Whom Do I Save in a Life or Death Situation?
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
In a life-threatening situation like the Titanic sinking, whom should I prioritize for rescue? Should I prioritize women and children over men, or is there a different approach?
Answer
I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question.
You will follow your instinct and do your best in the name of Allah Most High (Bismillah). Also, one should always pray to Allah Most High that this type of situation does not arise in one’s life, nor anyone else.
Seven Types of Martyrdom Besides Fighting
Jabir ibn ‘Atik (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “There are seven martyrs besides one who is killed in the way of Allah: the victim of plague is a martyr, the one who drowns is a martyr, the one who dies of chest pain is a martyr, the one who dies of stomach infection is a martyr, the one who burns to death is a martyr, the one who dies under rubble is a martyr, and the pregnant woman who dies in labor is a martyr.” [Abu Dawud]
Prophetic Dua to Seek Protection from Harmful Situations
Abu al-(Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) used to supplicate,
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ الْهَدْمِ وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ التَّرَدِّي وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ الْغَرَقِ وَالْحَرَقِ وَالْهَرَمِ وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ أَنْ يَتَخَبَّطَنِي الشَّيْطَانُ عِنْدَ الْمَوْتِ وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ أَنْ أَمُوتَ فِي سَبِيلِكَ مُدْبِرًا وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ أَنْ أَمُوتَ لَدِيغًا
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I pray this helps answer your question.
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Mawlana Ilyas Patel has received traditional education in various countries. He started his schooling in the UK and completed his hifz of the Quran in India. After that, he joined an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied secular and Aalimiyya sciences. Later, he traveled to Karachi, Pakistan, and other Middle Eastern countries to further his education. Mawlana has served as an Imam in the Republic of Ireland for several years and taught the Quran and other Islamic sciences to both children and adults. He also worked as a teacher and librarian at a local Islamic seminary in the UK for 12 years. Presently, he lives in the UK with his wife and is interested in books and gardening.
