Partial Translation of Sahih Muslim, Book 19:

On Government (Kitab Al-Imara)


Book 19, Number 4475:

Narrated Jabir ibn Abdullah:

The Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: People are the followers of Quraysh in good as well as evil (i.e. in the customs of Islamic as well as pre-Islamic times).


Book 19, Number 4483:

Narrated Jabir ibn Samurah:

It has been narrated on the authority of Amir ibn Sa'd ibn AbuWaqqas who said: I wrote (a letter) to Jabir ibn Samurah and sent it to him through my servant, Nafi', asking him to inform me of something he had heard from the Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him). He wrote to me (in reply): I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) say on Friday, the day on which al-Aslami was stoned to death (for committing adultery): The Islamic religion will continue until the Hour has been established, or you have been ruled by twelve Caliphs, all of them being from the Quraysh. I also heard him say: A small force of the Muslims will capture the white palace, the palace of the Persian Emperor or his descendants. I also heard him say: Before the Day of Judgment there will appear (a number of) imposters. You are to guard against them. I also heard him say: When God grants wealth to any one of you, he should first spend it on himself and his family (and then give it in charity to the poor). I heard him (also) say: I shall be your forerunner at the Cistern (expecting your arrival).


Book 19, Number 4491:

Narrated AbuDharr:

I said to the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him): Messenger of Allah, will you not appoint me to a public office? He stroked my shoulder with his hand and said: AbuDharr, thou art weak and authority is a trust, and on the Day of Judgment it is a cause of humiliation and repentance except for one who fulfils its obligations and (properly) discharges the duties attendant thereon.


Book 19, Number 4492:

Narrated AbuDharr:

The Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: AbuDharr, I find that thou art weak and I like for thee what I like for myself. Do not rule over (even) two persons and do not manage the property of an orphan.


Book 19, Number 4493:

Narrated Abdullah ibn Umar:

The Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: Behold! the Dispensers of Justice will be seated on the pulpits of light beside God, on the right side of the Merciful, Exalted and Glorious. Either side of the Being is the right side both being equally meritorious. (The Dispensers of Justice are) those who do justice in their rules, in matters relating to their families and in all that they undertake to do.


Book 19, Number 4494:

Narrated Aisha:

It has been reported on the authority of AbdurRahman ibn Shumasah who said: I came to Aisha to inquire about something from her. She said: From which country are you ? I said: I am from the people of Egypt. She said: What was the behaviour of your governor towards you in this war of yours? I said: We did not experience anything bad from him. If the camel of one of our men, died, he would bestow on him another camel. If any one of us lost his slave, he would give him another slave. If anybody was in need of the basic necessities of life, he would provide them with provisions.

She said: Behold! The treatment that was meted out to my brother, Muhammad ibn AbuBakr, does not prevent me from telling you what I heard from the Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him). He said in this house of mine: O God, he who (happens to) acquire some kind of control over the affairs of my people and is hard upon them--be Thou hard upon him, and he who (happens to) acquire some kind of control over the affairs of my people and is kind to them--be Thou kind to him.


Book 19, Number 4504:

Narrated A'idh ibn Amr:

A'idh ibn Amr, who was one of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him), called on Ubaydullah ibn Ziyad and said (to him): O my son, I have heard the Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) say: The worst of guardians is the cruel ruler. Beware of being one of them.

Ubaydullah said (to him out of arrogance): Sit you down. You are from the chaff of the Companions of Muhammad (peace_be_upon_him). A'idh said: Was there worthless chaff among them ? Such worthless chaff appeared after them and among other people.


Book 19, Number 4514:

Narrated Adi ibn Amirah al-Kindi:

I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) say: Whoso from you is appointed by us to a position of authority and he conceals from us a needle or something smaller than that, it would be misappropriation (of public funds) and will (have to) produce it on the Day of Judgment.

The narrator says: A dark-complexioned man from the Ansar stood up - I can visualise him still - and said: Messenger of Allah, take back from me your assignment. He said: What has happened to you? The man said: I have heard you say so and so. He said: I say that (even) now: Whoso from you is appointed by us to a position of authority, he should bring everything, big or small, and whatever he is given therefrom he should take, and he should restrain himself from taking that which is forbidden.


Book 19, Number 4524:

Narrated AbuHurayrah:

The Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: It is obligatory for you to listen to the ruler and obey him in adversity and prosperity, in pleasure and displeasure, and even when another person is given (rather undue) preference over you.


Book 19, Number 4525:

Narrated AbuDharr:

My friend (i.e. the Prophet) advised me to listen (to the man in position of authority) and obey (him) even if he were a slave maimed (and disabled).


Book 19, Number 4528:

Narrated Umm al-Husayn al-Ahmasiyyah:

It has been narrated on the authority of Yahya ibn Husayn who learnt the tradition from his grandmother. She said that she heard the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) delivering his sermon on the occasion of the last Pilgrimage. He was saying: If a slave is appointed over you and he conducts your affairs according to the Book of Allah, you should listen to him and obey (his orders).


Book 19, Number 4542:

Narrated AbuHurayrah:

The Prophet of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: A commander (of the Muslims) is a shield for them. They fight behind him and they are protected by (him from tyrants and aggressors). If he enjoins fear of God, the Exalted and Glorious, and dispenses justice, there will be a (great) reward for him; and if he enjoins otherwise, it redounds on him.


Book 19, Number 4546:

Narrated Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-'As:

It has been narrated on the authority of AbdurRahman ibn Abdu Rabb al-Ka'ba who said: I entered the mosque when Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-'As was sitting in the shade of the Ka'bah and the people had gathered around him. I betook myself to them and sat near him.

(Now) Abdullah said: I accompanied the Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) on a journey. We halted at a place. Some of us began to erect their tents, others began to compete with one another in shooting, and others began to graze their beasts, when an announcer of the Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) announced that the people should gather together for prayer. So we gathered around the Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him).

He said: It was the duty of every Prophet that has gone before me to guide his followers to what he knew was good for them and warn them against what he knew was bad for them. However, this Ummah of yours has its days of peace and (security) at the beginning of its career, and in the last phase of its existence it will be afflicted with trials and with things disagreeable to you.

(In this phase of the Ummah), there will be tremendous trials, one after the other, each making the previous one dwindle into insignificance. When they are afflicted with a trial, the believer will say: This is going to bring about my destruction. When (the trial) is over, they will be afflicted with another trial and the believer will say: This surely is going to be my end.

Whoever wishes to be delivered from the Fire and enter the Garden should die with faith in Allah and the Last Day and should treat the people as he wishes to be treated by them. He who swears allegiance to a Caliph should give him the pledge of his hand and the sincerity of his heart (i.e. submit to him both outwardly as well as inwardly). He should obey him to the best of his capacity. If another man comes forward (as a claimant to Caliphate), disputing his authority, they (the Muslims) should behead the latter.

The narrator says: I came close to him (Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-'As) and said to him: Can you say on oath that you heard it from the Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him)? He pointed with his hands to his ears and his heart and said: My ears heard it and my mind retained it. I said to him: This cousin of yours, Mu'awiyah, orders us to consume our wealth unjustly among ourselves and to kill one another, while Allah says: "O ye who believe, do not consume your wealth among yourselves unjustly, unless it be trade based on mutual agreement, and do not kill yourselves. Verily, God is Merciful to you" (iv.29). The narrator says that (on hearing this) Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-'As kept quiet for a while and then said: Obey him in so far as he is obedient to God; and disobey him in matters involving disobedience to God.


Book 19, Number 4551:

Narrated Alqamah ibn Wa'il al-Hadrami:

It has been narrated on the authority of Alqamah ibn Wa'il al-Hadrami who learnt the tradition from his father. The latter said: Salamah ibn Yazid al-Ju'afi asked the Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him): Prophet of Allah, what do you think if we have rulers who rule over us and demand that we discharge our obligations towards them, but they (themselves) do not discharge their own responsibilities towards us? What do you order us to do? The Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) avoided giving any answer. Salamah asked him again. He (again) avoided giving any answer. Then he asked again--it was the second time or the third time-- when Ash'ath ibn Qays (find that the Holy Prophet was being unnecessarily pressed for answer) pulled him aside and said: Listen to them and obey them, for on them will be their burden and on you will be your burden.


Book 19, Number 4553:

Narrated Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman:

People used to ask the Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) about the good times, but I used to ask him about the bad times fearing lest they should overtake me. I said: Messenger of Allah, we were in the midst of ignorance and evil, and then God brought us this good (time through Islam). Is there any bad time after this good one? He said: Yes. I asked: Will there be a good time again after that bad time? He said: Yes, but in it will be a hidden evil. I asked: What will be the evil hidden therein? He said: (That time will witness the rise of) the people who will adopt ways other than mine and seek guidance other than mine. You will know good points as well as bad points. I asked: Will there be a bad time after this good one? He said: Yes. (A time will come) when there will be people standing and inviting at the gates of Hell. Whoever responds to their call will be thrown into the fire. I said: Messenger of Allah, describe them to us. He said: All right. They will be a people having the same complexion as ours and speaking our language. I said: Messenger of Allah, what do you suggest if I happen to live at that time? He said: You should stay with the main body of the Muslims and their leader. I said: If they have no (such thing as the) main body and have no leader? He said: Separate yourself from all these factions, though you may have to eat the roots of trees (in a jungle) until death comes to you when you are in this state.


Book 19, Number 4555:

Narrated AbuHurayrah:

The Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: One who defects from obedience (to the Amir) and separates from the main body of the Muslims--if he dies in that state--will die the death of one belonging to the days of Jahiliyyah (i.e. would not die as a Muslim).

One who fights under the banner of a people who are blind (to the cause for which they are fighting, i.e. do not know whether their cause is just or otherwise), who is puffed up with family pride, calls (people) to fight for their family honour, and supports his kith and kin (i.e. fights not for the cause of Allah but for the sake of his family or tribe)--if he is killed (in this fight), he dies as one belonging to the days of Jahiliyyah.

Whoever attacks my Ummah, (indiscriminately) killing the righteous and the wicked of them, sparing not (even) those staunch in faith, and not fulfilling his promise made with those who have been given a pledge of a security--he has nothing to do with me and I have nothing to do with him.


Book 19, Number 4561:

Narrated Jundub Ibn Abdullah al-Bajali:

The Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: One who is killed under the banner of a man who is blind (to his just cause), who raises the slogan of family or supports his own tribe, dies the death of one belonging to the days of Jahiliyyah.


Book 19, Number 4562:

Narrated Abdullah ibn Umar:

Nafi' said: Abdullah ibn Umar paid a visit to Abdullah ibn Muti' in the days (when atrocities were perpetrated on the people of Medina) at Harrah in the time of Yazid ibn Mu'awiyah. Ibn Muti' said: Place a pillow for AbuAbdurRahman (family name of Abdullah ibn Umar). But the latter said: I have not come to sit with you. I have come to you to tell you a tradition I heard from the Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him). I heard him say: One who withdraws his hand from obedience (to the Amir) will find no argument (in his defence) when he stands before Allah on the Day of Judgment, and one who dies without having bound himself by an oath of allegiance (to an Amir) will die the death of one belonging to the days of Jahiliyyah.


Book 19, Number 4565:

Narrated Arfajah:

I have heard the Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) say: Different evils will make their appearance in the near future. Anyone who tries to disrupt the affairs of this Ummah while they are united you should strike him with the sword whoever he be. (If remonstrance does not prevail with him and he does not desist from his disruptive activities, he is to be killed).


Book 19, Number 4568:

Narrated AbuSa'id al-Khudri:

The Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: When oath of allegiance has been taken for two caliphs, kill the one for whom the oath was taken later.


Book 19, Number 4569:

Narrated Umm Salamah:

The Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: In the near future there will be Amirs and you will like their good deeds and dislike their bad deeds. One who sees through their bad deeds (and tries to prevent their repetition by his hand or through his speech), is absolved from blame, but one who hates their bad deeds (in the heart of his heart, being unable to prevent their recurrence by his hand or his tongue), is (also) safe (so far as God"s wrath is concerned). But one who approves of their bad deeds and imitates them is spiritually ruined. People asked (the Prophet): Shouldn't we fight against them? He replied: No, as long as they say their prayers.


Book 19, Number 4573:

Narrated Awf ibn Malik:

The Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: The best of your rulers are those whom you love and who love you, who invoke God's blessings upon you and you invoke His blessings upon them. And the worst of your rulers are those whom you hate and who hate you and whom you curse and who curse you. It was asked (by those present): Shouldn't we overthrow them with the help of the sword? He said: No, as long as they establish prayer among you. If you then find anything detestable in them, you should hate their administration, but do not withdraw yourselves from their obedience.


Book 19, Number 4576:

Narrated Jabir ibn Abdullah:

We were one thousand and four hundred on the Day of Hudaybiyyah. We swore fealty to him (the Prophet) and Umar was holding the latter's hand (when he was sitting) under the tree (called) Samurah (to administer the oath to the Companions). The narrator added: We took oath to the effect that we would not flee (from the battlefield if there was an encounter with the Meccans), but we did not take oath to fight to death.


Book 19, Number 4584:

Narrated Abdullah ibn AbuAwfa:

The Companions of the Tree (i.e. those who swore fealty under the tree) were one thousand and three hundred, and the people of Aslam tribe were one-eight of the Muhajirs.


Book 19, Number 4586:

Narrated Ma'qil ibn Yasar:

I remember being present on the Day of the Tree, and the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) was taking the oath of the people and I was holding a twig of the tree over his head. We were fourteen hundred (in number). We did not take oath to the death, but to the effect that we would not run away from the battlefield.


Book 19, Number 4599:

Narrated Aisha:

The Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) was asked about migration, whereupon he said: There is no migration after the Conquest (of Mecca), but Jihad and sincere intention. When you are asked to set out (for the cause of Islam), you should set out.


Book 19, Number 4614:

Narrated Jabir ibn Abdullah:

I saw that the Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) was twisting the forelock of a horse with his fingers and was saying: (A great) benefit, i.e. reward (for rearing them for Jihad) and spoils of war, has been tied to the forelocks of horses until the Day of Judgment.


Book 19, Number 4623:

Narrated AbuHurayrah:

The Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) used to dislike the Shikal horse.


Book 19, Number 4638:

Narrated Nu'man ibn Bashir:

As I was (sitting) near the pulpit of the Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him), a man said: I do not care if, after embracing Islam, I do not any good deed (except) distributing drinking-water among the pilgrims. Another said: I do not care if, after embracing Islam, I do not do any good deed beyond maintenance service to the Sacred Mosque. Another said: Jihad in the way of Allah is better than what you have said. Umar reprimanded them and said: Don't raise your voices near the pulpit of the Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) on Friday.

When prayer was over, I entered (the apartment of the Holy Prophet) and asked for his verdict about the matter in which they had differed. (It was upon this that) Allah, the Almighty and Exalted, revealed the Qur'anic verse: "Do you make the giving of drinking-water to the pilgrims and the maintenance of the Sacred Mosque equal to (the service of those) who believe in Allah and the Last Day and strive hard in the cause of Allah? They are not equal in the sight of God. And Allah guides not the wrong doing people" (ix.20). This tradition has been narrated on the authority of Nu'man ibn Bashir through another chain of transmitters.


Book 19, Number 4643:

Narrated AbuAyyub:

The Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: A journey undertaken in the morning or evening (for Jihad ) in the way of Allah is better than (anything) on which the sun rises or sets.


Book 19, Number 4645:

Narrated AbuSa'id al-Khudri:

The Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said (to him): AbuSa'id, whoever cheerfully accepts Allah as his Lord, Islam as his religion and Muhammad as his Apostle is necessarily entitled to enter Paradise. He (AbuSa'id) wondered at it and said: Messenger of Allah, repeat it for me. He (the Messenger of Allah) did that and said: There is another act which elevates the position of a man in Paradise to a grade one hundred (higher), and the elevation between one grade and the other is equal to the height of the heaven from the earth. He (AbuSa'id) said: What is that act? He replied: Jihad in the way of Allah! Jihad in the way of Allah!


Book 19, Number 4646:

Narrated AbuQatadah:

The Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) stood up among them (his companions) to deliver his sermon, in which he told them that Jihad in the cause of Allah and belief in Allah (with all His Attributes) were the most meritorious of acts. A man stood up and said: Messenger of Allah, do you think that if I am killed in the cause of Allah, my sins will be blotted out from me? The Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: Yes, in the case where you are killed in the way of Allah, you were patient and sincere and you always fought facing the enemy, never turning your back upon him.

Then he added: What have you said (now)? (Wishing to have further assurance from him for his satisfaction), he asked (again): Do you think if I am killed in the say of Allah, all my sins will be obliterated from me? The Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) Said: Yes, if you were patient and sincere, and always fought facing the enemy, never turning your back upon him, (all your lapses shall be forgiven) except debt. Gabriel has told me this.


Book 19, Number 4649:

Narrated Amr ibn al-'As:

The Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: All the sins of a Shahid (martyr) are forgiven except debt.


Book 19, Number 4651:

Narrated Abdullah:

It has been narrated on the authority of Masruq who said: We asked Abdullah about the Qur'anic verse: "Think not of those who are slain in Allah's way as dead. Nay, they are alive, finding their sustenance in the presence of their Lord...." (iii.169).

He said: We asked the meaning of the verse (from the Holy Prophet) who said: The souls of the martyrs live in the bodies of green birds who have their nests in chandeliers hung from the throne of the Almighty. They eat the fruits of Paradise wherever they like and then nestle in these chandeliers. Once their Lord cast a glance at them and said: Do ye want anything? They said: What more can we desire? We eat the fruit of Paradise wherever we like. Their Lord asked them the same question thrice. When they saw that they would continue to be asked and not left (without answering the question), they said: O Lord, we wish that Thou mayest return our souls to our bodies so that we may be slain in Thy cause once again. When He (Allah) saw that they had no need, they were left (to their joy in heaven).


Book 19, Number 4655:

Narrated AbuHurayrah:

The Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: Of the men he lives the best life who holds the reins of his horse (ever ready to march) in the way of Allah, flies on its back whenever he hears a fearful shriek, or a call for help, flies to it seeking death at places where it can be expected. (Next to him) is a man who lives with his sheep at a hill-top or in a valley, says his prayers regularly, gives Zakat and worships his Lord until death comes to him. There is no better person among men except these two.


Book 19, Number 4661:

Narrated AbuHurayrah:

The Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: A disbeliever and a believer who killed him will never be gathered together in Hell.


Book 19, Number 4663:

Narrated AbuMas'ud al-Ansari:

A man brought a muzzled she-camel and said: It is (offered) in the way of Allah. The Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: For this you will have seven hundred she-camels on the Day of Judgment all of which will be muzzled.


Book 19, Number 4665:

Narrated AbuMas'ud al-Ansari:

A man came to the Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) and said: My riding beast has been killed, so give me some animal to ride upon. He (the Prophet) said: I have none with me. A man said: Messenger of Allah, I can guide him to one who will provide him with a riding beast. The Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: One who guides to something good has a reward similar to that of its doer.


Book 19, Number 4670:

Narrated AbuSa'id al-Khudri:

The Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) sent a force to Banu Lihyan (who are from Banu Hudhayl) and said: One man from every two and the reward (will be divided) between the two.


Book 19, Number 4673:

Narrated Buraydah ibn al-Hasib:

The Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: The sanctity of the wives of Mujahids is like the sanctity of their mothers for those who sit at home (i.e. do not go out for Jihad). Anyone who stays behind looking after the family of a Mujahid and betrays his trust will be made to stand on the Day of Judgment before the Mujahid who will take away from his meritorious deeds whatever he likes. So what do you think (will he leave anything)?


Book 19, Number 4679:

Narrated Al-Bara' ibn Azib:

A man from Banu Nabit (one of the Ansar tribes) came to the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) and said: I testify that there is no god except Allah and that thou art His bondsman and Messenger. Then he went forward and fought until he was killed. The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: He has done a little but shall be given a great reward.


Book 19, Number 4680:

Narrated Anas ibn Malik:

The Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) sent Busaysah as a scout to see what the caravan of AbuSufyan was doing. He came (back and met the Holy Prophet in his house) where there was nobody except myself and the Messenger of Allah. I do not remember whether he (Anas) made an exception of some wives of the Holy Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) or not and told him the news of the caravan.

(Having heard the news), the Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) came out (hurriedly), spoke to the people and said: We are in need (of men); whoever has an animal with him, ready for riding, should ride with us. People began to ask his permission to bring their riding-animals which were grazing on the hillocks near Medina. He said: No. (I want) only those who have their riding-animals ready.

So the Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) and his companions proceeded towards Badr and arrived there, forestalling the polytheists (of Mecca). When the polytheists (also) arrived there, the Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: None of you should step forward to (do) anything unless I am ahead of him. The polytheists (now) advanced (towards us), and the Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: Rise to enter Paradise which is equal in width to the Heavens and the Earth.

Umar ibn al-Humam al-Ansari said: Messenger of Allah, is Paradise equal in extent to the Heavens and the Earth? He said: Yes. Umar said: My goodness! The Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) asked him: What prompted you to utter these words (i.e. my goodness!)? He said: Messenger of Allah, nothing but the desire that I may be among its residents. He said: You are (surely) among its residents.

He took some dates from his bag and began to eat them. Then he said: If I were to live until I had eaten all these dates of mine, it would be a long life. (The narrator said): He threw away all the dates he had with him. Then he fought the enemies until he was killed.


Book 19, Number 4681:

Narrated Abdullah ibn Qays:

The Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: Surely, the gates of Paradise are under the shadows of the swords. A man in a shabby condition got up and said: AbuMusa, did you hear the Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) say this? He said: Yes. (The narrator said): He returned to his friends and said: I greet you (a farewell greeting). Then he broke the sheath of his sword, threw it away, advanced with his (naked) sword towards the enemy and fought (them) with it until he was slain.


Book 19, Number 4683:

Narrated Anas ibn Malik:

My uncle - and I have been named after him - was not present with the Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) on the Day of Badr. He felt distressed about it. He would say: I have missed the first battle fought by the Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him), and if God now gives me an opportunity to see a battlefield with the Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him), God will see what I do therein. He was afraid to say more than this (lest he be unable to keep his word with God).

He was present with the Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) on the Day of Uhud. He met Sa'd ibn Mu'adh (who was retreating). Anas said to him: O AbuAmr, where (are you going)? Woe (to thee)! I find the smell of Paradise beside the Uhud mountain. (Reprimanding Sa'd in these words) he went forward and fought them (the enemy) until he was killed.

(The narrator says): More than eighty wounds inflicted with swords, spears and arrows were found on his body. His sister, my aunt, ar-Rubayyi', daughter of Nadr, said: I could not recognize my brother's body (it was so badly mutilated) except by his finger-tips. (It was on this occasion that) the Qur'anic verse: "Among the Believers are men who have been true to their covenant with God. Of them some have completed their vow (to the extreme), and some still wait: but they have never changed (their determination) in the least" (xxxiii.23).


Book 19, Number 4688:

Narrated AbuHurayrah:

It has been narrated on the authority of Sulayman ibn Yasar who said: People dispersed from around AbuHurayrah, and Natil, who was from the Syrians, said to him: O Shaykh, relate (to us) a tradition you have heard from the Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him). He said: Yes. I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) say:

The first man (whose case) will be decided on the Day of Judgment, will be a man who died as a martyr. He shall be brought (before the Judgment Seat). Allah will make him recount His blessings (i.e. the blessings which He had bestowed upon him) and he will recount them (and admit having enjoyed them in his life). (Then) will Allah say: What did you do (to requite these blessings)? He will say: I fought for Thee until I died as a martyr. Allah will say: You have told a lie. You fought so that you might be called a "brave warrior". And you were called so. (Then) orders will be passed against him and he will be dragged with his face downward and cast into Hell.

Then there will be brought forward a man who acquired knowledge and imparted it (to others) and recited the Qur'an. He will be brought, Allah will make him recount His blessings and he will recount them (and admit having enjoyed them in his lifetime). Then will Allah ask: What did you do (to requite these blessings)? He will say: I acquired knowledge and disseminated it and recited the Qur'an, seeking Thy pleasure. Allah will say: You have told a lie. You acquired knowledge so that you might be called "a scholar", and you recited the Qur'an so that it might be said: "He is a Qari" and such has been said. Then orders will be passed against him and he shall be dragged with his face downward and cast into the Fire.

Then will be brought a man whom Allah had made abundantly rich and had granted every kind of wealth. He will be brought, Allah will make him recount His blessings and he will recount them and (admit having enjoyed them in his lifetime). Allah will (then) ask: What have you done (to requite these blessings)? He will say: I spent money in every cause in which Thou wished that it should be spent. Allah will say: You are lying. You did (so) that it might be said about (you): "He is a generous fellow", and so it was said. Then will Allah pass orders and he will be dragged with his face downward and thrown into Hell.


Book 19, Number 4690:

Narrated Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-'As:

The Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: A troop of soldiers who fight in the way of Allah and get their share of the booty receive in advance two-thirds of their reward in the Hereafter and only one-third will remain (to their credit). If they do not receive any booty, they will get their full reward.


Book 19, Number 4694:

Narrated Anas ibn Malik:

The Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: Who seeks martyrdom with sincerity shall get its reward, though he may not achieve it.


Book 19, Number 4695:

Narrated Sahl ibn Hunayf:

The Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: Who sought martyrdom with sincerity will be ranked by Allah among the martyrs even if he died on his bed. In his version of the tradition AbuTahir did not mention the words: "with sincerity".


Book 19, Number 4696:

Narrated AbuHurayrah:

The Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: One who died but did not fight in the way of Allah nor did he express any desire (or determination) for Jihad died the death of a hypocrite.


Book 19, Number 4697:

Narrated Jabir ibn Abdullah:

We were with the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) on an expedition. He said: There are some people in Medina. They are with you whenever you cover a distance or cross a valley. They have been detained by illness.


Book 19, Number 4703:

Narrated Salman al-Farisi:

I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) say: Keeping watch for a day and a night is better (in point of reward) than fasting for a whole month and standing in prayer every night. If a person dies (while performing this duty), his (meritorious) activity will continue and he will go on receiving his reward for it perpetually and will be saved from the torture of the grave.


Book 19, Number 4706:

Narrated AbuHurayrah:

The Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: Whom do you consider to be a martyr among you? They (the Companions) said: Messenger of Allah, one who is slain in the way of Allah is a martyr. He said: Then (if this is the definition of a martyr) the martyrs of my Ummah will be small in number. They asked: Messenger of Allah, who are they? He said: One who is slain in the way of Allah is a martyr; one who dies in the way of Allah is a martyr; one who dies of plague is a martyr; one who dies of cholera is a martyr.


Book 19, Number 4711:

Narrated Uqbah Ibn Amir:

I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) say - and he was delivering a sermon from the pulpit: Prepare to meet them with as much strength as you can afford. Beware, strength consists in archery. Beware, strength consists in archery. Beware, strength consists in archery.


Book 19, Number 4712:

Narrated Uqbah ibn Amir:

I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) say: Lands shall be thrown open to you and Allah will suffice you (against your enemies), but none of you should give up playing with his arrows.


Book 19, Number 4714:

Narrated Uqbah ibn Amir:

Fuqaym al-Lakhmi said to Uqbah ibn Amir: You frequent between these two targets and you are and old man, so you will be finding it very hard. Uqbah said: But for a thing I heard from the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him), I would not strain myself.

Harith (one of the narrators in the chain of transmitters) said: I asked Ibn Shamasah: What was that? He said that he (the Prophet) said: Who learnt archery and then gave it up is not from us, or he has been guilty of disobedience (to Allah's Apostle).


Book 19, Number 4715:

Narrated Thawban:

The Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: A group of people from my Ummah will always remain triumphant on the right path and continue to be triumphant (against their opponents). He who deserts them shall not be able to do them any harm. They will remain in this position until Allah's Command is executed (i.e. Qayamah is established).

In Qutaybah's version of the tradition, we do not have the words: "They will remain in this position."


Book 19, Number 4717:

Narrated Jabir ibn Samurah:

The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: This religion will continue to exist, and a group of people from the Muslims will continue to fight for its protection until the Hour is established.


Book 19, Number 4718:

Narrated Jabir ibn Abdullah:

I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) say: A group of people from my Ummah will continue to fight in defence of truth and remain triumphant until the Day of Judgment.


Book 19, Number 4721:

Narrated Uqbah ibn Amir:

It has been narrated on the authority of AbdurRahman ibn Shamasah al-Mahri who said: I was in the company of Maslamah ibn Mukhallad, and Abdullah ibn Amr ibn 'As was with him. Abdullah said: The Hour shall come only when the worst type of people are left on the earth. They will be worse than the people of pre-Islamic days. They will receive whatever they ask of Allah.

While we were still sitting, Uqbah ibn Amr came and Maslamah said to him: Uqbah, listen to what Abdullah says. Uqbah said: He knows better so far as I am concerned. I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) say: A group of people from my Ummah will continue to fight in obedience to the Command of Allah, remaining dominant over their enemies. Those who oppose them shall not do them any harm. They will remain in this condition until the Hour overtakes them.

(At this) Abdullah said: Yes. Then Allah will raise a wind which will be fragrant like musk and whose touch will be like the touch of silk; (but) it will cause the death of all (faithful) persons, not leaving behind a single person with an iota of faith in his heart. Then only the worst of men will remain to be overwhelmed by the Hour.


Book 19, Number 4722:

Narrated Sa'd ibn AbuWaqqas:

The Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: The people of the West will continue to triumphantly follow the truth until the Hour is established.


Book 19, Number 4723:

Narrated AbuHurayrah:

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him said: When you journey through a fertile land, you should (go slow and) give the camels a chance to graze in the land. When you travel in an arid (land) where there is scarcity of vegetation, you should quicken their pace (lest your camels grow feeble and emaciated for lack of fodder), When you halt for the night, avoid (pitching your tent on) the road for it is the abode of noxious little animals at night.


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