5 Deaths Recognized As Martyrdom
According to the narration from Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
"Martyrs are of five kinds:
1. Those who die of a contagious disease,
2. Those who die of diarrhea,
3. Those who drown,
4. Those who die in a collapsed building, and
5. Those who die in the cause of Allah while fighting." (Bukhari, Jihad 30; Muslim, Imare 164. Also see Bukhari, Adhan 32; Tirmidhi, Janazah 65)
Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, also reported that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, asked:
"Who do you consider martyrs?" The companions replied, "O Messenger of Allah! Those who are killed in the cause of Allah are martyrs." The Prophet said, "Then the martyrs of my community would be few." The companions asked, "Who else are martyrs, O Messenger of Allah?" He replied, "One who dies in the cause of Allah is a martyr; one who dies while defending Islam is a martyr; one who dies of a contagious disease is a martyr; one who dies of diarrhea is a martyr, and one who dies by drowning is a martyr." (Muslim, Imare 165. Also see Ibn Majah, Jihad 17)
