Abu Sa’id (Al Khudri) reported The Prophet(ﷺ) was asked “Which believers are most perfect in respect of faith? He replied “A man who strives in the path of Allaah with his life and property and a man who worships Allaah in a mountain valley where he protects the people from his evil.””
Hadith Commentary: Sunan Abi Dawud 2485
This noble hadith from the Book of Jihad (Kitab Al-Jihad) in Sunan Abi Dawud presents two distinct paths of spiritual excellence, both manifesting perfect faith (iman) through different means of devotion to Allah.
The Mujahid: Striving with Life and Wealth
The first category comprises those who engage in jihad with their persons and possessions. This includes physical combat in Allah's cause when necessary, but also encompasses spending wealth for military preparation, supporting fighters' families, and all forms of financial sacrifice for Islamic defense. The perfection of their faith lies in prioritizing Allah's pleasure over worldly attachments.
The Ascetic: Protecting People from Harm
The second category describes one who retreats to mountain valleys for worship while ensuring people's safety from his potential misdeeds. This demonstrates that true worship isn't merely about personal devotion but includes social responsibility. By isolating himself, he eliminates opportunities to harm others through speech, action, or even negative thoughts, thus perfecting his faith through both active worship and passive protection of society.
Scholarly Insights
Classical commentators note that both paths represent complete faith because each requires total submission to Allah. The mujahid sacrifices externally through action, while the ascetic sacrifices internally through restraint. Imam Al-Munawi explains that this hadith shows Islam's balance between active struggle and contemplative worship, with both being praiseworthy when performed with sincere intention.
Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalani emphasizes that the mountain-dweller's excellence comes not from isolation itself, but from his conscious choice to prevent harm to others - making his seclusion an act of social responsibility rather than mere escapism.