The Book of Jihad

كتاب الجهاد

Chapter 1: Obligation of Jihad

'Abdullah bin 'Amr bin Al-'As (May Allah be pleased with them) reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "A detachment of soldiers, large or small, who fights in the way of Allah, gets its share of booty and returns safe and sound, receives in advance two- thirds of its reward (only one-third remaining to its credit will be received in the Hereafter). And a troop of soldiers, large or small, that returns disappointed and is afflicted by misery, will receive its full reward (in the Hereafter)."[Muslim].

Abu Umamah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

A man sought permission from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) to travel in the land. He (ﷺ) said to him, "Travel for my people is Jihad in the Cause of Allah, glory be to Him."[Abu Dawud].

'Abdullah bin 'Amr bin Al-'As (May Allah be pleased with them) reported

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The return from an expedition is an act as meritorious as fighting."[Abu Dawud].

As-Sa'ib bin Yazid (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

When the Prophet (ﷺ) returned from the battle of Tabuk, people went out from Al-Madinah to meet him and I also met him with other children at Thaniyah-tul-Wada'.[Abu Dawud].

Abu Umamah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "He who neither takes part in fighting nor equips a warrior nor looks after his (the warrior's) family, will be afflicted by severe calamities before the Day of Resurrection."[Abu Dawud].

Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Fight the polytheists with your wealth, lives and tongues."[Abu Dawud].

An-Nu'man bin Muqarrin (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

I was with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) when I witnessed that if he did not begin fighting in the early part of the day, he would postpone fighting till the sun had declined, the blowing of the breeze had blown and the victory from Allah had come.[Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi].

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Do not wish for an encounter with the enemy. Pray to Allah to grant you safety; (but) when you encounter them, show patience."[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Abu Hurairah and Jabir (May Allah be pleased with them) reported

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "War is deception."[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Chapter 2: Martyrdom without Fighting

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Whom do you reckon to be martyr amongst you?" The Companions replied: "The one who is killed in Allah's way." He said, "In that case, the martyrs among my people would be few." The Companions asked: "O Messenger of Allah! Then who are the martyrs?" He replied, "He who is killed in the way of Allah is a martyr; he who dies naturally in the Cause of Allah is a martyr; he who dies of plague is a martyr; and he who dies of a belly disease is a martyr; and he who is drowned is a martyr."[Muslim].This Hadith shows the care Allah has for this Ummah, which is the best Ummah of mankind. (Editor's Note)

'Abdullah bin 'Amr bin Al-'As (May Allah be pleased with them) reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "He who is killed while defending his property is a martyr."[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Sa'id bin Zaid bin 'Amr bin Nufail (May Allah be pleased with him) reported, one of the ten Companions who were given the glad tidings of entering Jannah reported

I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying: "He who dies while defending his property is a martyr; he who dies in defence of his own life is a martyr; and he who dies on defense of his faith is a martyr, he who dies in defence of his family is a martyr."[Abu Dawud and At- Tirmidhi].

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

A man came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and asked, "O Messenger of Allah! What shall I do if someone comes to me with the intention of taking away my property?" He replied, "Do not hand over it to him." The man asked, "What shall I do if he fights me?" The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Then fight him." "What will be my position in the Hereafter if he has killed me?" The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) replied, "In that case you are a martyr." The man asked: "What if I killed him?" The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) replied, "He will be in the Hell- fire."[Muslim].

Chapter 3: The Merit of Emancipation of Slaves

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "He who sets free a Muslim slave, Allah will deliver from the fire of Hell every limb of his body in return for every limb of the slave's body, even his private parts."[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Abu Dharr (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

I asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), "Which deed is most excellent?" He replied, "Faith in Allah and Jihad in His path." I then asked, "Which slaves are most excellent (to set free)?" He replied, "Those who are held in high esteem by their people and whose value is higher."[Al- Bukhari and Muslim].

Chapter 4: The Excellence of Kind Attitude towards Slaves

Al-Ma'rur bin Suwaid (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

I saw Abu Dharr (May Allah be pleased with him) wearing a nice gown, and his slave was also wearing one similar to it. I asked him about it, and he said that he had exchanged harsh words with a person during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and put him to shame by making a reference to his mother. That person came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and made mention of that to him. Thereupon the Messenger of Allah said, "You are a person who has remnants of the 'Days of Ignorance' in you. Your slaves are your brothers. Allah has placed them under your authority. He who has his brother under him, should feed him from whatever he eats, and dress him with whatever he wears, and do not burden them (assign burdensome task to them) beyond their capacity; and if you burden them then help them."[Al- Bukhari and Muslim].

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "When your servant brings food for you and you do not seat him with you, you should at least give him a morsel or two out of it because he has prepared it himself."[Al- Bukhari].

Chapter 5: The Merit of the Dutiful Slave

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

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "The faithful and diligent slave will have a double reward." (Abu Hurairah added:) By Him in Whose Hand the soul of Abu Hurairah is! but for Jihad in the Cause of Allah, and Hajj and kindness to my mother, I would have preferred to die as a slave.[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].