After the fleeting journey of this cherished world ends, every living being must taste death. They must depart toward eternity. In other words, “whoever is born must die.” This is the eternal truth.

In the Holy Qur’an, Almighty Allah says, “Every soul must taste death, and on the Day of Judgment they will be given their full recompense. Whoever is saved from the fire of Hell and admitted to Paradise has certainly succeeded, for worldly life is nothing but an object of deception.” (Surah Al Imran, verse 185)

Among deaths, the most honored death is martyrdom. Therefore, in every situation, every believer sincerely longs for such a death.

The Holy Qur’an also states, “Do not think of those who gave their lives in the path of Allah as dead. Rather, they are alive with their Lord, and they are provided sustenance.” (Surah Al Imran, verse 169)

Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of Inkilab Mancha, was killed after being shot in a terrorist attack. Will his death attain the status of martyrdom? In response to this question, Islamic scholar Shaykh Ahmadullah shared his views.

He said, “Sharif Osman Hadi has already embraced death after being shot by terrorists. If a person seeks human welfare for the pleasure of Allah, strives to establish justice, carries the consciousness of the Muslim ummah, and has the mindset to secure people’s rights, and if he continues to fight and struggle for this cause, then if he becomes a victim of an attack and dies, he will undoubtedly attain the status of martyrdom, Insha’Allah.”

Shaykh Ahmadullah said, “From that perspective, I pray that Allah grants Osman Hadi the honor of martyrdom.”

He also said that many people possess a revolutionary mindset and uphold the spirit of protesting injustice, and they deserve respect. However, those who do not carry out such a revolution for the pleasure of Allah, but only for humanitarian causes, and die, their sacrifice cannot be considered martyrdom. Martyrdom is connected to intention. A person who stakes his life for the pleasure of Allah attains martyrdom.

He further said that martyrdom is not limited only to being killed in the path of Allah. Those who die by burning or are crushed under debris also receive the status of martyrdom. A hadith narrated by Abu Huraira (RA) states that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said there are five types of martyrs: one who dies in a plague, one who dies from a stomach disease, one who dies by drowning, one who dies under collapsed structures, and one who is martyred in the path of Allah. (Sahih Bukhari, Hadith 2633–2634) In addition, those who die by burning and pregnant women who die have also been granted the status of martyrdom. (Sunan Abu Dawud, Hadith 3111)

On the other hand, a hadith narrated by Abdullah ibn Amr (RA) states: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say, “Whoever is killed while protecting his property is a martyr.” (Sahih Bukhari, Hadith 2318)