Q. How many types of martyrs are there? (F. Din, BIRMINGHAM)

A. There are basically two broad categories of martyrs (shuhada') in Islam, firstly, those who have died fighting for the cause of Allah Taa'la (i.e., in jihad), and secondly, those who have died being succumbed to certain types of ailments or calamities, not of their own making.

The second group, although not recognized and treated as martyrs in this world, will receive rewards of martyrs in the Hereafter. As for a list of People of this category, we find a number of traditions-although not contradictory- such as the following: 1) In a report jointly reported by Imam al-Bukhaari and Muslim, the Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) mentioned five types of martyrs: "One who dies in a plague, one who dies of intestinal ailments, one who dies of drowning, one who dies under a collapsed building, and one who dies as a martyr in jihad." 2) Imam Ahmad, Abu Dawood, an-Nasa'i, and others stated that the Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, "There are seven martyrs". Having said this, he added the following to the list mentioned above: "…one who dies in a fire" and "…a woman who dies during childbirth." 3) A third report states that the Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, "Whoever dies while defending his own possessions is a martyr; whoever dies defending his own person is a martyr; whoever dies guarding his own faith is a martyr; whoever dies fighting in order to defend his own family is also a martyr." 4) Finally, in a report by an- Nasa'i, the Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, "Whoever fights to protect his rights and dies in the process is a martyr." (ALLAH TAA'LA IS ALL KNOWING!)