1. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims
  2. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

34 Questions

Are those who are dying from Corona virus to be considered martyrs? If so, what is the Islamic basis for it?
Zaid Alsalami

Bismihi ta'ala

We have abundant traditions that mention how Almighty God wishes to receive us in the next life, pure and chastised from our sins. One way this is done is by inflicting us with difficulties prior to our death, like a sickness. 

Traditions mention that being inflicted with a sickness prior to death is a form of purification and cleansing of our sins. 

It is for this reason, that one would be rewarded, and we should look at it in a positive way. 

As for being considered a "martyr" in the technical word, no, it would not be applied to someone who falls sick because of the virus. 

And Allah knows best. 
Allah (swt) says in the Qur’an that a martyr who is killed in the path of Allah (swt) is everliving. What are the qualities of a martyr and can a person be considered a martyr without being innocently killed in the path of Allah (swt)?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

There are authentic Hadeeths that the person who dies on the love of
the Holy Prophet (SAWA) and who has the love of the Holy Prophet
(SAWA) and the Ahlul Bayt (AS) will die as a martyr. من مات على حب ال محمد مات شهيدا 

 This Hadeeth is narrated not only in Shia books but also in Sunni books like Tafseer al-Kashshaaf by al-Zamakhshari (volume 4),

Tafseer al Fakhr al–Raazi (volume 27)

and Tafseer al-Qurtobi (page 5841).

No doubt sincere followers of Ahul Bayt (AS) sincerely wish to gain
the status of being martyred in the way of Allah (ASWT) and that
sincere intention makes them entitled to the Grace of Allah (ASWT) who
grants the reward of Shaheed to them according to their sincere intentions.

Wassalaam.
Has anyone ever tested a dead body of a Shaheed by keeping it in a room to see if it never gets spoiled?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

It not allowed in Islam to keep a dead body with out burying it.

It have been confirmed that the body of Shaheed (martyr) and many pious believers remain fresh and never decay. Hundreds of such cases are registered in many countries when their graves were accidentally broken after long time and they bodies were found fresh. There are books written in this subject mentioning details of many similar cases.

Wassalam.
Did Prophet Muhammad (SAW) say that none of us infallibles will die a natural death? If so, does that imply that the Prophet (SAW) himself was also martyred?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

Yes, there are many authentic Hadeeths from the Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) and Ahlul Bayt (AS) stating that all of the infallible will be either killed or poisoned  (ما منا إلا مقتول أو مسموم).

This Hadeeth was narrated by Imam Hasan (AS) from his grand father the Prophet (SAWA) after the martyrdom of Ameerul Mo'mineen ( AS). (Kifayatul Athar, by al-Khazzaz , page 160-162).

The Prophet (SAWA) himself was also poisoned. There are plenty of authentic narrations in Sunni and Shia books stating that the Prophet did not have natural death but was poisoned. ( Al- Mustadrak by Al-Haakim al-Nisaboori, V.3, P.60) and (al-Seerah al-Nabawiyyah by Ibn Katheer , V. 4, P. 449) and (al-Tabaqat al- Kubra by Ibn Sa'ad , V. 2, P. 249). These are few of Sunni books.

Wassalam.