Jihad

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

Sulayman ibn Burayda reported from his father: Whenever the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) appointed a commander over an army or detachment, he would advise him privately to fear God and to treat the Muslims with him well. Then he would say, ‘Campaign in the name of God and fight those who disbelieve in God. Campaign, but do not embezzle, betray, mutilate, or kill a child. When you meet your enemy among the polytheists, invite them to three qualities—or alternatives. Whichever they respond to, accept it from them and refrain from fighting them. Then invite them to Islam. If they respond, accept it from them and refrain from fighting them. Then invite them to move from their homeland to the land of the Emigrants, and tell them that if they do so, they will have the same rights and duties as the Emigrants. If they refuse to move from there, tell them that they will be like the Bedouin Muslims: God’s ruling that applies to the believers will apply to them, but they will have no share of the booty or the fayʾ unless they strive alongside the Muslims. If they refuse, impose the jizya upon them. If they comply, accept it from them and refrain from fighting them. If they refuse, seek God’s help and fight them. If you besiege the people of a fortress and they ask you to grant them God’s and His Prophet’s protection, do not grant them God’s protection or His Prophet’s protection; instead grant them your protection and that of your companions, for it is less serious for you to violate your own covenant and your companions’ covenants than to violate the covenant of God and His Messenger. If you besiege the people of a fortress and they ask you to surrender under God’s judgment, do not surrender them under God’s judgment; instead surrender them under your own judgment, for you do not know whether your judgment will coincide with God’s judgment concerning them.’ Narrated by Muslim.

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

ʿAbdullah ibn Abi Awfa reported: On one of the days when the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) met the enemy, he waited until the sun had declined, then stood among the people and said, ‘People, do not wish to meet the enemy. Ask God for well-being. When you meet them, be steadfast, and know that Paradise is beneath the shade of swords.’ Then he said, ‘O God, Sender of the Book, Mover of the clouds, Defeater of the confederates, defeat them and support us against them.’

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

Anas reported: Whenever the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) campaigned against a people, he would not attack them until morning, when he could see them. If he heard the call to prayer, he held back; if he did not hear it, he attacked them. He said: We set out for Khaybar and reached them at night. When morning came and he heard no call to prayer, he mounted, and I rode behind Abu Talha, with my foot touching the Prophet of God’s foot. They came out toward us with baskets and mattocks. When they saw the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), they said, ‘Muhammad, by God! Muhammad and the army!’ and took refuge in the fortress. When the Messenger of God saw them, he said, ‘God is greatest! God is greatest! Khaybar is ruined. Whenever we descend upon a people’s territory, evil is the morning of those who were warned.’

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

Al-Nuʿman ibn Muqarrin reported: I witnessed fighting with the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him). If he did not fight at the beginning of the day, he waited until the winds began to blow and the time for prayer arrived. Narrated by al-Bukhari.

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

Al-Nuʿman ibn Muqarrin reported: I was with the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him). If he did not fight at the beginning of the day, he waited until the sun had passed its zenith, the winds began to blow, and victory descended. Narrated by Abu Dawud.

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

Qatada reported from al-Nuʿman ibn Muqarrin: I campaigned with the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him). When dawn broke, he would hold back until sunrise; once the sun had risen, he would fight. At midday he would hold back until the sun passed its zenith; then he would fight until the afternoon, pause until the afternoon prayer had been performed, and then fight. Qatada said: It used to be said that at that time the winds of victory begin to blow and believers pray for their armies during their prayers. Narrated by al-Tirmidhi.

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

ʿIsam al-Muzani reported: The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) sent us on a military detachment and said, ‘If you see a mosque or hear a caller to prayer, do not kill anyone.’ Narrated by al-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud.

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

Abu Waʾil reported: Khalid ibn al-Walid wrote to the people of Persia: ‘In the name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. From Khalid ibn al-Walid to Rustam and Mihran, among the notables of Persia. Peace be upon those who follow guidance. To proceed: We invite you to Islam. If you refuse, then pay the jizya willingly while humbled. If you refuse, I have with me people who love being killed in God’s cause as Persia loves wine. Peace be upon those who follow guidance.’ Narrated in Sharh al-Sunna.

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

Jabir reported: On the day of Uhud, a man said to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), ‘What do you think—if I am killed, where will I be?’ He replied, ‘In Paradise.’ The man threw away the dates in his hand, then fought until he was killed.

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

Kaʿb ibn Malik reported: Whenever the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) intended an expedition, he would conceal it by indicating another destination, until the expedition of Tabuk. It was in intense heat, involved a distant journey through a desert, and faced a large enemy force. He made the matter clear to the Muslims so they could prepare for the campaign, and told them the destination he intended. Narrated by al-Bukhari.

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

Jabir reported that the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) said, ‘War is stratagem.’

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

Anas reported: When the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) went on campaign, he took Umm Sulaym and some women of the Ansar with him. They would provide water and tend to the wounded. Narrated by Muslim.

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

Umm ʿAtiyya reported: I went on seven campaigns with the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him), staying behind with their baggage, preparing food for them, tending the wounded, and caring for the sick. Narrated by Muslim.

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

ʿAbdullah ibn ʿUmar reported: The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade killing women and children.

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

Al-Saʿb ibn Jaththama reported: The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about the people of a polytheist settlement who are attacked at night, when some of their women and children are struck. He replied, ‘They are of them.’ Another version says, ‘They are from their fathers.’

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

Ibn ʿUmar reported: The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) cut down and burned the palm trees of Banu al-Nadir. Hassan said: ‘It was easy for the leaders of Banu Luʾayy—a blaze at al-Buwayra spreading far and wide.’ Concerning this, the verse was revealed: ‘Whatever palm trees you cut down or left standing on their roots, it was by God’s permission.’

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

ʿAbdullah ibn ʿAwn reported: Nafiʿ wrote to him, informing him that Ibn ʿUmar had told him that Ibn ʿUmar had informed him that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) raided Banu al-Mustaliq while they were heedless, watering their livestock at al-Muraysiʿ. He killed their fighters and captured their children.

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

Abu Usayd reported: On the day of Badr, when we had lined up against Quraysh and they had lined up against us, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, ‘When they come within range of you, use your arrows.’ Another version says, ‘When they come within range, shoot at them and conserve your arrows.’ Narrated by al-Bukhari.

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

ʿAbd al-Rahman ibn ʿAwf reported: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) arranged us in battle formation at Badr at night. Narrated by al-Tirmidhi.

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

Al-Muhallab reported that the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) said, ‘If the enemy attacks you at night, let your battle cry be: Ha Mim; they will not be helped.’ Narrated by al-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud.