Riyad as-Salihin: The Book of Jihad

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] .

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] .

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] .

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] .

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] .

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] .

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] .

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] .

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] .

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] .

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] .

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] .

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] .

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] .

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] .

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] .

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] .

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] .

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] .

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] .

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] .

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] .

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] .

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] .

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."

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] .

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] .

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."

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] .

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]

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and his Companions reached Badr before the polytheists, and when they arrived, he (ﷺ) directed: "Let no one of you advance ahead of me." When the polytheists came near, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Now stand up and proceed towards Jannah which is as wide as are the heavens and the earth." 'Umair bin Al-Humam (May Allah be pleased with him) asked: "Is Jannah as wide as are the heaven and the earth?" The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) replied in the affirmative. 'Umair remarked: "Great!" The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) asked him what had urged him to say so. He replied: "Nothing, O Messenger of Allah! But hope that I might become one of the inhabitants of Jannah." The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "You will definitely be among them." 'Umair then took some dates out of his quiver and began to eat them, but after a short time he said: "If I survive till I eat my dates, it will mean a long life." So he threw away the dates which he had with him and then fought with the enemy till he was killed.

[Muslim] .

Some people came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said to him: "Send with us some men who may teach us the Qur'an and the Sunnah." He (ﷺ) sent seventy men from the Ansar. They were called Al-Qurra' (the reciters) and among them was my maternal uncle, Haram. They used to recite the Qur'an, ponder over its meaning and learn (its wisdom) at night. In the day, they used to bring water and pour it in pitchers in the mosque, then they would collect wood and sell it; and with the sale proceeds, they would buy food for the people of As-Suffah and the needy. The Prophet (ﷺ) sent the reciters with these people but these (treacherous people) fell upon them and killed them before they reached their destination. (While dying) they supplicated: "O Allah convey from us the news to our Prophet that we have met You (in a way), that we are pleased with You and You are pleased with us." (The narrator said:) A man attacked Haram from behind and smote him with a spear which pierced him. Whereupon Haram said: "By the Rubb of Ka'bah, I have met with success. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to his Companions, "Your brethren have been slain and they were saying: "O Allah! Convey from us to our Prophet the news that we have met You (in a way) that we are pleased with You and You are pleased with us."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim] .

My uncle Anas bin An- Nadr (May Allah be pleased with him) was absent from the battle of Badr. He said: "O Messenger of Allah! I was absent from the first battle you fought against the pagans. (By Allah!) if Allah gives me a chance to fight against the pagans, no doubt, Allah will see how (bravely) I will fight." On the Day of Uhud, when the Muslims turned their backs and fled, he said, "O Allah! I apologize to You for what these (i.e., his companions) have done, and I denounce what these (i.e., the pagans) have done." Then he advanced and Sa'd bin Mu'adh met him. He said: "O Sa'd bin Mu'adh! By the Rubb of An-Nadr, Jannah! I am smelling its aroma coming from before (the mountain of) Uhud," Later on, Sa'd said: "O Messenger of Allah! I cannot achieve or do what he (i.e., Anas bin An-Nadr) did. We found more than eighty wounds by swords, spears and arrows on his body. We found him dead and his body was mutilated so badly that none except his sister could recognise him by his finger." We used to think that the following Ayah was revealed concerning him and other men of his sort: "Among the believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allah (i.e., they have gone out for Jihad, and showed not their backs to the disbelievers), of them some have fulfilled their obligations (i.e., have been martyred)." (33:23).

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Last night two men (angels) came to me (in a dream) and made me ascend a tree and then admitted me into a nice and excellent house, the like of which I have never seen before. One of them said: 'This house is the house of martyrs'."

[Al- Bukhari] .

Umm Ar-Rubaiy'i bint Al-Bara', who was the mother of Harithah bin Suraqah, came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: "O Messenger of Allah! Will you not tell me about Harithah? (He was killed in the battle of Badr). If he is in Jannah I shall show endurance, but if he has met another fate, I may exert myself in weeping for him." He (ﷺ) replied, "O mother of Harithah, in in the gardens of Jannah there are many ranks, and your son has attained Al-Firdaus, the highest."

[Al- Bukhari] .

The dead body of my father, who was mutilated by the enemy, was brought and placed before the Prophet (ﷺ). I got up to uncover his face but the people stopped me, and the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The angels continue to cover him with their wings."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim] .

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "He who supplicates Allah sincerely for martyrdom, Allah will elevate him to the station of the martyrs, even if he dies on his bed."

[Muslim] .

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "He who supplicates sincerely for martyrdom, it will be granted to him even though he is not killed on the battlefield."

[Muslim] .

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] .

On one occasion the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was confronting the enemy. He waited until the sun had declined. Then he stood up to address the people and said, "O people! Do not wish for an encounter with the enemy. Pray to Allah to grant you safety; (but) when you encounter them, show patience, and know that Jannah is under the shades of the swords." Then he (ﷺ) said: "Allahumma munzilal-kitab, wa mujriyas- sahab, wa hazimal-Ahzab, ihzimhum wansurna alaihim (O Allah, Revealer of the Book, Disperser of the clouds, Defeater of the Confederates, put our enemy to rout and support us against them)."

[Al- Bukhari and Muslim] .

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] .

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] .

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] .

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "There is goodness in the forelocks of horses till the Day of Resurrection."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Goodness is tied to the foreheads of horses until the Day of Resurrection, i.e., reward (in the Hereafter) and spoils."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim] .

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] .

A man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) with a she-camel wearing a nose-string and said: "This is (a gift) in the Cause of Allah." The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) replied, "You will have in return for it on the Day of Resurrection seven hundred she-camels and every one of them will be wearing a nose-string."

[Muslim] .

I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying from the pulpit, "Prepare to meet them (the enemy) with as much strength as you can afford. Verily! Strength is in archery, strength is in archery, strength is in archery."

[Muslim] .

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] .

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "He who learnt archery and then neglected it, is not from us." (Or said,) "He has been guilty of disobedience (to Messenger of Allah)."

[Muslim] .

I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying, "Allah will admit three persons to Jannah for one arrow; the maker who has a good motive in making it, the one who shoots it, and the one who hands it up for shooting. So shoot and ride, but I like your shooting (more) than your riding. He who gives up archery after becoming adept in it for lack of interest, neglects a (great) blessing." (Or said,) "One who does so is ungrateful."

[Abu Dawud] .

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] .

I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying: "He who shoots an arrow for the sake of Allah, will have a reward equal to the emancipation of a slave."

[Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi] .

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] .

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Every slave of Allah who observes Saum (fasting) for a day in the Cause of Allah, Allah will keep his face from Hell-fire at a distance of seventy years."

[Al- Bukhari and Muslim] .

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "He who observes Saum (fasting) for a day in the Cause of Allah, Allah will keep his face from Hell-fire at a distance equivalent to that between heaven and the earth."

[At- Tirmidhi] .

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "He who dies without having fought in the Cause of Allah or without having thought of doing so, will die with one characteristic of hypocrisy in him."

[Muslim] .

We accompanied the Prophet (ﷺ) in an expedition when he (ﷺ) said, "Some people have remained behind us in Al-Madinah, and we never cross a valley but they are with us. They share the reward with us because they have been held back by valid excuse."

In another narration the wordings are: "...by any genuine excuse."

In another narration the wordings are: "They are your partners in reward."

[Al- Bukhari] .

A bedouin came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: "O Messenger of Allah! One man fights for booty, another fights to win fame, and the third fights for show off." Another narration is: "One fights for displaying his valour, another fights out of his family pride." Another narration is: "One fights out of rage." He asked: "Which of them is fighting in the Cause of Allah?" The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "The one who fights so that Word of Allah (Islam) be exalted, is the one who fights in the Cause of Allah."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim] .

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] .

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] .

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

[Abu Dawud] .

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] .

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] .

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

[Abu Dawud] .

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] .

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] .

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "War is deception."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim] .

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "The martyrs are of five kinds: One who dies of plague; one who dies of disease of his belly; the drowned; one who dies under the debris (of construction, etc.), and one who dies while fighting in the way of Allah."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim] .

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)

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "He who is killed while defending his property is a martyr."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim] .

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] .

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] .

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] .

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] .

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] .

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] .

I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying, "When a slave is sincere to his master and worships Allah well, He will have a double reward."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim] .

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] .

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "A slave who worships his Rubb (Allah) well and discharges efficiently and faithfully the duties which are assigned to him by his master, will have a double reward."

[Al-Bukhari] .

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Three kinds of people will have a double reward: A man from the People of the Book who believes in his Prophet and (also) believes in Muhammad; a slave who discharges properly the duties towards Allah and towards his master; and a man who possesses a slave-girl and teaches her manners, educates her well, and frees her and then marries her."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim] .

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "The reward of worship performed at a time of trials is equal in reward to an emigration to me."

[Muslim] .

A man demanded of the Prophet (ﷺ) for repayment of a loan and was harsh to him. His Companions were about to attack him, but he (ﷺ) said, "Leave him, as the creditor is entitled to make a demand. Give him a camel of the same age as the camel that is due to him." They said: "We find a better camel senior to it in age." He (ﷺ) said, "Then buy it and give it to him; verily the best of you is the one who is the best in discharging his obligations (repayment of loans)."

[Al- Bukhari and Muslim] .

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "May Allah show mercy to a man who adopts a kind attitude when he sells, buys and demands for the repayment of loans."

[Al-Bukhari] .

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "He who likes Allah to deliver him from the calamities of the Day of Resurrection, let him either give respite to a debtor or grant him remission (of loans) in straitened circumstances."

[Muslim] .

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "There was a person who used to loan money to the people and he used to say to his servant: 'When an insolvent person comes to you, show him leniency so that Allah may forbear our faults.' So when he met Allah (i.e., when he died), Allah forgave him."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim] .

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "A person from amongst the people who lived before you was called to account by Allah on the Day of Resurrection. No good deeds were found in his credit except that he being a rich man had (financial) dealings with people and had commanded his servants to show leniency to those who were in straitened circumstances. Upon this Allah, the Exalted, and Majestic said: 'I am more entitled to this attribute, so waive (his faults)."'

[Muslim] .

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "A slave of Allah whom He had endowed with wealth, will be brought before Him. Allah will ask him: 'What did you do in the world?' (They cannot conceal anything from Allah.) He will say: 'O my Rubb, You endowed me with Your wealth; I used to enter into transactions with people and it was my nature to be lenient to the insolvent ones. I used to give respite to those who were in straitened circumstances.' Whereupon Allah will say: 'I am more entitled than you to do this. So forgive my slave'." 'Uqbah bin 'Amir and Abu Mas'ud Al- Ansari (May Allah be pleased with them) said, "Thus we heard it from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)."

[Muslim] .

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "He who gives respite to someone who is in straitened circumstances, or grants him remission, Allah will shelter him in the shade of His Throne, on the Day of Resurrection, when there will be no shade except its shade."

[At- Tirmidhi] .

The Prophet (ﷺ) purchased a camel from me and weighed more than its price.

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim] .

Makhramah Al-'Abdi and I procured some drapery from Hajar and brought them to Makkah. The Prophet (ﷺ) came and bargained with us for some trousers and we sold them to him. We had a person who weighed the cloth in order to fix the price. The Prophet (ﷺ) said to him, "Weigh and add a little to it."

[Abu Dawud and At- Tirmidhi] .