Hadith: Whoever is killed in defense of his wealth is a martyr. Whoever is killed in defense of his family, himself, or his religion is a martyr

عن سعيد بن زيد، عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: «من قُتِلَ دُون مَالِهِ فهو شَهيدٌ، ومن قُتِلَ دُون أهْلِهِ، أو دُونَ دَمِهِ، أو دُون دِيْنِهِ فهو شَهيدٌ».
[صحيح] - [رواه أبو داود والترمذي والنسائي وأحمد]

Sa‘īd ibn Zayd reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever is killed in defense of his wealth is a martyr. Whoever is killed in defense of his family, himself, or his religion is a martyr."
[Authentic hadith] - [Narrated by At-Termedhy - An-Nasaa’i - Narrated by Abu Daoud - Narrated by Ahmad]

Explanation

This Hadīth indicates that if a person is attacked by a thief or a usurper who tries to take his property forcefully without legal basis, then he has the right to fight the intruder in defense of his property. If he is killed while defending his property, he will be a martyr in the sight of Allah, the Exalted, and he will be given the same reward as that of martyrs. However, this does not mean that he should be treated like a person who is killed in a battlefield in the sense that his dead body should not be washed. Likewise, the same applies to a person who dies while defending himself or his honor against a person who wants to violate the honor of his wife or Mahrams. Such a person will be given the reward of martyrs by Allah, the Exalted. This Hadīth is a primary evidence for jurists in juristic issues known as repelling the intruder or attacker.