The various types of martyrs in Islam: an Islamic perspective Jewel Hossain Jalil The function of this essay is to study the usages of the term ‘shahīd’ [ شهيدpl. ه˴د˴ اء ˵ ش] in the Prophetic reports, and investigate whether if there is any ‘commonality’ for its utilization. The Arabic word shahīd linguistically denotes ‘present’ or ‘witness’. It is often translated as ‘a martyr’ and ‘martyr’ is a word that originates for the Old English word ‘martir’, via ecclesiastical Latin from the Greek word, ‘martur’ which means ‘witness’. The technical meaning of the word shahīd refers to a person that was killed while fighting in the cause of God to make His word supreme. 1 The linguistic meaning of the word is used in the Qurގān, in its singular form; “and so that the Messenger will be a witness [شهيد] over you” 2 as well as in its plural form; “while you are witnesses [ ه˴د˴ اء ˵ ش]” 3 . The technical meaning of the word in its plural form is utilized in the Qurގān; “that God may test those who believe, and that He may take martyrs [ ه˴د˴ اء ˵ ش] from among you.” 4 The singular form of the word denoting the technical meaning is not used in the Qurގān. The focal point of this essay will be on the martyrs, who were not killed in the battlefield. The multiple numbers of shahīd Abdullah b. Yusūf narrated to us, he said: Mālik informed us from Summi, from Abū Ṣāliত, from Abū Hurayra that the Messenger of Allāh said: “The martyrs [ ه˴د˴ اء ˵ ش] are of five kinds: the one who dies of a plague, the one who dies of an abdominal disease, the one who drowns, the one who dies under debris [of construction etc] and the one who dies fighting in the path of Allah.” 5 This narration as well as others suggests the meaning of the word shahīd carries a much wider meaning than the technical meaning as defined by the Islamic jurists. In the report, the Prophet mentioned five different types of people who are branded with the title shahīd, four of which do not fall under its technical definition. There are other numerous reports, which mention other various types of martyrs. Some scholars gathered these reports and listed the different types of martyrs: Imām al-Suyū৬ī [d.911] counted the number of martyrs to be thirty, al-ণajjāwī [d.968] reached around twenty in number 6 , while some reached as far as fifty in number! 1 Al-Sharḥ al-Muŵti’, Al-ʿUthayŵīn, 5/287 2 2:143 3 3: 99 4 3:140 5 Al-Bukhāƌī [Ϯ7ϯ9] 6 Kasshāaf al QiŶā ʿaŶ ŵatŶ al-IƋŶāʿ, al-Buhūtī, 2/726