Riyad as-Salihin

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).".

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.".

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.".

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.".

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.".

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.".

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.".

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.".

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.".

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.".

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.".

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.".

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.".

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.".

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.".

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.".

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.".

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..

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).".

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.".

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 .".

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.".

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).".

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).".

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.".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.".

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.".

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Allah forgives every sin of a martyr, except his debt.".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.".

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.

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..

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.".

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'.".

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.".

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.".

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.".

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.".

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.".

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).".

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.".

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).".

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).".

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

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.".

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.".

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.".

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.".

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.".

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).".