The status of the shuhadha and the Muraabit on the Day of Judgment

When the people will be filled with terror on the Day of Judgment, the shaheed (martyr) will feel no fear.

In Sunan at-Tirmidhi and sunan ibn Maajah it is narrated that Al-Miqdaam ibn Ma’di Karb related: The Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu ‘Alahi Wasallam) said:

“Before Allah, the shaheed has six virtues: he is forgiven from the first drop of blood shed; he will be shown his place in paradise; he will be protected from the torment of the grave; he will be safe from the greater terror (of the Day of Resurrection); a crown of dignity will be placed on his head, of which one ruby is better than this world and all that is it; he will be married to seventy two of Al-Hoor al ‘Iyn; and he will intercede for seventy of his relatives. “ (1)

The pertinent point of this Hadith is that the shaheed will be safe from the greater terror, the terror of the Day of Resurrection. Similar to the Shaheed (Martyr) is the the muraabit, who guards the borders of Islam for the sake of Allah. If he dies whilst he is guarding the borders of Islam, Allah will keep him safe from the greater terror.

Tabaraani narrated with a saheeh isnaad from Abu’d-Dardaa’ that the Prophet (Sallallahu ‘Alahi Wasallam) said:

“Guarding the borders of Islam for a day is better than fasting for a lifetime. Whoever dies guarding the borders of Islam for the sake of Allah will be kept from the great terror, his provision and breeze will be brought from Paradise, and the reward of the Muraabit will continue until Allah resurrects him.”(2)

One of the ways in which Allah will honor the shaheed on the day of Resurrection will be that He will raise him with his wounds flowing with blood. The color will be blood but it will smell like musk.

Bukhari narrated from Abu Hurayrah ( Radi Allah anhu) that the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu ‘Alahi Wasallam) said:

“By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, no one is wounded for the sake of Allah- and Allah knows best who is wounded for His sake- but he will come on the Day of Resurrection with his wounds flowing with blood . The color will be of blood but smell musk.”(3)

Tirmidhi, Nasaa’i and Abu Dawood narrated with a saheeh isnaad from Mu’aadh ibn Jabal that he heard the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu ‘Alahi Wasallam) say:

“Whoever fights for the sake of Allah , even for the interval between two milkings of a camel, will be entitled to Paradise, and whoever is wounded or injured for the sake of Allah , the injury will appear on the Day od Resurrection bleeding copiously , the color of saffron and with the fragrance of musk.” (4)

Ibn  Hajar said: “The scholars said: ‘The reason why he will be resurrected in this state is that it will be a testimony to his virtue, becausae he sacrificed himself in Obeying Allah.”” (5)

(1)Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 2/358, Hadith no.3834. The editor of Al-Mishkaat said its isnaad is saheeh.

(2)Saheeh al-Jaami’ as-Sagheer, 3/171, hadith no. 3473.

(3) Bukhari: kitaab al-Jihaad, Baab man yujrah fi Sabeel Allah, Fath al-Baari, 6/20.

(4) Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 2/355, Hadith no.3825.

(5)Fath al-Baari, 6/20.

Taken from the book "The Day of Resurrection" by Dr. 'Umar S. al-Ashqar