Of course...

Of course, his martyrdom must be according to the standards fixed by Islam – to be killed for the high causes of Islam with the aim of defending true human values. The reason behind the sanctity of the word martyr can be understood from the Qur’an and the ahadith. The Martyr’s Proximity to Allah A shahid’s proximity to Allah is explained in the Qur’an as follows: “Do not think of those who are slain in the way of Allah as dead.

Nay, they are alive with their Lord and are provided sustenance (by Him) [3] “. When Islam wants to elevate the position of a person or a deed, it compares that person or deed with the position of a shahid. For example, to show the importance of seeking knowledge, a hadith says that if someone becomes a student to find the truth and serve his Lord (and not for material gains) and then dies while studying, he is considered a shahid.

This expression manifests the sanctity and excellence of a student. Likewise, a hadith, praising a person who strives hard to provide sustenance for his family, says: The one who strives hard for his family is like a fighter in the way of Allah. The Right of a Martyr All those who have served human society, in one way or another, have a right to human society. This service to humanity does not make any difference whether it is by way of knowledge, philosophy, technology, invention, ethics, etc.

But no one has so much right in human society like that of the martyrs, and this is the reason underlying the extraordinary sentimental appreciation which people show regarding the martyrs. Why and for what the right of the martyrs is more than the other servants of humanity? All the other servants of humanity are indebted to the martyrs but the martyrs are not indebted to others. And if they are indebted to others, it is to a lesser degree.

The scholar in his study, the philosopher in his philosophy, the inventor in his invention and the teacher of ethics in his teaching, need a peaceful and free atmosphere so that they can do their work. And it is the martyr who provides such an atmosphere for others by self-denial, sacrifice and death. The parable of a shahid is like that of a candle whose function is to burn out and shed light so that others can easily do their work at the expense of its extinction.

The martyrs also are the candles of human society, they sacrificed themselves but enlightened the world. If the world would have remained dark, no one could have possibly served the human society.