"Two will never be gathered together in the Fire: A Muslim who killed a disbeliever then tried his best and did not deviate. And two will never be gathered together in the lungs of a believer: Dust in the cause of Allah, and the odor of Hell. And two will never be gathered in the heart of a salve: Faith and envy."
Hadith Commentary: The Book of Jihad - Sunan an-Nasa'i 3109
This noble hadith from Sunan an-Nasa'i contains three profound spiritual truths that illuminate the nature of divine justice, spiritual purity, and the incompatibility of certain spiritual states within the believer's heart.
First Prohibition: The Warrior and the Fire
"Two will never be gathered together in the Fire: A Muslim who killed a disbeliever then tried his best and did not deviate." This refers to the Muslim combatant who fights solely for Allah's cause, maintaining proper intention and avoiding transgression. Scholars explain that such a person, if killed in battle, is guaranteed Paradise and thus will not enter Hellfire. The condition "tried his best and did not deviate" ensures he follows Islamic military ethics - not killing non-combatants, women, children, or monks, and not mutilating bodies.
Second Prohibition: Dust of Jihad and Hell's Odor
"Two will never be gathered together in the lungs of a believer: Dust in the cause of Allah, and the odor of Hell." The "dust in the cause of Allah" symbolizes the physical hardship endured during jihad. When a believer's body is covered with this sacred dust from striving in Allah's path, it becomes a protection against Hellfire. The lungs represent the innermost being - indicating that one who truly engages in legitimate jihad with pure intention will be safeguarded from Hell's punishment.
Third Prohibition: Faith and Envy
"Two will never be gathered in the heart of a slave: Faith and envy." This establishes the fundamental incompatibility between true faith (iman) and destructive envy (hasad). Envy - wishing for Allah's blessings to be removed from others - contradicts the very essence of faith which requires contentment with divine decree. As faith strengthens, envy diminishes until it is completely expelled from the purified heart. The believer should instead feel happiness for others' blessings and pray for increase for all.
Scholarly Conclusion
This hadith collectively teaches about the spiritual protections afforded to sincere mujahideen, the purifying nature of legitimate jihad, and the essential purification of the heart from blameworthy characteristics. It emphasizes that external actions must be accompanied by internal rectification to attain the complete divine reward promised in the text.