[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked, "Which deeds are the best?" He said, "Belief in Allah and His Messenger." It was said, "Then what?" He said, "Then Jihad in the cause of Allah." It was said, "Then what?" He said, "Then an accepted Hajj pilgrimage."  

سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أِيُّ الْأَعْمَالِ أَفْضَلُ؟ قَالَ إِيمَانٌ بِاللهِ وَرَسُولِهِ قِيلَ ثُمَّ مَاذَا؟ قَالَ ثُمَّ الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ قِيلَ ثُمَّ مَاذَا؟ قَالَ ثُمَّ حَجٌّ مَبْرُورٌ  

Allah has undertaken to look after the affairs of one who goes out to fight in His way believing in Him and affirming the truth of His Apostles. He is committed to His care that Re will either admit him to Paradise or bring him back to his home from where he set out with a reward or (his share of) booty. By the Being in Whose Hand is the life of Muhammad. If a person gets wounded in the way of Allah, he will come on the Day of Judgment with his wound in the same condition as it was when it was first inflicted; its colour being the colour of blood but its smell will be the smell of musk. By, the Being in Whose Hand is Muhammad's life, if it were not to be too hard upon the Muslime. I would not lag behind any expedition which is going to fight in the cause of Allah. But I do not have abundant means to provide them (the Mujahids) with riding beasts, nor have they (i. e. all of them) abundant means (to provide themselves with all the means of Jihad) so that they could he left behind. By the Being in Whose Hand is Muhammad's life, I love to fight in the way of Allah and be killed, to fight and again be killed and to fight again and be killed. (Using translation from Muslim 1876a)   

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ انْتَدَبَ اللهُ لِمَنْ خَرَجَ مُجَاهِدًا فِي سَبِيلِهِ لَا يُخْرِجُهُ إِلَّا إِيمَانٌ بِي وَتَصْدِيقٌ بِرَسُولِي فَهُوَ عَلَيَّ ضَامِنٌ أَنْ أُدْخِلَهُ الْجَنَّةَ أَوْ أُرْجِعَهُ إِلَى بَيْتِهِ الَّذِي خَرَجَ مِنْهُ نَائِلًا مَا نَالَ مِنْ أَجْرٍ وَغَنِيمَةٍ وَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ مَا مِنْ مَكْلُومٍ يُكْلَمُ فِي اللهِ إِلَّا جَاءَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَكَلْمُهُ يَدْمَى اللَّوْنُ لَوْنُ دَمٍ وَالرِّيحُ رِيحُ مِسْكٍ وَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَوْلَا أَنْ أَشُقَّ عَلَى أُمَّتِي مَا تَخَلَّفْتُ خَلْفَ سَرِيَّةٍ تَغْزُو فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ وَلَكِنْ لَا أَجِدُ مَا أَحْمِلُهُمْ وَلَا يَجِدُونَ سَعَةً فَيَتَّبِعُونِي وَلَا تَطِيبُ أَنْفُسُهُمْ أَنْ يَتَخَلَّفُوا بَعْدِي وَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَوَدِدْتُ أَنِّي أَغْزُو فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ فَأُقْتَلُ ثُمَّ أَغْزُو فَأُقْتَلُ ثُمَّ أَغْزُو فَأُقْتَلُ حَدِيثُ الْكَلْمِ  

Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Allah guarantees him who strives in His Cause and whose motivation for going out is nothing but Jihad in His Cause and belief in His Word, that He will admit him into Paradise (if martyred) or bring him back to his dwelling place, whence he has come out, with what he gains of reward and booty." (Using translation from Bukhārī 3123)   

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ تَكَفَّلَ اللهُ لِمَنْ جَاهَدَ فِي سَبِيلِهِ لَا يُخْرِجُهُ مِنْ بَيْتِهِ إِلَّا جِهَادٌ فِي سَبِيلِهِ وَتَصْدِيقُ كَلِمَتِهِ بِأَنْ يُدْخِلَهُ الْجَنَّةَ أَوْ يُرْجِعَهُ إِلَى مَسْكَنِهِ الَّذِي خَرَجَ مِنْهُ مَعَ مَا نَالَ مِنْ أَجْرٍ أَوْ غَنِيمَةٍ  

[Machine] And from the Prophet ﷺ who said, "By the One in whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, if it were not difficult for the believers, I would have sat on a military expedition to fight in the cause of Allah. But I do not find the means to carry them and they do not find the means to follow me, and their souls are not content to stay behind after me."  

وَعَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ وَالَّذِي نَفْسُ مُحَمَّدٍ بِيَدِهِ لَوْلَا أَنْ أَشُقَّ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِنْ قَعَدْتُ خِلَافَ سَرِيَّةٍ تَغْزُو فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ وَلَكِنْ لَا أَجِدُ سَعَةً فَأَحْمِلَهُمْ وَلَا يَجِدُونَ سَعَةً فَيَتَّبِعُونِي وَلَا تَطِيبُ أَنْفُسُهُمْ أَنْ يَقْعُدُوا بَعْدِي  

[Machine] "And the Prophet ﷺ said: By the One in whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, I would love to fight in the cause of Allah, be killed, then brought back to life, be killed again, then brought back to life, be killed again, then be brought back to life, and be killed again. Abu Hurairah would say: I bear witness that the first statement is true."  

وَعَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ وَالَّذِي نَفْسُ مُحَمَّدٍ بِيَدِهِ لَوَدِدْتُ أَنْ أُقَاتِلَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ فَأُقْتَلُ ثُمَّ أُحْيَا فَأُقْتَلُ ثُمَّ أُحْيَا فَأُقْتَلُ ثُمَّ أَحْيَا فَأُقْتَلُ ثُمَّ أُحْيَا كَانَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ يَقُولُ ثَلَاثًا أُشْهِدُ اللهَ الْحَدِيثُ الْأَوَّلُ  

A man came to Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said, "Instruct me as to such a deed as equals Jihad (in reward)." He replied, "I do not find such a deed." Then he added, "Can you, while the Muslim fighter is in the battle-field, enter your mosque to perform prayers without cease and fast and never break your fast?" The man said, "But who can do that?" Abu- Huraira added, "The Mujahid (i.e. Muslim fighter) is rewarded even for the footsteps of his horse while it wanders bout (for grazing) tied in a long rope." (Using translation from Bukhārī 2785)   

جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ عَلِّمْنِي عَمَلًا يَعْدِلُ الْجِهَادَ قَالَ لَا أَجِدُهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ فَقَالَ هَلْ تَسْتَطِيعُ إِذَا خَرَجَ الْمُجَاهِدُ أَنْ تَدْخُلَ الْمَسْجِدَ فَتَقُومَ وَلَا تَفْتُرَ وَتَصُومَ وَلَا تُفْطِرَ؟ قَالَ لَا أَسْتَطِيعُ ذَلِكَ قَالَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ إِنَّ فَرَسَ الْمُجَاهِدِينَ يَسْتَنُّ فِي طُولِهِ فَيُكْتَبُ لَهُ حَسَنَاتٍ لَفْظُ حَدِيثِ جَعْفَرٍ  

[Machine] They said, "O Messenger of Allah, tell us what is equivalent to jihad in the way of Allah." He said, "Indeed, you are not able." We said, "Yes, we can." He said, "Indeed, you are not able." He said, "So I do not know, is it the third or the fourth? The example of the Mujahid in the way of Allah is like that of the fasting, standing, obedient to the verses of Allah. He does not miss a prayer or fasting until the Mujahid returns to his family."  

قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَخْبِرْنَا مَا يَعْدِلُ الْجِهَادَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ قَالَ إِنَّكُمْ لَا تَسْتَطِيعُونَ قُلْنَا بَلَى قَالَ إِنَّكُمْ لَا تَسْتَطِيعُونَهُ قَالَ فَلَا أَدْرِي فِي الثَّالِثَةِ أَمْ فِي الرَّابِعَةِ مَثَلُ الْمُجَاهِدِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ كَمَثَلِ الصَّائِمِ الْقَائِمِ الْقَانِتِ بِآيَاتِ اللهِ لَا يَفْتُرُ مِنْ صَلَاةٍ وَلَا صِيَامٍ حَتَّى يَرْجِعَ الْمُجَاهِدُ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ  

As I was (sitting) near the pulpit of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, a man said: I do not care if, after embracing Islam, I do not do any good deed (except) distributing drinking water among the pilgrims. Another said: I do not care if, after embracing Islam, I do not do any good deed beyond maintenance service to the Sacred Mosque. Another said: Jihad in the way of Allah is better than what you have said. 'Umar reprimanded them and said: Don't raise your voices near the pulpit of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ on Friday. When prayer was over, I entered (the apartment of the Holy Prophet) and asked his verdict about the matter in which they had differed. (It was upon this that) Allah, the Almighty and Exalted, revealed the Qur'anic verse:" Do you make the giving of drinking water to the pilgrims and the maintenance of the Sacred Mosque equal to (the service of those) who believe in Allah and the Last Day and strive hard in the cause of Allah. They are not equal in the sight of God. And Allah guides not the wrongdoing people" (ix. 20). (Using translation from Muslim 1879a)   

كُنْتُ عِنْدَ مِنْبَرِ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ لَا أُبَالِي أَنْ لَا أَعْمَلَ عَمَلًا بَعْدَ الْإِسْلَامِ إِلَّا أَنْ أَعْمُرَ الْمَسْجِدَ الْحَرَامَ وَقَالَ الْآخَرُ الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ أَفْضَلُ مِمَّا قُلْتُمْ فَزَجَرَهُمْ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ ؓ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَا تَرْفَعُوا أَصْوَاتَكُمْ عِنْدَ مِنْبَرِ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ وَهُوَ يَوْمُ الْجُمُعَةِ وَلَكِنِّي إِذَا صَلَّيْتُ الْجُمُعَةَ دَخَلْتُ فَاسْتَفْتَيْتُهُ فِيمَا اخْتَلَفْتُمْ فِيهِ فَأَنْزَلَ اللهُ ﷻ {أَجَعَلْتُمْ سِقَايَةَ الْحَاجِّ وَعِمَارَةَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ كَمَنْ آمَنَ بِاللهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَجَاهَدَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ لَا يَسْتَوُونَ عِنْدَ اللهِ} [التوبة 19] الْآيَةَ  

[Machine] On the authority of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ , he said: "The space of a whip in Paradise is better than the world and everything in it. The morning journey that a servant embarks upon in the path of Allah is better than the world and everything in it. And the smell in Paradise is better than the world and everything in it."  

عَنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ أَنَّهُ قَالَ مَوْضِعُ سَوْطٍ فِي الْجَنَّةِ خَيْرٌ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا وَمَا فِيهَا الْغَدْوَةُ يَغْدُوهَا الْعَبْدُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ وَالرَّوْحَةُ خَيْرٌ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا وَمَا فِيهَا  

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ ordered for a secret military expedition to be carried out. They asked, "O Messenger of Allah, should we go out tonight or should we stay until morning?" He replied, "Don't you want to spend the night in a garden from the gardens of Paradise?"  

أَمَرَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ بِسَرِيَّةٍ تَخْرُجُ فَقَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَنَخْرُجُ اللَّيْلَةَ أَمْ نَمْكُثُ حَتَّى نُصْبِحَ؟ فَقَالَ أَوَلَا تُحِبُّونَ أَنْ تَبِيتُوا فِي خَرِيفٍ مِنْ خَرَائِفِ الْجَنَّةِ وَالْخَرِيفُ الْحَدِيقَةُ  

Abu Saʿid, whoever cheerfully accepts Allah as his Lord, Islam as his religion and Muhammad as his Apostle is necessarily entitled to enter Paradise. He (Abu Saʿid) wondered at it and said: Messenger of Allah, repeat it for me. He (the Messenger of Allah) did that and said: There is another act which elevates the position of a man in Paradise to a grade one hundred (higher), and the elevation between one grade and the other is equal to the height of the heaven from the earth. He (Abu Saʿid) said: What is that act? He replied: Jihad in the way of Allah! Jihad in the way of Allah! (Using translation from Muslim 1884)   

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ يَا أَبَا سَعِيدٍ مَنْ رَضِيَ بِاللهِ رَبًّا وَبِالْإِسْلَامِ دِينًا وَبِمُحَمَّدٍ نَبِيًّا وَجَبَتْ لَهُ الْجَنَّةُ قَالَ فَعَجِبَ لَهَا أَبُو سَعِيدٍ فَقَالَ أَعِدْهَا عَلَيَّ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ فَفَعَلَ ثُمَّ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ وَأُخْرَى يُرْفَعُ بِهَا الْعَبْدُ مِائَةَ دَرَجَةٍ فِي الْجَنَّةِ مَا بَيْنَ كُلِّ دَرَجَتَيْنِ كَمَا بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ قَالَ وَمَا هِيَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ؟ قَالَ الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ  

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Whoever believes in Allah and His Messenger, establishes prayer, gives zakat, and fasts in Ramadan, it is the right of Allah to admit him into Paradise, whether he migrated in the path of Allah or died in his birthplace." They said, "O Messenger of Allah, should we not inform the people about this?" He said, "In Paradise, there are one hundred degrees between each two degrees, as there is between the heaven and the earth. Allah has prepared it for the mujahideen in His cause. So, when you ask Allah, ask for Al-Firdaus, for it is the middle and highest part of Paradise, and from it, the rivers of Paradise gush forth, and above it is the Throne of the Most Merciful. He said, "And Abu Al-Azhar narrated to us, Yunus bin Muhammad narrated to us. He said, "So, Fuwlayh narrated to us this Hadith, from Hilal bin Ali, from 'Ata' bin Yasar, from Abu Hurairah, in a similar manner, and he did not have any doubt."  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَأَقَامَ الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَى الزَّكَاةَ وَصَامَ رَمَضَانَ كَانَ حَقًّا عَلَى اللهِ أَنْ يُدْخِلَهُ يَعْنِي الْجَنَّةَ هَاجَرَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ أَوْ مَاتَ فِي أَرْضِهِ الَّتِي وُلِدَ فِيهَا قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَفَلَا تُنْبِئُ النَّاسَ بِذَلِكَ؟ قَالَ إِنَّ فِي الْجَنَّةِ مِائَةَ دَرَجَةٍ مَا بَيْنَ كُلِّ دَرَجَتَيْنِ كَمَا بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ أَعَدَّهَا اللهُ لِلْمُجَاهِدِينَ فِي سَبِيلِهِ فَإِذَا سَأَلْتُمُ اللهَ فَاسْأَلُوهُ الْفِرْدَوْسَ فَإِنَّهُ وَسَطُ الْجَنَّةِ وَأَعْلَى الْجَنَّةِ وَمِنْهُ تَفَجَّرُ أَنْهَارُ الْجَنَّةِ وَفَوْقَهُ عَرْشُ الرَّحْمَنِ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى 18495 قَالَ وَثَنَا أَبُو الْأَزْهَرِ ثنا يُونُسُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ قَالَ فَحَدَّثَنَا بِهَذَا الْحَدِيثِ فُلَيْحٌ الثَّانِيَةَ فَذَكَرَهُ عَنْ هِلَالِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ بِنَحْوِهِ وَلَمْ يَشُكَّ  

[Machine] It was asked, "O Messenger of Allah, which people are the best?" The Messenger of Allah ﷺ , replied, "A believer who struggles in the cause of Allah with his self and his wealth." Then it was asked, "And then who?" He said, "A believer in a tribe among the tribes who fears Allah and keeps away from harming people."  

أَنَّهُ قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أِيُّ النَّاسِ أَفْضَلُ؟ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ مُؤْمِنٌ مُجَاهِدٌ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ بِنَفْسِهِ وَمَالِهِ فَقَالَ ثُمَّ مَنْ؟ قَالَ مُؤْمِنٌ فِي شِعْبٍ مِنَ الشِّعَابِ يَتَّقِي اللهَ ﷻ وَيَدَعُ النَّاسَ مِنْ شَرِّهِ  

[Machine] "From the Messenger of Allah, ﷺ , that he said: Among the best livelihood for people is a man holding onto the reins of his horse in the cause of Allah, flying on its back whenever he hears a warning or a call to arms, seeking martyrdom and death for the sake of Allah. Or a man in a spoils of war in the forefront of the battlefield or in the depths of a valley, establishing prayer, giving zakat, and worshiping his Lord until certainty comes to him. There is no one among people except that they are in goodness."  

عَنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ أَنَّهُ قَالَ مِنْ خَيْرِ مَعَاشِ النَّاسِ رَجُلٌ مُمْسِكٌ بِعِنَانِ فَرَسِهِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ يَطِيرُ عَلَى مَتْنِهِ كُلَّمَا سَمِعَ هَيْعَةً أَوْ فَزْعَةً طَارَ عَلَيْهِ يَبْتَغِي الْقَتْلَ وَالْمَوْتَ مَظَانَّهُ أَوْ رَجُلٌ فِي غَنِيمَةٍ فِي رَأْسِ شَعَفَةٍ مِنْ هَذِهِ الشَّعَفِ أَوْ بَطْنِ وَادٍ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْأَوْدِيَةِ يُقِيمُ الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتِي الزَّكَاةَ وَيَعْبُدُ رَبَّهُ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَهُ الْيَقِينُ لَيْسَ مِنَ النَّاسِ إِلَّا فِي خَيْرٍ  

The Prophet ﷺ said, " Let the slave of Dinar and Dirham, of Quantify and Khamisa perish as he is pleased if these things are given to him, and if not, he is displeased. Let such a person perish and relapse, and if he is pierced with a thorn, let him not find anyone to take it out for him. Paradise is for him who holds the reins of his horse to strive in Allah's Cause, with his hair unkempt and feet covered with dust: if he is appointed in the vanguard, he is perfectly satisfied with his post of guarding, and if he is appointed in the rearward, he accepts his post with satisfaction; (he is so simple and unambiguous that) if he asks for permission he is not permitted, and if he intercedes, his intercession is not accepted." (Using translation from Bukhārī 2887)   

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ تَعِسَ عَبْدُ الدِّينَارِ وَعَبْدُ الدِّرْهَمِ وَعَبْدُ الْخَمِيصَةِ إِنْ أُعْطِيَ رَضِيَ وَإِنْ مُنِعَ سَخِطَ تَعِسَ وَانْتَكَسَ وَإِذَا شِيكَ فَلَا انْتَقَشَ طُوبَى لِعَبْدٍ آخِذٍ بِعِنَانِ فَرَسِهِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ أَشْعَثَ رَأْسُهُ مُغَبَّرَّةٍ قَدَمَاهُ إِنْ كَانَ فِي السَّاقَةِ كَانَ فِي السَّاقَةِ وَإِنْ كَانَ فِي الْحِرَاسَةِ كَانَ فِي الْحِرَاسَةِ إِنِ اسْتَأْذَنَ لَمْ يُؤَذَنْ لَهُ وَإِنْ شَفَعَ لَمْ يُشَفَّعْ طُوبَى لَهُ ثُمَّ طُوبَى لَهُ  

[Machine] Some of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, "If we were to send someone to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to ask him about the most beloved deeds to Allah, none of us would go, so we decided to ask him about that." The Messenger of Allah ﷺ then called those men one by one until he gathered them, and then this Surah (Chapter) was revealed to them: "Glorify the name of your Lord" (Surah al-Inshirah). Abdullah ibn Salam recited the entire Surah to us as the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had recited it to him. Abu Salamah also recited the entire Surah to us as Abdullah ibn Salam had recited it to him. Yahya ibn Abi Kathir also recited the entire Surah to us as Abu Salamah had recited it to him. Al-Awza'i also recited the entire Surah to us as Yahya had recited it to him. Al-Abbas said, "My father recited the entire Surah to us as Al-Awza'i had recited it to him."  

أَنَّ نَاسًا مِنْ أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ قَالُوا لَوْ أَرْسَلْنَا إِلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ رَسُولًا يَسْأَلُهُ عَنْ أَحَبِّ الْأَعْمَالِ إِلَى اللهِ قَالَ فَلَمْ يَذْهَبْ إِلَيْهِ أَحَدٌ مِنَّا وَهِبْنَا أَنْ نَسْأَلَهُ عَنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ فَدَعَا رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أُولَئِكَ النَّفْرَ رَجُلًا رَجُلًا حَتَّى جَمَعَهُمْ وَنَزَلَتْ فِيهِمْ هَذِهِ السُّورَةُ سَبَّحَ لِلَّهِ قَالَ عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ سَلَامٍ فَقَرَأَهَا عَلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ كُلَّهَا قَالَ أَبُو سَلَمَةَ قَرَأَهَا عَلَيْنَا عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ سَلَامٍ كُلَّهَا قَالَ يَحْيَى بْنُ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ وَقَرَأَهَا عَلَيْنَا أَبُو سَلَمَةَ كُلَّهَا قَالَ الْأَوْزَاعِيُّ وَقَرَأَهَا عَلَيْنَا يَحْيَى كُلَّهَا قَالَ الْعَبَّاسُ قَالَ أَبِي وَقَرَأَهَا عَلَيْنَا الْأَوْزَاعِيُّ كُلَّهَا  

[Machine] We gathered and discussed, then we asked each other, "Which of you will go to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and ask him which deeds are most beloved to Allah?" One of us volunteered to go, so the Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent for us. We gathered and he motioned for some of us to come closer to him. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ then recited to us from the beginning of the surah until the end: "Glorify the name of your Lord, the Most High, Who has created and proportioned, and Who has destined and [then] guided, and Who brings out the pasture, and [then] makes it black stubble. We then [continued to] hold discussions regarding the recitation. Yahya (one of the narrators) then recited the surah to us from the beginning to the end. Abu Salamah then recited it to us from the beginning to the end. Abdullah ibn Salam recited it to us from the beginning to the end. Al-Awza'i then recited it to us from the beginning to the end. Abu Ishaq also recited it to us from the beginning to the end. Muawiyah then recited it to us from the beginning to the end. Abu Bakr As-Saghanin then recited it to us from the beginning to the end. Abu Abbas said: As-Saghanin did not recite the entire surah to us but recited a portion from the beginning. The Qadi (judge) also recited a portion from the beginning. Abu Abdullah (a narrator) preserved the entire surah for us from the beginning to the end. Finally, the sheikh recited it to us from the beginning to the end.  

اجْتَمَعْنَا فَتَذَاكَرْنَا فَقُلْنَا أَيُّكُمْ يَأْتِي رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ فَيَسْأَلُهُ أِيُّ الْأَعْمَالِ أَحَبُّ إِلَى اللهِ؟ قَالَ ثُمَّ تَفَرَّقْنَا وَهِبْنَا أَنْ يَأْتِيَهُ مِنَّا أَحَدٌ فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ فَجَمَعَنَا فَجَعَلَ يُومِئُ بَعْضُنَا إِلَى بَعْضٍ فَقَرَأَ عَلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ {سَبَّحَ لِلَّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ} إِلَى آخِرِ السُّورَةِ قَالَ يَحْيَى فَقَرَأَهَا عَلَيْنَا أَبُو سَلَمَةَ مِنْ أَوَّلِهَا إِلَى آخِرِهَا قَالَ أَبُو سَلَمَةَ فَقَرَأَهَا عَلَيْنَا عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ سَلَامٍ مِنْ أَوَّلِهَا إِلَى آخِرِهَا قَالَ الْأَوْزَاعِيُّ فَقَرَأَهَا عَلَيْنَا يَحْيَى مِنْ أَوَّلِهَا إِلَى آخِرِهَا قَالَ أَبُو إِسْحَاقَ وَقَرَأَهَا عَلَيْنَا الْأَوْزَاعِيُّ مِنْ أَوَّلِهَا إِلَى آخِرِهَا قَالَ مُعَاوِيَةُ وَقَرَأَهَا أَبُو إِسْحَاقَ عَلَيْنَا مِنْ أَوَّلِهَا إِلَى آخِرِهَا قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ الصَّغَانِيُّ وَقَرَأَهَا عَلَيْنَا مُعَاوِيَةُ مِنْ أَوَّلِهَا إِلَى آخِرِهَا قَالَ أَبُو الْعَبَّاسِ لَمْ يَقْرَأْ عَلَيْنَا الصَّغَانِيُّ السُّورَةَ بِتَمَامِهَا وَقَرَأَ أَبُو الْعَبَّاسِ مِنْ أَوَّلِهَا شَيْئًا وَقَرَأَ الْقَاضِي مِنْ أَوَّلِهَا شَيْئًا وَقَرَأَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللهِ الْحَافِظُ عَلَيْنَا السُّورَةَ مِنْ أَوَّلِهَا إِلَى آخِرِهَا وَقَرَأَهَا الشَّيْخُ مِنْ أَوَّلِهَا إِلَى آخِرِهَا  

[Machine] Narrated by Abu Dharr, I had a strong desire to meet the Prophet, so I met him and said, "O Abu Dharr, he used to inform me about you. I had a strong desire to meet you." He replied, "May Allah be your Guardian, you have indeed met me. So what news did you receive that you convey to us?" I said, "I received a narration that you mentioned that Allah loves three things and dislikes three things." He said, "What hinders me from speaking the truth about my dear friend, the Prophet?" I asked, "So who are the three that Allah loves?" He replied, "A man who confronts the enemy and fights for the sake of Allah, and indeed, you will find this in the Book, 'Indeed, Allah loves those who fight in His cause in a row.' (Quran 61:4)" I inquired, "And who else?" He said, "A person who has an evil neighbor, but endures his harm, and Allah suffices him either in his life or in his death." I asked, "And who else?" He replied, "A man who is on a journey with a group of people. They stop to rest, and are afflicted with fatigue and drowsiness, so they lay their heads down to sleep. One of them wakes up and performs ablution for the sake and pleasure of Allah, then he stands up in prayer." I questioned, "So who are the three that Allah dislikes?" He answered, "The mischievous miser, the proud arrogant person, and indeed, you will find this in the Book, 'Indeed, Allah does not love everyone self-deluded and boastful.' (Quran 31:18)" I asked, "So who is the third?" He replied, "The dishonest merchant or the seller of false goods."  

عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ ؓ فَكُنْتُ أَشْتَهِي لِقَاءَهُ فَلَقِيتُهُ فَقُلْتُ يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ إِنَّهُ كَانَ يَبْلُغُنِي عَنْكَ الْحَدِيثُ فَكُنْتُ أَشْتَهِي لِقَاءَكَ فَقَالَ لِلَّهِ أَبُوكَ فَقَدْ لَقِيتَ فَهَاتِ فَقُلْتُ حَدِيثٌ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّكَ تُحَدِّثُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ حَدَّثَكُمْ أَنَّ اللهَ تَعَالَى يُحِبُّ ثَلَاثَةً وَيُبْغِضُ ثَلَاثَةً قَالَ مَا إِخَالُنِي أَنْ أَكْذِبَ عَلَى خَلِيلِي ﷺ قُلْتُ فَمَنِ الثَّلَاثَةُ الَّذِينَ يُحِبُّ اللهُ؟ قَالَ رَجُلٌ لَقِيَ الْعَدُوَّ فَقَاتَلَ وَإِنَّكُمْ لَتَجِدُونَ ذَلِكَ فِي الْكِتَابِ عِنْدَكُمْ {إِنَّ اللهَ يُحِبُّ الَّذِينَ يُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِهِ صَفًّا} [الصف 4] قُلْتُ وَمَنْ؟ قَالَ رَجُلٌ لَهُ جَارُ سُوءٍ فَهُوَ يُؤْذِيهِ فَيَصْبِرُ عَلَى أَذَاهُ فَيَكْفِيهِ اللهُ إِيَّاهُ بِحَيَاةٍ أَوْ مَوْتٍ قَالَ وَمَنْ؟ قَالَ رَجُلٌ كَانَ مَعَ قَوْمٍ فِي سَفَرٍ فَنَزَلُوا فَعَرَّسُوا وَقَدْ شَقَّ عَلَيْهِمُ الْكَرَى وَالنُّعَاسُ وَوَضَعُوا رُءُوسَهُمْ فَنَامُوا وَقَامَ فَتَوَضَّأَ فَصَلَّى رَهْبَةً لِلَّهِ وَرَغْبَةً إِلَيْهِ قُلْتُ فَمَنِ الثَّلَاثَةُ الَّذِينَ يُبْغِضُ؟ قَالَ الْبَخِيلُ الْمَنَّانُ وَالْمُخْتَالُ الْفَخُورُ وَإِنَّكُمْ لَتَجِدُونَ ذَلِكَ فِي كِتَابِ اللهِ {إِنَّ اللهَ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخْتَالٍ فَخُورٍ} [لقمان 18] قَالَ فَمَنِ الثَّالِثُ؟ قَالَ التَّاجِرُ الْحَلَّافُ أَوِ الْبَائِعُ الْحَلَّافُ  

"in the year of Tabuk, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ addressed the people, while leaning against his mount. He said: 'Shall I not tell you of the best of the people and the worst of the people? Among the best of the people is a man who strives in the cause of Allah on the back of his horse, or on the back of his camel, or on his own two feet, until death comes to him. And among the worst of the people, is an immoral man (Fajir) who reads the Book of Allah but he does not refrain from doing anything bad because of it.'" (Using translation from Nasāʾī 3106)   

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ فَقَامَ بِتَبُوكَ خَطَبَ النَّاسَ وَهُوَ مُضِيفٌ ظَهْرَهُ إِلَى نَخْلَةٍ فَقَالَ أَلَا أُخْبِرُكُمْ بِخَيْرِ النَّاسِ وَشَرِّ النَّاسِ؟ إِنَّ مِنْ خَيْرِ النَّاسِ رَجُلًا عَمِلَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ عَلَى ظَهْرِ فَرَسِهِ أَوْ عَلَى ظَهْرِ بَعِيرِهِ أَوْ عَلَى قَدَمِهِ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَهُ الْمَوْتُ وَإِنَّ مِنْ شَرِّ النَّاسِ رَجُلًا فَاجِرًا يَقْرَأُ كِتَابَ اللهِ فَلَا يَرْعَوِي إِلَى شَيْءٍ مِنْهُ  

A man from the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ passed by ravine containing a small spring of thirst quenching water, so he was amazed by how pleasant it was. So he said: 'I should leave the people and stay in this ravine. But I will not do it until I seek permission from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.' So he mentioned that to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and he said: 'Do not do so. For indeed one of you standing in the cause of Allah is more virtuous that his Salat in his house for seventy years. Do you not love that Allah forgive your sins and admit you into Paradise ? Then fight in the cause of Allah, for whoever fights in Allah's cause for the time it takes for two milkings of a camel, then Paradise is obligatory for him.'" (Using translation from Tirmidhī 1650)   

أَنَّ رَجُلًا مِنْ أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ مَرَّ بِشِعْبٍ فِيهِ عُيَيْنَةٌ مِنْ مَاءٍ عَذْبٍ فَأَعْجَبَهُ طِيبُهُ وَحُسْنُهُ فَقَالَ لَوِ اعْتَزَلْتُ النَّاسَ وَأَقَمْتُ فِي هَذَا الشِّعْبِ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَا أَفْعَلُ حَتَّى أَسْتَأْمِرَ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ فَذَكَرَ ذَلِكَ لِرَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ لَا تَفْعَلْ؛ فَإِنَّ مُقَامَ أَحَدِكُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ صَلَاتِهِ فِي أَهْلِهِ سِتِّينَ عَامًا أَلَا تُحِبُّونَ أَنْ يَغْفِرَ اللهُ لَكُمْ وَيُدْخِلَكُمُ الْجَنَّةَ؟ اغْزُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ مَنْ قَاتَلَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ فُوَاقَ نَاقَتِهِ وَجَبَتْ لَهُ الْجَنَّةُ  

[Machine] That the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "The position of a man in the row (of warriors) in the cause of Allah is better than the worship of a man for sixty years."  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ مُقَامُ الرَّجُلِ فِي الصَّفِّ أَيْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ عِبَادَةِ رَجُلٍ سِتِّينَ سَنَةً  

[Machine] Uthman ibn Affan said in the mosque of Khayf: "O people, I heard a narration from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ which I used to conceal from you out of concern for you. But now it has become clear to me that I should advise you with it. I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying: 'The day of striving in the cause of Allah is equal to a thousand days in other than it. So let each one of you look to himself.'"  

قَالَ عُثْمَانُ بْنُ عَفَّانَ ؓ فِي مَسْجِدِ الْخَيْفِ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ حَدِيثًا سَمِعْتُهُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ كُنْتُ أَكْتُمُكُمُوهُ ضِنًّا بِكُمْ قَدْ بَدَا لِي أَنْ أُبْدِيَهُ نَصِيحَةً لَكُمْ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ يَوْمُ الْمُجَاهِدِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ كَأَلْفِ يَوْمٍ فِيمَا سِوَاهُ فَلْيَنْظُرْ مِنْكُمْ كُلُّ امْرِئٍ لِنَفْسِهِ  

A man said: Messenger of Allah, allow tourism for me. The Prophet ﷺ said: The tourism of my people is striving in the path of Allah, the Exalted. (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 2486)   

أَنَّ رَجُلًا قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ ائْذَنْ لِي فِي السِّيَاحَةِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ سِيَاحَةَ أُمَّتِي الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ  

[Machine] A man came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and asked for permission to commit adultery. Those close to the Prophet ﷺ understood what he meant and said to leave him alone. Then the Prophet ﷺ asked him, "Would you like it to be done to your sister?" He said no. The Prophet ﷺ then asked, "Would you like it to be done to your daughter?" Again, he said no. He kept saying no to every thing the Prophet ﷺ asked. Then the Prophet ﷺ said to him, "Hate what Allah hates, and love for your brother what you love for yourself." The man said, "O Messenger of Allah, pray to Allah to make me dislike women." The Prophet ﷺ said, "O Allah, make him dislike women." The man left and came back after a few nights and said, "O Messenger of Allah, there is nothing I hate more than women. Permit me to go for travel." The Prophet ﷺ said, "Indeed, the travel of my nation is in the way of Allah."  

أَنَّ رَجُلًا أَتَى رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ ائْذَنْ لِي فِي الزِّنَى قَالَ فَهَمَّ مَنْ كَانَ قُرْبَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ أَنْ يَتَنَاوَلُوهُ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ دَعُوهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ ادْنُهْ أَتُحِبُّ أَنْ يُفْعَلَ ذَلِكَ بِأُخْتِكَ؟ قَالَ لَا قَالَ فَبِابْنَتِكَ؟ قَالَ لَا فَلَمْ يَزَلْ يَقُولُ بِكَذَا وَكَذَا كُلَّ ذَلِكَ يَقُولُ لَا فَقَالَ لَهُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَاكْرَهْ مَا كَرِهَ اللهُ وَأَحِبَّ لِأَخِيكَ مَا تُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِكَ قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ فَادْعُ اللهَ أَنْ يُبَغِّضَ إِلِيَّ النِّسَاءَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ اللهُمَّ بَغِّضْ إِلَيْهِ النِّسَاءَ قَالَ فَانْصَرَفَ الرَّجُلُ ثُمَّ رَجَعَ إِلَيْهِ بَعْدَ لَيَالٍ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ مَا مِنْ شَيْءٍ أَبْغَضُ إِلِيَّ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ فَائْذَنْ لِي بِالسِّيَاحَةِ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ إِنَّ سِيَاحَةَ أُمَّتِي الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ  

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 'The dust in the cause of Allah and the smoke of Hell will never be combined in the lungs of a slave, and the stinginess and faith can never be combined in a slave's heart." (Using translation from Nasāʾī 3110)   

أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ لَا يَجْتَمِعُ غُبَارٌ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ وَدُخَانُ جَهَنَّمَ فِي جَوْفِ عَبْدٍ أَبَدًا وَلَا يَجْتَمِعُ الشُّحُّ وَالْإِيمَانُ فِي قَلْبِ عَبْدٍ أَبَدًا