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Qurʾān Bukhārī Muslim Nasāʾī Abū Dāwūd Tirmidhī Ibn Mājah Mālik Aḥmad Dārimī Ḥākim Ibn Ḥibbān Ṭabarānī Nasāʾī's Kubrá Bayhaqī al-Luʾluʾ wa-al-Marjān Ibn Rajab's Fifty Riyāḍ al-Ṣāliḥīn Aḥmad's Zuhd Suyūṭī
tirmidhi:1646 – Hannād > Abū Muʿāwiyah > al-Aʿmash > Shaqīq b. Salamah > Abū Mūsá

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked about a man who fights out of bravery, one who fights out of protection (for himself or others), and one who fought to be seen. Which of them is in the cause of Allah ? He said: 'Whoever fought so that the Word of Allah is supreme, then he is in Allah's cause.'"  

[Abu 'Eisa said:] There is something on this topic from 'Umar. This Hadith is Hasan Sahih.
الترمذي:١٦٤٦ – حَدَّثَنَا هَنَّادٌ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ عَنْ شَقِيقِ بْنِ سَلَمَةَ عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى قَالَ

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

قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ عُمَرَ وَهَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ

See similar narrations below:

Collected by Bukhārī, Muslim, Nasāʾī, Ibn Mājah, Aḥmad, Ibn Ḥibbān, Nasāʾī's Kubrá
bukhari:2810 – Sulaymān b. Ḥarb > Shuʿbah > ʿAmr > Abū Wāʾil > Abū Mūsá

A man came to the Prophet ﷺ and asked, "A man fights for war booty; another fights for fame and a third fights for showing off; which of them fights in Allah's Cause?" The Prophet ﷺ said, "He who fights that Allah's Word (i.e. Islam) should be superior, fights in Allah's Cause."  

البخاري:٢٨١٠ – حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ عَنْ عَمْرٍو عَنْ أَبِي وَائِلٍ عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى ؓ قَالَ

جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ يُقَاتِلُ لِلْمَغْنَمِ وَالرَّجُلُ يُقَاتِلُ لِلذِّكْرِ وَالرَّجُلُ يُقَاتِلُ لِيُرَى مَكَانُهُ فَمَنْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ قَالَ مَنْ قَاتَلَ لِتَكُونَ كَلِمَةُ اللَّهِ هِيَ الْعُلْيَا فَهُوَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ  

Fighting to elevate the Word of God is what is considered for His sake

bukhari:7458 – Muḥammad b. Kathīr > Sufyān > al-Aʿmash > Abū Wāʾil > Abū Mūsá

A man came to the Prophet ﷺ and said, "A man fights for pride and haughtiness another fights for bravery, and another fights for showing off; which of these (cases) is in Allah's Cause?" The Prophet ﷺ said, "The one who fights that Allah's Word (Islam) should be superior, fights in Allah's Cause."  

البخاري:٧٤٥٨ – حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ كَثِيرٍ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ عَنْ أَبِي وَائِلٍ عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى قَالَ

جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقَالَ: الرَّجُلُ يُقَاتِلُ حَمِيَّةً وَيُقَاتِلُ شَجَاعَةً وَيُقَاتِلُ رِيَاءً، فَأَىُّ ذَلِكَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ؟ قَالَ: «مَنْ قَاتَلَ لِتَكُونَ كَلِمَةُ اللَّهِ هِيَ الْعُلْيَا فَهْوَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ۔»  

muslim:1904b – Abū Bakr b. Abū Shaybah And Ibn Numayr And ʾIsḥāq b. Ibrāhīm And Muḥammad b. al-ʿAlāʾ > Isḥāq > al-Ākharūn > Abū Muʿāwiyah > al-Aʿmash > Shaqīq > Abū Mūsá

(one who fights) for displaying his valour; (a man who) fights out of his family pride and (a man who) fights for the sake of show, who amongst these fights in the way of Allah? The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Who fights that the word of Allah be exalted fights in the way of Allah.  

مسلم:١٩٠٤b – حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ وَابْنُ نُمَيْرٍ وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ قَالَ إِسْحَاقُ أَخْبَرَنَا وَقَالَ الآخَرُونَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ عَنْ شَقِيقٍ عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى قَالَ

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

muslim:1904d – Isḥāq b. Ibrāhīm > Jarīr > Manṣūr > Abū Wāʾil > Abū Mūsá al-Ashʿarī

Who fights that the word of Allah be exalted fights in the way of Allah.  

مسلم:١٩٠٤d – وَحَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ أَخْبَرَنَا جَرِيرٌ عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ عَنْ أَبِي وَائِلٍ عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى الأَشْعَرِيِّ

أَنَّ رَجُلاً سَأَلَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَنِ الْقِتَالِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ﷻ فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ يُقَاتِلُ غَضَبًا وَيُقَاتِلُ حَمِيَّةً قَالَ فَرَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ إِلَيْهِ وَمَا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ إِلَيْهِ إِلاَّ أَنَّهُ كَانَ قَائِمًا فَقَالَ مَنْ قَاتَلَ لِتَكُونَ كَلِمَةُ اللَّهِ هِيَ الْعُلْيَا فَهُوَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ  

nasai:3136 – Ismāʿīl b. Masʿūd > Khālid > Shuʿbah > ʿAmr b. Murrah > Abū Wāʾil > Abū Mūsá al-Ashʿarī

"A Bedouin came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said: 'A man fights for fame, or he fights for the spoils of war, or he fights to show off. Who is the one who is fighting in the cause of Allah?' He said: 'The one who fights so that the word of Allah will be supreme is the one who is fighting in the cause of Allah, the Mighty and Sublime.'"  

النسائي:٣١٣٦ – أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدٌ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ أَنَّ عَمْرَو بْنَ مُرَّةَ أَخْبَرَهُمْ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا وَائِلٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُوسَى الأَشْعَرِيُّ قَالَ

جَاءَ أَعْرَابِيٌّ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ يُقَاتِلُ لِيُذْكَرَ وَيُقَاتِلُ لِيَغْنَمَ وَيُقَاتِلُ لِيُرَى مَكَانُهُ فَمَنْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ قَالَ مَنْ قَاتَلَ لِتَكُونَ كَلِمَةُ اللَّهِ هِيَ الْعُلْيَا فَهُوَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ﷻ  

ibnmajah:2783 – Muḥammad b. ʿAbdullāh b. Numayr > Abū Muʿāwiyah > al-Aʿmash > Shaqīq > Abū Mūsá

“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.’”  

ابن ماجة:٢٧٨٣ – حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ نُمَيْرٍ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ عَنْ شَقِيقٍ عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى قَالَ

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  

ahmad:19543 – Abū Muʿāwiyah > al-Aʿmash > Shaqīq > Abū Mūsá

(one who fights) for displaying his valour; (a man who) fights out of his family pride and (a man who) fights for the sake of show, who amongst these fights in the way of Allah? The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Who fights that the word of Allah be exalted fights in the way of Allah. (Using translation from Muslim 1904b)   

أحمد:١٩٥٤٣ – حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ حَدَّثَنَا الْأَعْمَشُ عَنْ شَقِيقٍ عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى قَالَ

جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَرَأَيْتَ الرَّجُلَ يُقَاتِلُ شَجَاعَةً وَيُقَاتِلُ حَمِيَّةً وَيُقَاتِلُ رِيَاءً فَأَيُّ ذَلِكَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ؟ قَالَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ مَنْ قَاتَلَ لِتَكُونَ كَلِمَةُ اللهِ ﷻ هِيَ الْعُلْيَا فَهُوَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ ﷻ  

ahmad:19631 – Abū Muʿāwiyah > al-Aʿmash > Shaqīq > Abū Mūsá

(one who fights) for displaying his valour; (a man who) fights out of his family pride and (a man who) fights for the sake of show, who amongst these fights in the way of Allah? The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Who fights that the word of Allah be exalted fights in the way of Allah. (Using translation from Muslim 1904b)  

أحمد:١٩٦٣١ – حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ حَدَّثَنَا الْأَعْمَشُ عَنْ شَقِيقٍ عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى قَالَ

سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يُقَاتِلُ شَجَاعَةً وَيُقَاتِلُ حَمِيَّةً وَيَقَاتِلُ رِيَاءً فَأَيُّ ذَلِكَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ تَعَالَى؟ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ مَنْ قَاتَلَ لِتَكُونَ كَلِمَةُ اللهِ هِيَ الْعُلْيَا فَهُوَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ ﷻ  

ذِكْرُ وَصْفِ الْغَزْوِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ الَّذِي يَأْجُرُ اللَّهُ مَنْ فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ

ibnhibban:4636 – al-Faḍl b. al-Ḥubāb > Muḥammad b. Kathīr al-ʿAbdī > Sufyān > al-Aʿmash > Abū Wāʾil > Abū Mūsá

A man came to the Prophet ﷺ and said, "A man fights for pride and haughtiness another fights for bravery, and another fights for showing off; which of these (cases) is in Allah's Cause?" The Prophet ﷺ said, "The one who fights that Allah's Word (Islam) should be superior, fights in Allah's Cause." (See Hadith No. 65, Vol. 4) (Using translation from Bukhārī 7458)  

ابن حبّان:٤٦٣٦ – أَخْبَرَنَا الْفَضْلُ بْنُ الْحُبَابِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ كَثِيرٍ الْعَبْدِيُّ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا سُفْيَانُ عَنِ الْأَعْمَشِ عَنْ أَبِي وَائِلٍ عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى قَالَ

جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ يُقَاتِلُ حَمِيَّةً وَيُقَاتِلُ شَجَاعَةً وَيُقَاتِلُ رِيَاءً فَأَنَّى ذَلِكَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ؟ قَالَ «مَنْ قَاتَلَ لِتَكُونَ كَلِمَةُ اللَّهِ هِيَ الْعُلْيَا فَهُوَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ»  

nasai-kubra:4329 – Ismāʿīl b. Masʿūd > Khālid > Shuʿbah > ʿAmr b. Murrah > Abū Wāʾil > Abū Mūsá al-Ashʿarī

"A Bedouin came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said: 'A man fights for fame, or he fights for the spoils of war, or he fights to show off. Who is the one who is fighting in the cause of Allah?' He said: 'The one who fights so that the word of Allah will be supreme is the one who is fighting in the cause of Allah, the Mighty and Sublime.'" (Using translation from Nasāʾī 3136)  

الكبرى للنسائي:٤٣٢٩ – أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدٌ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ أَنَّ عَمْرَو بْنَ مُرَّةَ أَخْبَرَهُمْ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا وَائِلٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُوسَى الْأَشْعَرِيُّ قَالَ

جَاءَ أَعْرَابِيٌّ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ يُقَاتِلُ لِيُذْكَرَ وَيُقَاتِلُ لِلْمَغْنَمِ وَيُقَاتِلُ لِيُرَى مَكَانُهُ فَمَنْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ؟ قَالَ «مَنْ قَاتَلَ لِتَكُونَ كَلِمَةُ اللهِ هِيَ الْعُلْيَا فَهُوَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ»