Is Asking for Martyrdom From Allah Most High Permissible?
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
I recently read a book centered on the lives of our companions (sahaba). A companion (sahabi) prayed to Allah that he may be martyred by the enemy overpowering him. I don’t understand the dua as the companions were against the enemies of Islam, so why pray that the enemy overpower them? I know that they were always on the lookout for an opportunity to get martyred while fighting in the way of Allah, and they craved for it more than the infidels yearned for wine.
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate
I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question.
Some of them made a dua as such due to their deep, sincere enthusiasm and the immense reward which was in front of them. However, as the companions did, one should generally ask for well-being(afiya) and only wish to meet the enemy with full preparedness, religious honesty, spirituality, and physicality.
None Wishes to Return to Earth, Except Martyrs
Anas (Allah be pleased with Him) reported that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “No one who enters Paradise would like to return to the world, even if he could have everything on earth, except for the martyr. He will wish to return to the world and be killed ten more times due to the generous reward he sees.” [Bukhari; Muslim]
If One Asks Martyrdom Sincerely, He is a Martyr Regardless
Sahl ibn Hunayf (Allah be pleased with Him) reported that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Whoever honestly asks Allah for martyrdom, Allah will grant him martyrdom even if he dies in his bed.” [Muslim]
Fight Only to Protect the Truth of Islam and Justice
The only intention a Muslim may have for fighting is so that the truth of Islam is protected from those who intend to exterminate it and so that the rights of justice prevail.
Abu Musa (Allah be pleased with Him) reported that a man came to the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) and said, “O Messenger of Allah, who is fighting in the cause of Allah? Some of us fight out of anger and others out of zeal.” The Prophet raised his head and said: He who fights to raise the word of Allah is in the way of Allah Most High. [Bukhari]
Umar’s (Allah be pleased with him) Dua to be Martyred and in Madina
Hafsa (Allah be pleased with her) reports, she said I heard Umar (Allah be pleased with him), supplicate: اللهم إرزقني شهادة في سبيلك، واجعل موتي في بلد رسولك ﷺ
‘Allahummar zuqni shahadatan fi sabilika waj’al mawti fi Baladi Rasulika sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam’
O Allah! Bless me with martyrdom in Your path and make my death in the City of Your Messenger (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). I asked, when will this happen? He said, when Allah will, whenever He wills” [Bukhari]
Ask Allah Most High for Well-being (Afiya)
Abdullah ibn Abi Awfa (Allah be pleased with him) reported on the day the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) faced the enemy in battle, he waited until the sun had declined, and then he stood in front of the people, and the Prophet said:
O people do not desire to meet the enemy but rather ask Allah for well-being (afiya). If you meet your enemy in battle, be patient and know Paradise is under the shade of swords. [Bukhari]
A Muslim should never want to fight the enemy. Instead, a Muslim must purify his heart from all feelings of revenge, rage, and malice toward others, replacing these destructive diseases of the heart with peace that comes from worshiping Allah, doing His remembrance, and continuously repenting and refraining from sins.
[Ibn Adam al- Atyubi, Al-Bahr al-Muhit al-Thajjaj Fi Sharh Sahih al-Muslim]
I would like you to go through the valuable answers and links below. You will receive guidance and direction in sha Allah.
Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course on SeekersAcademy (seekersguidance.org)?
Related
- What Is ‘Afiya and Why Do We Pray For It? (seekersguidance.org)
- Selected Prophetic Prayers for Spiritual, Physical, and Emotional Well-being by Chaplain Ibrahim Long – SeekersGuidance
- Taking the Means and Supplication for Cure and Well-Being – SeekersGuidance
I pray this helps with your question.
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied within UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan and Turkey.
He started his early education in UK. He went onto complete hifz of Qur’an in India, then enrolled into an Islamic seminary in UK where he studied the secular and Alimiyyah sciences. He then travelled to Karachi, Pakistan.
He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for a number of years. He has taught hifz of the Qur’an, Tajwid, Fiqh and many other Islamic sciences to both children and adults onsite and online extensively in UK and Ireland. He was teaching at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences.
He currently resides in UK with his wife. His personal interest is love of books and gardening.
