Surah At-Taubah, Ayat 119-120

Ayat 119. O you who believe! Be afraid of Allah, and be with those who are true (in words and deeds).

Ayat 120. It was not becoming of the people of Al-Madinah and the Bedouins of the neighborhood to remain behind Allah's Messenger (Muhammad [SAWW](PBUH) when fighting in Allah's Cause) and (it was not becoming of them) to prefer their own lives to his life. That is because they suffer neither thirst nor fatigue, nor hunger in the Cause of Allah, nor they take any step to raise the anger of disbelievers nor inflict any injury upon an enemy but is written to their credit as a deed of righteousness. Surely, Allah wastes not the reward of the Muhsinun.

Hazrat Abu Thabit (Abu Saeed / Abu Waleed) heard from Hazrat Sahl bin Hunaif (May Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet [SAWW](PBUH) said: "He who asks Allah for martyrdom, Allah will raise him to the high status of the martyrs, even if he dies on his bed". [Muslim Hadith # 4695].

Lesson : as mentioned above in Surah At-Taubah Ayat 120 "when fighting in Allah's Cause) and (it was not becoming of them) to prefer their own lives to his life". This Hadith highlights the merit and importance of sincere intention which in fact is so great that by virtue of it Allah raises a person's status to that of a martyr. On the contrary, persons of foul intention will be consigned to Hell by Allah even if they die in Jihad.