—those whom Allah has graced: the prophets, the steadfast affirmers of truth, the martyrs, and the righteous.” (Q 4:69). Martyrdom itself, however, comes in many forms.

One form is to testify to Allah’s rulings concerning His servants. This is the testimony of the scholars about which Allah says, “Allah bears witness that there is no deity but Him, and so do the angels and those endowed with knowledge” (Q 3:18).

Many exegetes have understood the phrase “the martyrs” to refer to the scholars, and there is no doubt that scholars are martyrs in this sense: they testify that Allah sent His Messenger Muḥammad—peace and blessings be upon him—with guidance and the religion of truth; they bear witness before the community that the divine law has been conveyed to it; and they testify regarding Allah’s rulings—“this is lawful, this is forbidden, this is obligatory, this is recommended, and this is disliked.” Only the people of knowledge recognize these matters, and for that reason they are considered martyrs.

Also counted among the martyrs are those who die from plague, abdominal illness, burning, drowning, and the like—the victim of plague, the one who dies of an abdominal disease, the one who perishes in a fire, the one who drowns, and others similar to them.

Among the martyrs as well are those slain in the path of Allah.

And among the martyrs are those who are killed while defending their property or their very lives. The Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—was asked by a man, “Messenger of Allah, what if someone comes and demands my wealth by force?” He replied, “Do not hand over your wealth.” The man asked, “What if he fights me?” He said, “Then fight him.” The man asked, “What if I kill him?” He answered, “He will be in the Fire, for he is an aggressor and a wrongdoer.” The man asked, “What if he kills me?” He said, “Then you are a martyr.” The man then asked, “And what if I kill him?”