Those Who Never Die
The quality of life and contentment is something that gives life a meaning and ensures one’s happiness. The Hoy Quran refers to a group of people who never die and are always alive:
“You must not think that those who were killed in the way of Allah are dead. But rather, they are alive with their Lord and have been provided for.” (Surah Al Imran, Verse 169)
According to Nemuneh Exegesis of the Quran, living here refers to the life in the Barzakh (Purgatory) where souls go after death and this is not limited to martyrs, but because martyrs are so involved in benefiting from spiritual favors in Barzakh that the life of others seems nothing compared to them and that is why only martyrs have been mentioned in this verse.
A person who fight son the path of God and defending values is one who is committed to these values and has manifested them in his life. Generosity, humbleness, kindness and helping others are parts of the characteristics of God-seeking people who are different from those who are self-centered, cruel, opportunist and immoral.
Those good traits and behaviors bring about happiness and that is why God says “they are alive with their Lord and have been provided for.”
At the end of the Battle of Uhud, Abu Sufyan, the commander of those fighting the Holy Prophet (PBUH), shouted, “These 70 Muslims were killed in this battle in return for those of us killed in the Battle of Badr”. But the Holy Prophet (PBUH) said, “Those of us killed are in paradise and yours are in hell”.
Points about Martyrs and Martyrdom in Noor Exegesis of Quran:
1- The Holy Prophet (PBUH) heard someone praying God to give him the best thing asked from Him by people. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) told the man that if the prayer is answered, he will be martyred on the path of God.
2- It has been said in Hadiths that for anything, there is a better thing but not for martyrdom because nothing is better and higher than it.
3- On the Day of Judgment, martyrs have the status of Shafie (intercession).
4- The best and most sublime death is martyrdom.
5- Many of the prophets of God and their followers were martyred.
“There has been many a Prophet with whom many of the Lord have fought and they did not faint when they were smitten in the way of Allah, neither did they weaken, nor did they humble themselves, and Allah loves the patient.” (Surah Al Imran, Verse 146)
“… and murdered His Prophets without reason.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 61)
6- Just as a blind man does not recognize the concept of sight, people in this world would not recognize the quality of the life of martyrs.
Messages of Verse 169 of Surah Al Imran in Noor Exegesis of Quran:
1- Martyrdom is not the end but the beginning of life. Many of those who live are actually dead but those who die on the path of God are alive.
2- Martyrdom is not losing but is winning and gaining.
3- Being killed is precious if it happens on the path of God.
4- Imagining that a martyr has lost something is a deviated approach that should be corrected.
