19. Jihad

وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «عَلَيْكُمْ بِالدُّلْجَةِ فَإِنَّ الْأَرْضَ تُطوَى بالليلِ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

Anas reported God’s Messenger as saying, "Keep to travelling by night, for the earth is traversed * by night.” *Literally ‘the earth is folded up.' The idea is that at night the journey seems shorter. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ شُعَيْبٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ جَدِّهِ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «الرَّاكِبُ شَيْطَانٌ وَالرَّاكِبَانِ شَيْطَانَانِ وَالثَّلَاثَةُ رَكبٌ» . رَوَاهُ مالكٌ وَالتِّرْمِذِيّ وَأَبُو دَاوُد وَالنَّسَائِيّ

‘Amr b. Shu'aib, on his father’s authority, told that his grandfather reported God's Messenger as saying, "A single rider is a devil and a pair of riders are a pair of devils, but three are a company of riders.” Malik, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيُّ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «إِذَا كَانَ ثَلَاثَةٌ فِي سَفَرٍ فَلْيُؤَمِّرُوا أحدهم» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported God’s Messenger as saying, "When three are on a journey they should appoint one of them as their commander.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «خَيْرُ الصَّحَابَةِ أَرْبَعَةٌ وَخَيْرُ السَّرَايَا أَرْبَعُمِائَةٍ وَخَيْرُ الْجُيُوشِ أَرْبَعَةُ آلَافٍ وَلَنْ يُغْلَبَ اثْنَا عَشَرَ أَلْفًا مِنْ قِلَّةٍ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ وَالدَّارِمِيُّ وَقَالَ التِّرْمِذِيُّ: هَذَا حَدِيث غَرِيب

Ibn ‘Abbas reported the Prophet as saying, "The best number of companions is four, the best number in expeditions four hundred, and the best number in armies four thousand; and twelve thousand will not be overcome through smallness of numbers." Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Darimi transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying this is a gharib tradition.

وَعَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَتَخَلَّفُ فِي الْمَسِيرِ فَيُزْجِي الضَّعِيفَ وَيُرْدِفُ ويدْعو لَهُم. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

Jabir told that God’s Messenger used to keep to the rear when traveling and urge on the weak. He would take someone up behind him and would make supplication for them all. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَن أبي ثعلبَةَ الخُشَنيِّ قَالَ: كَانَ النَّاسُ إِذَا نَزَلُوا مَنْزِلًا تَفَرَّقُوا فِي الشِّعَابِ وَالْأَوْدِيَةِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِنَّ تَفَرُّقَكُمْ فِي هَذِهِ الشِّعَابِ وَالْأَوْدِيَةِ إِنَّمَا ذَلِكُمْ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ» . فَلَمْ يَنْزِلُوا بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ مَنْزِلًا إِلَّا انْضَمَّ بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَى بَعْضٍ حَتَّى يُقَالَ: لَوْ بُسِطَ عَلَيْهِمْ ثوبٌ لعمَّهم. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

Abu Tha'laba al-Khushani said that when the people encamped they scattered in the glens and wadis, but when God’s Messenger said, “Your scattering in these glens and wadis is only of the devil," they afterwards kept close together when they encamped to such an extent that it used to be said that if a cloth were spread over them it would cover them all. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: كُنَّا يَوْمَ بَدْرٍ كُلَّ ثَلَاثَةٍ عَلَى بَعِيرٍ فَكَانَ أَبُو لُبَابَةَ وَعَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ زَمِيلَيْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: فَكَانَتْ إِذَا جَاءَتْ عُقْبَةُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَا: نَحْنُ نَمْشِي عَنْكَ قَالَ: «مَا أَنْتُمَا بِأَقْوَى مِنِّي وَمَا أَنَا بِأَغْنَى عَنِ الْأَجْرِ مِنْكُمَا» . رَوَاهُ فِي شرح السّنة

At the battle of Badr there was one camel to every three men of us. Abu Lubaba and ‘Ali b. Abu Talib were the travelling companions of God’s Messenger, and when his turn to dismount came they would offer to walk instead of him, but he would reply, “You are not stronger than I am, and I am not more able to dispense with the reward* than you are." * i.e. the reward in the next world for walking part of the way. It is transmitted in Sharh as-sunna.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «لَا تَتَّخِذُوا ظُهُورَ دَوَابِّكُمْ مَنَابِرَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى إِنَّمَا سَخَّرَهَا لَكُمْ لِتُبَلِّغَكُمْ إِلَى بَلَدٍ لَمْ تَكُونُوا بَالِغِيهِ إِلَّا بِشِقِّ الْأَنْفُسِ وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ الْأَرْضَ فَعَلَيْهَا فَاقْضُوا حَاجَاتِكُمْ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ

Abu Huraira reported the Prophet as saying, “Do not treat the backs of your beasts as pulpits, for God most high has made them subject to you only to convey you to a town which you could not reach without difficulty; and He has appointed the earth for you, so conduct your business on it." Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَن أنسٍ قَالَ: كُنَّا إِذَا نَزَلْنَا مَنْزِلًا لَا نُسَبِّحُ حَتَّى نحُلَّ الرِّحالَ. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

When we encamped we did not glorify God* till we had loosened the saddles. * This is explained as meaning to perform the salat. Cf. Mirqat, iv, 218. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَن بُرَيْدَة قَالَ: بَيْنَمَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَمْشِي إِذا جَاءَهُ رَجُلٌ مَعَهُ حِمَارٌ فَقَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ارْكَبْ وَتَأَخَّرَ الرَّجُلُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَا أَنْتَ أَحَقُّ بِصَدْرِ دَابَّتِكَ إِلَّا أَنْ تَجْعَلَهُ لِي» . قَالَ: جَعَلْتُهُ لَكَ فَرَكِبَ. رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ

Buraida told that while God’s Messenger was walking a man who had an ass came to him and, moving to the back of the animal, invited him to mount, but he said, “No; you have more right to ride in front on your animal unless you grant that right to me." The man replied that he did, and so he mounted. Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي هِنْدٍ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «تَكُونُ إِبِلٌ لِلشَّيَاطِينِ وَبُيُوتٌ لِلشَّيَاطِينِ» . فَأَمَّا إِبِلُ الشَّيَاطِينِ فَقَدْ رَأَيْتُهَا: يَخْرُجُ أَحَدُكُمْ بِنَجِيبَاتٍ مَعَهُ قَدْ أَسْمَنَهَا فَلَا يَعْلُو بَعِيرًا مِنْهَا وَيَمُرُّ بِأَخِيهِ قَدِ انْقَطَعَ بِهِ فَلَا يَحْمِلُهُ وَأَمَّا بُيُوتُ الشَّيَاطِينِ فَلَمْ أَرَهَا كَانَ سَعِيدٌ يَقُولُ: لَا أُرَاهَا إِلَّا هَذِهِ الْأَقْفَاصَ الَّتِي يَسْتُرُ النَّاسُ بِالدِّيبَاجِ. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ

Sa'id b. Abu Hind told that Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “There are camels which belong to devils and houses which belong to devils." He1 said he had seen the devils’ camels; one goes out with fine she-camels which he has fattened, neither riding any of them nor giving a lift to a tired brother whom he meets, but he had not seen the devils' houses. Sa'id used to say he thought they were those cages which concealed people2 with brocade. 1. It is commonly held that this refers to Abu Huraira. 2. A various reading has ‘which people concealed’. The cages mean the litters on camels' backs. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَن سهلِ بن مُعاذٍ عَن أبيهِ قَالَ: غَزَوْنَا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَضَيَّقَ النَّاسُ الْمُنَازِلَ وَقَطَعُوا الطَّرِيقَ فَبَعَثَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مُنَادِيًا يُنادي فِي النَّاسِ: «أَنَّ مَنْ ضَيَّقَ مَنْزِلًا أَوْ قَطَعَ طَرِيقًا فَلَا جِهَادَ لَهُ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

We went on an expedition with the Prophet and the people occupied so much space that they encroached on the road,* so God’s Prophet sent a man to announce among the people, “Those who occupy much space or encroach on the road will not be credited with jihad.” * This refers to times when they were encamping. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنْ جَابِرٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «إِنَّ أَحْسَنَ مَا دَخَلَ الرَّجُلُ أَهْلَهُ إِذَا قَدِمَ مِنْ سفرٍ أوَّلُ الليلِ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

Jabir reported the Prophet as saying, “The best time for a man to go in to his family on returning from a journey is at the beginning of the night.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

عَن أبي قتادةَ قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا كَانَ فِي سَفَرٍ فَعَرَّسَ بِلَيْلٍ اضْطَجَعَ عَلَى يَمِينِهِ وَإِذَا عَرَّسَ قُبَيْلَ الصُّبْحِ نَصَبَ ذِرَاعَهُ وَوَضَعَ رَأْسَهُ عَلَى كَفِّهِ. رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Abu Qatada told that when God's Messenger encamped at night on a journey he lay down on his right side, and when he encamped a little before morning he raised his forearm and placed his head on the palm of his hand. Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَن ابْن عَبَّاس قَالَ: بَعَثَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ رَوَاحَةَ فِي سَرِيَّةٍ فَوَافَقَ ذَلِكَ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ فَغَدَا أَصْحَابُهُ وَقَالَ: أَتَخَلَّفُ وأُصلّي مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ثُمَّ أَلْحَقُهُمْ فَلَمَّا صَلَّى مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ رَآهُ فَقَالَ: «مَا مَنَعَكَ أَنْ تَغْدُوَ مَعَ أَصْحَابِكَ؟» فَقَالَ: أَرَدْتُ أَنْ أُصَلِّيَ مَعَكَ ثُمَّ أَلْحَقُهُمْ فَقَالَ: «لَوْ أَنْفَقْتَ مَا فِي الْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا مَا أدركْتَ فضلَ غدْوَتهمْ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ

Ibn ‘Abbas told that the Prophet sent ‘Abdallah b. Rawaha with a detachment and that happened to be on a Friday. His companions set off in the morning, but he decided to stay behind and catch up on them after saying the prayer along with God’s Messenger. When he did so he saw him and asked him what had prevented him from going out in the morning with his companions. He replied, “I wanted to pray along with you and then catch up with them,” whereupon he said, “If you were to contribute all the earth contains you would not attain to the excellence of their going out in the morning.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَا تَصْحَبُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ رُفْقَةً فِيهَا جِلْدُ نَمِرٍ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The angels do not go with a travelling company in which there is a panther skin.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ سَعْدَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «سَيِّدُ الْقَوْمِ فِي السَّفَرِ خَادِمُهُمْ فَمَنْ سَبَقَهُمْ بِخِدْمَةٍ لَمْ يَسْبِقُوهُ بِعَمَلٍ إِلَّا الشَّهَادَةَ» . رَوَاهُ الْبَيْهَقِيّ فِي «شعب الْإِيمَان»

Sahl b. Sa'd reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The lord of the people on a journey is their servant,* and he who precedes them in service will not be preceded by them on account of any deed but martyrdom.” * This is said to mean either that the leader must look after the interests of his followers, or that even the humblest member who serves the others is rewarded by God as if he were the dealer. Baihaqi transmitted it in Shu'ab al-iman.

عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ: أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَتَبَ إِلَى قَيْصَرَ يَدْعُوهُ إِلَى الْإِسْلَامِ وَبَعَثَ بِكِتَابِهِ إِلَيْهِ دِحْيَةَ الْكَلْبِيَّ وَأَمَرَهُ أَنْ يَدْفَعَهُ إِلَى عَظِيمِ بُصْرَى لِيَدْفَعَهُ إِلَى قَيْصَرَ فَإِذَا فِيهِ: " بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ مِنْ مُحَمَّدٍ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ إِلَى هِرَقْلَ عَظِيمِ الرُّومِ سَلَامٌ عَلَى مَنِ اتَّبَعَ الْهُدَى أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنِّي أدْعوكَ بداعيَةِ الْإِسْلَامِ أَسْلِمْ تَسْلَمْ وَأَسْلِمْ يُؤْتِكَ اللَّهُ أَجَرَكَ مَرَّتَيْنِ وَإِنْ تَوَلَّيْتَ فَعَلَيْكَ إِثْمُ الْأَرِيسِيِّينَ وَ (يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ تَعَالَوْا إِلَى كَلِمَةٍ سَوَاءٍ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمْ أَن لَا نَعْبُدَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ وَلَا نُشْرِكَ بِهِ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَتَّخِذَ بَعْضُنَا بَعْضًا أَرْبَابًا مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ فَإِنْ تَوَلَّوْا فَقُولُوا: اشْهَدُوا بِأَنَّا مُسْلِمُونَ) مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ. وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ لِمُسْلِمٍ قَالَ: مِنْ محمَّدٍ رسولِ اللَّهِ " وَقَالَ: «إِثمُ اليريسيِّينَ» وَقَالَ: «بِدِعَايَةِ الْإِسْلَام»

In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful. From Muhammad, God’s servant and Messenger, to Hiraql1 chief of the Byzantines. Peace be to those who follow the guidance. To proceed: I send you the summons to accept Islam (bi da'iyat al-islam). If you accept Islam you will be safe, and if you accept Islam God will bring you your reward twofold; but if you turn away you will be guilty of the sin of your followers (al-arisiyin).2 “0 people of the Book, come to a word which is common between us and you, that we should worship only God, not attribute any partner to Him, or take one another as lords apart from God. But if they turn away say, Testify that we are Muslims."3 1. Heraclius. 2. Arisi means a tiller of the soil, but is here used as a general reference to the common people who will follow his example. 3. Al-Qur’an; 3:64. (Bukhari and Muslim.) A version by Muslim has “From Muhammad God’s Messenger," “the sin of al-yarisiyin” and bi-di'ayat al-islam.

وَعَنْهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بَعَثَ بِكِتَابِهِ إِلَى كِسْرَى مَعَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ حُذَافَةَ السَّهْمِيِّ فَأَمَرَهُ أَنْ يَدْفَعَهُ إِلَى عَظِيمِ الْبَحْرَيْنِ فَدَفَعَهُ عَظِيمُ الْبَحْرَيْنِ إِلَى كِسْرَى فَلَمَّا قَرَأَ مَزَّقَهُ قَالَ ابْنُ الْمُسَيَّبِ: فَدَعَا عَلَيْهِمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنْ يُمَزَّقُوا كُلَّ مُمَزَّقٍ. رَوَاهُ الْبُخَارِيُّ

He told that God’s Messenger sent his letter to Kisra with ‘Abdallah b. Hudhafa as-Sahmi, ordering him to hand it to the governor of al- Bahrain. The governor of al-Bahrain conveyed it to Kisra, and when he read it he tore it up. Ibn al-Musayyib said that God’s Messenger then invoked a curse on them to the effect that they might be torn into little pieces. Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ: أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَتَبَ إِلَى كِسْرَى وَإِلَى قَيْصَرَ وَإِلَى النَّجَاشِيِّ وَإِلَى كُلِّ جَبَّارٍ يَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَلَيْسَ بِالنَّجَاشِيِّ الَّذِي صَلَّى عَلَيْهِ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ. رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ

Anas told that the Prophet wrote to Kisra, Qaisar, the Najashi, and every powerful man, summoning them to God, but it was not the Najashi on whom the Prophet invoked a blessing.* * It says that the Najashi (Negus) of Abyssinia to whom this letter was sent was not the same as the one who ruled at the time when the early emigration from Mecca to Abyssinia took place. Muslim transmitted it.