19. Jihad

عَن أبي أُمامةَ قَالَ: خَرَجْنَا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي سَرِيَّةٍ فَمَرَّ رَجُلٌ بِغَارٍ فِيهِ شَيْءٌ مِنْ مَاءٍ وَبَقْلٍ فَحَدَّثَ نَفْسَهُ بِأَنْ يُقِيمَ فِيهِ وَيَتَخَلَّى مِنَ الدُّنْيَا فَاسْتَأْذَنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِنِّي لَمْ أُبْعَثْ بِالْيَهُودِيَّةِ وَلَا بِالنَّصْرَانِيَّةِ وَلَكَنِّي بُعِثْتُ بِالْحَنِيفِيَّةِ السَّمْحَةِ وَالَّذِي نَفْسُ مُحَمَّدٍ بِيَدِهِ لَغَدْوَةٌ أَوْ رَوْحَةٌ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ خَيْرٌ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا وَمَا فِيهَا وَلَمَقَامُ أَحَدِكُمْ فِي الصَّفِّ خَيْرٌ مِنْ صَلَاتِهِ سِتِّينَ سَنَةً» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمد

We went out with God’s Messenger on an expedition and when a man came upon a cave containing some water and vegetables he felt inclined to stay in it and withdraw from the world, so he asked God’s Messenger’s permission regarding that, but he replied, “I was not commissioned with Judaism, or Christianity, but with the easy Hanif religion. By Him in whose hand Muhammad's soul is, a morning or an evening expedition in God’s path is better than the world and what it contains, and for one of you to remain in the line of battle is better than his prayers for sixty years.” Ahmad transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عُبَادَةَ بْنِ الصَّامِتِ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنْ غَزَا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَلَمْ يَنْوِ إِلَّا عِقَالًا فَلَهُ مَا نَوَى» . رَوَاهُ النَّسَائِيّ

‘Ubada b. as-Samit reported God’s Messenger as saying, “He who fights in God’s path with no intention but getting a tethering rope will have what he intended.”* * This saying advocates the necessity of having proper motives. If all one wants is some material gain that is all he will get, for he will not deserve any eternal reward. Nasa’i transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسلم قَالَ: «من رَضِي بِاللَّه رَبًّا وَالْإِسْلَام دِينًا وَبِمُحَمَّدٍ رَسُولًا وَجَبَتْ لَهُ الْجَنَّةُ» . فَعَجِبَ لَهَا أَبُو سَعِيدٍ فَقَالَ: أَعِدْهَا عَلَيَّ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَأَعَادَهَا عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ: «وَأُخْرَى يَرْفَعُ اللَّهُ بِهَا الْعَبْدَ مِائَةَ دَرَجَةٍ فِي الْجَنَّةِ مَا بَيْنَ كُلِّ دَرَجَتَيْنِ كَمَا بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ» . قَالَ: وَمَا هِيَ يَا رَسُولَ الله؟ قَالَ: «الْجِهَاد فِي سَبِيل الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ الله» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Abu Sa'id reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone is pleased with God as Lord, with Islam as religion and with Muhammad as Messenger, paradise will be assured to him.” Abu Sa'id was delighted with this and asked him to repeat it. He did so and then said, “There is also something else for which God will raise a servant in paradise a hundred degrees between each two of which there is a distance like that between heaven and earth.” He asked God's Messenger what it was and he replied, “jihad in God's path; jihad in God’s path; jihad in God’s path.” Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِنَّ أَبْوَابَ الْجَنَّةِ تَحْتَ ظِلَالِ السُّيُوفِ» فَقَامَ رَجُلٌ رَثُّ الْهَيْئَةِ فَقَالَ: يَا أَبَا مُوسَى أَنْتَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ هَذَا؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ فَرَجَعَ إِلَى أَصْحَابِهِ فَقَالَ: أَقْرَأُ عَلَيْكُمُ السَّلَامَ ثُمَّ كَسَرَ جَفْنَ سَيْفِهِ فَأَلْقَاهُ ثُمَّ مَشَى بِسَيْفِهِ إِلَى الْعَدُوِّ فَضَرَبَ بِهِ حَتَّى قُتِلَ. رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Abu Musa reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The gates of paradise are under the shadow of the swords.” A man with a ragged appearance got up and asked Abu Musa whether he had heard God's Messenger say that; and when he received the reply that he had, he returned to his companions, said, “I salute you,” then broke the scabbard of his sword and threw it away, then went towards the enemy with his sword and plied it till he was killed. Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسلم قَالَ لِأَصْحَابِهِ: " إِنَّهُ لَمَّا أُصِيبَ إِخْوَانُكُمْ يَوْمَ أُحُدٍ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ أَرْوَاحَهُمْ فِي جَوْفِ طَيْرٍ خُضْرٍ تَرِدُ أَنْهَارَ الْجَنَّةِ تَأْكُلُ مِنْ ثِمَارِهَا وَتَأْوِي إِلَى قَنَادِيلَ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ مُعَلَّقَةٍ فِي ظلِّ العرْشِ فلمَّا وجَدوا طِيبَ مأكَلِهِم ومشرَبِهمْ ومَقِيلهِم قَالُوا: مَنْ يُبلِّغُ إِخْوانَنا عنَا أَنَّنا أَحْيَاءٌ فِي الْجَنَّةِ لِئَلَّا يَزْهَدُوا فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَلَا يَنكُلوا عندَ الحربِ فَقَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى: أَنا أبلغكم عَنْكُمْ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى: (وَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ قُتِلُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَمْوَاتًا بَلْ أَحْيَاءٌ) إِلَى أخر الْآيَات) رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s Messenger as saying to his companions, “When your brethren were smitten at the battle of Uhud God put their spirits in the crops of green birds which go down to the rivers of paradise, eat its fruits and nestle in lamps of gold in the shade of the Throne. Then when they experienced the sweetness of their food, drink and rest they asked who would tell their brethren about them that they were alive in paradise in order that they might not cease to desire paradise or recoil in war. God most high said He would tell them about them, so He sent down, ‘And 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 ff.) Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيُّ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: " الْمُؤْمِنُونَ فِي الدُّنْيَا عَلَى ثَلَاثَةِ أَجْزَاءٍ: الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَرْتَابُوا وَجَاهَدُوا بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنْفُسِهِمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَالَّذِي يأمنه النَّاس على النَّاسُ عَلَى أَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنْفُسِهِمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِي إِذَا أَشْرَفَ عَلَى طَمَعٍ تَرَكَهُ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ ". رَوَاهُ أَحْمد

those who believe in God and His Messenger and do not doubt, but strive with their property and their persons in God’s path; the man whom people trust with their property and their persons; then the man who, when he is about to display greed, abandons it for the sake of God who is great and glorious.” Ahmad transmitted it.

وَعَن عبدِ الرَّحمنِ بن أبي عَميرَةَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «مَا مِنْ نَفْسٍ مُسْلِمَةٍ يَقْبِضُهَا رَبُّهَا تُحِبُّ أَنْ تَرْجِعَ إِلَيْكُمْ وَأَنَّ لَهَا الدُّنْيَا وَمَا فِيهَا غير الشَّهِيد» قَالَ ابْن عَمِيرَةَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَأَنْ أُقْتَلَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ أَنْ يَكُونَ لِي أَهْلُ الْوَبَرِ وَالْمَدَرِ» . رَوَاهُ النَّسَائِيّ

‘Abd ar-Rahman b. Abu ‘Amira* reported God’s Messenger as saying, “No Muslim soul which God takes wants to return to you and have the world and what it contains except the martyr.” Ibn Abu ‘Amira told that God’s Messenger said, “That I should be slain in God’s path is dearer to me than to possess the nomads and the townsmen.” * On p. 725 the name appears as 'Abd ar-Rahman b. Abu ‘Amra al-Ansari. Ibn 'Abd al-Barr, Isti'ab, p 395 treats the two as one man, quoting al-Walid b. Muslim to the effect that he was ‘Abd ar-Rahman b. 'Amra or 'Amira al-Muzani, but in the heading of the section he gives the name as 'Abd ar-Rahman b. Abu 'Amira. He says he has been reputed to have been a companion of the Prophet, but that this is not correct. He was a Syrian. Nasa’i transmitted it.

وَعَنْ حَسْنَاءَ بِنْتِ مُعَاوِيَةَ قَالَتْ: حَدَّثَنَا عَمِّي قَالَ: قَلْتُ لِلنَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: مَنْ فِي الْجَنَّةِ؟ قَالَ: «النَّبِيُّ فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَالشَّهِيدُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَالْمَوْلُودُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَالْوَئِيدُ فِي الْجنَّة» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

Hasna’ daughter of Mu'awiya said her paternal uncle told her he had asked the Prophet who were in paradise, and he replied, “Prophets are in paradise, martyrs are in paradise, infants are in paradise, and children buried alive are in paradise.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَلِيٍّ وَأَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ وَأَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ وَأَبِي أُمَامَةَ وَعَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ وَعَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَمْرٍو وَجَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ وَعِمْرَانَ بْنِ حُصَيْنٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ كُلُّهُمْ يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: «مَنْ أَرْسَلَ نَفَقَةً فِي سبيلِ الله وأقامَ فِي بيتِه فلَه بكلِّ دِرْهَمٍ سَبْعُمِائَةِ دِرْهَمٍ وَمَنْ غَزَا بِنَفْسِهِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَأَنْفَقَ فِي وَجْهِهِ ذَلِكَ فَلَهُ بِكُلِّ دِرْهَمٍ سَبْعُمِائَةِ أَلْفِ دِرْهَمٍ» . ثُمَّ تَلَا هذهِ الآيةَ: (واللَّهُ يُضاعفُ لمنْ يشاءُ) رَوَاهُ ابنُ مَاجَه

‘Ali, Abud Darda’, Abu Huraira, Abu Umama, ‘Abdallah b. ‘Umar, ‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr, Jabir b. ‘Abdallah and ‘Imran b. Husain all reported God’s Messenger as saying, "He who sends a contribution towards God’s path and stays in his house will have seven hundred dirhams for every dirham he contributes, but he who fights in person and contributes towards that expedition of his will have seven hundred thousand dirhams for every dirham he contributes.” Then he recited this verse, "And God multiplies to whom He will.” (Al-Qur’an; 2:261) Ibn Majah transmitted it.

وَعَن فَضالةَ بنِ عُبيد قَالَ: سمِعْتُ عمَرَ بن الْخطاب يَقُولُ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: " الشُّهَدَاءُ أَرْبَعَةٌ: رَجُلٌ مُؤْمِنٌ جَيِّدُ الْإِيمَانِ لَقِيَ الْعَدُوَّ فَصَدَقَ اللَّهَ حَتَّى قُتِلَ فَذَلِكَ الَّذِي يَرْفَعُ النَّاسُ إِلَيْهِ أَعْيُنَهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ هَكَذَا " وَرَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ حَتَّى سَقَطَتْ قَلَنْسُوَتُهُ فَمَا أَدْرِي أَقَلَنْسُوَةَ عُمَرَ أَرَادَ أَمْ قَلَنْسُوَةَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ؟ قَالَ: «وَرَجُلٌ مُؤْمِنٌ جَيِّدُ الْإِيمَانِ لَقِيَ الْعَدُوَّ كَأَنَّمَا ضَرَبَ جِلْدَهُ بِشَوْكٍ طَلْحٍ مِنَ الْجُبْنِ أَتَاهُ سَهْمٌ غَرْبٌ فَقَتَلَهُ فَهُوَ فِي الدَّرَجَةِ الثَّانِيَةِ وَرَجُلٌ مُؤْمِنٌ خَلَطَ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا وَآخَرَ سَيِّئًا لَقِيَ الْعَدُوَّ فَصَدَقَ اللَّهَ حَتَّى قُتِلَ فَذَلِكَ فِي الدَّرَجَةِ الثَّالِثَةِ وَرَجُلٌ مُؤْمِنٌ أَسْرَفَ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ لَقِيَ الْعَدُوَّ فَصَدَقَ اللَّهَ حَتَّى قُتِلَ فَذَاكَ فِي الدَّرَجَةِ الرَّابِعَةِ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَقَالَ: هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ

(1) a believing man whose faith is good who meets the enemy and is sincere towards God till he is killed, and that is the one to whom men will raise their eyes on the day of resurrection thus (raising his head till his cap fell off, but I do not know whether he meant ‘Umar’s cap or the Prophet’s cap); (2) a believing man whose faith is good, who meets the enemy and appears as if his skin had been torn by acacia thorns through cowardice, and then is killed by a random arrow, he being in the second class; (3) a believing man who mingles a good deed with another which is bad who meets the enemy and is sincere towards God till he is killed, that one being in the third class; (4) a believing man who has been dissipated who meets the enemy and is sincere towards God till he is killed, that one being in the fourth class.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is hasan gharib tradition.

وَعَن عُتبةَ بن عبدٍ السَّلَميِّ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسلم: " الْقَتْلَى ثَلَاثَة: مُؤمن جَاهد نَفسه وَمَالِهِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَإِذَا لَقِيَ الْعَدُوَّ قَاتَلَ حَتَّى يُقْتَلَ " قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِيهِ: «فَذَلِكَ الشَّهِيدُ الْمُمْتَحَنُ فِي خَيْمَةِ اللَّهِ تَحْتَ عَرْشِهِ لَا يَفْضُلُهُ النَّبِيُّونَ إِلَّا بِدَرَجَةِ النُّبُوَّةِ وَمُؤْمِنٌ خَلَطَ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا وَآخَرَ سَيِّئًا جَاهَدَ بِنَفْسِهِ وَمَالِهِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ إِذَا لَقِيَ الْعَدُوَّ قَاتَلَ حَتَّى يُقْتَلَ» قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِيهِ: «مُمَصْمِصَةٌ مَحَتْ ذُنُوبَهُ وَخَطَايَاهُ إِنَّ السَّيْفَ مَحَّاءٌ لِلْخَطَايَا وَأُدْخِلَ مِنْ أَيِّ أَبْوَابِ الْجَنَّةِ شَاءَ وَمُنَافِقٌ جَاهَدَ بِنَفْسِهِ وَمَالِهِ فَإِذَا لَقِيَ الْعَدُوَّ قَاتَلَ حَتَّى يُقْتَلَ فَذَاكَ فِي النَّارِ إِنَّ السيفَ لَا يمحُو النِّفاقَ» . رَوَاهُ الدارميُّ

(1) a believer who strives with his property and person in God’s path and when he meets the enemy fights till he is killed. (Of him the Prophet said that that martyr who has suffered trial is in God's tent under- His Throne and is not excelled by the prophets except in the degree of the prophetic office.) (2) A believer who mingles a good deed with another which is evil, who fights with his person and property in God’s path, fighting till he is killed when he meets the enemy. (Of him the Prophet said that it is a cleansing agent which has obliterated his sins and his errors, for the sword obliterates errors, and he will be introduced by whichever of the gates of paradise he wishes.) (3) A hypocrite who strives with his person and property, and when he meets the enemy fights till he is killed; but that one will go to hell, for the sword does not obliterate hypocrisy.” Darimi transmitted it.

وَعَن ابْن عائذٍ قَالَ: خَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي جِنَازَةِ رَجُلٍ فَلَمَّا وُضِعَ قَالَ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ: لَا تُصَلِّ عَلَيْهِ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَإِنَّهُ رَجُلٌ فَاجِرٌ فَالْتَفَتَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِلَى النَّاسِ فَقَالَ: «هَلْ رَآهُ أَحَدٌ مِنْكُمْ عَلَى عَمَلِ الْإِسْلَامِ؟» فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ: نَعَمْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ حَرَسَ لَيْلَةً فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَصَلَّى عَلَيْهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَحَثَا عَلَيْهِ التُّرَابَ وَقَالَ: «أَصْحَابُكَ يَظُنُّونَ أَنَّكَ مِنْ أَهْلِ النَّارِ وَأَنَا أَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ» وَقَالَ: «يَا عُمَرُ إِنَّكَ لَا تُسْأَلُ عَنْ أَعْمَالِ النَّاسِ وَلَكِنْ تُسْأَلُ عَنِ الْفِطْرَةِ» . رَوَاهُ الْبَيْهَقِيُّ فِي «شُعَبِ الْإِيمَانِ»

Ibn ‘A’idh told that God’s Messenger went out to a man’s funeral, and when he was laid down ‘Umar b. al-Khattab said, "Do not pray over him, Messenger of God, for he was a wicked man. Thereupon God’s Messenger turned to the people and asked whether any of them has seen him engaged in anything which indicated that he was a Muslim, and when a man replied, "Yes, Messenger of God, he acted as guard one night in God's path,” he prayed over him, scattered dust over him, and then said, "Your companions think you are one of those who go to hell, but I testify that you are one of those who go to paradise.” He then said, "You will not be questioned, ‘Umar, about what people have done, but you will be questioned about the true religion.”* * This is taken to mean that he will not be questioned about acts of disobedience, but about indication that one is a Muslim. Baihaqi transmitted it in Shu'ab al-lman.

عَن عُقْبَةَ بْنِ عَامِرٍ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَهُوَ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ يَقُول: " (وَأَعدُّوا لَهُ مَا استطَعْتُمْ منْ قُوَّةٍ) أَلَا إِنَّ الْقُوَّةَ الرَّمْيُ أَلَا إِنَّ الْقُوَّةَ الرَّمْيُ أَلَا إِنَّ الْقُوَّةَ الرَّمْيُ) رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ

‘Uqba b. ‘Amir told that he heard God's Messenger say when he was on the pulpit, “Prepare for them as much strength as you can. Strength is shooting; strength is shooting; strength is shooting.” Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْهُ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «سَتُفْتَحُ عَلَيْكُمُ الرُّومُ وَيَكْفِيكُمُ اللَّهُ فَلَا يَعْجِزْ أَحَدُكُمْ أَنْ يَلْهُوَ بِأَسْهُمِهِ» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

He told that he heard God's Messenger say, “The Byzantines will be defeated at your hands and God will defend you, but let none of you be so careless as not to employ his arrows.”* * i.e. they must not neglect to practise archery. The idea is that although God defends them, this does not absolve them from effort. Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْهُ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسلم يقولُ: «مَنْ علِمَ الرَّميَ ثمَّ تَرَكَهُ فَلَيْسَ مِنَّا أَوْ قَدْ عَصَى» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

He told that he heard God’s Messenger say, “If anyone knows how to shoot and gives it up he does not belong to us,” or, “he has been disobedient.” Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَن سلَمةَ بنِ الأكوَعِ قَالَ: خَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَلَى قَوْمٍ مِنْ أَسْلَمَ يَتَنَاضَلُونَ بِالسُّوقِ فَقَالَ: «ارْمُوا بَنِي إِسْمَاعِيلَ فَإِنَّ أَبَاكُمْ كَانَ رَامِيًا وَأَنَا مَعَ بَنِي فُلَانٍ» لِأَحَدِ الْفَرِيقَيْنِ فَأَمْسَكُوا بِأَيْدِيهِمْ فَقَالَ: «مَا لَكُمْ؟» قَالُوا: وَكَيْفَ نَرْمِي وَأَنْتَ مَعَ بَنِي فُلَانٍ؟ قَالَ: «ارْمُوا وَأَنا مَعكُمْ كلكُمْ» . رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

Salama b. al-Akwa‘ told that God’s Messenger went out to some people of Aslam who were having a shooting match in the suq* and said, “Shoot, sons of Ishmael, for your ancestor was an archer. I am supporting the B. so and so,” referring to one of the two parties. They then stopped, and when he asked what was the matter, they replied, “How can we shoot when you are supporting the B. so and so?” He said, “Shoot; I am supporting you all.” * Different explanations are given. It may be in the market-place (suq). Mirqat, iv, 202 is inclined to understand suq as the plural of saq (leg) and interpret it as meaning that they were on their feet, not riding camels. It has even been said that the reading is as-Sauq and that this is the name of a place; but I can find no reference to any such place. This all goes to show how difficult interpreters can make a passage seem when they let their imagination loose. Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَن أنسٍ قَالَ: كَانَ أَبُو طَلْحَةَ يَتَتَرَّسُ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِتُرْسٍ وَاحِدٍ وَكَانَ أَبُو طَلْحَةَ حَسَنَ الرَّمْيِ فَكَانَ إِذَا رَمَى تَشَرَّفَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَيَنْظُرُ إِلَى مَوضِع نبله. رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

Anas told that Abu Talha and the Prophet were both using one shield. Abu Talha was a good archer, and when he shot the Prophet looked over and watched where his arrows went. Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: (الْبَرَكَةُ فِي نَوَاصِي الْخَيل)

He reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Blessing rests on the forelocks of the horses.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَن جَرِيرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ: رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَلْوِي نَاصِيَةَ فرسٍ بأصبعِه ويقولُ: " الْخَيْلُ مَعْقُودٌ بِنَوَاصِيهَا الْخَيْرُ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ: الأجْرُ والغَنيمةُ ". رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Jarir b. ‘Abdallah told that he saw God’s Messenger twisting his finger in a horse’s forelock and saying, "The horses have good tied in their forelocks till the day of resurrection, i.e. reward and spoil.” Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنِ احْتَبَسَ فَرَسًا فِي سَبِيل الله إِيمَانًا وتصْديقاً بوَعْدِه فإِنَّ شِبَعَه ورِيَّه ورَوْثَه وبَوْلَه فِي مِيزَانه يَوْم الْقِيَامَة» . رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, "If anyone reserves a horse in God’s path with faith in God and belief in His promise, its food, drink, dung and urine will be in his scale on the day of resurrection.” Bukhari transmitted it.