Is It Permissible in Shari‘ah to Declare a Specific Individual as a Martyr (Shahīd)?
Taken from: Fatāwā Arkān-e-Islām
Is it permissible to refer to a specific person as a “Shahīd” (martyr)? What is the stance of Islamic teachings on this?
Alḥamdulillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh. Ammā ba‘d:
There are two possible scenarios when it comes to using the term Shahīd:
If martyrdom is stated as a general descriptive category, such as:
➤ Whoever is killed in the path of Allah is a martyr.
➤ Whoever is killed while defending his wealth is a martyr.
➤ Whoever dies due to a plague is a martyr.
Such statements are permissible, as they are based on authentic Islamic texts (naṣūṣ).
This is in fact a confirmation of the statements of the Prophet ﷺ.
When we say that such expressions are permissible, it implies not only that they are allowed but that affirming the Prophet’s ﷺ reports is obligatory.
Referring to a particular individual and saying “He is a martyr” is not permissible, except in two cases:
❶ Where the Prophet ﷺ personally testified about their martyrdom.
❷ Where there is consensus (ijmā‘) of the Ummah about a specific individual’s martyrdom.
Imam al-Bukhārī رحمه الله established a chapter:
(باب لا يُقال فلانٌ شهيد)
“One should not say: ‘So-and-so is a martyr.’”
Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar رحمه الله commented:
It is not permissible to definitively declare someone as a martyr, unless such knowledge is received through revelation.
He referred to a narration of ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنه, in which he said during a sermon:
“In your battles, you say ‘So-and-so is a martyr’, ‘So-and-so died as a martyr’, whereas he may have died after falling off his mount. So do not say this. Rather, say as the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘Whoever dies or is killed in the path of Allah, he is a martyr.’”
This narration is ḥasan (sound) and has been recorded by Imām Aḥmad, Saʿīd ibn Manṣūr, and others through Muḥammad ibn Sīrīn from ʿUmar رضي الله عنه.
(Fatḥ al-Bārī, 6/110)
Martyrdom is always based on knowledge.
To declare someone a martyr, they must have fought for the cause of exalting the word of Allah ﷻ,
which is a matter of intention (niyyah) – something that is hidden and unknowable to others.
«مَثَلُ الْمُجَاهِدِ فِیْ سَبِيْلِ اللّٰهِ وَاللّٰهُ اَعْلَمُ بِمَنْ يُجَاهِدُ فِی سَبِيْلِهِ»
“The example of one who fights in the path of Allah… and Allah knows best who truly fights in His path.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Book of Jihād, Ḥadīth: 2787)
«وَالَّذِی نَفْسِی بِيَدِهِ لَا يُکْلَمُ أَحَدٌ فِی سَبِيْلِ اللّٰهِ وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنْ يُکْلَمُ فِی سَبِيْلِهِ...»
“By the One in whose hand is my soul! No one is wounded in the path of Allah – and Allah knows best who is wounded in His path – except that he will come on the Day of Judgment with blood flowing from his wounds; the color will be that of blood, but the smell will be that of musk.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Book of Jihād, Ḥadīth: 2803)
If a person is apparently pious, we may hope that he is a martyr.
However:
✖ We cannot testify to his martyrdom.
✖ We must not harbor suspicions about him either.
“Hope” occupies a middle ground between testimony and suspicion.
If someone is killed while fighting in the path of Allah:
➤ He is buried in the same blood-stained clothes.
➤ Funeral prayer is not offered for him.
If he belongs to other categories of martyrs:
➤ He is given ghusl (ritual washing) and shrouded.
➤ Funeral prayer is offered.
To say that someone is a martyr is essentially to testify that he is from the people of Paradise,
and this is not from the creed of Ahl al-Sunnah, unless:
➤ The Prophet ﷺ personally testified regarding that person.
➤ Or, according to some scholars, such as Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله, if the entire Ummah unanimously praises someone’s virtue, then it may be allowed.
It is clear from the above explanation that:
✖ Without explicit evidence from the Sharī‘ah or consensus of the Ummah,
it is not permissible to declare a specific individual as a martyr.
✔ However, hope may be expressed regarding those who appear outwardly righteous.
This hope is sufficient in praising them,
and the reality of their fate lies only with Allah ﷻ.
هٰذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
This is what I hold to be correct. And Allah knows best what is right.
Taken from: Fatāwā Arkān-e-Islām❖ Question:
Is it permissible to refer to a specific person as a “Shahīd” (martyr)? What is the stance of Islamic teachings on this?
❖ Answer:
Alḥamdulillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh. Ammā ba‘d:
There are two possible scenarios when it comes to using the term Shahīd:
① When Martyrdom is Mentioned as a General Attribute
If martyrdom is stated as a general descriptive category, such as:
➤ Whoever is killed in the path of Allah is a martyr.
➤ Whoever is killed while defending his wealth is a martyr.
➤ Whoever dies due to a plague is a martyr.
Such statements are permissible, as they are based on authentic Islamic texts (naṣūṣ).This is in fact a confirmation of the statements of the Prophet ﷺ.
When we say that such expressions are permissible, it implies not only that they are allowed but that affirming the Prophet’s ﷺ reports is obligatory.
② When Martyrdom is Attributed to a Specific Individual
Referring to a particular individual and saying “He is a martyr” is not permissible, except in two cases:
❶ Where the Prophet ﷺ personally testified about their martyrdom.
❷ Where there is consensus (ijmā‘) of the Ummah about a specific individual’s martyrdom.
❖ The View of Imam al-Bukhārī رحمه الله:
Imam al-Bukhārī رحمه الله established a chapter:
(باب لا يُقال فلانٌ شهيد)
“One should not say: ‘So-and-so is a martyr.’”
Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar رحمه الله commented:
It is not permissible to definitively declare someone as a martyr, unless such knowledge is received through revelation.
He referred to a narration of ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنه, in which he said during a sermon:
“In your battles, you say ‘So-and-so is a martyr’, ‘So-and-so died as a martyr’, whereas he may have died after falling off his mount. So do not say this. Rather, say as the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘Whoever dies or is killed in the path of Allah, he is a martyr.’”
This narration is ḥasan (sound) and has been recorded by Imām Aḥmad, Saʿīd ibn Manṣūr, and others through Muḥammad ibn Sīrīn from ʿUmar رضي الله عنه.
(Fatḥ al-Bārī, 6/110)
❖ Martyrdom Must Be Based on Certainty (ʿIlm)
Martyrdom is always based on knowledge.
To declare someone a martyr, they must have fought for the cause of exalting the word of Allah ﷻ,
which is a matter of intention (niyyah) – something that is hidden and unknowable to others.
❖ Clarification from the Prophetic Aḥādīth:
«مَثَلُ الْمُجَاهِدِ فِیْ سَبِيْلِ اللّٰهِ وَاللّٰهُ اَعْلَمُ بِمَنْ يُجَاهِدُ فِی سَبِيْلِهِ»
“The example of one who fights in the path of Allah… and Allah knows best who truly fights in His path.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Book of Jihād, Ḥadīth: 2787)
«وَالَّذِی نَفْسِی بِيَدِهِ لَا يُکْلَمُ أَحَدٌ فِی سَبِيْلِ اللّٰهِ وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنْ يُکْلَمُ فِی سَبِيْلِهِ...»
“By the One in whose hand is my soul! No one is wounded in the path of Allah – and Allah knows best who is wounded in His path – except that he will come on the Day of Judgment with blood flowing from his wounds; the color will be that of blood, but the smell will be that of musk.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Book of Jihād, Ḥadīth: 2803)
❖ Hoping for Martyrdom ≠ Declaring Martyrdom
If a person is apparently pious, we may hope that he is a martyr.
However:
✖ We cannot testify to his martyrdom.
✖ We must not harbor suspicions about him either.
“Hope” occupies a middle ground between testimony and suspicion.❖ Legal Rulings Related to Martyrs
If someone is killed while fighting in the path of Allah:
➤ He is buried in the same blood-stained clothes.
➤ Funeral prayer is not offered for him.
If he belongs to other categories of martyrs:
➤ He is given ghusl (ritual washing) and shrouded.
➤ Funeral prayer is offered.
❖ Declaring a Specific Person as a Martyr Implies Testifying to Paradise
To say that someone is a martyr is essentially to testify that he is from the people of Paradise,
and this is not from the creed of Ahl al-Sunnah, unless:
➤ The Prophet ﷺ personally testified regarding that person.
➤ Or, according to some scholars, such as Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله, if the entire Ummah unanimously praises someone’s virtue, then it may be allowed.
Conclusion:
It is clear from the above explanation that:
✖ Without explicit evidence from the Sharī‘ah or consensus of the Ummah,
it is not permissible to declare a specific individual as a martyr.
✔ However, hope may be expressed regarding those who appear outwardly righteous.
This hope is sufficient in praising them,
and the reality of their fate lies only with Allah ﷻ.
هٰذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
This is what I hold to be correct. And Allah knows best what is right.
