Jihād and the Forgiveness of Martyrs — In Light of Authentic Hadiths
Written by: Imran Ayyub Lahori❖ Jihād with Sincere Intention — Forgiveness of All Sins Except Debt
Islam places a great reward for those who strive in the path of Allāh (Jihād) with sincerity and sacrifice. The martyr (shahīd) holds a lofty status, and his sins are forgiven — with one critical exception: debt.
✦ ➊ Forgiveness of All Sins Except Debt
Narration of Abū Qatādah رضي الله عنه:
A man came and asked the Prophet ﷺ:
"O Messenger of Allāh! If I am killed in the path of Allāh, will all my sins be forgiven?"
The Prophet ﷺ replied:
نَعَمْ، وَأَنْتَ صَابِرٌ مُحْتَسِبٌ مُقْبِلٌ غَيْرُ مُدْبِرٍ، إِلَّا الدَّيْنَ، فَإِنَّ جِبْرِيلَ قَالَ لِي ذَلِكَ
"Yes — if you are patient, seeking reward, and advancing (not retreating), then all sins will be forgiven — except debt. Indeed, Jibrīl عليه السلام told me this."
[Muwaṭṭa’: 2/461, Kitāb al-Jihād; Aḥmad: 5/297; Muslim: 1885; Tirmidhī: 1712; Nasā’ī: 6/34; Ḥumaydī: 425; ʿAbd b. Ḥumayd: 192]
Key Conditions for Forgiveness in Jihād:- Sincere intention
- Patience
- Seeking reward
- Not retreating from the battlefield
✦ ➋ Explicit Statement — Debt Is Not Forgiven
Narration of ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAmr رضي الله عنهما:
The Prophet ﷺ said:
يَغْفِرُ اللهُ لِلشَّهِيدِ كُلَّ ذَنْبٍ إِلَّا الدَّيْنَ، فَإِنَّ جِبْرِيلَ قَالَ لِي ذَلِكَ
"Allāh will forgive every sin of the martyr except for debt. Verily, Jibrīl informed me of this."
[Muslim: 1886, Kitāb al-Imārah; Aḥmad: 2/220]
Conclusion:Martyrdom does not wipe out financial obligations. This underscores the seriousness of fulfilling the rights of others, particularly debts.
❖ Are Other People’s Rights (Ḥuqūq al-ʿIbād) Also Not Forgiven?
Imām al-Shawkānī رحمه الله observed:
Some scholars extend the ruling on debt to all Ḥuqūq al-ʿIbād (rights of people) by analogy — meaning that rights like trust, injustice, backbiting, etc., are also not absolved by martyrdom.
However, this generalization is not conclusive, and Imām al-Shawkānī himself critiques this assumption, offering the following reasons:
✦ Refutation of Generalizing Beyond Debt
① The Hadith specifies only debt (الدين) — no mention of other rights.
② If such generalization were intended, the Prophet ﷺ would have clarified it, because:
تَأْخِيرُ الْبَيَانِ عَنْ وَقْتِ الْحَاجَةِ لَا يَجُوزُ
"Delaying clarification at the time of need is not permissible."
③ From a legal standpoint, generalizing a specific (عام من الخاص) is not valid without strong evidence.
❖ Summary:
Jihād with sincerity leads to the forgiveness of all sins — except debt. This exemption is explicitly confirmed by revelation via Jibrīl عليه السلام. Rights of others (Ḥuqūq al-ʿIbād) may or may not fall under this exemption — the text only affirms debt. Therefore, one must be cautious about debts even when engaging in noble acts like Jihād.