Do not say: They are Dead (Martyr)

An explanation of the aayah pertaining to the mujaahideen who die as martyrs.
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 (peace) 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.

Allaah - the Most High - said:
“And do not say about those who are killed fighting in the Path of Allaah that they are dead. Rather, they are alive!” [Sooratul-Baqarah 2:154]
This aayah 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.” [Sooratuz-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 Aboo Bakr as-Siddeeq (radiyallaahu ’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) aayah, and the Companions of the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) accepted this.

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 (peace) 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.” [Sooratul-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 ...”

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.” 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) 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 (radiyallaahu ’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 (successor) after him. Also, those events; such as the (tragic) killing of ’Uthmaan (radiyallaahu ’anhu), or the differences which arose between the Companions, or that which occurred with ’Aa‘ishah (radiyallaahu ’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.)

Imaam Ibnul-Qayyim (d751H) – rahimahullaah – said:
“It is known by necessity that the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) body is intact and has not decayed. The Companions asked him, ‘How are we to send greetings of salaam upon you when your body has decayed!’ So he (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) replied: “Indeed Allaah has prohibited the earth from consuming the bodies of the Prophets.” So if his body was not in his grave, then why would he respond to this question! And it has been authentically established from him that he said, “Indeed Allaah’s Angels roam around the earth conveying to me the greetings of salaams from my Ummah.” It is authentic from him that he once came with Aboo Bakr and ’Umar (into the mosque) and said, “We shall be raised up like this on the Day of Resurrection.” It is also established that he (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) saw the Prophet Moosaa praying in his grave on the night of his Israa‘ (Heavenly Ascension), and he also saw him (on that same night) in the sixth or seventh Heaven. the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) is in his grave; replying to the greetings of salaam sent to him, along with the fact that his soul resides in the loftiest part of Paradise along with the highest companionship. So there is no contradiction between these two matters; since the affairs of the souls are one thing, whilst that of the bodies is another.”

By Imaam Muhammad al-Ameen ash-Shanqeetee