Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Allah guarantees him who strives in His Cause and whose motivation for going out is nothing but Jihad in His Cause and belief in His Word, that He will admit him into Paradise (if martyred) or bring him back to his dwelling place, whence he has come out, with what he gains of reward and booty."
Hadith Text & Context
The noble hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari 3123 establishes a divine guarantee for the sincere mujahid. The phrase "strives in His Cause" (jāhada fī sabīlillāh) refers to expending utmost effort in the path of Allah, primarily through legitimate warfare as understood by classical scholars.
This guarantee applies specifically to one whose "motivation for going out is nothing but Jihad in His Cause and belief in His Word" - indicating the necessity of pure intention (ikhlāṣ) free from worldly motives like seeking fame or booty.
Divine Guarantee Explained
Allah guarantees one of two blessed outcomes: either martyrdom leading directly to Paradise without reckoning, or safe return with both spiritual reward (ajr) and material booty (ghanīmah).
The conjunction "or" (aw in Arabic) indicates these are two distinct outcomes, with martyrdom being the superior achievement as it leads immediately to eternal bliss.
Connection to Khumus (One-Fifth)
The mention of "booty" in this hadith connects directly to the Islamic regulations concerning war spoils. According to Quran 8:41, one-fifth (khumus) of all booty is designated "for Allah and His Messenger, and for the near of kin and the orphans and the needy and the wayfarer."
This khumus is distributed for specific religious and social purposes, while the remaining four-fifths are distributed among the combatants. Thus, the mujahid receives both immediate material benefit and eternal spiritual reward.
Scholarly Commentary
Imam al-Qurtubi notes that this guarantee applies only when jihad conditions are met: proper Islamic authority, correct intention, and adherence to Islamic rules of warfare.
Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani emphasizes in Fath al-Bari that "belief in His Word" means firm conviction in Allah's promises and the truth of Islam, which distinguishes Muslim jihad from mere tribal warfare.
The scholars unanimously agree that the booty mentioned becomes lawful only after proper distribution according to Islamic law, with the khumus serving as a purification of the remaining four-fifths.