In the Name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful
Islam values human life in this world, as the protection of life is established to be one of the fundamental objectives (maqasid) of the Law. The political slogan “we love death like our enemies love life,” repeated by some Muslims, is a gross misrepresentation of the Prophet’s ﷺ Sunnah.
Death is never an objective of Islam in itself. Even the purpose of fighting in Jihad against enemies who persecute Muslims is not simply to kill them. On the contrary, the Prophet ﷺ succeeded in his mission not by massacring his opponents, but by persuading them with his good character and sound reasoning.
Muslims should desire to meet Allah in the Hereafter, in hopes of being rewarded with eternal life by His grace, but this is completely different from wishing for death.
Aisha reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
مَنْ أَحَبَّ لِقَاءَ اللَّهِ أَحَبَّ اللَّهُ لِقَاءَهُ وَمَنْ كَرِهَ لِقَاءَ اللَّهِ كَرِهَ اللَّهُ لِقَاءَهُ
Whoever loves to meet Allah, Allah loves to meet him. Whoever hates to meet Allah, Allah hates to meet him.
Aisha said, “O Prophet of Allah, all of us hate death and are averse to it.” The Prophet said:
لَيْسَ كَذَلِكِ وَلَكِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنَ إِذَا بُشِّرَ بِرَحْمَةِ اللَّهِ وَرِضْوَانِهِ وَجَنَّتِهِ أَحَبَّ لِقَاءَ اللَّهِ فَأَحَبَّ اللَّهُ لِقَاءَهُ وَإِنَّ الْكَافِرَ إِذَا بُشِّرَ بِعَذَابِ اللَّهِ وَسَخَطِهِ كَرِهَ لِقَاءَ اللَّهِ وَكَرِهَ اللَّهُ لِقَاءَهُ
It is not like this. Rather, when a believer is given glad tidings of the mercy of Allah, His pleasure, and Paradise, he loves to meet Allah and Allah loves to meet him. When an unbeliever is given news of punishment by the hand of Allah and hardship to be imposed by Him, he hates to meet Allah and Allah hates to meet him.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 157, Grade: Sahih
The Prophet’s ﷺ wife, Aisha, rightly noted that the believers dislike death as it is a part of pure, uncorrupted human nature (fitrah). Although a believer could possibly feel a wish for death due to hardship or other circumstances, it is nevertheless forbidden to seek death or act upon one’s desire for it.
Shaykh ‘Abdulaziz ibn Baz commented:
فإذا وقع في قلب الإنسان بعض الأحيان اشتياق إلى الموت ليلقى ربه لما وقع في قلبه من حسن الظن بالله والشوق إلى لقائه والرغبة فيما عنده ولما يشاهده في الدنيا من الشر والبلاء والفساد والخطر هذا قد يقع للمؤمن ولكن مع هذا كله لا يجوز له أن يطلب الموت ولا أن يتمناه كما في الأحاديث الصحيحة النهي عن ذلك ولكن هذا من رحمة الله له ومما يعجّله الله له من اللذة والسرور والنعيم
If a person sometimes feels a longing for death in his heart to meet his Lord, because of a good opinion of Allah, longing to meet Him, desire for what is with Him, and the evil, calamity, corruption, and danger he sees in this world, this may happen to the believer. However, despite all of this, it is not permissible for him to seek death or wish for it, as in the authentic Hadith that prohibit such.
Source: Fatāwá al-Durūs 24479
In another Hadith, the Prophet ﷺ informs us that the ‘allies of Allah’ (awliya’), that is, His most beloved friends, actually hate death and do not wish for it. Allah even ‘hesitates’ to take their souls, in a manner befitting His Majesty, because He dislikes inflicting the pain of death upon His beloved servants.
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَالَ وَمَا تَرَدَّدْتُ عَنْ شَيْءٍ أَنَا فَاعِلُهُ تَرَدُّدِي عَنْ نَفْسِ الْمُؤْمِنِ يَكْرَهُ الْمَوْتَ وَأَنَا أَكْرَهُ مَسَاءَتَهُ
Allah said, ‘I do not hesitate to do anything as I hesitate to take the soul of the believer, for he hates death, and I hate to distress him.’
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6502, Grade: Sahih
The Angel of Death removing the soul from one’s body is the most agonizing experience in all of creation, so much so that many of the righteous predecessors were afraid the intense suffering of it would harm their faith in the exact moment they most needed it.
Imam Ibn Rajab commented:
والموتُ هو مفارقةُ الروح للجسد ولا يحصلُ ذلك إلا بألمٍ عظيمٍ جدًا وهو أعظمُ الآلام التي تُصيب العبد في الدُّنيا … وقد كان بعضُ السلف يخشى من تشديد الموت أن يُفتن
Death is the separation of the soul from the body, and this only happens with immense pain. It is the greatest pain a person can experience in this world… Some of the Salaf feared that the severity of death would put them to trial.
Source: Jāmi’ al-‘Ulūm wal-Ḥikam 2/356-357
For this reason, the Prophet ﷺ explicitly forbade Muslims from desiring death or taking the matter lightly. Living a longer life is always better, either to increase in good deeds or to spend more time in repentance.
Anas ibn Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
لَا يَتَمَنَّيَنَّ أَحَدُكُمْ الْمَوْتَ مِنْ ضُرٍّ أَصَابَهُ فَإِنْ كَانَ لَا بُدَّ فَاعِلًا فَلْيَقُلْ اللَّهُمَّ أَحْيِنِي مَا كَانَتْ الْحَيَاةُ خَيْرًا لِي وَتَوَفَّنِي إِذَا كَانَتْ الْوَفَاةُ خَيْرًا لِي
None of you should wish for death due to a calamity that has afflicted him. Yet if he must do something, let him say, ‘O Allah, keep me alive so long as life is good for me, and cause me to die if death is better for me.’
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5671, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
لَا يَتَمَنَّى أَحَدُكُمْ الْمَوْتَ إِمَّا مُحْسِنًا فَلَعَلَّهُ يَزْدَادُ وَإِمَّا مُسِيئًا فَلَعَلَّهُ يَسْتَعْتِبُ
Let none of you wish for death. If he is a good-doer, he might increase his good deeds. If he is an evil-doer, he might make amends.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 7235, Grade: Sahih
Imam Ibn ‘Abdul Barr commented:
نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أُمَّتَهُ عَنْ أَنْ يَتَمَنَّى أَحَدُهُمُ الْمَوْتَ لِضُرٍّ نَزَلَ بِهِ فَالْمُتَمَنِّي لِلْمَوْتِ لَيْسَ بِمُحِبٍّ لِلِقَاءِ اللَّهِ بَلْ هُوَ عَاصٍ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فِي تَمَنِّيهِ الْمَوْتَ
The Messenger of Allah forbade his nation from wishing for death due to some harm that befell them. The one wishing for death is not like one who loves to meet Allah, but rather he is disobeying Allah Almighty by wishing for death.
Source: al-Tamhīd 18/26
Imam Ibn al-Malak commented:
أي لا يتمنى أحدكم الموت من ضر أو مكروه أصابه وهذا لأن الحياة حكم الله عليه وطلبُ زوال الحياة عدمُ الرضاء بحكمه
That is, none of you should wish for death because of harm or misfortune that has befallen him. This is because life is decreed by Allah for him, and seeking to end his own life is being dissatisfied with His wisdom.
Source: Sharḥ al-Maṣābīḥ 2/328
And Imam al-Qastallani commented:
وأتى بعد كلِّ حالٍ بما ينبِّه على علَّة النَّهي عن تمنِّي الموت والأصل لا يتمنَّى أحدكم الموت محسنًا أو مسيئًا
After each situation, the Prophet explained the reasoning behind the prohibition of wishing for death. The fundamental principle is that none of you should wish for death, whether he is a good person or a bad person.
Source: Irshād al-Sārī 20/19
The greatest blessing from Allah after faith is good health, which no Muslim should take for granted, so asking Allah for well-being should be a regular part of our prayers. Desiring death contradicts the spirit of such supplications from the Sunnah.
Abu Bakr reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
لَمْ تُؤْتَوْا شَيْئًا بَعْدَ كَلِمَةِ الْإِخْلَاصِ مِثْلَ الْعَافِيَةِ فَاسْأَلُوا اللَّهَ الْعَافِيَةَ
You are not given anything after the sincere word of faith like wellness, so ask Allah for wellness.
Source: Musnad Aḥmad 10, Grade: Sahih li ghayrihi
In this respect, the Prophet ﷺ repeatedly emphasized that the best outcome for any believer is to live as long as possible, either to earn more good deeds or make amends for previous transgressions.
Abu Bakrah reported: A man said, “O Messenger of Allah, who are the best people?” The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
مَنْ طَالَ عُمُرُهُ وَحَسُنَ عَمَلُهُ
One whose life is long and his deeds are good.
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2330, Grade: Sahih
Abdullah ibn Busr reported: A man asked, “O Messenger of Allah, who are the best people?” The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
مَنْ طَالَ عُمُرُهُ وَحَسُنَ عَمَلُهُ
One whose life is long and his deeds are good.
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2329, Grade: Hasan
Talhah reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
لَيْسَ أَحَدٌ أَفْضَلَ عِنْدَ اللهِ مِنْ مُؤْمِنٍ يُعَمَّرُ فِي الْإِسْلامِ لِتَسْبِيحِهِ وَتَكْبِيرِهِ وَتَهْلِيلِهِ
There is no one better to Allah than a believer who lives long in Islam to glorify Him, exalt Him, and declare His oneness.
Source: Musnad Aḥmad 1401, Grade: Sahih
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
خِيَارُكُمْ أَطْوَلُكُمْ أَعْمَارًا وَأَحْسَنُكُمْ أَعْمَالًا
The best of you are those with the longest lives and best deeds.
Source: Musnad Aḥmad 7212, Grade: Sahih li ghayrihi
Some Muslims mistakenly claim that it is a virtue to desire fighting the enemies of Islam and, therefore, to die by their hands as a martyr. However, the Prophet ﷺ likewise forbade Muslims from desiring to start a war just as he forbade them from desiring to die.
Abu Huraira reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
لاَ تَمَنَّوْا لِقَاءَ الْعَدُوِّ فَإِذَا لَقِيتُمُوهُمْ فَاصْبِرُوا
Do not wish to meet the enemy in battle, but if you meet them, be steadfast.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 3026, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
Imam al-Harrali commented:
فيه إشعار لهذه الأمة بأن لا تطلب الحرب ابتداء وإنما تدافع من منعها من إقامة دينها كما قال تعالى أذن للذين يقاتلون بأنهم ظلموا فحق المؤمن أن يأتي الحرب ولا يطلبه فإنه إن طلبه فأوتيه عجز كما عجز من طلبه من الأمم السابقة
In this is a notification to this nation that it should not seek war in the first place, but rather defend itself against those who prevent it from establishing its religion, as Allah Almighty said, ‘Permission to fight back is granted to those being fought, for they have been wronged,’ (22:39). Thus, it is the duty of the believer to meet war but not to seek it.
Source: Fayḍ al-Qadīr 6/399
And Imam al-Biqa’i commented:
ففيه إشعار لهذه الأمة بأن لا تطلب الحرب ابتداء وإنما تدافع عن منعها من إقامة دينها … فحق المؤمن أن يأبى الحرب ولا يطلبه
In this is a notification to this nation that it should not seek war in the first place. Indeed, it only defends itself from those who obstruct the establishment of its religion… Thus, it is a duty upon the believer to refuse war and not to seek it.
Source: Naẓm al-Durar fī Tanāsub al-Āyāt wal-Suwar 3/406
The desire for martyrdom, which is to involuntarily die while supporting a good cause, in battle or otherwise, is a commendable aspiration, but as scholars noted, it is not the same as desiring war or death in itself.
Imam Abu al-‘Abbas al-Qurtubi writes:
وتحريره أن تمني لقاء العدو المنهي عنه غير تمني الشهادة المرغب فيه
To clarify, that wishing to meet the enemy, which is forbidden, is not the same as wishing for martyrdom, which is desirable.
Source: al-Mufhim li-mā Ashkala min Talkhīṣ Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 3/524
Martyrdom in Islam means much more than falling on the battlefield. A believer could be rewarded with martyrdom if they die performing several good deeds other than fighting aggressors.
Jabir ibn ‘Atik reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
الشَّهَادَةُ سَبْعٌ سِوَى الْقَتْلِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ الْمَطْعُونُ شَهِيدٌ وَالْغَرِقُ شَهِيدٌ وَصَاحِبُ ذَاتِ الْجَنْبِ شَهِيدٌ وَالْمَبْطُونُ شَهِيدٌ وَصَاحِبُ الْحَرِيقِ شَهِيدٌ وَالَّذِي يَمُوتُ تَحْتَ الْهَدْمِ شَهِيدٌ وَالْمَرْأَةُ تَمُوتُ بِجُمْعٍ شَهِيدٌ
There are seven martyrs besides one who is killed in the way of Allah: the victim of plague is a martyr, the one who drowns is a martyr, the one who dies of chest pain is a martyr, the one who dies of stomach infection is a martyr, the one who burns to death is a martyr, the one who dies under rubble is a martyr, and the pregnant woman who dies in labor is a martyr.
Source: Sunan Abī Dāwūd 3111, Grade: Sahih
And the Prophet said:
مَنْ سَأَلَ اللَّهَ الشَّهَادَةَ بِصِدْقٍ بَلَّغَهُ اللَّهُ مَنَازِلَ الشُّهَدَاءِ وَإِنْ مَاتَ عَلَى فِرَاشِهِ
Whoever honestly asks Allah for martyrdom, Allah will grant him martyrdom even if he dies in his own bed.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1909, Grade: Sahih
In sum, Islam values human life in this world and teaches noble morals that lead to eternal life in the Hereafter. Believers must not wish for death upon themselves or others. Martyrdom is not a desire for death in itself, but rather true martyrdom is only achieved by righteous living and accepting one’s eventual death in the time and place chosen by Allah alone, not by seeking death for its own sake.
Success comes from Allah, and Allah knows best.
