The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, referred to Muslims who drowned and died of abdominal diseases and others as martyrs. Will they enjoy the same reward as that enjoyed by martyrs in battle such as salvation from torment in the grave, forgiveness of sins, seeing one’s seat in Paradise, and other rewards?Will a Muslim woman who dies during labor be rewarded in the same manner as a martyr in battle?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

There are successive reports that have been narrated on the authority of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, describing those who drown, those who die in a fire, those who die of an abdominal disease, and women who die during labor or in the postpartum period as martyrs. According to Ibn Qudaamah Al-Hanbali such martyrs enjoy the rewards of the Hereafter which are enjoyed by those martyred in battle. However, their bodies are washed and prayed over, unlike the bodies of those who are martyred in battle.

With regard to their salvation from the torment of the grave and forgiveness of their sins in lieu of the calamities they faced, these are all matters belonging to the unseen which cannot be subject to analogy or reasoning. There are numerous narrations about salvation from the torment of the grave  in the books of Islamic Monotheism.

In conclusion, according to the scholars, seven categories of people benefit from such advantages: martyrs in battle, the truthful, those who die from an abdominal disease, those who die from being stabbed, those who recite Soorah Al-Mulk every night, and those who die on Friday either in the daytime or at night. However, the last category is controversial.

Seeing one’s seat in Paradise is granted to every Muslim. This is according to the Hadeeth (narration) narrated by Al-Baraa’ ibn ‘Aazib about the state of the believers and disbelievers in the throes of death. [Ahmad and Abu Dawood: Saheeh]