Hadith Text & Context

"A Bedouin came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said: 'A man fights for fame, or he fights for the spoils of war, or he fights to show off. Who is the one who is fighting in the cause of Allah?' He said: 'The one who fights so that the word of Allah will be supreme is the one who is fighting in the cause of Allah, the Mighty and Sublime.'"

Reference: Sunan an-Nasa'i 3136, The Book of Jihad

Scholarly Commentary

This profound hadith addresses the fundamental matter of intention (niyyah) in Islamic warfare, distinguishing between worldly motivations and sincere devotion to Allah. The Bedouin's question reveals three common but deficient intentions: seeking personal fame (sum'ah), material gain (ghanimah), and ostentation (riya').

The Prophet's response establishes the sole criterion for legitimate jihad: that Allah's word becomes supreme (kalimat Allah hiya al-'ulya). This means establishing divine sovereignty, promoting justice, removing oppression, and enabling the free practice of Islam.

Classical scholars emphasize that this hadith complements the famous hadith: "Actions are judged by intentions," specifically applying it to warfare. Imam Nawawi explains that fighting becomes an act of worship only when accompanied by pure intention to elevate Allah's religion.

Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali notes that the three mentioned motives - though common among warriors - render the fighting merely a worldly pursuit, not a spiritual one. The true mujahid fights not for personal elevation but for the elevation of Allah's commandments.

This teaching ensures that Muslim armies maintain spiritual purity even amidst physical conflict, transforming warfare from mere combat into an act of worship when performed with correct intention.