Don't label or call anyone Shaheed or Martyr
⚡ We cannot and should not label anyone as "Shaheed" (martyr) with surety, except those for whom Allaah declared/confirmed their martyrdom in the Qur'aan or through His Prophet in the Sunnah; for all others, we can only pray that Allaah accepts them as "Shaheed".
For we live in an age where the title of “Shaheed” (martyr) is given to anyone and everyone in wholesale. The one who kills himself is called a “Shaheed”; the one who blows-up himself is called a “Shaheed”; the one who is killed while confronting the military of his own country is labeled as “Shaheed”; the one who abandoned his prayer but was killed in a demonstration/rally is labeled as “Shaheed”. It becomes worse when at the death of some people are seen rushing to praise him/her.
Allaah’s help is sought and to Him we complain.
Narrated Umm al-`Alaa’: When the Ansaar drew lots as to which of the Muhaajiroon (emigrants) should dwell with which of the Ansaar, the name of `Uthmaan Ibn Madh`oon came out (to be in their lot). Umm al-`Alaa’ further said: `Uthmaan stayed with us, and we nursed him when he got sick, but he died. We shrouded him in his clothes, and Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ came to our house and I (Umm al-`Alaa’) said, (addressing the dead `Uthmaan): “O Abu al-Saa’ib! May Allaah be merciful to you. I testify that Allaah has honored you.” The Prophet ﷺ said to me: ❝How do you know that Allaah has honored him?❞ I replied: “I do not know, O Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ! May my parents be sacrificed for you.” Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ said: ❝As regards `Uthmaan, by Allaah he has died and I really wish him every good, yet, by Allaah, although I am Allaah’s Messenger (ﷺ), I do not know what will be done to him.❞ Umm al- `Alaa’ added: “By Allaah, I shall never attest the piety of anyone after him.”
📚 [Saheeh al-Bukaaree (1243, 2687, 3929, 7003, 7018)]