The martyr who stands up to an unjust ruler

He said: I said, “O Messenger of Allah, which martyrs are most honored before Allah?” He said: "A man who stood up to an unjust ruler, commanded him to do what is right and forbade him from evil, and the ruler killed him."

It was said, “Which people are most severe in punishment?” He said: "A man who killed a prophet, or killed a man who commanded him to do what is right or forbade him from evil." Then he recited: "And they kill the prophets without right and kill those among the people who command justice, so give them tidings of a painful punishment." Then he said: "O Abu Ubaydah, the Children of Israel killed forty-three prophets in a single moment. Then one hundred and twelve men from among the worshipers of the Children of Israel stood up, commanded what is right and forbade evil, and they were all killed."

قَالَ: قُلْتُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، أَيُّ الشُّهَدَاءِ أَكْرَمُ عَلَى اللَّهِ؟ قَالَ: «رَجُلٌ قَامَ إِلَى أَمِيرٍ جَائِرٍ فَأَمَرَهُ بِمَعْرُوفٍ وَنَهَاهُ عَنْ مُنْكَرٍ فَقَتَلَهُ».

قِيلَ: فَأَيُّ النَّاسِ أَشَدُّ عَذَابًا؟ قَالَ: «رَجُلٌ قَتَلَ نَبِيًّا أَوْ قَتَلَ رَجُلًا أَمَرَهُ بِمَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ نَهَاهُ عَنْ مُنْكَرٍ». ثُمَّ قَرَأَ: ﴿ وَيَقْتُلُونَ النَّبِيِّينَ بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ وَيَقْتُلُونَ الَّذِينَ يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْقِسْطِ مِنَ النَّاسِ فَبَشِّرْهُمْ بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ ﴾، ثُمَّ قَالَ: «يَا أَبَا عُبَيْدَةَ، قَتَلَتْ بَنُو إِسْرَائِيلَ ثَلَاثَةً وَأَرْبَعِينَ نَبِيًّا فِي سَاعَةٍ وَاحِدَةٍ، فَقَامَ مِائَةُ رَجُلٍ وَاثْنَا عَشَرَ رَجُلًا مِنْ عُبَّادِ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ، فَأَمَرُوا بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَنَهَوْا عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ، فَقُتِلُوا جَمِيعًا».