Whether we like to admit it or not, partly due to the uncomfortable nature of the subject, one constant in everyone’s life is death. Despite this inescapable fate, society still harbors an innate desire to be forever young. The anti-aging market of 2024 is valued at approximately 76.6 billion USD (1). However, no matter how many layers of the latest anti-aging cream are applied, Father Time always catches up. With the fountain of youth confined only to the realm of Hollywood and cryonics, which is speculative science to revive the frozen dead, one might ponder on what grounds the Holy Qur’an, the sacred scripture of Muslims, claims:

“And say not of those who are killed in the cause of Allah that they are dead; nay, they are living; only you perceive not” (2).

Critics of Islam often misinterpret this verse of the Holy Qur’an in an attempt to falsely claim that Islam promotes the concept of resurrection. Consequently, they argue that Muslims must accept that the Prophet Jesus (as) died on the cross and was brought back to life a few days following the crucifixion. This erroneous interpretation is used as a crutch in an attempt to establish the divinity of Jesus.

The Arabic word Ahya (living) about martyrs has been used here in a special sense. Commenting on this verse, the Second Worldwide Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, his Holiness Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmood Ahmad (ra), states:

“The word Hayi (living) is also applied to him whose work, or, more properly speaking, the cause for which he lays down his life, does not come to an end with his death. The verse, therefore, points out that those who lay down their lives for Islam should not be regarded as dead because the cause for which they give their lives still stands and is all the more strongly upheld by others who take their places” (3).

From this, we learn that a heavy responsibility falls on the shoulders of the Muslim community. They are tasked with keeping the legacy and good works of the martyr alive by embodying within themselves those very qualities that made the martyr worthy of their spiritual station.

The history of Islam is replete with examples of devout men and women who achieved the esteemed spiritual status of martyrdom, each shining brighter and sweeter in their own way. Interestingly, the Arabic word for martyrdom originates from Shahd (meaning honey), adding a unique layer of significance. The Holy Qur’an extols the healing properties of honey (4), linking it to martyrdom. In this context, martyrs are likened to an antidote (5). Those who embrace their path and follow their example find spiritual ailments cured, thus receiving a new lease on life.

Instead of delving centuries into the past for a poignant example of martyrdom, one need only journey to the year 2021, where the loss of a young, brilliant journalist and documentarian deeply shook the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. Syed Taalay Ahmad, a life devotee of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, tragically passed away at the age of 31 during an armed robbery incident in Ghana while filming a documentary for MTA (Muslim Television Ahmadiyya). The reverberations of his martyrdom echoed globally and garnered international coverage from various media outlets. His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad eloquently summarized his remarkable qualities and remarked, “He was a diamond that has now departed from us” (6).

Both young and old, including those who never had the privilege of meeting him, were inspired by his unwavering commitment to his faith. People across the globe, perhaps previously in a state of spiritual slumber, were awakened upon learning of the remarkable attributes of this young martyr. For some, whose worship and faith had become bitter and stale, a newfound sense of joy and sweetness imbued their religious practices. This transformative effect illustrates the enduring legacy of a martyr whose influence persists even after their earthly life ends. Truly, he was a diamond; perhaps there is some truth to the notion that diamonds are forever.

References

1. Size of the anti-aging market worldwide from 2021 to 2027 (in billion U.S. dollars) https://www.statista.com/statistics/509679/value-of-the-global-anti-aging-market/ [Accessed: March 1, 2024]
2. The Holy Qur’an (2:155)
3. The Holy Qur’an (2:115), The Five-Volume Commentary, Under 2:115, footnote No. 161, https://www.alislam.org/quran/ app/2:115 [Accessed: March 1, 2024]
4. The Holy Qur’an (16:70)
5. Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Friday Sermon, December 14, 2012, “The Martyrs,” https://www.alislam.org/friday-sermon/2012-12-14.html [Accessed: March 1, 2024]
6. AmtuShakoor Tayyaba Ahmed, February 2, 2022, “Special Series: Interview With ‘Umme Taalay’ – The Mother of Syed Taalay Ahmed Shaheed,”“A Diamond of Khilafat,” https://www.reviewofreligions.org/

37148/special-series-interview-with-umme-taalay-the-mother-of-syed-taalay-ahmed-shaheed-a-diamond-of-khilafat/ [Accessed: March 1, 2024]