The Book of Jihad

كتاب الجهاد

Chapter 1: Obligation of Jihad

Abu Dharr (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was asked: "Which deed is the best?" He (ﷺ) replied, "Faith in Allah and Jihad (fighting, struggle) in the Cause of Allah."[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Fadalah bin 'Ubaid (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "The actions of every dead person come to a halt with his death except the one who is on the frontier in Allah's way (i.e., observing Ribat). This latter's deeds will be made to go on increasing for him till the Day of Resurrection, and he will be secure from the trials in the grave."[Abu Dawud and At- Tirmidhi].

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was asked, "Which deed is the best?" He (ﷺ) replied, "Faith in Allah and His Messenger." He (ﷺ) was asked, "What is next?" He (ﷺ) replied, "Jihad (holy fighting) in the Cause of Allah." Then he was asked: "What is after that (in goodness)?" He (ﷺ) replied, "Hajj Mabrur (which is accepted by Allah)."[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Sahl bin Sa'd (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Observing Ribat (e.g., guarding the Islamic frontier for the sake of Allah) for a single day is far better than the world and all that it contains. A place in Jannah as small as the whip of your horse is far better than the world and all that it contains. An endeavour (fighting) in the Cause of Allah in the evening or in the morning is far better than the world and all that it contains."[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Ibn Mas'ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

I asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ): "Which action is dearest to Allah?" He (ﷺ) replied, "Performing As-Salat (the prayer) at its earliest fixed time." I asked, "What is next (in goodness)?" He (ﷺ) said, "Kindness towards parents." I asked, "What is next (in goodness)?" He (ﷺ) said, "To participate in Jihad in the Cause of Allah."[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

'Uthman (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying: "Spending a day on the frontier in Allah's way is better than one thousand days in any other place."[At-Tirmidhi].

Chapter 0

Chapter 1: Obligation of Jihad

Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Verily! Setting out in the early morning or in the evening in order to fight in Allah's way is better than the world and what it contains."[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

A man came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said, "Who is the best among men?" He (ﷺ) replied, "A believer who strives in the way of Allah with his wealth and life." The man asked again, "Who is next to him (in excellence)?" He (ﷺ) said, "Next to him is a man who is engaged in worshipping his Rubb in a mountain valley, leaving the people secure from his mischief."[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Salman (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying, "Observing Ribat in the way of Allah for a day and a night is far better than observing Saum (fasting) for a whole month and standing in Salat (prayer) in all its nights. If a person dies (while performing this duty), he will go on receiving his reward for his meritorious deeds perpetually, and he will be saved from Al- Fattan."[Muslim].

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Allah guarantees that he who goes out to fight in His way believing in Him and affirming the truth of His Messenger, will either be admitted to Jannah or will be brought back to his home (safely) from where he has set out, with whatever reward or share of booty he may have gained. By Him in Whose Hand Muhammad's soul is, if a person is wounded in the way of Allah, he will come on the Day of Resurrection with his wound in the same condition as it was on the day when he received it; its colour will be the colour of blood but its smell will be the smell of musk. By Him in Whose Hand Muhammad's soul is, if it were not to be too hard upon the Muslims, I would not lag behind any expedition to fight in the Cause of Allah, but I have neither abundant means to provide them conveyance (horses) nor all other Muslims have it, and it will be hard on them to remain behind when I go forth (for Jihad). By Him in Whose Hand Muhammad's soul is, I love to fight in the way of Allah and get killed, to fight again and get killed and to fight again and get killed."[Muslim].

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "The martyr experiences no more pain in being slain than one of you experiences from the stinging of an ant."[At-Tirmidhi].

Sahl bin Sa'd (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Supplications at two times are never turned down (or said, "Are seldom turned down"), a supplication after the Adhan has been proclaimed, and a supplication during the battle combating the enemy."[Abu Dawud].

Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

Whenever the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) set out to participate in Jihad, he would supplicate: "Allahumma Anta 'adudi wa nasiri, bika ahulu, wa bika asulu, wa bika uqatilu (O Allah, You are my Supporter and my Helper. With Your help I get strength, and with Your help I bounce upon the enemy and defeat it, and with Your help I fight)."[Abu Dawud and At- Tirmidhi].

Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

When the Prophet (ﷺ) had any fear of an enemy, he used to supplicate: "Allahumma inna naj'aluka fi nuhurihim, wa na'udhu bika min shururihim (O Allah! We put You in front of them, and we seek refuge in You from their evils)."[Ahmad and Abu Dawud].

Ibn 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "There is goodness in the forelocks of horses till the Day of Resurrection."[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "He who keeps a horse for Jihad purposes, having faith in Allah and relying on His Promise, will find that its fodder, drink, droppings and urine will all be credited to him in his Scales on the Day of Resurrection."[Al- Bukhari].

'Uqbah bin 'Amir Juhani (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying, "Lands shall be laid open to you, and Allah will suffice you (against your enemies), but none of you should neglect practicing his skill in archery."[Muslim].

Salamah bin Al-Akwa (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

The Prophet (ﷺ) happened to pass by a group of people who were having a shooting match. (Upon seeing them, he (ﷺ)) said, "Shoot, O sons of (Prophet) Isma'il, for your father was an archer."[Al- Bukhari].

Abu Yahya Khuraim bin Fatik (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "He who makes a contribution in Allah's way, will have his reward seven hundred times recorded to his credit."[At-Tirmidhi].