Sayyid Mohammad-Javad Bashiri

Shahadat (Martyrdom) is derived from the base form of “sh-h-d”[i]  for which various literal meanings have been mentioned including presence, knowledge, definite news, swearing by God, clear warning about what has been seen.[ii] According to the usages of this word, it seems that this word literally has been used in two situations: presence, such as  فمن شهد منکم الشهر فلیصمه  “ Therefore, whoever of you witnesses the month, let him fast” (the holy Quran; ۲:۱۸۵) or “حتی اذا ما جاءوها شهد علیهم سمعهم وابصارهم وجلودهم بما کانوا یعملون  “when they reach it, their hearing, eyes and skins will testify against them for what they were doing.” (the holy Quran; ۴۱:۲۰). Other meanings of shahadah are derivations of one of these meanings or inferences of the whole verse or a figurative usage or an explanation of it. [i] Refer to Juhari, ۲/۴۹۴ [ii] Refer to Juhari, ۲/۴۹۴; ibn Manzoor, ۳/۲۳۹-۲۴۳; Zubaydi, ۵/۴۵-۴۹