Obligation of Jihad

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].

عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: سئل رسول الله ﷺ أي العمل أفضل؟ قال: "إيمان بالله ورسوله" قيل: ثم ماذا؟ قال: "الجهاد في سبيل الله" قيل: ثم ماذا؟ قال: "حج مبرور". ((متفق عليه))

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].

وعن ابن مسعود، رضي الله عنه قال: قلت يا رسول الله أي العمل أحب إلى الله تعالى؟ قال: "الصلاة على وقتها" قلت: ثم أي؟ قال: "بر الوالدين" قلت ثم أي: قال: "الجهاد في سبيل الله" ((متفق عليه))

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].

وعن أبي ذر رضي الله عنه قال: قلت يا رسول الله أي العمل أفضل؟ قال: "الإيمان بالله والجهاد في سبيله" ((متفق عليه))

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].

وعن أنس رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله ﷺ قال: "لغدوة في سبيل الله أو روحة خير من الدنيا وما فيها" ((متفق عليه))

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].

وعن أبي سعيد الخدري رضي الله عنه قال: أتى رجل رسول الله ﷺ فقال: أي الناس أفضل؟ قال: "مؤمن يجاهد بنفسه وماله في سبيل الله" قال: ثم من؟ قال: "مؤمن في شعب من الشعاب يعبد الله ويدع الناس من شره" ((متفق عليه))

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].

وعن سهل بن سعد رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله ﷺ قال: "رباط يوم في سبيل الله خير من الدنيا وما عليها، وموضع سوط أحدكم من الجنة خير من الدنيا وما عليها، والروحة يروحها العبد في سبيل الله تعالى، أو الغدوة خير من الدنيا وما عليها. ((متفق عليه))

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].

وعن سلمان رضي الله عنه قال: سمعت رسول الله ﷺ يقول: "رباط يوم وليلة خير من صيام شهر وقيامه، وإن مات فيه أجري عليه عمله الذي كان يعمل، وأجري عليه رزقه، وأمن الفتان" ((رواه مسلم)).

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].

وعن فضالة بن عبيد رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله ﷺ قال: "كل ميت يختم على عمله إلا المرابط في سبيل الله فإنه ينمى له عمله إلى يوم القيامة، ويؤمن فتنة القبر” ((رواه أبو داود والترمذي وقال: حديث حسن صحيح)).

'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].

وعن عثمان رضي الله عنه قال: سمعت رسول الله ﷺ يقول: "رباط يوم في سبيل الله خير من ألف يوم فيما سواه من المنازل" ((رواه الترمذي وقال: حديث حسن صحيح)).

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].

وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله ﷺ: "تضمن الله لمن خرج في سبيله لا يخرجه إلا جهاد في سبيلي، وإيمان بي وتصديق برسلي فهو علي ضامن أن أدخله الجنة، أو أرجعه إلى منزله الذي خرج منه بما نال من أجر، أو غنيمة، والذي نفس محمد بيده ما من كلم يكلم في سبيل الله إلا جاء يوم القيامة كهيئته يوم كلم، لونه لون دم، وريحه ريح مسك، والذي نفس محمد بيده لولا أن يشق على المسلمين ما قعدت خلاف سرية تغزو في سبيل الله أبدا، ولكن لا أجد سعة فأحملهم ولا يجدون سعة عليهم أن يتخلفوا عني، والذي نفس محمد بيده لوددت أن أغزو في سبيل الله فأقتل، ثم أغزو فأقتل ثم أغزو فأقتل" ((رواه مسلم وروى البخاري بعضه)). (("الكلم" الجرح.))

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Whoever is wounded while fighting in the way of Allah, will come on the Day of Resurrection with blood oozing from his wound having the colour of blood but with the fragrance of musk."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

وعنه قال: قال: رسول الله ﷺ "ما من مكلوم يكلم في سبيل الله إلا جاء يوم القيامة، وكلمه يدمي اللون لون دم، والريح ريح مسك: ((متفق عليه))

Muadh (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Prophet ﷺ said, "Jannah becomes incumbent for a Muslim who fights for the Cause of Allah for a period as long as the time between two consecutive turns of milking a she-camel. He who receives a wound or a bruise in the Cause of Allah will appear on the Day of Resurrection as fresh as possible, its colour will be the colour of saffron and its fragrance will be that of musk."

[At-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud].

وعن معاذ رضي الله عنه عن النبي ﷺ قال: "من قاتل في سبييل الله من رجل مسلم فواق ناقة وجبت له الجنة، ومن جرح جرحًا في سبيل الله أو نكب نكبة فإنها تجيء يوم القيامة كأغزر ما كانت: لونها الزعفران، وريحها كالمسك" ((رواه أبو داود والترمذي وقال: حديث حسن)).

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
One of the Prophet's Companions came upon a valley containing a rivulet of fresh water and was delighted by it. He reflected: 'I wish to withdraw from people and settle in this valley; but I won't do so without the permission of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.' This was mentioned to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and he said (to the man), "Do not do that, for when any of you remains in Allah's way, it is better for him than performing Salat (prayer) in his house for seventy years. Do you not wish that Allah should forgive you and admit you to Jannah? Fight in Allah's way, for he who fights in Allah's Cause as long as the time between two consecutive turns of milking a she-camel, will be surely admitted to Jannah."

[At-Tirmidhi].

وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: مر رجل من أصحاب رسول الله ﷺ بشعب فيه عيينة من ماء عذبة فأعجبته، فقال: لو اعتزلت الناس فأقمت في هذا الشعب، ولن أفعل حتى استأذن رسول الله ﷺ فذكر ذلك لرسول الله ﷺ فقال: "لا تفعل فإن مقام أحدكم في سبيل الله أفضل من صلاته في بيته سبعين عامًا، ألا تحبون أن يغفر الله لكم ويدخلكم الجنة؟ اغزو في سبيل الله من قاتل في سبيل الله فواق ناقة وجبت له الجنة" ((رواه الترمذي وقال: حديث حسن)). (("والفواق": ما بين الحلبتين)).

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked: "What other good deed could be an equivalent of Jihad in the way of Allah?" He ﷺ replied, "You do not have the strength to do it." (The narrator said:) The question was repeated twice or thrice, but every time he ﷺ answered, "You do not have the strength to do it." Then he ﷺ said, "One who goes out for Jihad in the Cause of Allah is like a person who observes Saum (fasting), stands in Salat (prayer) constantly, recites the Ayat of the Qur'an and does not exhibit any lassitude in fasting and prayer until the participant of Jihad in the way of Allah returns."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

وعنه قال قيل يا رسول الله: ما يعدل الجهاد في سبيل الله؟ قال: "لاتستطيعونه" فأعادوا عليه مرتين أو ثلاثًا كل ذلك يقول: "لاتستطيعونه!" ثم قال: "مثل المجاهد في سبيل الله كمثل الصائم القائم القانت بآيات الله لا يفتر: من صلاة ولا صيام، حتى يرجع المجاهد في سبيل الله" ((متفق عليه، وهذا لفظ مسلم)) . وفي رواية البخاري، أن رجلا قال: يا رسول الله دلني على عمل يعدل الجهاد؟ قال: "لا أجده" ثم قال: "هل تستطيع إذا خرج المجاهد أن تدخل مسجدك فتقوم ولا تفتر وتصوم ولا تفطر؟ فقال: ومن يستطيع ذلك؟!.

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "The best life is that of the man who holds his horse's rein in Allah's way and flies on its back to the places from whence he hears a war cry or the clatter of arms, seeking martyrdom or slaughter on the battlefield; or that of a person who goes to stay on the top of the hill or in a valley, and there he performs Salat (prayer), pays the Zakat and worships his Rubb till death overtakes him. He has no concern with the affairs of anyone except the doing of good."

[Muslim].

وعنه أن رسول الله ﷺ قال: "من خير معاش الناس لهم رجل ممسك بعنان فرسه في سبيل الله، يطير على متنه كلما سمع هيعة، أو فزعة طار على متنه، يبتغي القتل أو الموت مظانه، أو رجل في غنيمة أو شعفة من هذه الشعف أو بطن واد من هذه الأودية يقيم الصلاة ويؤتي الزكاة، ويعبد ربه حتى يأتيه اليقين ليس من الناس إلا في خير" ((رواه مسلم)).

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "In Jannah there are a hundred grades which Allah has prepared for those who fight in His Cause; and the distance between any two of those grades is like the distance between the heaven and the earth."

[Al-Bukhari].

وعنه أن رسول الله ﷺ قال: "إن في الجنة مائة درجة أعدها للمجاهدين في سبيل الله ما بين الدرجتين كما بين السماء والأرض" ((رواه البخاري)).

Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "If anyone is pleased with Allah as his Rubb, with Islam as his religion and with Muhammad ﷺ as (Allah's) Messenger, surely, he will be entitled to enter Jannah." Abu Sa'id was delighted with this and requested the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to repeat it. He ﷺ repeated it again and then said, "There is also another act by which Allah will elevate the position of a (pious believing) slave in Jannah to a grade one hundred degrees higher. And the distance between any two grades is equal to the distance between heaven and earth." He asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ what it was and he ﷺ replied, "Jihad in the way of Allah; Jihad in the way of Allah."

[Muslim].

وعن أبي سعيد الخدري رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله ﷺ قال: "من رضي بالله ربًا وبالإسلام دينًا، وبمحمد رسولا وجبت له الجنة" فعجب لها أبو سعيد فقال أعدها علي يا رسول الله فأعادها عليه ثم قال: "وأخرى يرفع الله بها العبد مائة درجة في الجنة، ما بين كل درجتين، كما بين السماء والأرض" قال: وما هي يا رسول الله؟ قال: "الجهاد في سبيل الله، الجهاد في سبيل الله" ((رواه مسلم)).

Abu Bakr bin Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari reported:
I heard my father saying in the presence of the enemy: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "The gates of Jannah are under the shades of the swords." A man with a shaggy appearance got up and said, "O Abu Musa! Did you hear the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say that in person?" Abu Musa replied in the affirmative; so he returned to his companions and said: "I tender you farewell greetings." Then he broke the scabbard of his sword and threw it away. He rushed towards the enemy with his sword and fought with it till he was martyred.

[Muslim].

وعن أبي بكر بن أبي موسى الأشعري، قال: سمعت أبي رضي الله عنه وهو بحضرة العدو، يقول قال رسول الله ﷺ "إن أبواب الجنة تحت ظلال السيوف" فقام رجل رث الهيئة فقال يا أبا موسى أأنت سمعت رسول الله ﷺ يقول هذا؟ قال: نعم، فرجع إلى أصحابه، فقال: "اقرأ عليكم السلام" ثم كسر جفن سيفه فألقاه، ثم مشى بسيفه إلى العدو فضرب به حتى قتل" ((رواه مسلم)).

Abu 'Abs 'Abdur-Rahman bin Jabr (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "It will not happen that the feet soiled with dust while (doing Jihad) in the way of Allah, will be touched by the fire (of Hell)."

[Al-Bukhari].

وعن أبي عبس عبد الرحمن بن جبير، رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله ﷺ: "ما اغبرت قدما عبد في سبيل الله فتمسه النار" ((رواه البخاري)).

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) said:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "No one who weeps out of Fear of Allah will enter Hell until milk recedes to the udder, and the dust endured while striving in the Cause of Allah and the smoke of Hell will never subsist together."

[At-Tirmidhi].

وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله ﷺ: "لا يلج النار رجل بكي من خشية الله حتى يعود اللبن في الضرع، ولا يجتمع على عبد غبار في سبيل الله ودخان جهنم" ((رواه الترمذي وقال: حديث حسن صحيح)).

Ibn 'Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying, "Two eyes will never be touched by the fire of Hell; an eye which weeps out of Fear of Allah and an eye which spends the night in guarding in the Cause of Allah ."

[At-Tirmidhi].

وعن ابن عباس، رضي الله عنهما قال: سمعت رسول الله ﷺ يقول: “عينان لا تمسهما النار عين بكت من خشية الله، وعين باتت تحرس في سبيل الله" ((رواه الترمذي وقال: حديث حسن. )).

Zaid bin Khalid (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "He who equips a Ghazi (fighter) in the way of Allah is as if he has taken part in the fighting himself; and he who looks after the dependants of a Ghazi in his absence, is as if he has taken part in the fighting himself."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

وعن زيد بن خالد، رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله ﷺ قال: "من جهز غازيًا في سبيل الله فقد غزا ومن خلف غازيا في أهله بخير فقد غزا" ((متفق عليه))

Abu Umamah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "The best of charities is to provide canopy in the Cause of Allah, to pay wages to a servant in the way of Allah, and to provide a camel in the way of Allah (to be used by a Mujahid)."

[At-Tirmidhi].

وعن أبي أمامة رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله ﷺ: "أفضل الصدقات ظل فسطاط في سبيل الله، ومنيحة خادم في سبيل الله، أو طروقة فحل في سبيل الله" ((رواه الترمذي وقال: حديث حسن صحيح)).

Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
A young man from the Aslam tribe said: "O Messenger of Allah! I would very much like to fight in the way of Allah but I do not have anything with which to equip myself for fighting." The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Go to so-and-so, for he had equipped himself (for fighting) but he fell ill." So, he (the young man) went to him and said: "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sends you his greetings and says that you should hand over to me the equipment that you have procured." The man said to his wife: "Give him the equipment which I have collected for myself and do not withhold anything from him. By Allah! Allah won't bless something you withheld (in this respect)."

[Muslim].

وعن أنس رضي الله عنه أن فتى من أسلم قال: يا رسول الله إني أريد الغزو وليس معي ما أتجهز به، قال: "ائت فلانًا، قد كان تجهز فمرض فأتاه فقال: إن رسول الله ﷺ يقرئك السلام ويقول: أعطني الذي تجهزت به قال: يا فلانة أعطيه، الذي كنت تجهزت به ولاتحبسي منه شيئًا فوالله لا تحبسي منه شيئًا فيبارك لك فيه ((رواه مسلم)).

Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent an expedition to Banu Lahyan and said, "One man from every two should join the fighting force, and the reward will be shared amongst them equally."

[Muslim].

Another narration in Muslim is: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Let one of every two men go forth", and added: "Whoever stays behind (and looks well after the family and the property of those who have joined the expedition) will get half the reward of the warrior."

وعن أبي سعيد الخدري رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله ﷺ بعث إلى بني لحيان، فقال: "لا ينبعث من كل رجلين أحدهما، والأجر بينهما" ((رواه مسلم)).

Al-Bara (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
A man equipped with arms came to the Prophet ﷺ and asked: "O Messenger of Allah! Should I go and fight or should I embrace Islam first?" He ﷺ replied, "Enter in the fold of Islam and then fight." He embraced Islam and fought until he was killed. Thereupon the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "He accepted Islam for a short time but was rewarded much."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

وعن البراء رضي الله عنه قال أتى النبي ﷺ رجل مقنع بالحديد، فقال يا رسول الله أقاتل أو أسلم؟ قال: "أسلم، ثم قاتل" فأسلم، ثم قاتل فقتل، فقال رسول الله ﷺ : عمل قليلا وأُجر كثيرًا" ((متفق عليه وهذا لفظ البخاري)) .

Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Prophet ﷺ said, "No one who has entered Jannah will desire to return to this world even if he should be given all that the world contains, except a martyr. For he will yearn that he should return to the world and be killed ten times on account of the dignity that he will experience by virtue of his martyrdom."

Another narration is: "On account of the excellence and distinction, he will experience as a result of martyrdom."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

وعن أنس رضي الله عنه أن النبي ﷺ قال: "ما أحد يدخل الجنة يحب أن يرجع إلى الدنيا وله ما على الأرض من شيء إلا الشهيد، يتمنى أن يرجع إلى الدنيا فيقتل عشر مرات لما يرى من الكرامة”

'Abdullah bin 'Amr bin Al-'As (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Allah forgives every sin of a martyr, except his debt."

[Muslim].

Another narration in Muslim is: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Being martyred in the Cause of Allah expiates for everything, except debt."

وعن عبد الله بن عمرو بن العاص رضي الله عنهما أن رسول الله ﷺ قال: "يغفر الله للشهيد كل شيء إلا الدين" ((رواه مسلم)).

Abu Qatadah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ stood up among his Companions and said, "Jihad in the way of Allah and belief in Allah (with all His Attributes) are the most meritorious of actions." A man stood up and said: "O Messenger of Allah! Inform me if I am killed in the way of Allah, will my sins be blotted out?" The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Yes, in case you are killed in the way of Allah and you remained patient, hopeful of reward, and advancing forward without retracing back (i.e., while fighting)." Then he said, "What was your question?" He inquired again: "Inform me, if I am killed in the way of Allah, will all my sins be blotted out?" The Messenger of Allah ﷺ replied, "If you remained patient, hopeful of reward and always fought without turning your back upon enemy, everything, except debt, will be forgiven. Jibril has told me this."

[Muslim].

وعن أبي قتادة رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله ﷺ قام فيهم فذكر أن الجهاد في سبيل الله والإيمان بالله أفضل الأعمال فقام رجل فقال يا رسول الله أرأيت إن قتلت في سبيل الله أتكفر عني خطاياي؟ فقال رسول الله ﷺ: "نعم إن قتلت في سبيل الله وأنت صابر محتسب مقبل غير مدبر" ثم قال رسول الله ﷺ: "كيف قلت؟" قال: أرأيت إن قتلت في سبيل الله أتكفر عني خطاياي؟ فقال رسول الله ﷺ "نعم وأنت صابر محتسب مقبل غير مدبر إلا الدين فإن جبريل عليه السلام قال لي ذلك" ((رواه مسلم)).

Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
A man asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ: "Tell me where I will be if I am killed while fighting in the way of Allah?" He ﷺ replied, "In Jannah." The man threw away the few dates which he had in his hand, jumped into the battlefield and fought on till he was killed.

[Muslim].

وعن جابر رضي الله عنه قال: قال رجل: أين أنا يا رسول الله إن قتلت؟ قال: “في الجنة" فألقى تمرات كن في يده ثم قاتل حتى قتل" ((رواه مسلم)).