Whoever is killed in fighting, by whatever means, is a martyr (shahid)

Question

If these disbelievers kill (lit. “martyr”) [a Muslim] with axes or spears — a sharp-edged weapon — will he be given ghusl and a kafan or not? What is the ruling on a gun and the like? Moreover, the fighting is not even started by the Muslims; rather, they are being killed unjustly. (2) Likewise, they kill Muslim passers-by whenever they get the chance — are they too to be given ghusl and a kafan or not? All the Muslim officials have gone to Pakistan, and in their place Hindus or Sikhs have all come.

Answer

If a Muslim is killed in the very midst of fighting, by whatever weapon it may be, he is a martyr (shahid): for him there is no ghusl and no kafan. (2) The same ruling applies to him.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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