Allah 's Apostle said, " I have been ordered to fight with the people till they say, 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah,' and whoever says, 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah,' his life and property will be saved by me except for Islamic law, and his accounts will be with Allah, (either to punish him or to forgive him.)"
Fighting for the Cause of Allah (Jihaad)
Sahih al-Bukhari 2946
Hadith Text
Allah's Apostle said, "I have been ordered to fight with the people till they say, 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah,' and whoever says, 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah,' his life and property will be saved by me except for Islamic law, and his accounts will be with Allah, (either to punish him or to forgive him.)"
Commentary on the Command to Fight
This hadith establishes the fundamental purpose of jihad in Islam: to remove barriers to the worship of Allah alone. The fighting is not for territorial expansion or worldly gain, but to establish tawhid (monotheism) and remove shirk (polytheism). The phrase "I have been ordered" indicates this is a divine commandment, not a personal initiative of the Prophet.
The Protection of Life and Property
The declaration of faith provides immediate protection for life and property. This demonstrates Islam's mercy - once a person submits to Allah, they enter the protection of the Muslim community. The exception "except for Islamic law" means that if such a person commits crimes punishable under Shariah (like murder or theft), they will still face legal consequences.
Spiritual Accountability
The phrase "his accounts will be with Allah" refers to the ultimate judgment of one's faith and deeds. Outward acceptance of Islam protects one in this world, but true faith and sincerity are known only to Allah, who will judge each soul accordingly on the Day of Resurrection.
Scholarly Context
Classical scholars like Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani explain that this hadith applies specifically to the Arab polytheists during the Prophet's time. Later Islamic jurisprudence developed detailed rules about jihad, distinguishing between defensive and offensive warfare, and specifying protections for non-combatants, people of other faiths under Muslim rule, and those with whom Muslims have treaties.