Sunan an-Nasa'i
Sunan an-Nasa'i 3188
أَخْبَرَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عُثْمَانَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا بَقِيَّةُ، عَنْ بَحِيرٍ، عَنْ خَالِدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي بَحْرِيَّةَ، عَنْ مُعَاذِ بْنِ جَبَلٍ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ قَالَ " الْغَزْوُ غَزْوَانِ فَأَمَّا مَنِ ابْتَغَى وَجْهَ اللَّهِ وَأَطَاعَ الإِمَامَ وَأَنْفَقَ الْكَرِيمَةَ وَيَاسَرَ الشَّرِيكَ وَاجْتَنَبَ الْفَسَادَ كَانَ نَوْمُهُ وَنُبْهُهُ أَجْرًا كُلُّهُ وَأَمَّا مَنْ غَزَا رِيَاءً وَسُمْعَةً وَعَصَى الإِمَامَ وَأَفْسَدَ فِي الأَرْضِ فَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَرْجِعُ بِالْكَفَافِ " .
Amr ibn Uthman reported to us; he said: Baqiyyah narrated to us, from Buhayr, from Khalid, from Abu Bahriyyah, from Muadh ibn Jabal, from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), who said: Campaigning is of two kinds. As for the one who seeks Allah’s pleasure, obeys the leader, spends generously of his valuable property, treats his companion gently, and avoids corruption, his sleep and wakefulness are all reward. As for the one who campaigns for show and reputation, disobeys the leader, and spreads corruption in the land, he returns with nothing to show for it.
Translation notes
The Arabic contrasts two kinds of military campaigning by intention and conduct. Al-karimah refers to valuable property; yasar al-sharik is rendered as treating one’s companion gently.
عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ قَالَ " الْغَزْوُ غَزْوَانِ فَأَمَّا مَنِ ابْتَغَى وَجْهَ اللَّهِ وَأَطَاعَ الإِمَامَ وَأَنْفَقَ الْكَرِيمَةَ وَيَاسَرَ الشَّرِيكَ وَاجْتَنَبَ الْفَسَادَ كَانَ نَوْمُهُ وَنُبْهُهُ أَجْرًا كُلُّهُ وَأَمَّا مَنْ غَزَا رِيَاءً وَسُمْعَةً وَعَصَى الإِمَامَ وَأَفْسَدَ فِي الأَرْضِ فَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَرْجِعُ بِالْكَفَافِ " .
The final phrase لا يرجع بالكفاف is idiomatic; its precise image may be returning merely even or with no gain.
Does the phrase mean he returns with no reward or benefit at all?