A man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said, "A man fights for pride and haughtiness another fights for bravery, and another fights for showing off; which of these (cases) is in Allah's Cause?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The one who fights that Allah's Word (Islam) should be superior, fights in Allah's Cause." (See Hadith No. 65, Vol. 4)
Oneness, Uniqueness of Allah (Tawheed)
Sahih al-Bukhari 7458
Hadith Text
A man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said, "A man fights for pride and haughtiness another fights for bravery, and another fights for showing off; which of these (cases) is in Allah's Cause?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The one who fights that Allah's Word (Islam) should be superior, fights in Allah's Cause."
Scholarly Commentary
This hadith establishes the fundamental criterion for legitimate jihad in Islam: the sole intention must be to elevate Allah's Word and establish His religion. Imam Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani explains in Fath al-Bari that the Prophet (ﷺ) clarified that mere physical combat without proper intention does not constitute fighting fi sabilillah (in Allah's cause).
The three mentioned motives - pride, bravery, and showing off - represent corrupt intentions that invalidate the spiritual reward of jihad. Pride (kibr) involves self-glorification, bravery (shujaa'ah) can be mere personal courage, and showing off (riya') seeks human praise rather than divine pleasure.
Imam al-Nawawi states in his Sharh Sahih Muslim that this hadith emphasizes the Islamic principle that deeds are judged by intentions. The external act of fighting becomes worship only when accompanied by the sincere intention to make Allah's religion supreme.
The phrase "Allah's Word should be superior" refers to establishing Tawheed (Islamic monotheism) and implementing Shariah. This excludes personal, tribal, or nationalistic motives, focusing purely on divine objectives.