We asked 'Abdullah about the Qur'anic verse:" Think not of those who are slain in Allah's way as dead. Nay, they are alive, finding their sustenance in the presence of their Lord.." (iii. 169). He said: We asked the meaning of the verse (from the Holy Prophet) who said: The souls, of the martyrs live in the bodies of green birds who have their nests in chandeliers hung from the throne of the Almighty. They eat the fruits of Paradise from wherever they like and then nestle in these chandeliers. Once their Lord cast a glance at them and said: Do ye want anything? They said: What more shall we desire? We eat the fruit of Paradise from wherever we like. Their Lord asked them the same question thrice. When they saw that they will continue to be asked and not left (without answering the question). they said: O Lord, we wish that Thou mayest return our souls to our bodies so that we may be slain in Thy way once again. When He (Allah) saw that they had no need, they were left (to their joy in heaven).
Who is the best of men? He replied: A man who fights in the way of Allah spending his wealth and staking his life. The man then asked: Who is next to him (in excellence)? He said: Next to him is a believer who lives in a mountain gorge worshipping hid Lord and sparing men from his mischief.
Of the men he lives the best life who holds the reins of his horse (ever ready to march) in the way of Allah, flies on its back whenever he hears a fearful shriek, or a call for help, flies to it seeking death at places where it can be expected. (Next to him) is a man who lives with his sheep at a hill-top or in a valley, says his prayers regularly, gives Zakat and worships his Lord until death comes to him. There is no better person among men except these two.
God laughs at the two men both of whom will enter Paradise (though) one of them kills the other. They said: Messenger of Allah, how is it? He said: One of them fights in the way of Allah, the Almighty and Exalted. and dies a martyr. Then God turns in mercy to the murderer who embraces Islam, fights in the way of Allah, the Almighty and Exalted, and dies a martyr.
It is (offered) in the way of Allah. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: For this you will have seven hundred she-camels on the Day of Judgment all of which will be muzzled.
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 20, Hadith 4663
Hadith 1893
Chapter 33: The Book on Government - كتاب الإمارة
It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Mas'ud al-Ansari who said:
وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَأَبُو كُرَيْبٍ وَابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ - وَاللَّفْظُ لأَبِي كُرَيْبٍ
- قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ أَبِي عَمْرٍو الشَّيْبَانِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي مَسْعُودٍ الأَنْصَارِيِّ،
قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ إِنِّي أُبْدِعَ بِي فَاحْمِلْنِي فَقَالَ " مَا
عِنْدِي " . فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَنَا أَدُلُّهُ عَلَى مَنْ يَحْمِلُهُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله
عليه وسلم " مَنْ دَلَّ عَلَى خَيْرٍ فَلَهُ مِثْلُ أَجْرِ فَاعِلِهِ " .
A man came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said: My riding beast has been killed, so give me some animal to ride upon. He (the Holy Prophet) said: I have none with me. A man said: Messenger of Allah, I can guide him to one who will provide him with a riding beast. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: One who guides to something good has a reward similar to that of its doer.
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 20, Hadith 4665
Hadith 1894
Chapter 38: The virtue of helping the warrior who is fighting in the cause of Allah with mounts etc., and looking after his family in his absence - كتاب الإمارة
It has been narrated on the authority of Anas b. Malik that a young man from Aslam tribe said:
Messenger of Allah, I wish to fight (in the way of Allah) but I don't have anything to equip myself with for fighting. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Go to so and so, for he had equipped himself (for fighting) but he fell ill. So, he (the young man) went to him and said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sends you his greetings and says that you should give me the equipage that you have provided yourself with. The man said (to his wife or maidservant): So and so, give him the equipage I have collected for myself and do not withhold anything from him. Do not withhold anything from him so that you may be blessed therein.
Anybody who equips a warrior (going to fight) in the way of Allah (is like one who actually) fights. And anybody who looks well after his family in his absence (is also like one who actually) fights.
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 20, Hadith 4668
Hadith 1896
Chapter 33: The Book on Government - كتاب الإمارة
It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Sa'id Khudri that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sent a force to Banu Lihyan (who are from Banu Hudhail, and said:
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 20, Hadith 4670
Hadith 1897
Chapter 33: The Book on Government - كتاب الإمارة
It has been narrated on the authority of Sulaimin b. Buraida who learnt the tradition from his father. The latter said that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
The sanctity of the wives of Mujahids is like the sanctity of their mothers for those who sit at home (i. e do not go out for Jihad). Anyone who stays behind looking after the family of a Mujahid and betrays his trust will be made to stand on the Day of judgment before the Mujahid who will take away from his meritorious deeds whatever he likes. So what do you think (will he leave anything)?
" Those who sit (at home) from among the believers and those who go out for Jihad in the way of Allah are not aqual" (iv. 95). (He said that) the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) ordered Zaid (to write the verse). He brought a shoulder-blade (of a slaughtered camel) and inscribed it (the verse) thereon. The son of Umm Maktum complained of his blindness to the Prophet (ﷺ). (At this) descended the revelation:" Those of the believers who sit (at home) without any trouble (illness, incapacity, disability)" (iv. 95). The tradition has been handed down through two other chains of transmitters.
Messenger of Allah, where shall I be if I am killed? He replied: In Paradise. The man threw away the dates he had in his hand and fought until he was killed (i. e. he did not wait until he could finish the dates).
In the version of the tradition narrated by Suwaid we have the words:" A man said to the Prophet (ﷺ). on the day of Uhud......"
A man from Banu Nabit (one of the Ansar tribes) came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: I testify that there is no god except Allah and that thou art His bondman and Messenger. Then he went forward and fought until he was killed. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: He has done a little but shall be given a great reward.
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 20, Hadith 4679
Hadith 1901
Chapter 41: Affirmation of Paradise for the Martyr - كتاب الإمارة
It has been reported on the authority of Anas b. Malik who said:
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ النَّضْرِ بْنِ أَبِي النَّضْرِ، وَهَارُونُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ،
وَعَبْدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ - وَأَلْفَاظُهُمْ مُتَقَارِبَةٌ - قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا هَاشِمُ بْنُ الْقَاسِمِ، حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ، -
وَهُوَ ابْنُ الْمُغِيرَةِ - عَنْ ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ بَعَثَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه
وسلم بُسَيْسَةَ عَيْنًا يَنْظُرُ مَا صَنَعَتْ عِيرُ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ فَجَاءَ وَمَا فِي الْبَيْتِ أَحَدٌ غَيْرِي وَغَيْرُ
رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ لاَ أَدْرِي مَا اسْتَثْنَى بَعْضَ نِسَائِهِ قَالَ فَحَدَّثَهُ الْحَدِيثَ
قَالَ فَخَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَتَكَلَّمَ فَقَالَ " إِنَّ لَنَا طَلِبَةً فَمَنْ كَانَ ظَهْرُهُ
حَاضِرًا فَلْيَرْكَبْ مَعَنَا " . فَجَعَلَ رِجَالٌ يَسْتَأْذِنُونَهُ فِي ظُهْرَانِهِمْ فِي عُلْوِ الْمَدِينَةِ فَقَالَ
" لاَ إِلاَّ مَنْ كَانَ ظَهْرُهُ حَاضِرًا " . فَانْطَلَقَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَصْحَابُهُ
حَتَّى سَبَقُوا الْمُشْرِكِينَ إِلَى بَدْرٍ وَجَاءَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم
" لاَ يُقَدِّمَنَّ أَحَدٌ مِنْكُمْ إِلَى شَىْءٍ حَتَّى أَكُونَ أَنَا دُونَهُ " . فَدَنَا الْمُشْرِكُونَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ
اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " قُومُوا إِلَى جَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا السَّمَوَاتُ وَالأَرْضُ " . قَالَ يَقُولُ
عُمَيْرُ بْنُ الْحُمَامِ الأَنْصَارِيُّ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ جَنَّةٌ عَرْضُهَا السَّمَوَاتُ وَالأَرْضُ قَالَ " نَعَمْ
" . قَالَ بَخٍ بَخٍ . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَا يَحْمِلُكَ عَلَى قَوْلِكَ بَخٍ بَخٍ
" . قَالَ لاَ وَاللَّهِ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِلاَّ رَجَاءَةَ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِنْ أَهْلِهَا . قَالَ " فَإِنَّكَ مِنْ أَهْلِهَا
" . فَأَخْرَجَ تَمَرَاتٍ مِنْ قَرْنِهِ فَجَعَلَ يَأْكُلُ مِنْهُنَّ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَئِنْ أَنَا حَيِيتُ حَتَّى آكُلَ تَمَرَاتِي
هَذِهِ إِنَّهَا لَحَيَاةٌ طَوِيلَةٌ - قَالَ - فَرَمَى بِمَا كَانَ مَعَهُ مِنَ التَّمْرِ . ثُمَّ قَاتَلَهُمْ حَتَّى قُتِلَ .
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sent Busaisah as a scout to see what the caravan of Abu Sufyan was doing. He came (back and met the Prophet in his house) where there was nobody except myself and the Messenger of Allah. I do not remember whether he (Hadrat Anas) made an exception of some wives of the Prophet (ﷺ) or not and told him the news of the caravan. (Having heard the news), the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came out (hurriedly), spoke to the people and said: We are in need (of men) ; whoever has an animal to ride upon ready with him should ride with us. People began to ask him permission for bringing their riding animals which were grazing on the hillocks near Medina. He said: No. (I want) only those who have their riding animals ready. So the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and his Companions proceeded towards Badr and reached there forestalling the polytheists (of Mecca). When the polytheists (also) reached there, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: None of you should step forward to (do) anything unless I am ahead of him. The polytheists (now) advanced (towards us), and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said. Get up to enter Paradise which is equal in width to the heavens and the earth. 'Umair b. al- Humam al-Ansari said: Messenger of Allah, is Paradise equal in extent to the heavens and the earth? He said: Yes. 'Umair said: My goodness! The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) asked him: What prompted you to utter these words (i. e. my goodness! ')? He said: Messenger of Allah, nothing but the desire that I be among its residents. He said: Thou art (surely) amona its residents. He took out dates from his bag and began to eat them. Then he said: If I were to live until I have eaten all these dates of mine, it would be a long life. (The narrator said): He threw away all the dates he had with him. Then he fought the enemies until he was killed.
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 20, Hadith 4680
Hadith 1902
Chapter 41: Affirmation of Paradise for the Martyr - كتاب الإمارة
The tradition has been narrated on the authority of 'Abdullah b. Qais. He heard it from his father who, while facing the enemy, reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
Surely, the gates of Paradise are under the shadows of the swords. A man in a shabby condition got up and said; Abu Musa, did you hear the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say this? He said: Yes. (The narrator said): He returned to his friends and said: I greet you (a farewell greeting). Then he broke the sheath of his sword, threw it away, advanced with his (naked) sword towards the enemy and fought (them) with it until he was slain.
My uncle and I have been named after him was not present with the Messenger of Allah (mav peace be upon him) on the Day of Badr. He felt distressed about it. He would say: I have missed the first battle fought by the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and if God now gives me an opportunity to see a battlefield with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), God will see what I do therein. He was afraid to say more than this (lest he be unable to keep his word with God). He was present with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on the Day of Uhud. He met Sa'd b. Mu'adh (who was retreating). Anas said to him: O Abu 'Amr, where (are you going)? Woe (to thee)! I find the smell of Paradise beside the Uhud mountain. (Reprimanding Sa'd in these words) he went forward and fought thein (the enemy) until he was killed. (The narrator says). More than eighty wounds inflicted with swords, spears and arrows were found on his body. His sister, my aunt, ar-Rubayyi', daughter of Nadr, said: I could not recognise my brother's body (it was so badly mutilated) except from his finger-tips. (It was on this occasion that) the Qur'anic verse:" Among the Believers are men who have been true to their covenant with God. Of them some have completed their vow (to the extreme), and some still wait: but they have never changed (their determination) in the least" (xxxiii. 23).
The narrator said that the verse had been revealed about him (Anas b. Nadr) and his Companions.
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 20, Hadith 4683
Hadith 1904
Chapter 33: The Book on Government - كتاب الإمارة
It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Musa Ash'ari that a desert Arab came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said:
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، وَابْنُ، بَشَّارٍ - وَاللَّفْظُ لاِبْنِ الْمُثَنَّى - قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ،
بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ مُرَّةَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا وَائِلٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُوسَى،
الأَشْعَرِيُّ أَنَّ رَجُلاً، أَعْرَابِيًّا أَتَى النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ الرَّجُلُ
يُقَاتِلُ لِلْمَغْنَمِ وَالرَّجُلُ يُقَاتِلُ لِيُذْكَرَ وَالرَّجُلُ يُقَاتِلُ لِيُرَى مَكَانُهُ فَمَنْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ
رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم
" مَنْ قَاتَلَ لِتَكُونَ كَلِمَةُ اللَّهِ أَعْلَى فَهُوَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ "
.
Messenger of Allah, one man fights fgr the spoils of war; another fights that he may be remembered, and another fights that he may see his (high) position (achieved as a result of his valour in fighting). Which of these is fighting in the cause of God? The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Who fights so that the word of Allah is exalted is fighting in the way of Allah.
People dispersed from around Abu Huraira, and Natil, who was from the Syrians. said to him: O Shaikh, relate (to us) a tradition you have heard from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He said: Yes. I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: The first of men (whose case) will be decided on the Day of Judgment will be a man who died as a martyr. He shall be brought (before the Judgment Seat). Allah will make him recount His blessings (i. e. the blessings which He had bestowed upon him) and he will recount them (and admit having enjoyed them in his life). (Then) will Allah say: What did you do (to requite these blessings)? He will say: I fought for Thee until I died as a martyr. Allah will say: You have told a lie. You fought that you might be called a" brave warrior". And you were called so. (Then) orders will be passed against him and he will be dragged with his face downward and cast into Hell. Then will be brought forward a man who acquired knowledge and imparted it (to others) and recited the Qur'an. He will be brought And Allah will make him recount His blessings and he will recount them (and admit having enjoyed them in his lifetime). Then will Allah ask: What did you do (to requite these blessings)? He will say: I acquired knowledge and disseminated it and recited the Qur'an seeking Thy pleasure. Allah will say: You have told a lie. You acquired knowledge so that you might be called" a scholar," and you recited the Qur'an so that it might be said:" He is a Qari" and such has been said. Then orders will be passed against him and he shall be dragged with his face downward and cast into the Fire. Then will be brought a man whom Allah had made abundantly rich and had granted every kind of wealth. He will be brought and Allah will make him recount His blessings and he will recount them and (admit having enjoyed them in his lifetime). Allah will (then) ask: What have you done (to requite these blessings)? He will say: I spent money in every cause in which Thou wished that it should be spent. Allah will say: You are lying. You did (so) that it might be said about (You):" He is a generous fellow" and so it was said. Then will Allah pass orders and he will be dragged with his face downward and thrown into Hell.
A troop of soldiers who fight in tile way of Allah and get their share of the booty receive in advance two-thirds of their reward in the Hereafter and only one-third will remain (to their credit). If they do not receive any booty, they will get their full reward.
(The value of) an action depends on the intention behind it. A man will be rewarded only for what he intended. The emigration of one who emigrates for the sake of Allah and His Messenger (ﷺ) is for the sake of Allah and His Messenger (ﷺ) ; and the emigration of one who emigrates for gaining a worldly advantage or for marrying a woman is for what he has emigrated.
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 20, Hadith 4694
Hadith 1909
Chapter 46: It is recommended to seek Martyrdom in the Cause of Allah, Exalted is He. - كتاب الإمارة
It has been reported on the authority of Sahl b. Aba Umama b. Sahl b. Hunaif who learned the tradition from his father who (in turn) learned it from his grandfather-that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
Who sought martyrdom with sincerity will be ranked by Allah among the martyrs even if he died on his bed. In his version of the tradition Abd Tahir did not mention the words:" with sincerity".
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 20, Hadith 4695
Hadith 1910
Chapter 47: Criticism of one who dies without having fought (in Jihad) or having thought of fighting - كتاب الإمارة
It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ سَهْمٍ الأَنْطَاكِيُّ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ،
عَنْ وُهَيْبٍ الْمَكِّيِّ، عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْمُنْكَدِرِ، عَنْ سُمَىٍّ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ،
قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم
" مَنْ مَاتَ وَلَمْ يَغْزُ وَلَمْ يُحَدِّثْ بِهِ نَفْسَهُ مَاتَ
عَلَى شُعْبَةٍ مِنْ نِفَاقٍ " . قَالَ ابْنُ سَهْمٍ قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ فَنُرَى أَنَّ ذَلِكَ كَانَ عَلَى
عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم .
One who died but did not fight in the way of Allah nor did he express any desire (or determination) for Jihad died the death of a hypocrite.
'Abdullah b. Mubarak said: We think the hadith pertained to the time of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).