Shaheed

Shaheed (شهيد ʃahiːd, () شهيدة ʃahiːdah, () شُهَدَاء ʃuhadaː; ਸ਼ਹੀਦ) denotes a martyr in Islam and Sikhism. The word is used frequently in the Quran in the generic sense of "witness" but only once in the sense of "martyr" (i.e. one who dies for his faith); the latter sense acquires wider usage in the hadith. The term is commonly used as a posthumous title for those who are considered to have accepted or even consciously sought out their own death in order to bear witness to their beliefs. Like the English-language word martyr, in the 20th century, the word shahid came to have both religious and non-religious connotations, and has often been used to describe those who died for non-religious ideological causes. This suggests that there is no single fixed and immutable concept of martyrdom among Muslims and Sikhs. In Arabic, the word shahid means "witness". Its development closely parallels that of the Greek word martys (μάρτυς, witness; also "martyr" in the New Testament), the origin of the term martyr. A shahid is considered one whose place in Paradise is promised according to these verses in the Quran: Think not of those who are slain in Allah's way as dead. Nay, they live, finding their sustenance in the presence of their Lord; They rejoice in the bounty provided by Allah. And with regard to those left behind, who have not yet joined them (in their bliss), the (Martyrs) glory in the fact that on them is no fear, nor have they (cause to) grieve. Allah hath purchased of the believers their persons and their goods; for theirs (in return) is the garden (of Paradise): they fight in His cause, and slay and are slain: a promise binding on Him in truth, through the Torah, the Gospel, and the Qur ́an: and who is more faithful to his covenant than Allah? then rejoice in the bargain which ye have concluded: that is the achievement supreme. The Quranic passage that follows is the source of the concept of Muslim martyrs being promised Paradise: Those who leave their homes in the cause of Allah, and are then slain or die,- On them will Allah bestow verily a goodly Provision: Truly Allah is He Who bestows the best provision.