Prayer TimesA shahid (martyr) is a Muslim who dies in the path of Allah, defending their religion, honor, or homeland from enemies.
There are two types of shahids:
<p>The first is the perfect shahid. This is someone who dies in battle for the sake of Allah or is killed by a rebel or bandit. Such a person is considered a shahid both in this world and in the Hereafter.</p>
<p>The second is a Muslim who attains the status of shahid in the Hereafter. In the next life, they are raised to the rank of a shahid and receive its reward. These shahids of the Hereafter include those who die from stomach illnesses, plague, drowning, burning, and so on.</p>
The difference is that the bodies of shahids of the Hereafter are washed, shrouded, and the janazah prayer is performed for them. The body of a perfect shahid is not washed, only cleaned of blood and impurities. The janazah prayer is performed for them, and they are buried in the clothes in which they died[1].
The Prophet (ﷺ) said in a hadith narrated by Abu Hurayrah: "There are five types of shahids: the one who dies from plague (or a similar disease); the one who dies from a stomach illness; the one who drowns; the one who dies under debris; and the one who is martyred in the path of Allah" [2].
According to a narration in Abu Dawud, in addition to those who die in the path of Allah, there are seven types of martyrs, including those burned in a fire and a woman who dies during childbirth.
Imam Nawawi says: "Scholars state that by Allah’s mercy, those who die such deaths are granted the status of martyrs because of the severe pain and suffering" [3]. However, the shahids of the Hereafter are not limited to those mentioned in the hadith [4]. It is likely that other cases with similar meanings also have a degree of martyrdom. Some scholars count up to twenty types of martyrs, others around forty [5]. Therefore, Muslims who die from so-called "coronavirus" pneumonia may be included among the shahids of the Hereafter for the following reasons:
<p>Firstly, the severity of the illness, the high risk of infection, and the intensity of pain are reasons scholars mention for attaining this level of martyrdom.</p>
<p>Secondly, this epidemic is part of the illnesses mentioned in hadiths in general terms. For example, death from a stomach illness. Some scholars include all those who die from internal organ diseases [6]. That is, diseases of organs such as the liver, kidneys, and lungs are considered internal illnesses.</p>
<p>Thirdly, according to sharia, those who die from malaria [7] and tuberculosis [8] are considered martyrs. The symptoms of these diseases are similar to those of coronavirus.</p>
<p>Fourthly, the diseases mentioned in the hadith about shahids are not limited to those known in the Prophet’s (ﷺ) time. They likely include illnesses with similar symptoms today, such as pneumonia. Its main symptoms—fever, cough, shortness of breath, and severe pain [9]—are also found in coronavirus.</p>
<p>Fifthly, coronavirus infection is similar in symptoms to the disease referred to in hadiths as "ṭāʿūn" (plague). Scholars describe it as the plague. Scholar Badruddin Ayni called it "plague" because it is contagious and leads to rapid death. This includes all dangerous epidemics[10].</p>
Therefore, a Muslim who dies from coronavirus infection can be considered a shahid of the Hereafter. However, their body should be washed, shrouded, and the funeral prayer performed according to sharia.
Department of Sharia and Fatwa
<p>[1] Janazah and Funeral Rites, pp. 81-82.</p>
<p>[2] Narrated by Bukhari.</p>
<p>[3] Nawawi, Sharh Muslim, 13/63.</p>
<p>[4] A shahid of the Hereafter includes someone who dies long after an injury, an infant, an incapacitated person, or someone killed accidentally. Also, someone crushed by a wall, a traveler who dies on a journey, one who dies from cholera or poisoning, epilepsy, fever, poisonous bites, a woman who dies in childbirth, and those who die on the night of Friday.</p>
<p>[5] Fath al-Bari, 6/43; al-Tanwir Sharh al-Jami' al-Saghir, 6/551.</p>
<p>[6] Nawawi, Sharh Muslim, 13/63.</p>
<p>[7] Narrated by Daylami. Hafiz Suyuti authenticated the hadith.</p>
<p>[8] Narrated by Tabarani.</p>
<p>[9] Lamghat al-Tanqih fi Sharh Mishkat al-Masabih, 4/41.</p>
<p>[10] Umdat al-Qari, 14/129.</p>
This content was drafted with AI assistance and reviewed by an editor.