Criterion of martyrdom resulting from death because of abdominal disease

20-1-2014 | IslamWeb

Question:

My mother died five days ago and six months ago she was a victim of a disease due to which she could hardly swallow food and drink, so much so that she lost much weight. In her last days, she was unable to swallow anything before she died. The physicians claim that she had esophagus blockage. Is my mother considered a martyr resulting

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and messenger.

One is considered a martyr resulting from death due to an abdominal disease if he dies from diarrhea according to the definition of An-Nawawi ; out of ascites or flatulence according to Al-Qaadhi ; suffers from a severe ache in his abdomen; or dies as a result of any abdominal disease in general.

Being so, your mother could not be a martyr resulting from a death due to an abdominal disease. But, of course, this may not forbid her from being a martyr or elevated, by Allaah The Almighty, to the rank of martyrs by virtue of some of her deeds. It is narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “He who sincerely asks Allaah for martyrdom, Allaah Elevates him to the ranks of the martyrs even if he dies on his bed.” [Muslim]

Allaah Knows best.