What does the Qur’an mean when it says the martyrs are alive?

The Qur'an's statement that the martyrs are alive shows that a special favour is given to them, and that their being alive after martyrdom is different from other people. Allah says: "And do not say about those who are martyred in the path of Allah that they are dead. Nay! They are alive, but you cannot understand." [Qur'an, al-Baqarah 2:154]

It is clearly stated in the Qur'an that those who have died in Allah's path are alive. Although everyone who passes away is normally referred to 'as having died' or 'a dead person', Allah mentions about the martyrs that 'they are alive' and 'do not call them dead'.

From this verse the scholars establish the life of the Prophet ﷺ after death, Hayat un-Nabi.

In order to show that the life given to those honoured ones is different from others in the state of Barzakh, Allah explains the nature of their life by highlighting the point 'that the martyrs are alive'. Then mankind is addressed with the words 'However you cannot understand', meaning that mankind is unable to comprehend the concept of that life after death.

About this life, the Qur'an states: "Think not of those who are killed in the way of Allah as dead. Nay, they are alive, with their lord, and they have provision. They rejoice in what Allah has bestowed upon them of His bounty and rejoice for the sake of those who have not yet joined them, but are left behind (not yet martyred) that on them no fear shall come, nor shall they grieve. They rejoice in a Grace and a Bounty from Allah, and that Allah will not waste the reward of the believers." [Qur'an, Al Imran 3:169-171]