِبُ الْهَدْمِ، وَالشَّهِيدُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah + 30 other versions

Authentic Muwatta Malik 558

Yahya related to me from Malik from Abdullah ibn Abdullah ibn Jabir ibn Atik that Atik ibn al-Harith, the grandfather of Abdullah ibn Abdullah ibn Jabir on his mother's side, told him that Jabir ibn Atik had told him that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, came to…

حَدَّثَنِي يَحْيَى، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَتِيكٍ، عَنْ عَتِيكِ بْنِ الْحَارِثِ، - وَهُوَ جَدُّ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ جَابِرٍ أَبُو أُمِّهِ - أَنَّهُ…

Narrated by Jābir ibn Atīk + 4 other versions

Authentic Sunan Ibn Majah 2804

“What do you say among yourselves about the martyr?” They said: “The one who is killed in the cause of Allah.” He said: “In that case the martyrs among my nation would be few. Whoever is killed in the cause of Allah is a martyr; whoever dies in the cause of Allah is a martyr; whoever dies of a…

"‏ إِنَّ شُهَدَاءَ أُمَّتِي إِذًا لَقَلِيلٌ مَنْ قُتِلَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ وَمَنْ مَاتَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ وَالْمَبْطُونُ شَهِيدٌ وَالْمَطْعُونُ شَهِيدٌ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah + 1 other version

Authentic Sunan Ibn Majah 2803

“We hoped that when he died it would be as a martyr in the cause of Allah.” The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “In that case the martyrs of my nation would be few. Being killed in the cause of Allah is martyrdom; dying of the plague is martyrdom; when a pregnant woman dies in childbirth that is…

"‏ إِنَّ شُهَدَاءَ أُمَّتِي إِذًا لَقَلِيلٌ الْقَتْلُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ شَهَادَةٌ وَالْمَطْعُونُ شَهَادَةٌ وَالْمَرْأَةُ تَمُوتُ بِجُمْعٍ شَهَادَةٌ - يَعْنِي الْحَامِلَ - وَالْغَرِقُ وَالْحَرِقُ وَالْمَجْنُوبُ -…

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