The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "A single endeavor (of fighting) in Allah's Cause in the forenoon or in the afternoon is better than the world and whatever is in it."
Hadith Text & Reference
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "A single endeavor (of fighting) in Allah's Cause in the forenoon or in the afternoon is better than the world and whatever is in it."
Book: Fighting for the Cause of Allah (Jihaad)
Author: Sahih al-Bukhari
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 2792
Meaning & Significance
This profound hadith establishes the immense spiritual value of striving in the path of Allah. The phrase "single endeavor" refers to even a brief period of sincere military effort during jihad. "Forenoon or afternoon" indicates that even a short duration holds this tremendous reward.
The comparison to "the world and whatever is in it" demonstrates that the spiritual reward for such striving surpasses all worldly possessions, pleasures, and temporal power combined. This emphasizes the transient nature of worldly life versus the eternal value of deeds performed for Allah's pleasure.
Scholarly Commentary
Imam Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani explains in Fath al-Bari that this hadith highlights the superiority of the afterlife over this world. The "world" here encompasses everything temporal - wealth, status, kingdoms, and all earthly desires.
Scholars note that this excellence applies specifically to legitimate jihad fought with proper intention (sincerely for Allah's cause), following Islamic guidelines, and under legitimate Muslim leadership. The reward is so great because jihad involves sacrificing what is most dear to humans: life itself.
This teaching encourages Muslims to prioritize spiritual pursuits over worldly attachments and to recognize the true value scale in Islam, where a moment of sincere devotion can outweigh a lifetime of worldly accumulation.