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First Khutbah:

All perfect praise is due to Allaah; I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad is His Slave and Messenger; may Allaah exalt his mention, as well as his family and all his companions.

A martyr has the highest rank with Allaah and the best position in the Hereafter. There are many types of martyrs, and today we will address this issue and try to highlight some important points in this regard.

Three types of martyrs: Martyrdom is the loftiest rank to obtain, and the best way to end ones life. This is due to the honor which Allaah Has granted and attached to such people, and the abundant reward that He appointed for them.

O Muslims! There are three types of martyrs;

First: the martyr of this life and the hereafter.

Second: the martyr of this life.

Third: the martyr of the Hereafter.

First: the martyr of this life and the hereafter: It is he who is killed in a battle against the disbelievers whilst facing the enemy and not retreating from the battlefield, and whose only objective is to make the Word of Allaah supreme and humiliate the disbelievers, and not for any worldly gain. Abu Moosaa Al-Ash`ari, may Allaah be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, was asked about who fights in the battlefield out of valor, or out of zeal, or out of showing off, which of this is considered as fighting in the cause of Allaah? He sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam said: “He who fights in order that the Word of Allaah remains the supreme, is considered as fighting in the cause of Allaah”. [Al-Bukhaari & Muslim].

Second: the martyr of this life: It is he who is killed in a battle against the disbelievers but stole from the booties of war, or fought out of valor, or out of zeal or out of racism, or for any other worldly purpose and not for the sake of making the Word of Allaah supreme. Such a person, even though all the rulings of a martyr are applied to him in this life, such as burying him with his clothes and not washing him, yet he will not have any share in the reward of the Hereafter. On the other hand, we as Muslims are commanded to treat people with what appears from their action and leave the judgment of their hearts and intentions and their recompense (whether good or bad) to Allaah.

Third: the martyr of the Hereafter: It is the one who will get the reward of a martyr in the Hereafter, but the rulings of a regular dead person is applied to him in this life when burying him. Examples for this type is the person who is killed oppressively but not during a battle, or death due to certain diseases. A person who dies drowning, unless he unnecessarily risked himself and thus drowned or he was on his way to commit a sin or any type of disobedience, in such a case it is different.

Undoubtedly, being killed in the battlefield is the highest form of martyrdom, and such a person gets the highest reward, and no other type of martyr will reach its rank.

In clarifying the reward of a martyr, Allaah says:

وَلا تَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ قُتِلُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَمْوَاتاً بَلْ أَحْيَاءٌ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ يُرْزَقُونَ * فَرِحِينَ بِمَا آتَاهُمُ اللَّهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ وَيَسْتَبْشِرُونَ بِالَّذِينَ لَمْ يَلْحَقُوا بِهِمْ مِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ أَلَّا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ * يَسْتَبْشِرُونَ بِنِعْمَةٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَفَضْلٍ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ لا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ

Which means: “And never think of those who have been killed in the cause of Allaah as dead. Rather, they are alive with their Lord, receiving provision. Rejoicing in what Allaah has bestowed upon them of His bounty, and they receive good tidings about those [to be martyred] after them who have not yet joined them- that there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve. They receive good tidings of favor from Allaah and bounty and [of the fact] that Allaah does not allow the reward of believers to be lost-” [Aal ‘Imraan: 169-171].

The prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, also encouraged seeking martyrdom in various narrations. Al-Miqdaam Ibn Ma’di Karib, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “A martyr has six bounties: He will be forgiven with the first drop of his blood that is spilt; He will see his place in Paradise (at the time of death); He will be saved from the ‘Great Horror’ (on the Day of Judgment): A Crown of Dignity will be placed on his head, which contains many corundums, each one being more precious than this life and all that it contains; He will have seventy two Women of Paradise; And, he will be allowed to intercede for seventy of his family members (who would have otherwise gone to hell).” [At-Tirmithi & Ibn Maajah].

If a person sincerely asks Allaah to grant him martyrdom, then Allaah will grant him the reward of martyrdom even if he was not killed in the battlefield during Jihaad. Sahl Ibn Hunayf, may Allaah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: “He who (sincerely) asks Allaah for martyrdom, Allaah will raise him to the high status of the martyrs, even if he dies on his bed”. [Muslim].

Going back to the third type, which is the martyrs of the Hereafter; Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: “Whom do you reckon to be martyr amongst you?” The Companions, may Allaah be pleased with them, replied: “The one who is killed in Allaah’s way.” He, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: “In that case, the martyrs among my people would be few.” The Companions asked: “O Messenger of Allaah! Then who are the martyrs?” He, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, replied: “He who is killed in the way of Allaah is a martyr; he who dies naturally in the Cause of Allaah is a martyr; he who dies of plague is a martyr; and he who dies of a stomach disease is a martyr; and he who is drowned is a martyr.” [Muslim]. When he, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, was asked why plague is considered as martyrdom, he, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, replied: “It used to be a form of punishment that Allaah would send on people, but He made it a mercy for the believers. Any believer who perseveres through it will get the reward of a martyr”

The narration also indicated that the person who dies as a result of a disease in his stomach is also considered as a martyr, such as the one who dies as a result of cholera. There is another narration which mentions more types of martyrs. Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: “The martyrs are of five kinds: One who dies of plague; one who dies of disease in his stomach; the drowned; one who dies under the debris (of construction, etc.), and one who dies while fighting in the way of Allaah.” [Al-Bukhaari & Muslim]. If a person’s houses collapses and he dies under its ruins, then according to the abovementioned narration he is a martyr. Also if one is standing next to a wall and it falls on him and he dies, he is also considered a martyr, and these two cases often happen during earthquakes.

Another type is a woman who dies whilst delivering or as a result of delivery. ‘Ubaadah Ibn As-Saamit, may Allaah be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, visited ‘Abdullaah Ibn Rawaahah, while he was sick once and said: “Do you know who are considered as martyrs in my nation?” ‘Abdullaah said: “The one who is killed whilst fighting Jihaad” he, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: “In that case, the martyrs among my people would be few. Rather, he who is killed in the way of Allaah is a martyr; he who dies of plague is a martyr; and a woman who dies due to pregnancy (i.e. whilst the baby is still in her womb) and a woman who dies during delivery, her baby will drag her into Paradise with what remains in her from the umbilical cord”. The scholars excluded from this the case of a woman whose pregnancy was due to fornication or adultery.

The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: “The one who dies of Thaatul-Janb is a martyr” Thaatul-Janb is a disease in which a swelling happens in a membrane under the rib bones that could lead to death. From the contemporary diseases to which this also applies is death due to cancer.

Dying due to the sickness of tuberculosis is another type of martyrdom. The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: “Dying due to tuberculosis is martyrdom”.

Dying whilst defending ones wealth is martyrdom. The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: “Whoever is killed whilst defending his wealth is a martyr”. Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him, reported: “A man came to the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, and asked: “O Messenger of Allaah! What shall I do if someone comes to me with the intention of taking away my property?’’ He, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, replied: “Do not hand it over to him.” The man asked: “What shall I do if he fights me?’’ The Messenger of Allaah , sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: “Then fight him.” The man asked: “What will be my position in the Hereafter if he has killed me?’’ The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, replied: “In that case you are a martyr.” The man again asked: “What if I killed him?’’ The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, replied, “He will be in the Hell-fire.” [Muslim].

Dying whilst protecting one’s property, life, family or religion, is also martyrdom. Sa`eed Ibn Zaid Ibn Nufayl, may Allaah be pleased with him, one of the ten Companions who were given the glad tidings of entering Paradise reported: “I heard the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, saying: “He who dies while defending his property is a martyr; he who dies in defense of his own life is a martyr; and he who dies in defense of his faith is a martyr, he who dies in defense of his family is a martyr.” [Abu Daawood & At-Tirmithi].

One of the greatest ways to die is whilst guarding the front lines of the Muslim army, also known in Arabic as Ribaat. Salmaan, may Allaah be pleased with him, reported: “I heard the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, as saying: “Observing Ribaat in the way of Allaah for a day and a night is far better than observing fast for a whole month and standing in prayer in all its nights (i.e. optional night prayers). If a person dies (while performing this duty), he will go on receiving his reward for his meritorious deeds perpetually, and he will be saved from Al-Fattaan (i.e. the interrogation in the grave which the two angels Munkar and Nakeer will conduct).” [Muslim].

O Muslims! Another great type of martyrdom is dying in fire as the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: “Dying in fire (i.e. being burnt) is a martyrdom”. Therefore, the person who dies burning is a martyr.

A noteworthy thing to state in this regard, is that people should not be labeled as martyrs left and right, because Allaah is the only One Who Knows who died as a martyr and who did not. We ask Allaah to finish our lives as martyrs.

Second Khutbah:

All perfect praise is due to Allaah; I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad is His Slave and Messenger; may Allaah exalt his mention, as well as his family and all his companions.

Slaves of Allaah! The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, warned us against the evil of fire. Abu Moosaa, may Allaah be pleased with him, reported: “A house in Al-Madeenah caught fire at night and the roof and walls fell down upon the occupants. When this was reported to Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, he said: “Fire is your enemy; so put it out before you go to bed”. [Al-Bukhaari & Muslim].

Due to it being a horrible way of dying, the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, used to seek refuge in Allaah from dying in fire, to reflect on how awful of a way it is to die like this. The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, used to supplicate saying: “O Allaah! I seek refuge in You from dying as a result of falling from a high place, under ruins, drowning or in fire. O Allaah! I seek refuge in You from dying as a result of a snakebite”. [An-Nasaa’ee & Abu Daawood].

One thing related to the issue is the way to deal with any person who dies in any of the aforementioned ways. The scholars, may Allaah have mercy upon them, said that he is not to be washed if he was killed in the battlefield, unless he was in the state of ritual impurity (i.e. after ejaculation whether due to wet dreams or an intercourse with one’s spouse) and if a woman is in menstruation or postpartum bleeding, in such cases the martyr must be washed prior to burying him or her. This applies unless the method through which the person dies in the process is other than being killed by the enemy. Meaning if a person goes out to fight Jihaad then he or she falls of his animal, gets in an accident, falls from a mountain or if he or she was found dead without knowing the method, then he or she must be washed.

Another person who is dealt with like the martyr who is killed in the battlefield is the one who is killed by thieves who kill him in the process of stealing his wealth or property.

All other types of martyrs are to be washed, except the one who dies burning in a fire if it is not possible to wash him or her. In some cases washing the burnt person results in stripping his skin and the like, so the alternative is to pour water over his or her body, but if it is also feared that the same would happen by pouring the water, then washing is waived and Tayammum (i.e. dry ablution) is applied to him or her.

Do we pray on a person who dies in a fire? Indeed, because there is no reason not to pray. Even if the person has turned into ashes, then we must gather these ashes and pray over him or her according to the opinion of Imaam Ahmad, may Allaah have mercy upon him.

Slaves of Allaah! This was an attempt to clarify some rulings pertaining to martyrs, and we ask Allaah to end our lives in a good way as martyrs.

From islamav.com