Shaheed

A person, who dies on the battlefield while defending Islam, is a Shaheed according to the Shari’ah. There is no Ghusl for such a person. One should merely perform his Janazah Salaah without giving him Ghusl. Besides this, there are other types of Shaheed whose Ghusl must be performed before performing the Janazah Salaah. For example, a person or the family of this person has been attacked by an enemy. By defending his life or the life of his family, he passed away. He is also a Shaheed.

In general, Allah Ta’ala pardons a person who dies as Shaheed. Therefore, a person who loses his life by protecting his own life, his family, his wealth or his honour, is pardoned by Allah Ta’ala because he is a Shaheed. According to a Hadith found in Tirmizi, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) said:

"The one who died while protecting his wealth is a Shaheed."

"The one who died while protecting his life is a Shaheed."

"The one who died while protecting his Deen is a Shaheed."

"The one who died while protecting his family is a Shaheed."

[English version of "Shaheed" – Al Jamiat – Vol.2 No.5]