If I am killed for the cause of Allah, will my sins be forgiven?
Authentic hadithعن أبي قتادة الحارث بن رِبْعِيِّ رضي الله عنه عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : أَنَّهُ قامَ فيهم، فذكرَ لهم أَنَّ الجهادَ في سبيلِ اللهِ، والإيمانَ باللهِ أفضلُ الأعمالِ، فقامَ رَجُلٌ، فقال: يا رسولَ اللهِ، أرأيتَ إن قُتِلْتُ في سبيلِ اللهِ، تُكَفَّرُ عَنِّي خَطَايَايَ؟ فقالَ له رسولُ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم : «نعم، إنْ قُتِلْتَ في سبيلِ اللهِ، وأنتَ صَابِرٌ مُحْتَسِبٌ، مُقْبِلٌ غَيْرُ مُدْبِرٍ». ثم قال رسولُ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم : «كَيْفَ قُلْتَ؟» قال: أَرَأَيتَ إنْ قُتِلْتُ في سَبِيلِ اللهِ، أَتُكَفَّرُ عَنِّي خَطَايَايَ؟ فقالَ له رسولُ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم : «نعم، وأنتَ صَابِرٌ مُحْتَسِبٌ، مُقْبِلٌ غَيْرُ مُدْبِرٍ، إلا الدَّيْنَ؛ فَإنَّ جِبْرِيلَ -عليه السلام- قالَ لِي ذَلِكَ».
Abu Qatādah al-Hārith ibn Rib‘i (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) stood up among his Companions and said: "Jihad for the cause of Allah and faith in Allah are the most virtuous of actions." A man stood up and said: "O Messenger of Allah, inform me, if I am killed for the cause of Allah, will my sins be forgiven?" The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Yes, if you are killed for the cause of Allah while you are patient, hopeful of the reward, and advancing forward without retracing (while fighting)." Then he said: "What was your question?" He inquired again: "Inform me, if I am killed for the cause of Allah, will all my sins be forgiven?" The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) replied: "If you remained patient and hopeful of the reward and fought without turning your back to the enemy. Everything (of your sins will be forgiven) except debt. Jibrīl told me this."
Explanation
The Messenger (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) stood up and addressed his Companions and told them about the high status of Jihad and that the most noble deeds are jihad for establishing Allah’s religion on this earth and having faith in Allah. A man asked if Allah would forgive his sins if he were to be killed in battle while attempting to establish the dominance of Allah’s religion. The Messenger (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) replied in the positive. However, there are conditions. One must be killed while being patient withstanding the pain, sincere in his cause, and without retreating. The Messenger (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) exempted debt, declaring that martyrdom is not an exemption to returning people their rights.
Source · Narrated by Muslim
From the Hadith Encyclopedia (hadeethenc.com).