Beware of saying, "So-and-so died as a martyr," or, "So-and-so was killed as a martyr." For a man may fight in order to gain spoils, and another may fight to be remembered, and another may fight to be seen in his position. If you must testify to martyrdom, then bear witness for that band of men whom the Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent out on an expedition. They were killed, and they said, "O Allah, convey to our Prophet ﷺ from us that we have met You, and we are pleased with You and You are pleased with us."
حدثنا روح حدثنا حماد أخبرنا عطاء بن السائب عن أبي عبيدة
إياكم أن تقولوا مات فلان شهيدا أو قتل فلان شهيدا فإن الرجل يقاتل ليغنم ويقاتل ليذكر ويقاتل ليرى مكانه فإن كنتم شاهدين لا محالة فاشهدوا للرهط الذين بعثهم رسول الله ﷺ في سرية فقتلوا فقالوا اللهم بلغ نبينا ﷺ عنا أنا قد لقيناك فرضينا عنك ورضيت عنا
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Its isnad is daif because of a break in it, but its essential meaning is sahih, for the group [of hadith compilers] narrated from the hadith of Abu Musa, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked about a man who fights out of courage, fights out of tribal zeal, and fights to be seen, so which of these is in the cause of Allah?" He said, "Whoever fights so that the word of Allah may be supreme, he is in the cause of Allah." See Muntaqa 4192, 4198.As for this group that Ibn Masud referred to, they were the seventy reciters whom the Messenger of Allah sent to the tribes of Ril, Zakwan, Usayyah, and Banu Lihyan as reinforcement against their enemy, since they had requested that of him. But they killed them at Bir Mauna and betrayed them treacherously. Anas bin Malik said, "So we recited some Quran concerning them, then later that was lifted, 'Convey to our people on our behalf that we have met our Lord, and He is pleased with us, and has made us pleased.'" Bukhari and others narrated it. See Tarikh Ibn Kathir 4:71–74.