Mishkat al-Masabih

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone believes in God and His Messenger, observes the prayer and fasts during Ramadan, God will assuredly bring him into paradise whether he has engaged in jihad in God’s path or remained in his land in which he was born.” On being asked whether people should not be given this good news he replied, “In paradise there are a hundred degrees which God has prepared for those who engage in jihad in God’s path, between each pair of which there is a distance like that between heaven and earth; so when you make requests of God ask him for Firdaus, for it is the best and highest part of paradise, above it is the throne of the Compassionate One, and from it the rivers of paradise issue.” Bukhari transmitted it.

He reported God’s Messenger as saying, “He who engages in jihad in God’s path is like him who fasts and spends the night in prayer, who assiduously recites God’s verses and does not slacken from fasting and prayer until he who is engaged in jihad in God’s path returns.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He reported God’s Messenger as saying, “God answers the prayer for forgiveness of him who goes out in His path, being led to do so by nothing but faith in Him and belief in His Messengers, promising to bring him back with the reward or booty he obtains, or bring him into paradise.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He reported God’s Messenger as saying, “By Him in whose hand my soul is, were it not that men among the believers are not satisfied with remaining behind me when I cannot get mounts for them, I would not stay behind when an expedition goes out in God’s path. By Him in whose hand my soul is, I wish I could be killed in God’s path and brought to life, then be killed and brought to life, then be killed and brought to life, then be killed.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Sahl b. Sa'd reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Being stationed on the frontier in God’s path for a day is better than the world and what is on it.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Anas reported God’s Messenger as saying, “A morning or an evening expedition in God’s path is better than the world and what it contains.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Salman al-Fairisi told that he heard God’s Messenger say, “Being stationed for a day and a night on the frontier in God’s path is better than fasting a month and spending its nights in prayer. If one dies he will be rewarded for the deeds he was doing, he will be given his provision, and will be safe from him who tests him.”* * Al-fattan. There is some doubt as to the reference here. It may be the devil, this name being used because he tempts people to sin; or it may mean the one who examines men in the grave. Munkar and Nakir are called fattana'l-qabr, the two who test men in the grave. Muslim transmitted it.

Abu ‘Abs reported God’s Messenger as saying, “No man whose feet become dusty in God’s path will be touched by hell.” Bukhari transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God's Messenger as saying, “An infidel and the one who killed him will never be brought together in hell.”* * The meaning is probably that one who kills an infidel in the course of jihad will on that account have his sins forgiven, and will therefore not go to hell where the infidel inevitably goes. Muslim transmitted it.

He reported God’s Messenger as saying, “One of the best types of subsistence is that of a man who grasps his horse’s rein in (God’s path and races on its back, making for the places where being killed and dying are liable to take place as often as he hears a terrible shout or a cry for help; or of a man with a few sheep on one of these highlands or down in one of these wadis who observes prayer, pays the zakat and worships his Lord till death* comes. Such a one is in a good condition among men.” * Al-yaqin, the certainty. Muslim transmitted it.

Zaid b. Khalid reported God’s Messenger as saying, “He who equips a fighter in God’s path has taken part in the fighting, and he who looks after a fighter's family when he is away has taken part in the fighting." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Buraida reported God's Messenger as saying, “The respect to be shown by those who stay at home to the women of those who are engaged in jihad is to be like that shown to their mothers. If any man among those who stay at home is entrusted with the oversight of his family by one who is engaged in jihad and betrays him, he will be set up for him* on the day of resurrection and he may take what he wants from his good deeds. So what do you think?” *i.e. the betrayer for the man he has betrayed. Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Mas'ud al-Ansari told that a man brought a she-camel with a rope through its nose-ring and said, “This is to be devoted to God’s path." God’s Messenger replied to him, “On the day of resurrection you will get for it seven hundred she-camels each with a rope through its nose-ring.” Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Sa'id told that God’s Messenger sent an expedition to the B. Lihyan who were a section or Hudhail, saying that one out of every two men should be sent but that both should share the reward. Muslim transmitted it.

Jabir b. Samura reported God’s Messenger as saying, “This religion will not cease to endure with a company of the Muslims fighting on its behalf till the last hour comes.” Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “No one is wounded in God's path, and God knows best those who are wounded in His path, without coming on the day of resurrection with his wound spouting blood, the colour being that of blood but the fragrance that of musk.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Anas reported God’s Messenger as saying, “No one who enters paradise will want to return to the world and have anything in the earth except the martyr. He will wish to return to the world and be killed ten times because of the honour he sees.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

We asked 'Abdallah b. Mas'ud about this verse, “Do not consider those who have been killed in God’s path to be dead; nay, they are alive in the presence of their Lord and are being supplied with provision" (Al-Qur’an; 3:169). He replied that he had asked about that, and the Prophet said, "Their spirits are in the crops of green birds which have lamps suspended from the Throne, which go where they wish in paradise and then return to those lamps. Their Lord looks down on them and asks whether they desire anything, and they ask in reply what they could wish when they can go where they like in paradise. He does that with them three times, and when they see that they will not be left alone without asking something, they tell their Lord that they wish Him to return their spirits to their bodies so that they may be killed in His path once again. Then when He sees that they lack nothing they are left without further questioning." Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Qatada told that God's Messenger got up among them and mentioned to them that jihad in God’s path and faith in God are the most excellent works. A man rose and asked, "Tell me, Messenger of God, if I am killed in God’s path will my sins be covered up?" He replied, "Yes, if you are killed in God's path while showing endurance, seeking your reward from God, advancing and not retreating." Then God’s Messenger said, "What did you say?”* He replied, "Tell me, if I am killed in God’s path will my sins be covered up?" God's Messenger said, "Yes, while you are showing endurance, seeking your reward from God, advancing and not retreating; but this does not include a debt, for Gabriel told me that." *Mirqat iv, 176 quotes Tibi to explain the request to repeat his question when a reply had already been given. The purpose is said to be to make the exception at the end of the second reply. Muslim transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr b. al-'As reported the Prophet as saying. "Being killed in God’s path will cover up everything but debt." Muslim transmitted it.