By Maulana Muhammad Masood Azhar حفظه الله

4) The Palace Of The Shaheed (Martyr)

Narrated Samura (رضي الله عنه), the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, "“Last night two men came to me (in a dream) and made me ascend a tree and then admitted me into a better and superior house better of which I have never seen. One of them said, this house is the house of the Shuhadah." (Sahih Bukhari, Vol 1, p185)

The great status of the Shaheed is stated clearly in this hadith. The Prophet (saw) was shown the beautiful palace of the Shuhadah (martyrs) in Paradise on the night of Mi'raaj (when he ascended to the Heavens). The Shaheed has sacrificed his life by fighting in the path of Allah and this sacrifice is his most beloved and worthy possession. Allah therefore, honours and blesses him with these high grades and status and Allah’s Forgiveness and Mercy surrounds him. Allah says in the Holy Quran: "“And if you are killed or die in the Way of Allah, forgiveness and mercy from Allah are far better than all that they amass (of worldly wealths, etc)." (3:157).

It is because of this honour from Allah that the Shaheed’s deeds are forever lasting as Allah says: "“But those who are killed in the Way of Allah, He will never let their deeds be lost.”" (47:4).

The respect and honour of the Shaheed is such that the Muslims have been prohibited from calling the Shuhadah dead because thev are alive as Allah says: “"And say not of those who are killed in the Way of Allah, “They are dead,” Nay, they are living, but you perceive (it) not.”" (2:154).

The Muslims are not onlv prohibited from calling the Shuhadah dead but further prohibited from even thinking of them as dead, because the Shaheed has sacrificed his life for such a great cause, as Allah says: “"Think not of those who are killed in the Way of Allah as dead. Nay, they are alive, with their Lord, and they have provision.” “They rejoice in what Allah has bestowed upon them of His Bounty.." (3: 169-170).

Another reason for these great virtues and grades for the Shaheed, is because he has performed the best Jihad. The best Jihad is described in the following hadeeth: Hazrat Jabir (ra) narrates that a person asked, "O Prophet of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم), which is the best Jihad?”" The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, "“The best Jihad is that the legs of your horse be cut off and your blood be spilt (shahadah)." (Ibn Hibban; Ibn Majah; at-Targhib Wat-Tarheeb, vol 2, p438).

Therefore, the Jihad is the best deed and the best grade of Jihad is Shahadah (martydom) which the Shaheed has achieved. May Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) grant all the Muslims the desire for Shahadah. Ameen!

The virtues of the Shaheed are numerous and have been recorded in many Hadith books. The following is a list of some of these Ahadith:

Hazrat Jabir ibn 'Abdullah (رضي الله عنه) says that when 'Abdullah ibn Amr ibn Haram (رضي الله عنه) was Shaheed, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, "O Jabir! shall I inform you of how Allah honoured your father?”" He answered, "Please do." The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, "Allah does not talk to anybody but behind the veil but he talked to your directly (withot the veil)." (Tirmidhi; At Targheeb wat-Tarheeb, Vol 2, p437).

Hazrat Obadah ibn Samit (رضي الله عنه) narrates, that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, "“The Shaheed (martyr) is granted seven gifts from Allah. 1) He is forgiven at the fisrt drop of his blood. 2) He sees his status in Jannah (paradise). 3) He is dressed in the clothes of 'Imaan (faith). 4) He is safe from the punishment of the grave. 5) He will be safe from the great fear of the day of Judgment. 6) A crown of honour will be placed on his head. 7) He will intercede on behalf of 70 members of his family." (Musnad Ahmad; Tabrani, At Targheeb Wat Tarheeb, Vol 2, p443).

Anas ibn Malik (رضي الله عنه) narrates, that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, “There are three types of Shuhadah. The first one is a person who went forth in the path of Allah (Jihad). His intention was not to fight or to be Shaheed, he joined solely to increase the number of the Muslims. If this person dies or is killed (in the path of Allah) all his sins will be forgiven, he will be safe from the punishment of the grave, he will be safe from the fear of the day of Judgment and he will be wed to hoorain (women of Jannah), he will wear the clothes of honour, and a crown symbolising honour and eternal life in Jannah will be placed on his head. The second type of Shaheed is a man who set out for Jihad with his wealth and life with the intention of reward. His intention was to kill the unbelievers and not to be killed. If he is killed or dies he will be in the grade of Ibraheem (), which is the honoured grade, in front of the King (Allah) who has power over all. The third type of Shaheed is he who set out for Jihad, with his life and wealth intending reward and he is determined to kill or to be killed. If he is killed or dies he will come on the day of Judgment with his sword on his shoulders when the people will be crawling on their knees. He will ask them, “Will you not make way for us as we have sacrificed our blood and wealth for Allah."

The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) continued, "I swear by the One in whose hands is my life, if this person was to say this to Ibraheem (عليه السلام) or any other Prophet they would make way for him recognising their duty. These Shuhada' will walk up to the pulpits of noor (light) beneath the Throne of Allah and they will sit there and observe the judgment of the people taking place. The sorrow of death will not reach them, nor the difficulty of the grave, nor will the blowing of the trumpet make them fear. They will not worry about their judgment, nor the crossing of the bridge (sirat). They will observe the judgment being carried out and whatever they will ask will be given to them. Their intercession on behalf of anybody will be accepted. Whatever they request from Jannah will be given to them and whatever place they will choose in Jannah will be their abode." (Bazzaz; Baihaqi)

Hazrat Abu Darda (رضي الله عنه) narrates that, "I heard the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) saying that the Shaheed will intercede on behalf of 70 members of his family." (Abu Dawood; At Targheeb wat-Tarheeb)

Mujahid (رحمه الله) said, that Yazid ibn Shajara was amongst those whose deeds would testify his sayings. He stated the following during a Khutbah (speech): “When the skies are opened and when the rows of unbelievers and believers are facing each other, the doors of Heaven and Hell are opened and the Hoorain (woman of Jannah) who have big beautiful eyes and are well dressed, peer from the sky. When a Muslim moves forward they say, "O Allah, make his feet steadfast, O Allah." And when he turns his back towards the enemy the Hoorain cover their veil from him and say, "O Alllah forgive him." O people make an effort for this, may my parents be sacrificed for you, do not disgrace the Hoor of Jannah. When a person is Shaheed, as the first drop of blood falls on the ground his sins fall down like the withering of leaves from trees and the hoorain come down towards him and clean the soil from his face. He will then be presented with a gift of a hundred pairs of clothes, which will not be human made, but will be the creation of Jannah. He stated further that, "I have been informed that the keys to Paradise are swords." (At-Targheeb Tarheeb, Vol 2, p444; Ibn Mubarak, p72).

Hayan ibn Abi Habla (رضي الله عنه) narrates that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, "When a person is Shaheed, Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) creates a beautiful body for him. Then Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) orders his soul to enter this body. So it enters in the body. Then the person looks at his previous body as to what is being done to it, then he looks at the people around him who are grieving, he thinks that the people are listening and looking at him, he then goes towards his wives." (Ibn Mubarak, p93)

Naeem ibn Hamar (رضي الله عنه) narrates that a person asked the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم), “"Which Shaheed is superior”?" The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) answered, "“Those who are in the rows of battle and do not turn their face till they are killed. They will roam around in the highest rooms in Jannah and their Lord will laugh at them. This is an indication that, when Allah laughs at somebody, there is no accounting of his deeds on the Day of Judgment." (Musnad Ahmad; at-Targheeb wat-Tarheeb, vol 2, p442)

Imam Nawawi (رحمه الله) has narrated seven different views in association with the Shaheed from the commentary of‘ Sahih Muslim.

1) He is called Shaheed because he is alive and his soul is present in Dar-us-Sallam (a grade of Jannah) and his soul will be present in Jannah on the day of Judgment. So the meaning of Shaheed is present.

2) Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) and His angels bear witness to him for Jannah. So Shaheed is in the meaning of witness.

3) When a Shaheed’s soul comes out he sees those grades and gifts
that Allah has made ready for him. So Shaheed is in the meaning
of observing Allah's gifts.

4) The Angels of blessings come down to place his soul at its rank. So Shaheed is in the meaning of the presence of Angels.

5) His obvious state (at the time of death) has testified his
'Iman (faith) and a good death (Islamic death). So Shaheed is in the meaning of testifying his death on 'Iman (faith).

6) The evidence to his Shahadah is the presence of blood and this
is why he is given the rank of Shaheed.

7) He will be appointed as a testifier for the Prophets (peace be upon them all) that they conveyed their messages to their nations. So Shaheed is in the meaning of testifier.

It is on account of these great virtues that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and the Sahaba (رضي الله عنهم أجمعين) used to wish for Shahadah and used to love the death in Allah’s path, and from whom even death used to run far away and fear them. May Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) grant all Muslims the desire for Shahadah. Ameen!

(The Virtues Of Jihad)

» Posted by Seifeddine-M on 2nd February 2011

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