Taken from: Fatawa Ameenpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Ameenpuri
Is a person who dies due to illness considered a martyr?
Not everyone who dies due to illness is regarded as a martyr (Shahīd). Rather, there are specific conditions and diseases for which the one who dies is granted the status of martyrdom.
Sayyidunā Jābir ibn ʿAtīk (رضي الله عنه) reports that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Indeed, Allah grants reward in accordance with the intention. What do you consider martyrdom to be?”
The Companions (رضي الله عنهم) replied:
“To sacrifice one's life in the battlefield for the sake of Allah.”
The Prophet ﷺ then said:
“There are seven types of martyrdom besides being killed in battle:”
① One who dies due to plague (ṭāʿūn)
② One who dies by drowning
③ One who dies due to pneumonia
④ One who dies from abdominal illness
⑤ One who dies by burning
⑥ One who dies due to collapse or being crushed
⑦ A woman who dies during pregnancy or childbirth
(Muwaṭṭaʾ Mālik: 1/233; Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 3111; Sunan al-Nasāʾī: 1846 — Chain is ḥasan)
This ḥadīth has been declared authentic by Imām Ibn Ḥibbān (3189) and Imām al-Ḥākim (1/503), and Ḥāfiẓ al-Dhahabī agreed with their assessment.
Only those who die due to specific causes — as mentioned in authentic narrations — are granted the status of shahādah (martyrdom).
A general illness does not automatically qualify one as a martyr unless it falls under the categories specified by the Prophet ﷺ.
✿ Question:
Is a person who dies due to illness considered a martyr?
✿ Answer:
Not everyone who dies due to illness is regarded as a martyr (Shahīd). Rather, there are specific conditions and diseases for which the one who dies is granted the status of martyrdom.
Sayyidunā Jābir ibn ʿAtīk (رضي الله عنه) reports that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Indeed, Allah grants reward in accordance with the intention. What do you consider martyrdom to be?”
The Companions (رضي الله عنهم) replied:
“To sacrifice one's life in the battlefield for the sake of Allah.”
The Prophet ﷺ then said:
“There are seven types of martyrdom besides being killed in battle:”
① One who dies due to plague (ṭāʿūn)
② One who dies by drowning
③ One who dies due to pneumonia
④ One who dies from abdominal illness
⑤ One who dies by burning
⑥ One who dies due to collapse or being crushed
⑦ A woman who dies during pregnancy or childbirth
(Muwaṭṭaʾ Mālik: 1/233; Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 3111; Sunan al-Nasāʾī: 1846 — Chain is ḥasan)
This ḥadīth has been declared authentic by Imām Ibn Ḥibbān (3189) and Imām al-Ḥākim (1/503), and Ḥāfiẓ al-Dhahabī agreed with their assessment.
✔ Conclusion:
Only those who die due to specific causes — as mentioned in authentic narrations — are granted the status of shahādah (martyrdom).
A general illness does not automatically qualify one as a martyr unless it falls under the categories specified by the Prophet ﷺ.
