"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'The dust in the cause of Allah and the smoke of Hell will never be combined in the lungs of a slave, and the stinginess and faith can never be combined in a slave's heart."
Hadith Text & Reference
"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'The dust in the cause of Allah and the smoke of Hell will never be combined in the lungs of a slave, and the stinginess and faith can never be combined in a slave's heart."
Source: Sunan an-Nasa'i 3110 | The Book of Jihad
Commentary on the First Part
The phrase "dust in the cause of Allah" refers to the physical hardship endured by the mujahid while fighting for Allah's sake. This dust becomes a mark of honor and purification.
"Smoke of Hell" symbolizes the punishment and spiritual corruption of the disbelievers. The Prophet (ﷺ) establishes that these two states - spiritual purity through jihad and spiritual corruption leading to Hellfire - cannot coexist in one person.
This teaches that true jihad purifies the soul and protects from Hell's punishment, while hypocrisy and lack of sincerity in one's struggles lead to spiritual ruin.
Commentary on the Second Part
The incompatibility of stinginess (bukhl) and faith (iman) reveals a fundamental spiritual truth. True faith necessitates generosity, as the believer recognizes everything comes from Allah and should be spent in His cause.
Stinginess indicates weak faith and attachment to worldly possessions, contradicting the trust in Allah that defines proper belief. The heart cannot simultaneously harbor complete reliance on Allah and excessive clinging to material wealth.
This part complements the first by showing that both external struggle (jihad) and internal purification from vices like stinginess are essential to complete faith.
Scholarly Insights
Imam Nawawi explains this hadith demonstrates the perfection of Islamic teachings in addressing both outward actions and inward states, ensuring comprehensive spiritual development.
Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali notes that the two comparisons together show the completeness of faith requires both positive action (jihad) and negative avoidance (shunning stinginess).
Classical scholars emphasize this hadith's role in encouraging Muslims to engage in righteous struggles while purifying their hearts from spiritual diseases that contradict faith's essence.