“Allah has prepared (reward) for those who go out (to fight) in His cause: ‘And do not go out except (to fight) for Jihad in My cause, out of faith in Me and belief in My Messengers, but he has a guarantee from Me that I will admit him to Paradise, or I will return him to his dwelling from which he set out, with the reward that he attained, or the spoils that he acquired.’ Then he said: ‘By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, were it not that it would be too difficult for the Muslims, I would never have stayed behind from any expedition that went out in the cause of Allah. But I could not find the resources to give them mounts and they could not find the resources to follow me, nor would they be pleased to stay behind if I went. By the One in Whose Hand is the soul of Muhammad, I wish I could fight in the cause of Allah and be killed, then fight and be killed, then fight and be killed.’”  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَعَدَّ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ خَرَجَ فِي سَبِيلِهِ لاَ يُخْرِجُهُ إِلاَّ جِهَادٌ فِي سَبِيلِي وَإِيمَانٌ بِي وَتَصْدِيقٌ بِرُسُلِي فَهُوَ عَلَىَّ ضَامِنٌ أَنْ أُدْخِلَهُ الْجَنَّةَ أَوْ أَرْجِعَهُ إِلَى مَسْكَنِهِ الَّذِي خَرَجَ مِنْهُ نَائِلاً مَا نَالَ مِنْ أَجْرٍ أَوْ غَنِيمَةٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَوْلاَ أَنْ أَشُقَّ عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِينَ مَا قَعَدْتُ خِلاَفَ سَرِيَّةٍ تَخْرُجُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَبَدًا وَلَكِنْ لاَ أَجِدُ سَعَةً فَأَحْمِلَهُمْ وَلاَ يَجِدُونَ سَعَةً فَيَتَّبِعُونِي وَلاَ تَطِيبُ أَنْفُسُهُمْ فَيَتَخَلَّفُونَ بَعْدِي وَالَّذِي نَفْسُ مُحَمَّدٍ بِيَدِهِ لَوَدِدْتُ أَنْ أَغْزُوَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَأُقْتَلَ ثُمَّ أَغْزُوَ فَأُقْتَلَ ثُمَّ أَغْزُوَ فَأُقْتَلَ  

“The one who fights in the cause of Allah has a guarantee from Allah. Either He will raise him to His forgiveness and mercy, or He will send him back with reward and spoils of war. The likeness of the one who fights in the cause of Allah is that of one who fasts and prays at night without ceasing, until he returns.”  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ الْمُجَاهِدُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ مَضْمُونٌ عَلَى اللَّهِ إِمَّا أَنْ يَكْفِتَهُ إِلَى مَغْفِرَتِهِ وَرَحْمَتِهِ وَإِمَّا أَنْ يَرْجِعَهُ بِأَجْرٍ وَغَنِيمَةٍ وَمَثَلُ الْمُجَاهِدِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ الصَّائِمِ الْقَائِمِ الَّذِي لاَ يَفْتُرُ حَتَّى يَرْجِعَ  

“Going out in the morning in the cause of Allah, or in the evening, is more virtuous than the world and what is in it.”  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ غَدْوَةٌ أَوْ رَوْحَةٌ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ خَيْرٌ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا وَمَا فِيهَا  

“Going out in the morning in the cause of Allah, or in the evening, is better than the world and what is in it.”  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ غَدْوَةٌ أَوْ رَوْحَةٌ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ خَيْرٌ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا وَمَا فِيهَا  

“Going out in the morning in the cause of Allah, or in the evening, is better than the world and what is in it.”  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ لَغَدْوَةٌ أَوْ رَوْحَةٌ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ خَيْرٌ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا وَمَا فِيهَا  

“I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: ‘Whoever equips a warrior in the cause of Allah until he is fully equipped, he will have a reward like his, until he dies or returns.”  

سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ مَنْ جَهَّزَ غَازِيًا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ حَتَّى يَسْتَقِلَّ كَانَ لَهُ مِثْلُ أَجْرِهِ حَتَّى يَمُوتَ أَوْ يَرْجِعَ  

“Whoever equips a warrior in the cause of Allah, he will have a reward like his, without that detracting from the warrior’s reward in the slightest.”  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَنْ جَهَّزَ غَازِيًا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ كَانَ لَهُ مِثْلُ أَجْرِهِ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَنْقُصَ مِنْ أَجْرِ الْغَازِي شَيْئًا  

“The best Dinar that a man can spend is a Dinar that he spends on his family, a Dinar that he spends on a horse in the cause of Allah, and a Dinar that a man spends on his companions in the cause of Allah.”  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَفْضَلُ دِينَارٍ يُنْفِقُهُ الرَّجُلُ دِينَارٌ يُنْفِقُهُ عَلَى عِيَالِهِ وَدِينَارٌ يُنْفِقُهُ عَلَى فَرَسٍ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَدِينَارٌ يُنْفِقُهُ الرَّجُلُ عَلَى أَصْحَابِهِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ  

“Whoever sends financial support in the cause of Allah and stays at home, for every Dirham he will have (the reward of) seven hundred Dirham. Whoever fights himself in the cause of Allah, and spends on that, for every Dirham he will have (the reward of) seven hundred thousand Dirham.” Then he recited the Verse: “Allah gives manifold increase to whom He wills.”[2:261]  

عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنَّهُ قَالَ مَنْ أَرْسَلَ بِنَفَقَةٍ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَأَقَامَ فِي بَيْتِهِ فَلَهُ بِكُلِّ دِرْهَمٍ سَبْعُمِائَةِ دِرْهَمٍ وَمَنْ غَزَا بِنَفْسِهِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَأَنْفَقَ فِي وَجْهِ ذَلِكَ فَلَهُ بِكُلِّ دِرْهَمٍ سَبْعُمِائَةِ أَلْفِ دِرْهَمٍ ثُمَّ تَلاَ هَذِهِ الآيَةَ {وَاللَّهُ يُضَاعِفُ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ}  

“Whoever does not fight, or equip a fighter, or stay behind to look after a fighter’s family, Allah will strike him with a calamity before the Day of Resurrection.”  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ مَنْ لَمْ يَغْزُ أَوْ يُجَهِّزْ غَازِيًا أَوْ يَخْلُفْ غَازِيًا فِي أَهْلِهِ بِخَيْرٍ أَصَابَهُ اللَّهُ سُبْحَانَهُ بِقَارِعَةٍ قَبْلَ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ  

“Whoever meets Allah with no mark on him (as a result of fighting) in His cause, he will meet Him with a deficiency.”  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَنْ لَقِيَ اللَّهَ وَلَيْسَ لَهُ أَثَرٌ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ لَقِيَ اللَّهَ وَفِيهِ ثُلْمَةٌ  

“When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was returning from the campaign of Tabuk, and had drawn close to Al-Madinah, he said: ‘In Al-Madinah there are people who, as you traveled and crossed valleys, were with you.’ They said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, even though they are in Al-Madinah?’ He said: ‘Even though they were in Al-Madinah. They were kept behind by (legitimate) excuses.’”  

لَمَّا رَجَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مِنْ غَزْوَةِ تَبُوكَ فَدَنَا مِنَ الْمَدِينَةِ قَالَ إِنَّ بِالْمَدِينَةِ لَقَوْمًا مَا سِرْتُمْ مِنْ مَسِيرٍ وَلاَ قَطَعْتُمْ وَادِيًا إِلاَّ كَانُوا مَعَكُمْ فِيهِ قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَهُمْ بِالْمَدِينَةِ قَالَ وَهُمْ بِالْمَدِينَةِ حَبَسَهُمُ الْعُذْرُ  

“in Al-Madinah there are men who, every time you crossed a valley or travelled a road, they shared with you in the reward. They were kept behind by (legitimate) excuses.”  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِنَّ بِالْمَدِينَةِ رِجَالاً مَا قَطَعْتُمْ وَادِيًا وَلاَ سَلَكْتُمْ طَرِيقًا إِلاَّ شَرِكُوكُمْ فِي الأَجْرِ حَبَسَهُمُ الْعُذْرُ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَاجَهْ أَوْ كَمَا قَالَ كَتَبْتُهُ لَفْظًا  

“Uthman bin ‘Affan addressed the people and said: ‘O people! I heard a Hadith from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and nothing kept me from narrating it to you except for the fact that I did not want to lose you and your companionship. So it is up to you. I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying: “Whoever spends a night guarding the frontier in the cause of Allah, it will be like a thousand nights spent in fasting and prayer.”  

سَمِعْتُ حَدِيثًا مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ لَمْ يَمْنَعْنِي أَنْ أُحَدِّثَكُمْ بِهِ إِلاَّ الضِّنُّ بِكُمْ وَبِصَحَابَتِكُمْ فَلْيَخْتَرْ مُخْتَارٌ لِنَفْسِهِ أَوْ لِيَدَعْ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ مَنْ رَابَطَ لَيْلَةً فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ سُبْحَانَهُ كَانَتْ كَأَلْفِ لَيْلَةٍ صِيَامِهَا وَقِيَامِهَا  

“Whoever dies being prepared in the cause of Allah, will be given continuously the reward for the good deeds that he used to do, and he will be rewarded with provision, and he will be kept safe from Fattan,* and Allah will raise him on the Day of Resurrection free of fright.”  

عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ مَنْ مَاتَ مُرَابِطًا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَجْرَى عَلَيْهِ أَجْرَ عَمَلِهِ الصَّالِحِ الَّذِي كَانَ يَعْمَلُ وَأَجْرَى عَلَيْهِ رِزْقَهُ وَأَمِنَ مِنَ الْفَتَّانِ وَبَعَثَهُ اللَّهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ آمِنًا مِنَ الْفَزَعِ  

“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘For guarding the frontier for a day in the cause of Allah, defending the Muslims, seeking reward, apart from in the month of Ramadan, there is a reward granted greater than worshipping for a hundred years, fasting and praying. Guarding the frontier for a day in the cause of Allah, defending the Muslims, seeking reward, in the month of Ramadan, is better before Allah and brings a greater reward” – I think he said – “than worshipping for a thousand years, fasting and praying. If Allah returns him to his family safe and sound, no bad deed will be recorded for him for a thousand years, but his good deeds will be recorded, and the reward for guarding the frontier will come to him until the Day of Resurrection.”  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لَرِبَاطُ يَوْمٍ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ مِنْ وَرَاءِ عَوْرَةِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ مُحْتَسِبًا مِنْ غَيْرِ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ أَعْظَمُ أَجْرًا مِنْ عِبَادَةِ مِائَةِ سَنَةٍ صِيَامِهَا وَقِيَامِهَا وَرِبَاطُ يَوْمٍ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ مِنْ وَرَاءِ عَوْرَةِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ مُحْتَسِبًا مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ أَفْضَلُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ وَأَعْظَمُ أَجْرًا أُرَاهُ قَالَ مِنْ عِبَادَةِ أَلْفِ سَنَةٍ صِيَامِهَا وَقِيَامِهَا فَإِنْ رَدَّهُ اللَّهُ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ سَالِمًا لَمْ تُكْتَبْ عَلَيْهِ سَيِّئَةٌ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ وَتُكْتَبُ لَهُ الْحَسَنَاتُ وَيُجْرَى لَهُ أَجْرُ الرِّبَاطِ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةَ  

“May Allah have mercy on the one who keeps watch over the troops.”  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ رَحِمَ اللَّهُ حَارِسَ الْحَرَسِ  

I heard Anas bin Malik saying: I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: “Standing guard one night in the cause of Allah is better than a man fasting and praying, among his family, for a thousand years. The year is three hundred and sixty days and a day is like a thousand years.”  

سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ حَرْسُ لَيْلَةٍ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ صِيَامِ رَجُلٍ وَقِيَامِهِ فِي أَهْلِهِ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ السَّنَةُ ثَلاَثُمِائَةٍ وَسِتُّونَ يَوْمًا وَالْيَوْمُ كَأَلْفِ سَنَةٍ  

“I advise you to fear Allah and to say the Takbir (Allahu Akbar) in every high place.”  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ لِرَجُلٍ أُوصِيكَ بِتَقْوَى اللَّهِ وَالتَّكْبِيرِ عَلَى كُلِّ شَرَفٍ  

“He was the best of people, the most generous of people, the most courageous of people. The people of Al-Madinah became alarmed one night, and he was the first of them to investigate the noise and din. He was riding a horse belonging to Abu Talhah, bareback, with no saddle. His sword was hanging from his neck and he was saying: ‘O people, do not be afraid,’ sending them back to their houses. Then he said of the horse, ‘We found it like a sea,’ or, ‘It is a sea.’”*  

ذُكِرَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَقَالَ كَانَ أَحْسَنَ النَّاسِ وَكَانَ أَجْوَدَ النَّاسِ وَكَانَ أَشْجَعَ النَّاسِ وَلَقَدْ فَزِعَ أَهْلُ الْمَدِينَةِ لَيْلَةً فَانْطَلَقُوا قِبَلَ الصَّوْتِ فَتَلَقَّاهُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَقَدْ سَبَقَهُمْ إِلَى الصَّوْتِ وَهُوَ عَلَى فَرَسٍ لأَبِي طَلْحَةَ عُرْىٍ مَا عَلَيْهِ سَرْجٌ فِي عُنُقِهِ السَّيْفُ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ لَنْ تُرَاعُوا يَرُدُّهُمْ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِلْفَرَسِ وَجَدْنَاهُ بَحْرًا أَوْ إِنَّهُ لَبَحْرٌ قَالَ حَمَّادٌ وَحَدَّثَنِي ثَابِتٌ أَوْ غَيْرُهُ قَالَ كَانَ فَرَسًا لأَبِي طَلْحَةَ يُبَطَّأُ فَمَا سُبِقَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ  

“If you are called to arms then go forth.”  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ إِذَا اسْتُنْفِرْتُمْ فَانْفِرُوا  

“The dust (of Jihad) in the cause of Allah and the smoke of Hell will never be combined in the interior of a Muslim.”  

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قَالَ لاَ يَجْتَمِعُ غُبَارٌ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَدُخَانُ جَهَنَّمَ فِي جَوْفِ عَبْدٍ مُسْلِمٍ  

“Whoever goes out in the cause of Allah will have the equivalent of the dust that got on him, in musk, on the Day of Resurrection.”  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَنْ رَاحَ رَوْحَةً فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ كَانَ لَهُ بِمِثْلِ مَا أَصَابَهُ مِنَ الْغُبَارِ مِسْكًا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ  

“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ slept near me one day, then he woke up smiling. I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, what has made you smile?’ He said: ‘People of my nation who were shown to me (in my dream) riding across this sea like kings on thrones.’ I said: ‘Supplicate to Allah to make me one of them.’” So he prayed for her. Then he slept again, and did likewise, and she said the same as she said before, and he replied in the same manner. She said: “Pray to Allah to make me one of them,” and he said: “You will be one of the first ones.” He said: “Then she went out with her husband, ‘Ubadah bin Samit, as a fighter, the first time that the Muslims crossed the sea with Mu’awiyah bin Abu Sufyan. On their way back, after they had finished fighting, they stopped in Sham. An animal was brought near for her to ride it, but it threw her off, and she died.”  

أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ نَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَوْمًا قَرِيبًا مِنِّي ثُمَّ اسْتَيْقَظَ يَبْتَسِمُ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا أَضْحَكَكَ قَالَ نَاسٌ مِنْ أُمَّتِي عُرِضُوا عَلَىَّ يَرْكَبُونَ ظَهْرَ هَذَا الْبَحْرِ كَالْمُلُوكِ عَلَى الأَسِرَّةِ قَالَتْ فَادْعُ اللَّهَ أَنْ يَجْعَلَنِي مِنْهُمْ قَالَ فَدَعَا لَهَا ثُمَّ نَامَ الثَّانِيَةَ فَفَعَلَ مِثْلَهَا ثُمَّ قَالَتْ مِثْلَ قَوْلِهَا فَأَجَابَهَا مِثْلَ جَوَابِهِ الأَوَّلِ قَالَتْ فَادْعُ اللَّهَ أَنْ يَجْعَلَنِي مِنْهُمْ قَالَ أَنْتِ مِنَ الأَوَّلِينَ قَالَ فَخَرَجَتْ مَعَ زَوْجِهَا عُبَادَةَ بْنِ الصَّامِتِ غَازِيَةً أَوَّلَ مَا رَكِبَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ الْبَحْرَ مَعَ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفُوا مِنْ غَزَاتِهِمْ قَافِلِينَ فَنَزَلُوا الشَّامَ فَقُرِّبَتْ إِلَيْهَا دَابَّةٌ لِتَرْكَبَ فَصَرَعَتْهَا فَمَاتَتْ  

“A military expedition by sea is like ten expeditions by land. The one who suffers from seasickness is like one who gets drenched in his own blood in the cause of Allah.”  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ غَزْوَةٌ فِي الْبَحْرِ مِثْلُ عَشْرِ غَزَوَاتٍ فِي الْبَرِّ وَالَّذِي يَسْدَرُ فِي الْبَحْرِ كَالْمُتَشَحِّطِ فِي دَمِهِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ سُبْحَانَهُ  

I heard Abu Umamah saying: I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: “The martyr at sea is like two martyrs on land, and the one who suffers seasickness is like one who gets drenched in his own blood on land. The time spent between one wave and the next is like a lifetime spent in obedience to Allah. Allah has appointed the Angel of Death to seize souls, except for the martyr at sea, for Allah Himself seizes their souls. He forgives the martyrs on land for all sins except debt, but (He forgives) the martyr at sea all his sins and his debt.”  

سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ شَهِيدُ الْبَحْرِ مِثْلُ شَهِيدَىِ الْبَرِّ وَالْمَائِدُ فِي الْبَحْرِ كَالْمُتَشَحِّطِ فِي دَمِهِ فِي الْبَرِّ وَمَا بَيْنَ الْمَوْجَتَيْنِ كَقَاطِعِ الدُّنْيَا فِي طَاعَةِ اللَّهِ وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ ﷻ وَكَلَ مَلَكَ الْمَوْتِ بِقَبْضِ الأَرْوَاحِ إِلاَّ شَهِيدَ الْبَحْرِ فَإِنَّهُ يَتَوَلَّى قَبْضَ أَرْوَاحِهِمْ وَيَغْفِرُ لِشَهِيدِ الْبَرِّ الذُّنُوبَ كُلَّهَا إِلاَّ الدَّيْنَ وَلِشَهِيدِ الْبَحْرِ الذُّنُوبَ وَالدَّيْنَ  

“Even if there was only one day left of this world, Allah would make it last until a man from my household took possession of (the mountain of) Dailam and Constantinople.”  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لَوْ لَمْ يَبْقَ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا إِلاَّ يَوْمٌ لَطَوَّلَهُ اللَّهُ ﷻ حَتَّى يَمْلِكَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتِي يَمْلِكُ جَبَلَ الدَّيْلَمِ وَالْقُسْطَنْطِينِيَّةَ  

“The horizons will be opened to you, and you will conquer a city called Qazvin. Whoever is stationed there for forty days or forty nights, will have pillars of gold in Paradise, with green chrysolite and topped by a dome of rubies. It will have seventy thousand doors, at each door will be a wife from among the wide-eyed houris.’”  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ سَتُفْتَحُ عَلَيْكُمُ الآفَاقُ وَسَتُفْتَحُ عَلَيْكُمْ مَدِينَةٌ يُقَالُ لَهَا قَزْوِينُ مَنْ رَابَطَ فِيهَا أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْمًا أَوْ أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةً كَانَ لَهُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ عَمُودٌ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ عَلَيْهِ زَبَرْجَدَةٌ خَضْرَاءُ عَلَيْهَا قُبَّةٌ مِنْ يَاقُوتَةٍ حَمْرَاءَ لَهَا سَبْعُونَ أَلْفَ مِصْرَاعٍ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ عَلَى كُلِّ مِصْرَاعٍ زَوْجَةٌ مِنَ الْحُورِ الْعِينِ  

“I came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, I want to go for Jihad with you, seeking thereby the Face of Allah and the Hereafter.’ He said: ‘Woe to you! Is your mother still alive?’ I said: ‘Yes.’ He said: ‘Go back and honor her.’ Then I approached him from the other side and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, I want to go for Jihad with you, seeking thereby the Face of Allah and the Hereafter.’ He said: ‘Woe to you! Is your mother still alive?’ I said: ‘Yes.’ He said: ‘Go back and honour her.’ Then I approached him from in front and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, I want to go for Jihad with you, seeking thereby the Face of Allah and the Hereafter.’ He said: ‘Woe to you! Is your mother still alive?’ I said: ‘Yes.’ He said: ‘Go back and serve her, for there is Paradise.’” Another chain reports a similar hadith. Ibn Majah said: This is Jahimah bin 'Abbas bin Mirdas As-Sulaimi who criticized the Prophet ﷺ the Day of Hunain.  

أَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي كُنْتُ أَرَدْتُ الْجِهَادَ مَعَكَ أَبْتَغِي بِذَلِكَ وَجْهَ اللَّهِ وَالدَّارَ الآخِرَةَ قَالَ وَيْحَكَ أَحَيَّةٌ أُمُّكَ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ قَالَ ارْجِعْ فَبَرَّهَا ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُهُ مِنَ الْجَانِبِ الآخَرِ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي كُنْتُ أَرَدْتُ الْجِهَادَ مَعَكَ أَبْتَغِي بِذَلِكَ وَجْهَ اللَّهِ وَالدَّارَ الآخِرَةَ قَالَ وَيْحَكَ أَحَيَّةٌ أُمُّكَ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ فَارْجِعْ إِلَيْهَا فَبَرَّهَا ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُهُ مِنْ أَمَامِهِ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي كُنْتُ أَرَدْتُ الْجِهَادَ مَعَكَ أَبْتَغِي بِذَلِكَ وَجْهَ اللَّهِ وَالدَّارَ الآخِرَةَ قَالَ وَيْحَكَ أَحَيَّةٌ أُمُّكَ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ وَيْحَكَ الْزَمْ رِجْلَهَا فَثَمَّ الْجَنَّةُ حَدَّثَنَا هَارُونُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْحَمَّالُ حَدَّثَنَا حَجَّاجُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ أَخْبَرَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ طَلْحَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ الصِّدِّيقِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ طَلْحَةَ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ جَاهِمَةَ السُّلَمِيِّ أَنَّ جَاهِمَةَ أَتَى النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَذَكَرَ نَحْوَهُ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَاجَهْ هَذَا جَاهِمَةُ بْنُ عَبَّاسِ بْنِ مِرْدَاسٍ السُّلَمِيُّ الَّذِي عَاتَبَ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ يَوْمَ حُنَيْنٍ  

“A man came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, I have come seeking to go out in Jihad with you, seeking thereby the Face of Allah and the Hereafter. I have come even though my parents are weeping.’ He said: ‘Go back to them and make them smile as you have made them weep.’”  

أَتَى رَجُلٌ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي جِئْتُ أُرِيدُ الْجِهَادَ مَعَكَ أَبْتَغِي وَجْهَ اللَّهِ وَالدَّارَ الآخِرَةَ وَلَقَدْ أَتَيْتُ وَإِنَّ وَالِدَىَّ لَيَبْكِيَانِ قَالَ فَارْجِعْ إِلَيْهِمَا فَأَضْحِكْهُمَا كَمَا أَبْكَيْتَهُمَا  

“The Prophet ﷺ was asked about a man who fights to prove his courage, or out of pride and honour for his close relatives, or to show off. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘Whoever fights so that the Word of Allah may be supreme is the one who (is fighting) in the cause of Allah.’”  

سُئِلَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يُقَاتِلُ شَجَاعَةً وَيُقَاتِلُ حَمِيَّةً وَيُقَاتِلُ رِيَاءً فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَنْ قَاتَلَ لِتَكُونَ كَلِمَةُ اللَّهِ هِيَ الْعُلْيَا فَهُوَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ  

“I was present with the Prophet ﷺ on the Day of Uhud. I struck a man from among the idolaters and said: ‘Take that! And I am a Persian slave!’ News of that reached the Prophet ﷺ and he said: ‘Why did you not say: “Take that! And I am an Ansari slave!?”  

عَنْ أَبِي عُقْبَةَ وَكَانَ مَوْلًى لأَهْلِ فَارِسَ قَالَ شَهِدْتُ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ يَوْمَ أُحُدٍ فَضَرَبْتُ رَجُلاً مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ فَقُلْتُ خُذْهَا مِنِّي وَأَنَا الْغُلاَمُ الْفَارِسِيُّ فَبَلَغَتِ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَقَالَ أَلاَ قُلْتَ خُذْهَا مِنِّي وَأَنَا الْغُلاَمُ الأَنْصَارِيُّ  

“I heard the Prophet ﷺ say: ‘There is no band of warriors that fights in the cause of Allah and acquires war spoils, but they have been given two thirds of their reward, but if they do not get any spoils of war, then they will have their reward in full (in the Hereafter).’”  

أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْحُبُلِيَّ يَقُولُ إِنَّهُ سَمِعَ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَمْرٍو يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ يَقُولُ مَا مِنْ غَازِيَةٍ تَغْزُو فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَيُصِيبُوا غَنِيمَةً إِلاَّ تَعَجَّلُوا ثُلُثَىْ أَجْرِهِمْ فَإِنْ لَمْ يُصِيبُوا غَنِيمَةً تَمَّ لَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ  

“Goodness is tied to the forelocks of horses until the Day of Resurrection.”  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الْخَيْرُ مَعْقُودٌ بِنَوَاصِي الْخَيْلِ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ  

“There is goodness in the forelocks of horses until the Day of Resurrection.”  

عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنَّهُ قَالَ الْخَيْلُ فِي نَوَاصِيهَا الْخَيْرُ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ  

“There is goodness in the forelocks of horses” – or he said: “There is goodness tied in the forelocks of horses.” Suhail (one of the narrators) said: “I am not certain of” – “until the Day of Resurrection. And horses are of three types: those that bring reward to a man, those that are a means of protection for a man, and those that are a burden (of sin) for a man. As for those that bring reward, a man keeps them in the cause of Allah and keeps them constantly ready (for Jihad), so they do not take any fodder into their stomachs but a reward will be written for him, and if he puts them out to pasture, they do not eat anything but reward will be written for him. If he gives them to drink from a flowing river, for every drop that enters their stomachs there will be reward,” (continuing) until he mentioned reward in conjunction with their urine and droppings, and even when they run here and there by themselves, for each step they take a reward will be written for him – ‘As for those that are a means of protection, a man keeps them because they are a source of dignity and adornment, but he does not forget the rights of their backs and stomachs (i.e., their right not to be overworked and their right to be fed) whether at times of their difficulty or ease. As for those that bring a burden (of sin), the one who keeps them for purposes of wrongdoing or for pomp and show before people, is the one for whom they bring a burden of sin.”  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الْخَيْلُ فِي نَوَاصِيهَا الْخَيْرُ أَوْ قَالَ الْخَيْلُ مَعْقُودٌ فِي نَوَاصِيهَا قَالَ سُهَيْلٌ أَنَا أَشُكُّ الْخَيْرُ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ الْخَيْلُ ثَلاَثَةٌ فَهِيَ لِرَجُلٍ أَجْرٌ وَلِرَجُلٍ سِتْرٌ وَعَلَى رَجُلٍ وِزْرٌ فَأَمَّا الَّذِي هِيَ لَهُ أَجْرٌ فَالرَّجُلُ يَتَّخِذُهَا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَيُعِدُّهَا لَهُ فَلاَ تُغَيِّبُ شَيْئًا فِي بُطُونِهَا إِلاَّ كُتِبَ لَهُ أَجْرٌ وَلَوْ رَعَاهَا فِي مَرْجٍ مَا أَكَلَتْ شَيْئًا إِلاَّ كُتِبَ لَهُ بِهَا أَجْرٌ وَلَوْ سَقَاهَا مِنْ نَهَرٍ جَارٍ كَانَ لَهُ بِكُلِّ قَطْرَةٍ تُغَيِّبُهَا فِي بُطُونِهَا أَجْرٌ حَتَّى ذَكَرَ الأَجْرَ فِي أَبْوَالِهَا وَأَرْوَاثِهَا وَلَوِ اسْتَنَّتْ شَرَفًا أَوْ شَرَفَيْنِ كُتِبَ لَهُ بِكُلِّ خَطْوَةٍ تَخْطُوهَا أَجْرٌ وَأَمَّا الَّذِي هِيَ لَهُ سِتْرٌ فَالرَّجُلُ يَتَّخِذُهَا تَكَرُّمًا وَتَجَمُّلاً وَلاَ يَنْسَى حَقَّ ظُهُورِهَا وَبُطُونِهَا فِي عُسْرِهَا وَيُسْرِهَا وَأَمَّا الَّذِي هِيَ عَلَيْهِ وِزْرٌ فَالَّذِي يَتَّخِذُهَا أَشَرًا وَبَطَرًا وَبَذَخًا وَرِياءً لِلنَّاسِ فَذَلِكَ الَّذِي هِيَ عَلَيْهِ وِزْرٌ  

“The best of horses are those that are deep black, with a blaze on the forehead, white marks on the legs and white nose and upper lip, and with no whiteness on the right foreleg. If not deep-black, then reddish-brown, with these markings.”  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ خَيْرُ الْخَيْلِ الأَدْهَمُ الأَقْرَحُ الْمُحَجَّلُ الأَرْثَمُ طَلْقُ الْيَدِ الْيُمْنَى فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ أَدْهَمَ فَكُمَيْتٌ عَلَى هَذِهِ الشِّيَةِ  

“The Prophet ﷺ used to dislike horses that had three legs with white markings on them, and one leg the same color as the rest of the body.”  

كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يَكْرَهُ الشِّكَالَ مِنَ الْخَيْلِ  

“I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: ‘Whoever ties a horse in the cause of Allah, then feeds it with his own hand, he will have one merit for every grain.’”  

سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ مَنِ ارْتَبَطَ فَرَسًا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ عَالَجَ عَلَفَهُ بِيَدِهِ كَانَ لَهُ بِكُلِّ حَبَّةٍ حَسَنَةٌ  

“Any Muslim who fights in the cause of Allah for the time between two milkings of a she-camel, he will be guaranteed Paradise.”  

أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ يَقُولُ مَنْ قَاتَلَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ﷻ مِنْ رَجُلٍ مُسْلِمٍ فُوَاقَ نَاقَةٍ وَجَبَتْ لَهُ الْجَنَّةُ  

“I was present in a war, and ‘Abdullah bin Rawahah said: O soul of mine! I see that you do Not want to go to Paradise. I swear by Allah that you surely Will enter it, willingly or Unwillingly.’”  

عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ رَوَاحَةَ يَا نَفْسِ أَلاَ أَرَاكِ تَكْرَهِينَ الْجَنَّهْ أَحْلِفُ بِاللَّهِ لَتَنْزِلِنَّهْ طَائِعَةً أَوْ لَتُكْرَهِنَّهْ  

“I came to the Prophet ﷺ and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, which Jihad is best?’ He said: ‘(That of a man) whose blood is shed and his horse is wounded.’”  

أَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَىُّ الْجِهَادِ أَفْضَلُ قَالَ مَنْ أُهْرِيقَ دَمُهُ وَعُقِرَ جَوَادُهُ  

“There is no one who is wounded in the cause of Allah – and Allah knows best of who is wounded in His cause – but he will come on the Day of Resurrection with his wounds looking as they did on the day he was wounded; their color will be the color of blood but their smell will be the fragrance of musk.”  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَا مِنْ مَجْرُوحٍ يُجْرَحُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنْ يُجْرَحُ فِي سَبِيلِهِ إِلاَّ جَاءَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَجُرْحُهُ كَهَيْئَتِهِ يَوْمَ جُرِحَ وَاللَّوْنُ لَوْنُ دَمٍ وَالرِّيحُ رِيحُ مِسْكٍ  

“I heard ‘Abdullah bin Abu Awfa say: ‘The Messenger of Allah ﷺ supplicated to Allah against the Confederates (Al-Ahzab) and said: ‘O Allah, Who has sent down the Book and is Swift in bringing to account, destroy the Confederates. O Allah, destroy them and shake them.’”  

سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ أَبِي أَوْفَى يَقُولُ دَعَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَلَى الأَحْزَابِ فَقَالَ اللَّهُمَّ مُنْزِلَ الْكِتَابِ سَرِيعَ الْحِسَابِ اهْزِمِ الأَحْزَابَ اللَّهُمَّ اهْزِمْهُمْ وَزَلْزِلْهُمْ  

“Whoever asks Allah for martyrdom, sincerely from his heart, Allah will cause him to reach the status of the martyrs even if he dies in his bed.”  

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قَالَ مَنْ سَأَلَ اللَّهَ الشَّهَادَةَ بِصِدْقٍ مِنْ قَلْبِهِ بَلَّغَهُ اللَّهُ مَنَازِلَ الشُّهَدَاءِ وَإِنْ مَاتَ عَلَى فِرَاشِهِ  

“Mention of the martyrs was made in the presence of the Prophet ﷺ and he said: ‘The earth does not dry of the blood of the martyr until his two wives rush to him like two wet nurses who lost their young ones in a stretch of barren land, and in the hand of each one of them will be a Hullah* that is better than this world and everything in it.’”  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ ذُكِرَ الشُّهَدَاءُ عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقَالَ لاَ تَجِفُّ الأَرْضُ مِنْ دَمِ الشَّهِيدِ حَتَّى تَبْتَدِرَهُ زَوْجَتَاهُ كَأَنَّهُمَا ظِئْرَانِ أَضَلَّتَا فَصِيلَيْهِمَا فِي بَرَاحٍ مِنَ الأَرْضِ وَفِي يَدِ كُلِّ وَاحِدَةٍ مِنْهُمَا حُلَّةٌ خَيْرٌ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا وَمَا فِيهَا  

“The martyr has six things (in store) with Allah: He is forgiven from the first drop of his blood that is shed; he is shown his place in Paradise; he is spared the torment of the grave; he is kept safe from the Great Fright; he is adorned with a garment of faith; he is married to (wives) from among the wide-eyed houris; and he is permitted to intercede for seventy of his relatives.”  

عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ لِلشَّهِيدِ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ سِتُّ خِصَالٍ يُغْفَرُ لَهُ فِي أَوَّلِ دَفْعَةٍ مِنْ دَمِهِ وَيُرَى مَقْعَدَهُ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ وَيُجَارُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ وَيَأْمَنُ مِنَ الْفَزَعِ الأَكْبَرِ وَيُحَلَّى حُلَّةَ الإِيمَانِ وَيُزَوَّجُ مِنَ الْحُورِ الْعِينِ وَيُشَفَّعُ فِي سَبْعِينَ إِنْسَانًا مِنْ أَقَارِبِهِ  

“When ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr bin Haram was killed, on the Day of Uhud, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘O Jabir, shall I not tell you what Allah said to your father?’ I said: ‘Yes.’ He said: ‘Allah does not speak to anyone except from behind a screen, but He spoke to your father face to face and said: “O My slave, ask Me and I shall give you.” He said: “O my Lord, bring me back to life so that I may be killed for Your sake a second time.” He said: “I have already decreed that they will not return (to the world after death).” He said: “O Lord, convey (the good news about my state) to those whom I have left behind.” So Allah revealed this Verse: ‘Think not of those as dead who are killed in the way of Allah.’”[3:169]  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَا جَابِرُ أَلاَ أُخْبِرُكَ مَا قَالَ اللَّهُ ﷻ لأَبِيكَ قُلْتُ بَلَى قَالَ مَا كَلَّمَ اللَّهُ أَحَدًا إِلاَّ مِنْ وَرَاءِ حِجَابٍ وَكَلَّمَ أَبَاكَ كِفَاحًا فَقَالَ يَا عَبْدِي تَمَنَّ عَلَىَّ أُعْطِكَ قَالَ يَا رَبِّ تُحْيِينِي فَأُقْتَلُ فِيكَ ثَانِيَةً قَالَ إِنَّهُ سَبَقَ مِنِّي أَنَّهُمْ إِلَيْهَا لاَ يُرْجَعُونَ قَالَ يَا رَبِّ فَأَبْلِغْ مَنْ وَرَائِي فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ ﷻ هَذِهِ الآيَةَ {وَلاَ تَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ قُتِلُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَمْوَاتًا} الآيَةَ كُلَّهَا  

“Think not of those as dead who are killed in the way of Allah. Nay, they are alive, with their Lord, and they have provision,”[3:169] that he said: “We asked about that, and (the Prophet ﷺ) said: ‘Their souls are like green birds that fly wherever they wish in Paradise, then they come back to lamps suspended from the Throne. While they were like that, your Lord looked at them and said, “Ask me for whatever you want.” They said: “O Lord, what should we ask You for when we can fly wherever we wish in Paradise?” When they saw that they would not be left alone until they had asked for something, they said: “We ask You to return our souls to our bodies in the world so that we may fight for Your sake (again).” When He saw that they would not ask for anything but that, they were left alone.’”  

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ فِي قَوْلِهِ {وَلاَ تَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ قُتِلُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَمْوَاتًا بَلْ أَحْيَاءٌ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ يُرْزَقُونَ} قَالَ أَمَا إِنَّا سَأَلْنَا عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ أَرْوَاحُهُمْ كَطَيْرٍ خُضْرٍ تَسْرَحُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ فِي أَيِّهَا شَاءَتْ ثُمَّ تَأْوِي إِلَى قَنَادِيلَ مُعَلَّقَةٍ بِالْعَرْشِ فَبَيْنَمَا هُمْ كَذَلِكَ إِذِ اطَّلَعَ عَلَيْهِمْ رَبُّكَ اطِّلاَعَةً فَيَقُولُ سَلُونِي مَا شِئْتُمْ قَالُوا رَبَّنَا وَمَاذَا نَسْأَلُكَ وَنَحْنُ نَسْرَحُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ فِي أَيِّهَا شِئْنَا فَلَمَّا رَأَوْا أَنَّهُمْ لاَ يُتْرَكُونَ مِنْ أَنْ يَسْأَلُوا قَالُوا نَسْأَلُكَ أَنْ تَرُدَّ أَرْوَاحَنَا فِي أَجْسَادِنَا إِلَى الدُّنْيَا حَتَّى نُقْتَلَ فِي سَبِيلِكَ فَلَمَّا رَأَى أَنَّهُمْ لاَ يَسْأَلُونَ إِلاَّ ذَلِكَ تُرِكُوا  

“The martyr does not feel anything more when he is killed than one of you feels if he is pinched (by a bug).”  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَا يَجِدُ الشَّهِيدُ مَسَّ الْقَتْلِ إِلاَّ كَمَا يَجِدُ أَحَدُكُمْ مَسَّ الْقَرْصَةِ