الآية رقم (154) - وَلاَ تَقُولُواْ لِمَنْ يُقْتَلُ فِي سَبيلِ اللّهِ أَمْوَاتٌ بَلْ أَحْيَاء وَلَكِن لاَّ تَشْعُرُونَ

(154) - And do not say about those who are killed in the way of Allah, "They are dead." Rather, they are alive, but you perceive [it] not.)

The greatest trials that need patience is to offer yourself as a martyr (Shaheed), which is the highest status. Martyrdom is the top of affliction that need patience; because the martyr has offered himself cheap defending his homeland and his belief. When the verses talked about remembrance, prayer, and patience, they mentioned the top of trials, which is offering oneself as redemption for his homeland, beliefs, and his sanctities. Allah (swt) says: (And do not say about those who are killed in the way of Allah, “They are dead.”)

There are many meanings upon mentioning martyrdom and martyrs.

When we talk about honoring martyrs, we see that any honor in this life would be not complete, because this world is fleeting, changeable. However, if we connect this life with the Hereafter, there will be a continuous blessing, a permanent giving and unlimited honor. As Allah (swt) says to us:

{ وَلَا تَقُولُوا لِمَن يُقْتَلُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَمْوَاتٌ } (And do not say about those who are killed in the way of Allah, “They are dead)

Who would define the being killed in the way of Allah (swt)?

 Only the prophet (saws) does that, as he said:

“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.”[1]

The criminal who commits suicide to kill and destroy is not a martyr. This is an important matter. There are standards defined by Allah (swt) and his prophet (saws). Allah (swt) says:

 {وَمَا آتَاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانتَهُوا ۚ }

(And whatever the Messenger has given you – take; and what he has forbidden you – refrain from) [Al-Hashr: 7]

Defining a religious matter cannot be subjected to discretion (Ijtihad), as long as it has been mentioned in either the Holy Qur’an or the Sunnah. Thus, if there has been a Qur’anic text or Hadith, the pens have been raised, and the matter has been done.

       We know death, what does it mean to humans? It is the end of the human’s movement in this life. It means, the departure of the soul from the body, either when a person dies normally, or when he is killed. However, there is a difference between dying and being killed, because Allah says:

 { أَفَإِن مَّاتَ أَوْ قُتِلَ }

(So if he was to die or be killed.) [Aal-Imran: 144]

What is the difference between the two? The soul leaves the body, so the physique is destroyed, this is death. However, if the physique is destroyed, then the soul departed, it is Killing. With death, the soul leaves, and after that the body will be destroyed. You may say that he died because he was killed. I will tell you that “If he died, this means that his life is over, and the reason has been the killing. Killing is in fact a destroying of the physique. This soul does live in the body unless it is healthy. If this body is being subjected to a bullet, artillery, poison, burning, drowning, so the soul leaves, and this is a killing. The evidence is: (And do not say about those who are killed in the way of Allah, “They are dead.”).

We consider the one who leaves this life dead, because his soul left his body, and his body is still, seemingly. But Allah (swt), the Lord, the Creator, and the all-Knowing says: (And do not say about those who are killed in the way of Allah, “They are dead.”). They are alive, but with their lord. There is another verse:  

  {وَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ قُتِلُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَمْوَاتًا ۚ بَلْ أَحْيَاءٌ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ يُرْزَقُونَ }

 (And never think of those who have been killed in the cause of Allah as dead. Rather, they are alive with their Lord, receiving provision) [Aal-Imran: 169]

“They live with their Lord”, and their accompany to their lord is of the unseen world, which Allah (swt) does not let us know what it is and you cannot comprehend no matter how much our Lord describes it to you, because you will not be able to imagine it by your limited mind. They are with their Lord, and not in the after-death life (barzakh). As long as they are with their Lord, it means that there is a life. He (swt) says: “receiving provision”, and the provision is of life’s means, and not of the death. The dead people do not need a provision. Allah (swt) says:

(بَلْ أَحْيَاءٌ وَلَٰكِن لَّا تَشْعُرُون) (Rather, they are alive, but you perceive [it] not).

You cannot feel or assume this way of life since they do not pass through the life after death. Allah (swt) has exempted them from the after- death life (Al-Barzakh), and made them accompany Him. Those are the martyrs and this is an honor to them.

Allah (swt) made His creation equal in death, but He (swt) favoured a group with glory over the others, and this glory is the Martyrdom, because they offer themselves and their soul for the sake of his homeland, citizens, sanctities and beliefs.

In addition to the special blessing of accompanying Allah (swt), not only did this martyr moved and martyred, his successors will move and uphold the principles of which the martyr offered himself. This is an important and great meaning that many people do not pay much attention to it. These great principles are the ones, for which the martyr was martyred and gave his blood.

 { وَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ قُتِلُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَمْوَاتًا ۚ بَلْ أَحْيَاءٌ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ يُرْزَقُونَ % فَرِحِينَ بِمَا آتَاهُمُ اللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ }

(And never think of those who have been killed in the cause of Allah as dead. Rather, they are alive with their Lord, receiving provision, % Rejoicing in what Allah has bestowed upon them of His bounty, [Aal-Imran: 169-170]

They are rejoicing, and you are sad. It is a normal matter for human to grieve for leaving his beloved. The Prophet (saws) said:

“The eyes are shedding tears and the heart is grieved, and we will not say except what pleases our Lord. O Ibrahim! Indeed we are grieved by your departure.”[2]

You are sad and Allah (swt) says: They are “Rejoicing in what Allah (swt) has bestowed upon them of His bounty” and not from His justice. There is a difference between favor and justice. By Justice you are given as much as you have introduced, and by favor you are given much more than you have sent ahead.

The martyrs were brave, and wanted their successors to be brave as well and to hold on what they have acted for.

 

 

[1] Sunan At-Tirmidhi: The Book of religions, Chapter: He who dies while defending his property is a martyr, Hadith no. 1421

[2] Sahih Al-Bukhari, Book of funerals, chapter of the prophet (saws) sayings (we are grieved by you), No. (1241).