Jihad: The Best of Deeds (Hadith No. 2437)

Bismillah.

Ahadith 2423 – 2436 (below) are repeats. See linked text for related posts.

Volume 4, Book 51, Number 30 :
Narrated by Anas bin Malik (radiallaahu `anhu)
Abu Talha (radiallaahu `anhu) had the greatest wealth of date-palms amongst the Ansar in Medina, and he prized above all his wealth (his garden) Bairuha’, which was situated opposite the Mosque (of the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam)). The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) used to enter It and drink from its fresh water. When the following Divine Verse came:– “By no means shall you attain piety until you spend of what you love,” (3.92) Abu Talha (radiallaahu `anhu) got up saying. “O Allah’s Apostle! Allah says, ‘You will not attain piety until you spend of what you love,’ and I prize above alI my wealth, Bairuha’ which I want to give in charity for Allah’s Sake, hoping for its reward from Allah. So you can use it as Allah directs you.” On that the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Bravo! It is a profitable (or perishable) property. (Ibn Maslama is not sure as to which word is right, i.e. profitable or perishable.) I have heard what you have said, and I recommend that you distribute this amongst your relatives.” On that Abu Talha (radiallaahu `anhu) said, “O Allah’s Apostle! I will do (as you have suggested).” So, Abu Talha (radiallaahu `anhu) distributed that garden amongst his relatives and cousins.

Volume 4, Book 51, Number 31 :
Narrated by Ibn Abbas (radiallaahu `anhu)
A man said to Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam), “My mother died, will it benefit her if I give in charity on her behalf?” The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) replied in the affirmative. The man said, “I have a garden and I make you a witness that I give it in charity on her behalf.”

Volume 4, Book 51, Number 32 :
Narrated by Anas (radiallaahu `anhu)
When the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) ordered that the mosque be built, he said, “O Bani An-Najjar! Suggest to me a price for this garden of yours.” They replied, “By Allah! We will demand its price from none but Allah.”

Volume 4, Book 51, Number 33 :
Narrated by Ibn ‘Umar (radiallaahu `anhu)
When ‘Umar (radiallaahu `anhu) got a piece of land in Khaibar, he came to the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) saying, “I have got a piece of land, better than which I have never got. So what do you advise me regarding it?” The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “If you wish you can keep it as an endowment to be used for charitable purposes.” So, ‘Umar (radiallaahu `anhu) gave the land in charity (i.e. as an endowments on the condition that the land would neither be sold nor given as a present, nor bequeathed, (and its yield) would be used for the poor, the kinsmen, the emancipation of slaves, Jihad, and for guests and travelers; and its administrator could eat in a reasonable just manner, and he also could feed his friends without intending to be wealthy by its means.”

Volume 4, Book 51, Number 34 :
Narrated by Ibn ‘Umar (radiallaahu `anhu)
Umar (radiallaahu `anhu) got some property in Khaibar and he came to the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) and informed him about it. The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said to him, “If you wish you can give it in charity.” So ‘Umar (radiallaahu `anhu) gave it in charity (i.e. as an endowment) the yield of which was to be used for the good of the poor, the needy, the kinsmen and the guests.

Volume 4, Book 51, Number 35 :
Narrated by Anas bin Malik (radiallaahu `anhu)
When Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) came to Medina, he ordered that a mosque be built. He said, “O Bani An-Najjar! Suggest me a price for the garden of yours.” They replied, “By Allah, we will not ask its price except from Allah.”

Volume 4, Book 51, Number 36 :
Narrated by Ibn ‘Umar (radiallaahu `anhu)
Once ‘Umar (radiallaahu `anhu) gave a horse in charity to be used in holy fighting. It had been given to him by Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam). ‘Umar (radiallaahu `anhu) gave it to another man to ride. Then ‘Umar (radiallaahu `anhu) was informed that the man put the horse for sale, so he asked Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) whether he could buy it. Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) replied, “You should not buy it, for you should not take back what you have given in charity.”

Volume 4, Book 51, Number 37 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “My heirs will not inherit a Dinar or a Dirham (i.e. money), for whatever I leave (excluding the adequate support of my wives and the wages of my employees) is given in charity.”

Volume 4, Book 51, Number 38 :
Narrated by Ibn ‘Umar (radiallaahu `anhu)
When ‘Umar (radiallaahu `anhu) founded an endowment he stipulated that its administrator could eat from it and also feed his friend on the condition that he would not store anything for himself from it.

Volume 4, Book 51, Number 39 :
Narrated by Anas (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said (at the time of building the Mosque), “O Bani An-Najjar! Suggest to me a price for your garden.” They replied, “We do not ask its price except from Allah.”

Volume 4, Book 51, Number 40 :
Narrated by Jabir bin ‘Abdullah Al-Ansari (radiallaahu `anhu)
My father was martyred on the day (of the Ghazwa) of Uhud and left six daughters and some debts to be paid. When the time of plucking the date-fruits came, I went to Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) and said, “O Allah’s Apostle! you know that my father was martyred on Uhud’s day and owed much debt, and I wish that the creditors would see you.” The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Go and collect the various kinds of dates and place them separately in heaps”‘ I did accordingly and called him. On seeing him, the creditors started claiming their rights pressingly at that time. When the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) saw how they behaved, he went round the biggest heap for three times and sat over it and said, “Call your companions (i.e. the creditors).” Then he kept on measuring and giving them, till Allah cleared all my father’s debts. By Allah, it would have pleased me that Allah would clear the debts of my father even though I had not taken a single date to my sisters. But by Allah, all the heaps were complete, (as they were) and I looked at the heap where Allah’s Apostle was sitting and noticed as if not a single date had been taken thereof.

Kitaab-ul-Wasaayaa [Book of Wills] ends here.

Kitaab-ul-Jihaad [Book of Fighting for the Cause of Allah] starts today..

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 41 :
Narrated by Abdullah bin Masud (radiallaahu `anhu)
I asked Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam), “O Allah’s Apostle! What is the best deed?” He replied, “To offer the prayers at their early stated fixed times.” I asked, “What is next in goodness?” He replied, “To be good and dutiful to your parents.” I further asked, what is next in goodness?” He replied, “To participate in Jihad in Allah’s Cause.” I did not ask Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) anymore and if I had asked him more, he would have told me more.

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 42 :
Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbas (radiallaahu `anhu)
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “There is no Hijra (i.e. migration) (from Mecca to Medina) after the Conquest (of Mecca), but Jihad and good intention remain; and if you are called (by the Muslim ruler) for fighting, go forth immediately.

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 43 :
Narrated by ‘Aisha (radiallaahu `anhaa)
(That she said), “O Allah’s Apostle! We consider Jihad as the best deed. Should we not fight in Allah’s Cause?” He said, “The best Jihad (for women) is Hajj-Mabrur (i.e. Hajj which is done according to the Prophet’s tradition and is accepted by Allah).”

Today’s Hadith:

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 44 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
A man came to Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) and said, “Instruct me as to such a deed as equals Jihad (in reward).” He replied, “I do not find such a deed.” Then he added, “Can you, while the Muslim fighter is in the battle-field, enter your mosque to perform prayers without cease and fast and never break your fast?” The man said, “But who can do that?” Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu) added, “The Mujahid (i.e. Muslim fighter) is rewarded even for the footsteps of his horse while it wanders bout (for grazing) tied in a long rope.”

Jihad in Arabic means striving and doing one’s utmost in word and deed. In Islamic terminology it refers to the Muslims striving to fight the kuffaar so that the word of Allaah will be supreme. The main goal of jihad is to make the people worship Allaah alone and to bring them forth from servitude to people to servitude to the Lord of people. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief and worshipping of others along with Allaah) and (all and every kind of) worship is for Allaah (Alone). But if they cease, let there be no transgression except against Az-Zaalimoon (the polytheists, and wrong-doers)”
[al-Baqarah 2:193]

All these ahadith (under Book of Jihad) talk about the excellence and superiority of Jihad over other good deeds. Allah says:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ اشْتَرَىٰ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَأَمْوَالَهُم بِأَنَّ لَهُمُ الْجَنَّةَ ۚ يُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَيَقْتُلُونَ وَيُقْتَلُونَ ۖ وَعْدًا عَلَيْهِ حَقًّا فِي التَّوْرَاةِ وَالْإِنجِيلِ وَالْقُرْآنِ ۚ وَمَنْ أَوْفَىٰ بِعَهْدِهِ مِنَ اللَّهِ ۚ فَاسْتَبْشِرُوا بِبَيْعِكُمُ الَّذِي بَايَعْتُم بِهِ ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ

“Indeed, Allah has purchased from the believers their lives and their properties [in exchange] for that they will have Paradise. They fight in the cause of Allah , so they kill and are killed. [It is] a true promise [binding] upon Him in the Torah and the Gospel and the Qur’an. And who is truer to his covenant than Allah? So rejoice in your transaction which you have contracted. And it is that which is the great attainment.” [9:111]

Ibn Kathir comments:

Allah states that He has compensated His believing servants for their lives and wealth — if they give them up in His cause — with Paradise. This demonstrates Allah’s favor, generosity and bounty, for He has accepted the good that He already owns and bestowed, as a price from His faithful servants. Al-Hasan Al-Basri and Qatadah commented, “By Allah! Allah has purchased them and raised their worth.” Shimr bin `Atiyyah said, “There is not a Muslim but has on his neck a sale that he must conduct with Allah; he either fulfills its terms or dies without doing that.” He then recited this Ayah. This is why those who fight in the cause of Allah are said to have conducted the sale with Allah, meaning, accepted and fulfilled his covenant. Allah’s statement,

﴿يُقَـتِلُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَيَقْتُلُونَ وَيُقْتَلُونَ﴾

(They fight in Allah’s cause, so they kill and are killed.) indicates that whether they were killed or they kill the enemy, or both, then Paradise will be theirs. The Two Sahihs recorded the Hadith,

«وَتَكَفَّلَ اللهُ لِمَنْ خَرَجَ فِي سَبِيلِهِ لَا يُخْرِجُهُ إِلَّا جِهَادٌ فِي سَبِيلِي وَتَصْدِيقٌ بِرُسُلِي بِأَنْ تَوَفَّاهُ أَنْ يُدْخِلَهُ الْجَنَّةَ، أَوْ يَرْجِعَهُ إِلَى مَنْزِلِهِ الَّذِي خَرَجَ مِنْهُ، نَائِلًا مَا نَالَ مِنْ أَجْرٍ أَوْ غَنِيمَة»

(Allah has made a promise to the person who goes out (to fight) in His cause; `And nothing compels him to do so except Jihad = in My Cause and belief in My Messengers. ‘ He will either be admitted to Paradise if he dies, or compensated by Allah, either with a reward or booty if He returns him to the home which he departed from.) Allah’s statement,

﴿وَعْدًا عَلَيْهِ حَقًّا فِي التَّوْرَاةِ وَالإِنجِيلِ وَالْقُرْءانِ﴾

(It is a promise in truth which is binding on Him in the Tawrah and the Injil and the Qur’an.) affirms this promise and informs us that Allah has decreed this for His Most Honorable Self, and revealed it to His Messengers in His Glorious Books, the Tawrah that He sent down to Musa, the Injil that He sent down to `Isa, and the Qur’an that was sent down to Muhammad, may Allah’s peace and blessings be on them all. Allah said next,

﴿وَمَنْ أَوْفَى بِعَهْدِهِ مِنَ اللَّهِ﴾

(And who is truer to his covenant than Allah) affirming that He never breaks a promise. Allah said in similar statements,

﴿وَمَنْ أَصْدَقُ مِنَ اللَّهِ حَدِيثاً﴾

(And who is truer in statement than Allah)﴿4:87﴾, and,

﴿وَمَنْ أَصْدَقُ مِنَ اللَّهِ قِيلاً﴾

(And whose words can be truer than those of Allah)﴿4:122﴾. Allah said next,

﴿فَاسْتَبْشِرُواْ بِبَيْعِكُمُ الَّذِى بَايَعْتُمْ بِهِ وَذَلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ﴾

(Then rejoice in the bargain which you have concluded. That is the supreme success.), meaning, let those who fulfill the terms of this contract and uphold this covenant receive the good news of great success and everlasting delight.

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