Martyr Burial Philosophy from the Viewpoint of Imam Khomeini and Imamieh Jurisprudence

Abstract

Being killed for the sake of religion, homeland, or political opinion is in different forms in different societies; but is commonly honored and praised. Thus, victims and even deprives and survivors of the war are respected in all nations, governments and the public. In Islamic culture, this kind of sacrificing for the sake of Allah is called martydom. Human fascination for martyrdom brings this question to mind that while many people fear from death what the difference is between this type of death and other deaths that it leads them to welcome death. In examining this issue, which is essentially what the distinction is between martydom and other deaths, referring to the Qur'an and Sunnah can be the best solution. Contemplating these two sources give various characteristics. In this thesis, the literal and technical concepts of martyr, equivalents of sacrificing and martyrdom in other religions, the concept of martyrdom in the Shiite school and the rules and virtues of burying martyr are studied. The obtained result is that martydom for the sake of Allah is a huge triumph that is not obtainable by all the people because martydom means welcoming death, which is obviously different from the other types of death, and it is with positive results such as eternal life with peace, joy and forgiveness of sins, the divine gift and the lack of need for bathing an enshrouding the deceased.