Abu al-‘Ajfa reported: Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “You say about those who are killed or died in your campaigns that ‘this person was killed as a martyr’ or ‘this person died as a martyr.’ Perhaps he only intended to load his animal with spoils, or cover his mount in gold, or pursue his business. Do not say that, but rather say as the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Whoever is killed or died in the way of Allah is in Paradise.”
Source: Musnad Aḥmad 285
Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Arna’ut
Ibn Hajar said, “It is not said that a specific person is a martyr, meaning definitively, unless it is by divine revelation.”
Source: Fatḥ al-Bārī 6/90
عن أَبِي الْعَجْفَاءِ السُّلَمِيِّ قَالَ عُمَر بْن الْخَطَّابِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ تَقُولُونَهَا لِمَنْ قُتِلَ فِي مَغَازِيكُمْ أَوْ َمَاتَ قُتِلَ فُلانٌ شَهِيدًا وَمَاتَ فُلانٌ شَهِيدًا وَلَعَلَّهُ أَنْ يَكُونَ قَدْ أَوْقَرَ عَجُزَ دَابَّتِهِ أَوْ دَفَّ رَاحِلَتِهِ ذَهَبًا أَوْ وَرِقًا يَلْتَمِسُ التِّجَارَةَ لَا تَقُولُوا ذَاكُمْ وَلَكِنْ قُولُوا كَمَا قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَنْ قُتِلَ أَوْ مَاتَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ فَهُوَ فِي الْجَنَّةِ
285 مسند أحمد بن حنبل
1/383 المحدث شعيب الأرناؤوط خلاصة حكم المحدث صحيح في تخريج المسند لشعيب
وقال ابن حجر لَا يُقَالُ فُلَانٌ شَهِيدٌ أَيْ عَلَى سَبِيلِ الْقَطْعِ بِذَلِكَ إِلَّا إِنْ كَانَ بِالْوَحْيِ
6/90 فتح الباري لابن حجر