The Book on Government

كتاب الإمارة

Chapter 51: About the Martyrs

It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira (through another chain of transmitters) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said

Whom do you consider to be a martyr among you? They (the Companions) said: Messenger, of Allah, one who is slain in the way of Allah is a martyr. He said: Then (if this is the definition of a martyr) the martyrs of my Umma will be small in number. They asked: Messenger of Allah, who are they? He said: One who is slain in the way of Allah is a martyr; one who dies in the way of Allah, is a martyr; one who dies of plague is a martyr; one who dies of cholera is a martyr. Ibn Miqsam said: I testify the truth of your father's statement (with regard to this tradition) that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: One who is drowned is a martyr.

Another version of the tradition narrated on the authority of Suhail thouch a different chain of transmitters contains the additional words

" A drowned person is a martyr."

Chapter 53: The words of the prophet saws: "A Group of my Ummah will continue to Prevail on the basis of the Truth, and They will not be Harmed by those who oppose them."

It has been narrated on the authority of Mughira who said

I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: A group of people from my Umma will continue to be triumphant over the people until the Command of Allah overtakes them while they are still triumphant.

It has been narrated on the authority of 'Abd al-Rahman b. Shamasa al- Mahri who said

I was in the company of Maslama b. Mukhallad, and 'Abdullah b. 'Amr b. 'As was with him. 'Abdullah said: The Hour shall some oniy when the worst type of people are left on the earth. They will be worse than the people of pre-Islamic days. They will get whatever they ask of Allah. While we were yet sitting when 'Uqba b. 'Amir came, and Maslama said to him: 'Uqba, listen to what 'Abdullah says. 'Uqba said: He knows better; so far as I am concerned, I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: A group of people from my Umma will continue to fight in obedience to the Command of Allah, remaining dominant over their enemies. Those who will oppose them shall not do them any harm. They will remain ill this condition until the Hour overtakes them. (At this) 'Abdullah said: Yes. Then Allah will raise a wild which will be fragrant like musk and whose touch will be like the touch of silk; (but) it will cause the death of all (faithful) persons, not leaving behind a single person with an iota of faith in his heart. Then only the worst of men will remain to be overwhelmed by the Hour.

Chapter 55: Travel is a kind of torment, and it is recommended for the traveler to hasten back to his family after finishing his business

On the authority of Abu Huraira that the Prophet (ﷺ) said

Travelling is a tortuous experience. It deprives a person of his sleep. his food and drink. When one of you has accomplished his purpose, he should hasten his return to his family.

Chapter 56: It is disliked to enter at night when coming home from a journey

Another version of the tradition narrated on the same authority worded slightly differently. It says

(He) would not enter (upon his household at night).

Chapter 38: The virtue of helping the warrior who is fighting in the cause of Allah with mounts etc., and looking after his family in his absence

It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Sa'id Khudri that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sent a force to Banu Lihyan (who are from Banu Hudhail, and said

One man from every two and the reward (will be divided) between the two.

The above tradition has also been narrated through two different chains of transmitters on the authority of Abu Sa'id Khudri and Yahya, respectively.

Chapter 39: The sanctity of the wives of the Mujahidin, and the sin of the one who betrays them with regard to them

It has been narrated on the authority of Sulaimin b. Buraida who learnt the tradition from his father. The latter said that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said

The sanctity of the wives of Mujahids is like the sanctity of their mothers for those who sit at home (i. e do not go out for Jihad). Anyone who stays behind looking after the family of a Mujahid and betrays his trust will be made to stand on the Day of judgment before the Mujahid who will take away from his meritorious deeds whatever he likes. So what do you think (will he leave anything)?

Chapter 41: Affirmation of Paradise for the Martyr

It has been reported on the authority of Anas b. Malik who said

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sent Busaisah as a scout to see what the caravan of Abu Sufyan was doing. He came (back and met the Prophet in his house) where there was nobody except myself and the Messenger of Allah. I do not remember whether he (Hadrat Anas) made an exception of some wives of the Prophet (ﷺ) or not and told him the news of the caravan. (Having heard the news), the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came out (hurriedly), spoke to the people and said: We are in need (of men) ; whoever has an animal to ride upon ready with him should ride with us. People began to ask him permission for bringing their riding animals which were grazing on the hillocks near Medina. He said: No. (I want) only those who have their riding animals ready. So the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and his Companions proceeded towards Badr and reached there forestalling the polytheists (of Mecca). When the polytheists (also) reached there, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: None of you should step forward to (do) anything unless I am ahead of him. The polytheists (now) advanced (towards us), and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said. Get up to enter Paradise which is equal in width to the heavens and the earth. 'Umair b. al- Humam al-Ansari said: Messenger of Allah, is Paradise equal in extent to the heavens and the earth? He said: Yes. 'Umair said: My goodness! The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) asked him: What prompted you to utter these words (i. e. my goodness! ')? He said: Messenger of Allah, nothing but the desire that I be among its residents. He said: Thou art (surely) amona its residents. He took out dates from his bag and began to eat them. Then he said: If I were to live until I have eaten all these dates of mine, it would be a long life. (The narrator said): He threw away all the dates he had with him. Then he fought the enemies until he was killed.

Chapter 42: One who fights so that the word of Allah will be supreme is fighting in the cause of Allah

It has been narrated (through another chain of transmitters) on the authority of Abu Musa who said. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was asked which of the men fights in the way of Allah

(one who fights) for displaying his valour; (a man who) fights out of his family pride and (a man who) fights for the sake of show, who amongst these fights in the way of Allah? The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Who fights that the word of Allah be exalted fights in the way of Allah.

It has been narrated (through yet another chain of transmitters) on the same authority, i. e. Abu Musa, who said

We, came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said: Messenger of Allah, one of us hho fights to display his valour... (followed by the same words as we have in the previous tradition).

It has been narrated through a different chain of transmitters on the same authority, i. e. Abu Musa Ash'ari, that a man asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) about fighting in the way of Allah, the Exalted and Majestic, a man who fights out of rage or out of family pride. He raised his head towards him-and he did so because the man was standing and said

Who fights that the word of Allah be exalted fights in the way of Allah.

Chapter 45: The words of the prophets saws: "Deeds are but with intentions" which includes fighting and other deeds

It has been narrated on the authority of Umar b. al-Khattab that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said

(The value of) an action depends on the intention behind it. A man will be rewarded only for what he intended. The emigration of one who emigrates for the sake of Allah and His Messenger (ﷺ) is for the sake of Allah and His Messenger (ﷺ) ; and the emigration of one who emigrates for gaining a worldly advantage or for marrying a woman is for what he has emigrated.

It has been narrated through a different chain of transmitters on the authority of Sufyan who said that he heard 'Umar b. al-Khattab relate (this tradition) from the Prophet (ﷺ) while he was delivering a sermon from the pulpit.

Chapter 48: The reward of one who is kept from fighting by sickness or any other excuse

It has been narrated on the authority of Jabir who said

We were with the Prophet (ﷺ) on an expedition. He said: There are some people in Medina. They are with you whenever you cover a distance or cross a valley. They have been detained by illness.

Chapter 49: The virtue of campaigning by sea

It has been narrated on the authority of Umm Haram (and she was the aunt of Anas) who said

The Prophet (ﷺ) came to us one day and had a nap in our house. When he woke up, he was laughing. I said: Messenger of Allah, what made you laugh? He said: I saw a people from my followers sailing on the surface of the sea (looking) like kings (sitting) on their thrones. I said: Pray to Allah that He may include me among them. He said: You will be among them. He had a (second) nap, woke up and was laughing. I asked him (the reason for his laughter). He gave the same reply. I said: Pray to Allah that He may include me among them. He said: You are among the first ones. Anas said: 'Ubada b. Samit married her. He joined a naval expedition and took her along with him. When she returned, a mule was brought for her. While mounting it she fell down, broke her neck (and died).

Chapter 51: About the Martyrs

A version of the tradition narrated on the authority of Suhail contains the additional words

" And one who is drowned is a martyr."

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of 'Asim through the same chain of transmitters.

Chapter 53: The words of the prophet saws: "A Group of my Ummah will continue to Prevail on the basis of the Truth, and They will not be Harmed by those who oppose them."

It has been narrated on the authority of Thauban that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said

A group of people from my Umma will always remain triumphant on the right path and continue to be triumphant (against their opponents). He who deserts them shall not be able to do them any harm. They will remain in this position until Allah's Command is executed (i.e. Qiyamah is established). In Qutaiba's version of the tradition, we do not have the words:" They will remain in this position."