Al-Jawāb as-Sahīh li-man baddala dīn al-Masīh - Ibn Taimiya - (6/413)

Should it be said: “There were prophets who were killed—for Allah has told us that the Children of Israel slew the prophets without right—and there are shameless sinners to whom Allah grants dominion and authority, allowing them to overpower other wrongdoers, just as He empowered Bukht Nasar (Nebuchadnezzar) over the Children of Israel, and as He sometimes gives the idolatrous unbelievers and the People of the Book power over the Muslims,” the reply is:

Those prophets who were killed are like the believers who are slain in jihad, dying as martyrs.

The Exalted said:
“How many a prophet fought, and with him fought many godly men; yet they never lost heart for what befell them in the path of Allah, nor did they weaken, nor did they abase themselves. Allah loves those who are patient.” [Al ‘Imran: 146] (146)

“The only words they uttered were, ‘Our Lord, forgive us our sins and our excess in our affairs; make our steps firm, and grant us victory over the disbelieving people.’” [Al ‘Imran: 147] (147)

“So Allah granted them the reward of this world and the finest reward of the Hereafter. Allah loves those who excel.” [Al ‘Imran: 148]

It is well known that the believer who is killed in combat as a martyr enjoys a station more perfect than one who dies a natural death. The Exalted also said:
“Do not think of those who are slain in the path of Allah as dead; rather, they are alive with their Lord, being provided for.” [Al ‘Imran: 169]

فَإِنْ قِيلَ: فَفِي الْأَنْبِيَاءِ مَنْ قَدْ قُتِلَ كَمَا أَخْبَرَ اللَّهُ أَنَّ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ يَقْتُلُونَ النَّبِيِّينَ بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ، وَفِي أَهْلِ الْفُجُورِ مَنْ يُؤْتِيهِ اللَّهُ مُلْكًا وَسُلْطَانًا، وَيُسَلِّطُهُ عَلَى مُذْنِبِينَ كَمَا سَلَّطَ (بُخْتَ نَصَّرَ) عَلَى بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ، وَكَمَا يُسَلِّطُ كُفَّارَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ وَأَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ أَحْيَانًا عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِينَ. قِيلَ: أَمَّا مَنْ قُتِلَ مِنَ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ فَهُمْ كَمَنْ يُقْتَلُ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فِي الْجِهَادِ شَهِيدًا. قَالَ تَعَالَى: {وَكَأَيِّنْ مِنْ نَبِيٍّ قَاتَلَ مَعَهُ رِبِّيُّونَ كَثِيرٌ فَمَا وَهَنُوا لِمَا أَصَابَهُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَمَا ضَعُفُوا وَمَا اسْتَكَانُوا وَاللَّهُ يُحِبُّ الصَّابِرِينَ} [آل عمران: ١٤٦] (١٤٦) {وَمَا كَانَ قَوْلَهُمْ إِلَّا أَنْ قَالُوا رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَإِسْرَافَنَا فِي أَمْرِنَا وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَنَا وَانْصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ} [آل عمران: ١٤٧] (١٤٧) {فَآتَاهُمُ اللَّهُ ثَوَابَ الدُّنْيَا وَحُسْنَ ثَوَابِ الْآخِرَةِ وَاللَّهُ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ} [آل عمران: ١٤٨] وَمَعْلُومٌ أَنَّ مَنْ قُتِلَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ شَهِيدًا فِي الْقِتَالِ كَانَ حَالُهُ أَكْمَلَ مِنْ حَالِ مَنْ يَمُوتُ حَتْفَ أَنْفِهِ قَالَ تَعَالَى: {وَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ قُتِلُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَمْوَاتًا بَلْ أَحْيَاءٌ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ يُرْزَقُونَ} [آل عمران: ١٦٩]