Reports on martyrdom and its virtue

Sayyiduna Utbah bin Abd al-Sulami (may Allah be pleased with him), who was one of the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), narrates: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Those who are killed are of three kinds. One is a believer who strives in the path of Allah with his life and his wealth, until, when he meets the enemy, he fights them until he is killed. This is the martyr who will take pride in being in the tent of Allah beneath His Throne, and the prophets will be superior to him only by the rank of prophethood. Another is a believer who has wronged himself with sins and errors; then he strives in the path of Allah with his life and his wealth, until, when he meets the enemy, he fights until he is killed. Then a purification wipes away his sins and errors, for the sword wipes away errors, and he will be admitted to Paradise through whichever door he wishes. Paradise has eight doors and Hell has seven doors, and some of them are more excellent than others. And another is a hypocrite who strives with his life and his wealth, until, when he meets the enemy, he fights in the path of Allah until he is killed. He will be in the Fire, for the sword does not wipe away hypocrisy."
Ahmad and al-Tabarani recorded it, though al-Tabarani's wording is: "He will enter through whichever of the doors of Paradise he wishes. It has eight doors, some of which are more excellent than others." The narrators of Ahmad are the narrators of the Sahih, except al-Muthanna al-Umluki, who is thiqah (trustworthy).

Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Martyrs are of three kinds. One is a man who goes out in the path of Allah with his life and his wealth, hoping for reward. He does not intend to fight or to be killed; he intends to increase the numbers of the Muslims. If he dies or is killed, all his sins are forgiven, he is protected from the punishment of the grave, he is kept safe from the terror, he is married to the wide-eyed houris, he is clothed in the robe of honour, and the crown of dignity and of eternity is placed upon his head." The second is a man who goes out with his life and his wealth, hoping for reward. He intends to be killed, not to kill. If he dies or is killed, his knee will be beside Sayyiduna Ibrahim, the Friend of the Most Merciful (peace be upon him), in the presence of Allah Almighty, in a seat of truth near a Sovereign, Perfect in Ability. The third is a man who goes out with his life and his wealth, hoping for reward. He intends to kill and to be killed. If he dies or is killed, he will come on the Day of Resurrection brandishing his sword, resting it upon his shoulder, while the people are kneeling on their knees, and these (martyrs) will be saying: "Make way for us, for we have spent our blood for Allah." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "By the One in whose hand is my soul, if he were to say that to Sayyiduna Ibrahim, the Friend of the Most Merciful (peace be upon him), or to any other of the prophets of Allah Almighty, they too would make way for him, because of the right owed to them that they see, until those martyrs come to pulpits of light beneath the Throne and sit upon them, watching how judgement is passed among the people. They will not feel the grief of death, they will not stay in the Barzakh, the Blast will not frighten them, the Reckoning will not trouble them, nor will the Scale or the Sirat trouble them. They will watch how judgement is passed among the people. Whatever they ask for will be given to them, whoever they intercede for, their intercession will be accepted, they will be given whatever they like of Paradise, and they will take up their dwelling in Paradise wherever they wish."
Al-Bazzar recorded it and declared it weak on account of his teacher Muhammad bin Mu'awiyah; if he is al-Naysaburi, then he is matruk (abandoned). Its chain also contains a narrator, Muslim bin Khalid al-Zanji, who is likewise da'if (weak), although he has been declared trustworthy.

Sayyiduna Nu'aym bin Hammar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: A man asked the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): "Which of the martyrs is most excellent?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Those who, when they stand in the battle line, do not turn their faces away until they are killed. These people will move about in the highest chambers of Paradise, and their Lord will smile at them; and when the Lord smiles at a servant in this world, no reckoning will be taken from that servant."
Ahmad and Abu Ya'la recorded it. Abu Ya'la's wording is: It is reported from Sayyiduna Nu'aym bin Hammar (may Allah be pleased with him) that he heard the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) when a man came to him and said: "Which of the martyrs is most excellent?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Those who take part in the front row." The rest of the narration is as before.
Al-Tabarani recorded something similar in al-Mu'jam al-Kabir and al-Mu'jam al-Awsat. The narrators of Ahmad and Abu Ya'la are thiqat (trustworthy).

Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "On the Day of Resurrection, the most excellent jihad in the presence of Allah Almighty will be that of those who face the enemy in the front row and do not turn their faces away until they are martyred. These people will dwell in the highest chambers of Paradise. Their Lord looks at them, and when He smiles at a people, no reckoning will be required of them."
Al-Tabarani recorded it in al-Mu'jam al-Awsat through Anbasah bin Sa'id bin Aban, whom al-Daraqutni (may Allah have mercy on him) declared thiqah (trustworthy), as al-Dhahabi reported; no one has declared him weak. The rest of its narrators are the narrators of the Sahih.

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Being killed in the path of Allah becomes an expiation for all sins (the narrator is unsure; perhaps the words are:) becomes an expiation for everything, except the trust (amanah). The trust pertains to prayer as well, the trust pertains to fasting as well, the trust pertains to speech as well, and the most severe (trust) concerns the things left in one's keeping as deposits."
Al-Tabarani recorded it, and its narrators are thiqat (trustworthy).

Sayyiduna Ubadah bin al-Samit (may Allah be pleased with him) reports from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) a hadith like the one that preceded this. He narrates: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The martyr will have six qualities in the presence of Allah Almighty: he will be forgiven with the first gush of his blood; he will see his place in Paradise; he will be clothed in the robe of faith; he will be married to the wide-eyed houris; he will be protected from the punishment of the grave; he will be safe from the Greatest Terror; the crown of dignity will be placed upon his head, a single ruby of which is better than the world and everything in it; he will be married to seventy-two wives from among the wide-eyed houris; and his intercession will be accepted for seventy people from among his close relatives."
Ahmad recorded it in this way, like that. Al-Bazzar and al-Tabarani also recorded it, though al-Tabarani's wording is: "seven qualities," and he recorded it in this way. The narrators of Ahmad and al-Tabarani are thiqat (trustworthy).

Sayyiduna Qays al-Judhami (may Allah be pleased with him), a man who had the honour of being a Companion, narrates: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "With the first drop of his blood, the martyr is granted six qualities: every sin of his is expiated; he sees his place in Paradise; he is married to the wide-eyed houris; he is kept safe from the Greatest Terror; he is kept safe from the punishment of the grave; and he is clothed in the robe of faith."
Ahmad recorded it. Its chain contains a narrator, Abd al-Rahman bin Thabit bin Thawban, whom Abu Hatim and a group declared thiqah (trustworthy), while another group declared him da'if (weak).

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The martyr has six qualities: he is forgiven with the first (gush) of his blood; he is kept safe from the terror; he sees his place in Paradise; he is married to the wide-eyed houris; and he is saved from the punishment of the grave."
Al-Tabarani recorded it. Its chain contains a narrator, Abd al-Rahman bin Ziyad bin An'um, who is da'if (weak).

Sayyiduna Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When the first drop of the martyr's blood falls, his sins are expiated through it. With the second (drop, or the second quality he attains), he is clothed in the robe of faith. The third is that he is married to the wide-eyed houris."
Al-Tabarani recorded it. Its chain contains a narrator, Ja'far bin al-Zubayr, who is kadhdhab (a liar).

Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "With the first (gush) of his blood the martyr is forgiven, he is married to two houris, and he will intercede for seventy members of his household. And the one guarding the frontier, when he dies during his guard duty, the reward of his deeds is recorded for him until the Day of Resurrection; his provision is given to him morning and evening; he is married to seventy houris; and it will be said to him: 'Stay and intercede until the Reckoning is finished.'" (Allamah al-Haythami says:) I say: Ibn Majah recorded part of this narration.
Al-Tabarani recorded it in al-Mu'jam al-Awsat from his teacher Bakr bin Sahl al-Dimyati. Al-Dhahabi says: He is muqarib al-hadith (fair in hadith). Al-Nasa'i (may Allah have mercy on him) declared him da'if (weak).

Sayyiduna Yazid bin Shajarah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: I heard the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) say: "You are amid red, green and yellow. When you meet your enemy, advance, advance! For whenever any man mounts (to fight) in the path of Allah, two of the wide-eyed houris hasten to him. When that man drinks the cup of martyrdom, with the first drop of his blood that falls Allah Almighty erases every one of his sins. The two houris wipe the dust from his face and say: 'Your time has come,' and he says: 'Now your time has come as well.'"
Al-Bazzar and al-Tabarani recorded it. Al-Bazzar's chain contains a narrator, Isma'il bin Ibrahim al-Taymi, and the other's chain contains a narrator, Fahd bin Awf, and both of them are extremely da'if (weak). The hadith of Jidar, which is more complete than this, has already preceded concerning the virtue of jihad.

It is reported from Mujahid and from Yazid bin Shajarah (Yazid bin Shajarah was one of those whose words were confirmed by their deeds); he narrates: (The narrator says: Yazid bin Shajarah) addressed us in a sermon and said: "O people, remember the blessings of Allah upon you. How excellent are the blessings Allah Almighty has bestowed upon you! We see red, green and yellow, and among the people there are such as are among them. He used to say: When the rows are formed for prayer and when the rows are formed for battle, the gates of the heaven are opened, the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hell are opened, and the wide-eyed houris are adorned and look down. When a man advances, they say: 'O Allah, help him,' and when a man turns back, they veil themselves from him and say: 'O Allah, forgive him.' So drive back the enemy, may my father and mother be ransomed for you, and do not bring disgrace upon the wide-eyed houris. For when the first drop (of the martyr's blood) falls, it becomes an expiation for everything he has done. Two wives from among the houris come down to him, wipe his face and say: 'Your time has come,' and he says: 'Your time has come as well.' Then he is clothed in one hundred robes, which are not woven by human beings but grow in Paradise; if they were placed between two fingers, they would fit there. He used to say: I have been told that swords are the keys of Paradise."
Al-Tabarani recorded it through two routes, the narrators of one of which are the narrators of the Sahih.

Sayyiduna Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The martyr feels as much pain from being killed as a person feels from the bite of an ant."
Al-Tabarani recorded it. Its chain contains a narrator, Rishdin bin Sa'd, who is da'if (weak).

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The martyrs will be on the bank of the river Bariq, which is at the gate of Paradise, in a green dome. Their provision will come out to them from Paradise morning and evening."
Ahmad recorded it, and its narrators are thiqat (trustworthy).
Al-Tabarani recorded it in al-Mu'jam al-Kabir and al-Mu'jam al-Awsat.

Sayyiduna Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: A man came to the prayer while the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was praying. When the man reached the row, he said: "O Allah, grant me what You grant Your righteous servants." The narrator says: When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) completed the prayer, he asked: "Who is the one who spoke just now?" The man said: "O Messenger of Allah, it is I." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "In that case, your horse's legs will be cut down and you will drink the cup of martyrdom."
Abu Ya'la and al-Bazzar recorded it with two chains. Of al-Bazzar's two chains, the narrators of one are the narrators of the Sahih, except Muhammad bin Muslim bin A'idh, who is thiqah (trustworthy).

Sayyiduna Samurah bin Jundub (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to say to us: "Whoever among you is killed in the path of Allah while being patient and facing the enemy will be in Paradise."
Al-Tabarani and al-Bazzar recorded it. Al-Tabarani's chain contains mastur (undisclosed) narrators, and the rest of its narrators are thiqat (trustworthy); al-Bazzar's chain is da'if (weak).

Sayyiduna Ka'b bin Ujrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: One day the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to his Companions: "What do you say about a person who is killed in the path of Allah?" The people said: "He will go to Paradise." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "If Allah wills, he will go to Paradise." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "What do you say about a person who dies, and then two upright men stand and say: 'We know nothing of him but good'?" The people said: "Allah and His Messenger know best." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "If Allah wills, this one too will go to Paradise." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked: "What do you say about a person who dies, and then two upright men stand and say: 'We know of no good in him'?" The people said: "He will go to Hell." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "He is a sinner, and Allah Almighty is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
Al-Tabarani recorded it. Its chain contains a narrator, Ishaq bin Nistas, who is da'if (weak).

Sayyiduna Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The martyr feels from being killed only as much pain as a person feels from the bite of an ant."
Al-Tabarani recorded it in al-Mu'jam al-Awsat. Its chain contains a narrator, Rishdin bin Sa'd, who is da'if (weak).

It is transmitted from Sayyiduna Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) that this narration reached him that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever is killed seeking the pleasure of Allah, Allah Almighty will not punish him."
Al-Tabarani recorded it in al-Mu'jam al-Awsat. Its chain contains a narrator, Abdullah bin Bukayr al-Ghanawi, who is da'if (weak).

Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When the servant stands for the Reckoning, some people will come with their swords placed upon their necks, drops of blood dripping from them, and they will crowd at the gate of Paradise. It will be asked: 'Who are these people?' It will be said: 'These are the martyrs; they were alive and were given provision.'"
Al-Tabarani recorded it in al-Mu'jam al-Awsat within a long hadith which, if Allah wills, will come later in the chapter on the Resurrection. Its chain contains a narrator, al-Fadl bin Yasar; al-Uqayli says: His hadith is not corroborated. The rest of its narrators are thiqat (trustworthy).

Sayyiduna Abu Musa (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) took part in a military expedition. A man from the idolaters challenged a man from the Muslims to single combat, and the idolater killed that Muslim. Then another man from the Muslims came out against him, and the idolater killed him too. Then that man came and stood before the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: "What are you fighting for?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Our religion is that we fight people until they bear witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is His servant and His Messenger, and that we fulfil the right of Allah Almighty in full." The man said: "By Allah, this is good indeed. I believe in it." Then he turned and went over to the Muslims, then he charged at the idolaters and kept fighting until he was killed. His body was brought and placed beside his two companions whom he had killed before that. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Of the people of Paradise, these are the ones with the greatest love for one another."
Al-Tabarani recorded it in al-Mu'jam al-Kabir and al-Mu'jam al-Awsat. Ibn al-Mubarak's hearing from al-Mas'udi is sound, so, if Allah wills, this hadith is sahih (authentic); its narrators are thiqat (trustworthy).