It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: That I swear nine times that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was martyred (by the effect of poison) is dearer to me than swearing once that he was not martyred. That is because Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, granted him the rank of martyrdom along with the office of prophethood. This hadith is sahih (authentic) on the condition of the two Shaykhs, but they did not record it.