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406chapter sixÈadÊth stands out because it has been transmitted in not less than 139variations of text (matn) and in as many chains of narrations (isn§d).This ÈadÊth narrates how MuÈammad (ß) responded to his companions’answer to his question: ‘“Who of you is a shahÊd?” They said:“Whoever was killed in the way of All§h is a shahÊd.” He [MuÈammad(ß)] said: “Verily, the shuhad§" of my nation, in that case, are veryfew.” They said: “[If we are not right in our definition of a shahÊd]Then who are they, O Messenger of Allah?” He said: “Whoever waskilled in the way of God is a shahÊd. And whoever died in the way ofGod is a shahÊd. And whoever died [due to the illness of ] the stomachis a shahÊd.”’ 72 In another ÈadÊth, MuÈammad’s (ß) definition is muchwider: ‘He said: “Whoever was killed in defence of his wealth is ashahÊd. And whoever was killed in defence of his family is a shahÊd.And whoever was killed in defence of his religion is a shahÊd. Andwhoever was killed in defence of his blood [i.e., life] is a shahÊd.”’ 73In a third ÈadÊth the Prophet’s (ß) views are even more comprehensive:‘He said: “There are five [ways] and whoever died in one of themis a martyr; the one who is killed in the way of God; the one who isdrowned in the way of God; the one who suffered [due to the illnessof the] stomach in the way of God; the one who suffered [due to]plague in the way of God; and the woman in childbirth in the wayof God.”" 74 A fourth ÈadÊth adds: “Whoever departed [went away] inthe way of God, and died or was killed is a shahÊd; whoever breakshis neck by [falling off a] horse or camel is a shahÊd; whoever is bittenby a poisonous creature, or whoever dies in his bed by any deathAll§h wished for him, is indeed a shahÊd. For him there is Paradise.”’ 75Finally, a fifth ÈadÊth concludes: ‘He said: “Whoever was killed [fighting]against oppression is a shahÊd.”’ 76MuÈammad (ß) was obviously not happy with the very narrowdefinition of shahÊd that his companions gave (he rebuked them bysaying, ‘Verily, the shuhad§" of my nation, in that case, are very few’).72Muslim Abå’l-\usayn al-NÊs§bårÊ, ‘aÈÊÈ (Beirut: D§r al-JÊl, n.d.), vol. 6, 51(ÈadÊth no. 5050).73Abå D§wåd al-Sijist§nÊ, Sunan AbÊ D§wåd (Beirut: D§r al-Kit§b al-#ArabÊ, n.d.),vol. 4, 391 (ÈadÊth no. 4774).74Abå #Abd al-RaÈm§n al-Nas§"Ê, Sunan al-Nas§"Ê (Beirut: D§r al-Kutubal-#Ilmiyyah, 1991), vol. 6, 344 (ÈadÊth no. 4371).75Al-Sijist§nÊ, al-Sunan, vol. 2, 317 (ÈadÊth no. 2501).76Abå #Abd al-RaÈm§n al-Nas§"Ê, al-Sunan al-kubr§ (Beirut: D§r al-Kutubal-#Ilmiyya, 1991), vol. 2, 310.