Did the Prophet Muhammad Die As a Martyr?

Answered by Ustadh Abdullah Anik Misra

Question: How did the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) pass away was his death natural or did he die a martyr? Is it true if a person sincerely desires martyrdom he receives the reward of a martyr even if he died on his bed naturally? Is this reward lesser than the reward of a martyr who died in the way of Allah?

Answer: In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful and Compassionate,

As salamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

Thank you for your question.

Our beloved Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) left this world by a natural death, after a 12-14 day sickness with severe headaches, high fever and pain.  Reports indicate that the pain was caused by poisoned lamb tasted three years earlier during the Battle of Khaybar.   [Muhibb al-Tabari, Khulasa Siyar Sayyid al-Bashar]

Ibn Masud (Allah be pleased with him) felt that the Prophet [peace be upon him] had died as a martyr, the delay in the poison’s effect being a prophetic miracle.  Allah Most High thus preserved His beloved Messenger until his mission was completed, and then, to honor him, caused him to die a martyr.  [al-Zurqani, Sharh Mawahib Laduniyya]

May Allah shower His peace and blessings on His final Messenger, and his family, companions and followers till the Day of Judgment.

Wasalam,

Abdullah Anik Misra

Checked &Approved by Faraz Rabbani