Superiority of Martyrs

1) Narrated Masruq: We asked 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud (radhyAllahu ‘anhu) about this verse:

"Think not of those who have been killed in the way of Allah as dead; rather they are alive with their Lord being provided with sustenance." (Surah Al-‘Imran, 3:169)

He ‘Abdullah bin Mas'ud (radhyAllahu ‘anhu) said: We asked the Prophet (SallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) the meaning of this verse.  So he explained it like this:

“Their souls are inside some green birds beside lanterns suspended from the Divine Throne roaming freely in Paradise wherever they like. Then they take shelter at those lanterns. Once their Lord looked at them and said: Do you want anything else?  They said: What more shall we want? We roam freely in Paradise as we like. Allah asked them the same question three times. When they felt that they would not be spared from being asked, they said: O Lord! We like You to put back our souls into our bodies so that we may be killed in Your way once again. As Allah saw that they had no wish, they would be let for joy in heaven.”

(This Hadith is sound and reported by Bukhari).

A Shaheed is a martyr who fought for the sake of Allah and was killed.  His grade in Paradise   is next to a Siddiq i.e. one who was a forerunner and first to believe in His Prophet. (e.g. Abu Bakr, radhyAllahu ‘anhu). The grades are:  Prophets then the Siddiqun then the martyrs, then the righteous ones. This Hadith along with No. 41, 42 and 43 highlight the graces Allah (Azza wa Jall) shall bestow on the martyrs in the Hereafter and even in their graves before resurrection.

2) Narrated Anas (radhyAlahu ‘anhu): Allah's Messenger (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said:  “A man from among people of Paradise will be brought forward.  Allah will ask him:  O Son of Adam!  How did you find your home? He will reply: 0 my Lord!  It is the best home, then Allah will say: Ask and wish anything you like. The man will say: I would ask You to send me back to the world in order to be killed in Your way ten times.  (This is because of the superiority of the martyrdom and the high position which martyrs would be made to occupy in heaven).”

(This Hadith is sound and reported by Nasa'i).

3) Narrated Ibn 'Umar (radhyAllahu ‘anhu) Prophet (SallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) quoted his Lord (Azza wa Jal) as saying: “Whoever of My slaves comes out to fight in My way seeking My pleasure, I guarantee him that I will compensate his suffering with reward and booty (during his lifetime) and if he dies, I would forgive him, have mercy on him and let him enter Paradise.”

(This Hadith is fairly sound and reported in Musnad Ahmad).

A soldier who fights in the way of Allah will be best rewarded by Allah in this world as well as in the Hereafter.