martyr

For other uses of "Martyr" and "Martyrs", see Martyr (disambiguation).

Saint Sebastian, an iconic image of martyrdom.

The term martyr (Greek μάρτυς martys "witness") is most commonly used today to describe an individual who sacrifices their life (or their personal freedom) in order to further a cause or belief for many. In the past, it initially signified a witness in the forensic sense, a person called to bear witness in legal proceedings.

Origins

In its original meaning, the word martyr was used in the secular sphere as well as in both the Old Testament and the New Testament of the Bible.^[1] The process of bearing witness was not intended to lead to the death of the witness, although it is known from ancient writers (e.g. Josephus) that witnesses, especially of the lower classes, were tortured routinely before being interrogated as a means of forcing them to disclose the truth.

Christianity

During the early Christian centuries, the term acquired the extended meaning of a believer who is called to witness for their religious belief, and on account of this witness, endures suffering and/or death. In the English language, the term is a loanword, and is often used with the extended meaning of someone who has been killed for his religious belief. The death of a martyr or the value attributed to it is called martyrdom.

In the context of church history, from the time of the persecution of early Christians in the Roman Empire, being a martyr indicates a person who is killed for maintaining a religious belief, knowing that this will almost certainly result in imminent death (though without intentionally seeking death). Christian martyrs sometimes declined to defend themselves at all, in what they see as a reflection of Jesus' willing sacrifice. However, the definition of martyrdom is not specifically restricted to the Christian faith.

Some Christians view death in sectarian persecution as martyrdom. This view is typified by the accounts in Foxe's Book of Martyrs.

Usage of "martyr" is also common among Arab Christians (i.e. anyone killed in relation to Christianity or a Christian community), indicating that the English word "martyr" may not actually be a proper equivalent of its commonly ascribed Arabic translation.

Judaism

Martyrdom in Judaism is one of the main examples of Kiddush Hashem, meaning "sanctification of God's name" through public dedication to Jewish practice.

Islam

In Arabic, a martyr is termed "shaheed" (literally, "witness," as in the Greek root of the English word). The word shaheed appears in the Quran in a variety of contexts, including witnessing to righteousness (Quran 2:143), witnessing a financial transaction (Quran 2:282) and dying in a religiously sanctioned battle (Quran 3:140). The word also appears with these various meanings in the Hadith, the sayings of Muhammad.

Bahá'í Faith

In the Bahá'í Faith, a martyr is one who sacrifices their life serving humanity in the name of God.^[2] However, Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith, discouraged the literal meaning of sacrificing one's life, and instead explained that martyrdom is devoting oneself to service to humanity.^[2]

Sikhism

Martyrdom, in Sikhism, is a fundamental concept, and represents an important institution of the faith.

Notes

A communist 'martyrs column' in Alappuzha, India

References

• Catholic Encyclopedia "Martyrs"
• Foster, Claude R. jr.: Paul Schneider, the Buchenwald apostle : a Christian martyr in Nazi Germany ; a sourcebook on the German Church struggle; Westchester, Pennsylvania: SSI Bookstore, West Chester University, 1995; ISBN 1-887732-01-2

See also

• Christian martyrs
• Martyr (shahid)
• Martyrology
• Religious persecution
• Martyr complex

External links

Look up martyr in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• Fox's Book of Martyrs 16th century classic book, accounts of martyrdoms, full text.
• Martyrdom from the perspecive of sociology-Encyclopedia of Politics and Religion