The Virtues of a Martyr: 10 Authentic HadithsWritten by: Imran Ayub Lahori
✿ The Virtue of a Martyr (شہید کی فضیلت)
➊ [Al-Baqarah: 154]
وَلَا تَقُولُوا لِمَن يُقْتَلُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَمْوَاتٌ ۚ بَلْ أَحْيَاءٌ وَلَٰكِن لَّا تَشْعُرُونَ
"Do not say of those who are killed in the path of Allah that they are dead. Rather, they are alive, but you perceive not."
➋ [Āl ‘Imrān: 169–171]
وَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ قُتِلُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَمْوَاتًا...
"Never think of those who have been killed in the path of Allah as dead. Rather, they are alive with their Lord, being provided for. They rejoice in what Allah has bestowed upon them of His bounty, and they rejoice for those who have not yet joined them, that there will be no fear upon them, nor will they grieve. They rejoice in the favor of Allah and His bounty, and that Allah does not waste the reward of the believers."
➌ [Al-Aḥzāb: 23]
مِّنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ رِجَالٌ صَدَقُوا مَا عَاهَدُوا اللَّهَ عَلَيْهِ...
"Among the believers are men who have been true to what they promised Allah. Some of them have fulfilled their vow, and some are still waiting. They have not changed in the least."
➍ Forgiveness Except for Debt
Narrated by ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAmr (RA):
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"All the sins of a martyr are forgiven except for debt."
In another narration:
"Being killed in the path of Allah atones for everything except debt."
[Muslim: 1887 | Kitāb al-Imārah | Chapter: One Who Is Killed in the Path of Allah Has His Sins Forgiven Except Debt]
➎ The House of Martyrs in Paradise
Narrated by Samurah ibn Jundub (RA):
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"Two men came to me in a dream, took me up a tree, and entered me into a house that was more beautiful and excellent than I had ever seen. They said: This is the house of the martyrs."
[Bukhari: 2791 | Kitāb al-Jihād | Chapter: The Ranks of the Mujahideen in the Path of Allah]
➏ The Martyr’s Wish to Return to the World
Narrated by Anas (RA):
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"No one who enters Paradise would wish to return to the world and have anything of it, except for the martyr. He would wish to return and be killed ten times due to the honor he sees."
In another narration:
"Because of what he sees of the virtues of martyrdom."
[Bukhari: 2817 | Muslim: 1877 | Tirmidhi: 1661]
➐ Souls of the Martyrs in Green Birds
Narrated by ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbbās (RA):
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ told his companions:
"When your brothers were martyred at Uhud, Allah placed their souls inside green birds that drink from the rivers of Paradise, eat from its fruits, and rest in golden lamps hanging under the Throne..."
Then they wished that their brothers be informed, so Allah revealed:
وَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ قُتِلُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَمْوَاتًا...
[Ṣaḥīḥ Targhīb: 1379 | Abu Dawud: 2520 | Al-Ḥākim: 3/88]
➑ Six Privileges of a Martyr
Narrated by Al-Miqdām ibn Maʿdīkarib (RA):
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"A martyr has six privileges with Allah:
① He is forgiven at the first drop of blood,
② Sees his place in Paradise,
③ Is protected from the punishment of the grave,
④ Is secure from the greatest terror (Day of Judgment),
⑤ A crown of dignity is placed on his head – one ruby of it is better than the world and what is in it,
⑥ He is married to seventy-two maidens of Paradise,
⑦ And he may intercede for seventy of his relatives."**
[Ṣaḥīḥ Targhīb: 1375 | Tirmidhi: 1663 | Ibn Mājah: 2799 | Aḥmad: 4/131]
➒ Paradise for the Martyr – Regardless of Appearance or Wealth
Narrated by Anas (RA):
A man said to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ:
"O Messenger of Allah! I am a black man, with a foul smell, an unattractive face, and no wealth. If I fight and am killed, will I enter Paradise?"
He ﷺ said:
"Yes!"
He fought until he was martyred. The Prophet ﷺ passed by his body and said:
"Allah has brightened your face, made your scent pleasant, and increased your wealth. I saw his wives from among the wide-eyed maidens disputing over him, wishing to enter between his skin and his woolen cloak."
[Ṣaḥīḥ Targhīb: 1381 | Al-Ḥākim: 2/93 – Authentic according to the conditions of Muslim]
➓ Provision from Paradise Morning and Evening
Narrated by Ibn ʿAbbās (RA):
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"The martyrs will be on the banks of a river at the gate of Paradise in green domes. Their provision will be brought to them from Paradise morning and evening."
[Ṣaḥīḥ Targhīb: 1378 | Aḥmad: 1/266 | Al-Ḥākim: 2/74 | Ibn Ḥibbān: 4639]
Summary:These ten authentic narrations clearly highlight the immense virtues, honor, and rewards that Allah ﷻ has prepared for those who are martyred in His path. The status of a martyr (Shaheed) is lofty both in the sight of Allah and in the Hereafter, encompassing immediate forgiveness, access to Paradise, special rewards, and the ability to intercede for relatives.
