عَنْ أبي ثَابِتٍ، وقِيلَ: أبي سعيدٍ، وقِيلَ: أبي الْولِيدِ، سَهْلِ بْنِ حُنَيْفٍ، وَهُوَ بدرِيٌّ، رضي اللّهُ عنه، أَنّ النبيَّ صَلّى اللّهُ عَلَيْهِ وسَلَّم قال: «مَنْ سَأَلَ اللّهَ تعالَى الشَّهَادَةَ بِصِدْقٍ بَلَّغَهُ اللّهُ مَنَازِلَ الشُّهدَاءِ، وإِنْ مَاتَ عَلَى فِراشِهِ» رواه مسلم.
Abu Thabit -- also known as Abu Sa'id or Abu al-Walid -- Sahl ibn Hunayf, who participated in the Battle of Badr, (may Allah be pleased with him), reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever sincerely asks Allah for martyrdom, Allah will grant him the rank of the martyrs even if he dies in his bed." Narrated by Muslim.
الشرح · explanation
بدريّ: أي حضر غزوة بدر. الشهادة: في أصلها هي الموت في قتال الأعداء ابتغاء مرضاة اللّه تعالى، وسميت شهادة لأنّ صاحبها ممّن شهد له اللّه وملائكته بالجنّة، وقيل لأنّه حيّ لم يمت كأنّه شاهد حاضر. منازل الشهداء: درجاتهم عند اللّه.
Badri: meaning he was present at the Battle of Badr. Al-Shahadah: in its origin, it is death while fighting the enemies seeking the pleasure of Allah the Exalted. It is called shahadah (martyrdom) because its possessor is one for whom Allah and His angels have testified to Paradise, and it is also said because he is alive and has not died, as if he is a witness who is present. Manazil al-Shuhada': their ranks with Allah.
الدروس · lessons
أن صدق القلب سبب لبلوغ الأرب. أن من نوى شيئًا من عمل البرّ أثيب عليه وإن لم يتحقّق له عمله. استحباب طلب الشهادة والإخلاص في ذلك. الشهادة بصدق هي أن تكون لإعلاء كلمة اللّه تعالى ونيل مرضاته، لا لغرض آخر.
Sincerity of heart is a means of attaining one's goal. Whoever intends a righteous deed is rewarded for it even if he was unable to accomplish it. It is recommended to ask for martyrdom and to be sincere in doing so. True martyrdom in sincerity is that which is for the purpose of raising the word of Allah the Exalted and attaining His pleasure, not for any other purpose.