In the Name of Allaah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy

Al-Istiqaamah

Issue No.8

Do Not Say "They are Dead"

Imaam ash-Shanqeetee (d.1392H) 1

"And do not say about those who are killed fighting in the Path of Allaah that they are dead. Rather, they are alive!" [Soorah al-Baqarah 2:154].

This verse is an apparent proof that the martyrs [those who are killed in the Path of Allaah] are not dead. Yet in another verse Allaah says, whilst addressing the Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam; who is better than any and every martyr :

"Indeed you will die, and they will die." [Soorah az-Zumar 39:30].

The reply to this [apparent contradiction] is: That the martyrs are dead from a worldly point of view, this is why they can be inherited from, and why their wives can remarry again - a point about which the Scholars have ijmaa' (consensus) upon. It is this death, the worldly death, that Allaah informed would occur to the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam. This is why Abu Bakr as-Siddeeq radiallaahu 'anhu said, when the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam passed away: "May my mother and father be sacrificed for you O Prophet of Allaah! By Allaah! Allaah will never combine two deaths for you. You have died the death that Allaah decreed for you ... Whosoever worships Muhammad, let him know that Muhammad is dead." Then he deduced this by reciting the [above] verse, and the Companions of the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam accepted this.2

As for the life that Allaah affirmed in the Qur'aan for the martyrs, and the life that has been affirmed for the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam in which he is able to return the greetings of salaam to whosoever sends it upon him, then both of them refer to the life of the barzakh (a state of existence between the present life and the Hereafter); an existence which cannot be truly comprehended by the people of this world. So with regards to the martyrs there is a reference to this in Allaah - the Most High's - saying: "Rather, they are alive, but you do not perceive it." [Soorah al-Baqarah 2:154]. The Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam explained this verse by saying: "Their souls ore in the bellies of green birds, which hove lanterns suspended for them from Allaah's Throne. They roam around in Paradise wherever they desire, then return to these lanterns ..."3

As for [the life affirmed for] the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, then he said: "There is no one who sends the greetings of salaam upon me, except that Allaah returns my soul hock until I reply to their greeting."4 And: "Indeed Allaah's Angels roam around the earth conveying to me the greetings of salaams from my Ummah."5 So this life also cannot truly be comprehended by the intellects of the people of this world. Since, along with this [fact], his sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam's blessed soul resides in the loftiest part of Paradise with the companionship of the highest company; a company higher than the souls of the martyrs. Yet the reality of how his pure soul links itself to his noble body 'alayhis-salaam - a body which the earth cannot consume - is a reality which no one knows, except Allaah alone. Thus, if this type of life was like the life that is understood by the people of this world, then why did Abu Bakr as-Siddeeq radiallaahu 'anhu say that the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam was dead, and why was it permitted to bury him? [And if he sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam did not die] then why was there a need to appoint a khaleefah (succesor) after him. Also, those events; such as the [tragic] killing of 'Uthmaan radiollaahu 'anhu, or the differences which arose between the Companions, or that which occurred with 'Aaishah radiallaahu 'anhaa need not have happened if he sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam were still alive! Since if that were the case, they could have referred judgement back to him concerning those issues in which they differed [if he sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam were still alive and could fulfill such needs].

Thus, just as the Qur'aan is explicitly clear that the martyrs are actually living; due to Allaah - the Most High's - saying: "Rather, they are alive." Then likewise, the Qur'aan is just as explicitly clear that this state of living is one whose reality cannot be truly understood by the people of this world; due to Allaah's saying: "But you do not perceive it." Similarly, just as it is established that the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam is living in the grave; replying to the greetings of salaam, yet even though his Companions actually buried him, they were still unable to perceive this state of living. Thus, we know that this state of living is likewise a reality which cannot be truly understood by the people of this world. However, what could make this more clear is by considering the example of someone who is

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