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Virtues
of the Martyrs
Tafseer Ibn Katheer (English),
2/319-323.
Soorah Aal-‘Imraan (3):169-171
Think
not of those as dead who are killed in the way of Allaah. Nay,
they are alive, with their Lord, and they have provision.
They
rejoice in what Allaah has bestowed upon them of His bounty and
rejoice for the sake of those who have not yet joined them, but
are left behind (not yet martyred) that on them no fear shall
come, nor shall they grieve.
They rejoice in a grace and a
bounty from Allaah, and that Allaah will not waste the reward of
the believers.
Allaah states that even though the
martyrs were killed in this life, their souls are alive and
receiving provisions in the Dwelling of Everlasting Life. In his
Saheeh, Muslim recorded that Masrooq
said, “We asked ‘Abdullaah about this Aayah,
Think not of those as dead who are killed in the way of
Allaah. Nay, they are alive, with their Lord, and they have
provision. He said, ‘We asked the Messenger of
Allaah (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) the same
question and he said, Their souls are inside green birds that
have lamps, which are hanging below the Throne (of Allaah), and
they wander about in Paradise wherever they wish. Then they return
to those lamps. Allaah looks at them and says, ‘Do you wish
for anything?’ They say, ‘What more could we wish for,
while we go wherever we wish in Paradise?’ Allaah asked them
this question thrice, and when they realize that He will keep
asking them until they give an answer, they say, ‘O Lord! We
wish that our souls be returned to our bodies so that we are
killed in Your cause again.’ Allaah knew that they did not
have any other wish, so they were left.’” [1]
There are several other similar narrations from Anas and Abu
Sa’eed.
Imaam Ahmad recorded that Anas said
that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu ‘alayhi
wasallam) said, No soul that has a good standing with
Allaah and dies would wish to go back to the life of this world,
except for the martyr. He would like to be returned to this life
so that he could be martyred gain, for he tastes the honor
achieved from martyrdom. Muslim collected this Hadeeth.
[2]
In addition, Imaam Ahmad recorded that,
Ibn ‘Abbaas said that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu
‘alayhi wasallam) said, When your brothers were
killed in Uhud, Allaah placed their souls inside green
birds that tend to the rivers of Paradise and eat from its fruits.
They then return to golden lamps hanging in the shade of the
Throne. When they tasted the delight of their food, drink and
dwelling, they said, ‘We wish that our brothers knew what
Allaah gave us so that they will not abandon Jihaad or warfare.’
Allaah said, ‘I will convey the news for you.’
Allaah revealed these and the following Aayat, Think
not of those as dead who are killed in the way of Allaah. Nay,
they are alive, with their Lord, and they have provision.
[3]
Qataadah, Ar-Rabee’ and Ad-Dahhaak
said that these Aayat were revealed about the martyrs of
Uhud. [4]
Abu Bakr Ibn Marduwyah recorded
that Jaabir bin ‘Abdullaah said, “The Messenger of
Allaah (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) looked at me
one day and said, ‘O Jaabir! Why do I see you sad?’ I
said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah! My father was martyred and
left behind debts and children.’ He said, Should I tell
you that Allaah never spoke to anyone except from behind a veil?
However, He spoke to your father directly. He said, ‘Ask Me
and I will give you.’ He said, ‘I ask that I am
returned to life so that I am killed in Your cause again.’
The Lord, Exalted He be, said, ‘I have spoken the word that
they shall not be returned back to it (this life).’ He said,
‘O Lord! Then convey the news to those I left behind.’
Allaah revealed, Think not of those as dead who are killed
in the way of Allaah…” [5]
Imaam
Ahmad recorded that Ibn ‘Abbaas said that the
Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam)
said, The martyrs convene at the shore of a river close to the
door of Paradise, in a green tent, where their provisions are
brought to them from Paradise day and night.
Ahmad
[6] and Ibn Jareer [7] collected this Hadeeth,
which has a good chain of narration. It appears that the martyrs
are of different types, some of them wander in Paradise, and some
remain close to this river by the door of Paradise. It is also
possible that the river is where all the souls of the martyrs
convene and where they are provided with their provision day and
night, and Allaah knows best.
Imaam Ahmad narrated a
Hadeeth that contains good needs for every believer
that his soul will be wandering in Paradise, as well as, eating
from its fruits, enjoying its delights and happiness and tasting
the honor that Allaah has prepared in it for him. This Hadeeth
has a unique, authentic chain of narration that includes three of
the four Imaams. Imaam Ahmad narrated this Hadeeth
from Muhammad bin Idrees Ash-Shaafi’ee who narrated
it from Maalik bin Anas Al-Asbuhi, from Az-Zuhri, from
‘Abdur-Rahmaan bin Ka’b bin Maalik that his
father said that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu ‘alayhi
wasallam) said, The soul of the believer becomes a bird
that feeds on the trees of Paradise, until Allaah sends him back
to his body when He resurrects him. [8]
This
Hadeeth states that the souls of the believers are
in the shape of a bird in Paradise. As for the souls of martyrs,
they are inside green birds, like the stars to the rest of the
believing souls. We ask Allaah the Most Generous that He makes us
firm on the faith.
Allaah’s statement, They
rejoice in what Allaah has bestowed upon them indicates
that the martyrs who were killed in Allaah’s cause are alive
with Allaah, delighted because of the bounty and happiness they
are enjoying. They are also awaiting their brethren, who will die
in Allaah’s cause after them, for they will be meeting them
soon. These martyrs do not have fear about the future or sorrow
for what they left behind. We ask Allaah to grant us Paradise. The
Two Saheehs record from Anas, the
story of the seventy Ansaar Companions who were murdered at
Bir Ma’oonah in one night. In this Hadeeth,
Anas reported that the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi
wasallam) used to supplicate to Allaah in Qunoot in
prayer against those who killed them. Anas said, “A part of
the Qur’aan was revealed about them, but was later
abrogated, ‘Convey to our people that we met Allaah and He
was pleased with us and made us pleased.’” [9]
Allaah
said next, They rejoice in a grace and a bounty from Allaah,
and that Allaah will not waste the reward of the
believers.
Muhammad bin Ishaaq
commented, “They were delighted and pleased because of
Allaah’s promise that was fulfilled for them, and for the
tremendous rewards they earned.” ‘Abdur-Rahmaan
bin Zayd bin Aslam said, “This Aayah encompasses all
the believers, martyrs and otherwise. Rarely does Allaah mention a
bounty and a reward that He granted to the Prophets, without
following that with what He has granted the believers after
them.”
Footnotes
[1] Muslim
(3/1502)
[2] Ahmad (3/126), Muslim (1877)
[3] Ahmad
(1/265)
[4] At-Tabari (7/389-390)
[5] Dalaa’il
An-Nubuwwah by Al-Bayhaqi (3/299)
[6] Ahmad
(1/266)
[7] At-Tabari (7/387)
[8] Ahmad
(3/455)
[9] Fath Al-Baari (7/455), Muslim (1/468)
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