Among the believers are men who were true to what they pledged to Allah

 Anas ibn al-Naḍr رضي الله عنه had missed the Battle of Badr.

It weighed heavily on him.

He said:

“If Allah allows me to witness another battle with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, Allah will see what I will do.”

Then came Uhud.

When some Muslims began to retreat, Anas advanced toward the battlefield.

He met Saʿd ibn Muʿādh رضي الله عنه and said:

“O Saʿd ibn Muʿādh!

Paradise!

By the Lord of al-Naḍr, I can smell its fragrance from this side of Uhud.”

Then he charged forward.

He fought until he was martyred.

After the battle, they found more than eighty wounds on his body from swords, spears, and arrows.

His body had been so badly mutilated that no one could recognize him.

Except his sister.

She recognized him by his fingers.

Anas ibn Mālik رضي الله عنه said that they believed this verse was revealed concerning him and men like him:

﴿مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ رِجَالٌ صَدَقُوا مَا عَاهَدُوا اللَّهَ عَلَيْهِ فَمِنْهُم مَّن قَضَىٰ نَحْبَهُ وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَنتَظِرُ وَمَا بَدَّلُوا تَبْدِيلًا﴾

“Among the believers are men who were true to what they pledged to Allah. Some of them have fulfilled their pledge, and some are still waiting, and they have never changed in the least.”

Surah al-Aḥzāb 33:23

رضي الله عنه

Jihad is required in all Conditions

انْفِرُوا خِفَافًا وَثِقَالًا وَجَاهِدُوا بِأَمْوَالِكُمْ وَأَنْفُسِكُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ

(March forth, whether you are light (being healthy, young and wealthy) or heavy (being ill, old and poor), strive hard with your wealth and your lives in the Cause of Allah. This is better for you, if you but knew.)

Sufyan Ath Thawri narrated from his father from Abu-Duha, Muslim bin Subayh, who said, “This Ayah,

انْفِرُوا خِفَافًا وَثِقَالًا

(March forth, whether you are light or heavy)

was the first part to be revealed from “Surah Bara’ah” (At-Tabari 14:270) Mu’tamir bin Sulayman narrated that his father said, “Hadrami claimed that he was told that some people used to declare that they will not gain sin (if they lag behind the forces of Jihad) because they are ill and old. This Ayah was revealed.

انْفِرُوا خِفَافًا وَثِقَالًا

(March forth, whether you are light or heavy)

Allah commanded mass mobilization together with the Messenger of Allah (صلي الله عليه وسلم) for the battle of Tabuk, to fight the disbelieving, People of the Book, the Romans, Allah’s enemies. Allah ordained that the believes all march forth with the Messenger (صلي الله عليه وسلم) regardless whether they felt active, lazy, at ease or had difficult circumstances, (At Tabari 14:266)

انْفِرُوا خِفَافًا وَثِقَالًا

(March forth, whether you are light or heavy)

Ali bin Zayd narrated that Anas said that Abu Talhah commented (on this Ayah), “Whether you are old or young, Allah did not leave an excuse for anyone.” Abu Talhah marched to Ash-Sham and fought until he was killed. In another narration, Abu Talhah recited Surah Bara’ah until he reached this Ayah,

انْفِرُوا خِفَافًا وَثِقَالًا وَجَاهِدُوا بِأَمْوَالِكُمْ وَأَنْفُسِكُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ

(March forth, whether you are light (being healthy, young and wealthy) or heavy (being ill, old and poor), strive hard with your wealth and your lives in the Cause of Allah. This is better for you, if you but knew.)

He then said. “I see that Allah had called us to mobilize whether we are old or young. O my children! Prepare my supplies.” His children said, “May Allah grant you His mercy! You conducted Jihad along with the Messenger of Allah (صلي الله عليه وسلم) until he died, then with Abu Bakr until he died, then with Umar until he died. Let us perform Jihad in your place.” Abu Talhah refused and he went to the sea [under the command of Mu’awiyah] where he died. They could not find an island to bury him on until nine days later, during which his body did not deteriorate or change and they buried him on the island. (Ibn Abi Hatim 6:1802.)

As-Suddi said,

انْفِرُوا خِفَافًا وَثِقَالًا

(March forth, whether you are light or heavy), whether you are rich, poor, strong, or weak. A man came forward, and he was fat, complained, and asked for permission to stay behind (from Jihad) but the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) refused. Then this Ayah,

انْفِرُوا خِفَافًا وَثِقَالًا

(March forth, whether you are light or heavy) was revealed, and it became hard on the people. So Allah abrogated it with this Ayah,

لَيْسَ عَلَى الضُّعَفَاءِ وَلَا عَلَى الْمَرْضَىٰ وَلَا عَلَى الَّذِينَ لَا يَجِدُونَ مَا يُنْفِقُونَ حَرَجٌ إِذَا نَصَحُوا لِلَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ

(There is no blame on those who are weak or ill or who find no resources to spend [in holy fighting (Jihad)], if they are sincere and true (in duty) to Allah and His Messenger.) (9:91)

Ibn Jabir said that Hibban bin Zayd Ash-Shar’abi narrated to him; “We mobilized our forces with Safwan bin ‘Amr, who was the governor of Hims towards the city of Ephsos appointed to the Jerajima Christian expatriates (in Syria). I saw among the army an old, yet active man, whose eyebrows had sunk over his eyes (from old age), from the residents of Damascus, riding on his animal. I said to him, ‘O uncle! Allah has given you an excuse (to lag behind).’ He said, ‘O my nephew! Allah has mobilized us whether we are light or heavy. Verily, those whom Allah loves, He tests them. Then to Allah is their return and eternal dwelling. Allah tests from His servants whoever thanks (Him) and observes patience and remembrance of Him, all the while worshipping Allah, the Exalted and Most Honored, and worshipping none else.’” (At-Tabari 14:264)

Next, Allah encourages spending in His cause and striving with one’s life in His pleasure and the pleasure of His Messenger (صلي الله عليه وسلم),

وَجَاهِدُوا بِأَمْوَالِكُمْ وَأَنْفُسِكُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ

(And strive hard with your wealth and your lives in the Cause of Allah. This is better for you, if you but knew.)

Allah says, this is better for you in this life and the Hereafter. You might spend small amounts, but Allah will reward you the property of your enemy in this life, as well as, the honor that He will keep for you in the Hereafter. The Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم)  said,

«تَكَفَّلَ اللهُ لِلْمُجَاهِدِ فِي سَبِيلِهِ إِنْ تَوَفَّاهُ أَنْ يُدْخِلَهُ الْجَنَّةَ، أَوْ يَرُدَّهُ إِلَى مَنْزِلِهِ بِمَا نَالَ مِنْ أَجْرٍ أَوْ غَنِيمَة»

(Allah promised the Mujahid in His cause that if He brings death to him, He will enter him into Paradise. Or, He will return him to his house with whatever reward and war spoils he earns.) [Muslim 4:1496]

So Allah said;

كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْقِتَالُ وَهُوَ كُرْهٌ لَكُمْ ۖ وَعَسَىٰ أَنْ تَكْرَهُوا شَيْئًا وَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ ۖ وَعَسَىٰ أَنْ تُحِبُّوا شَيْئًا وَهُوَ شَرٌّ لَكُمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنْتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

(Jihad is ordained for you (Muslims) though you dislike it, and it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allah knows but you do not know.) [2:216]

 Imam Ahmad recorded that Anas said that the Messenger of Allah (صلي الله عليه وسلم) said to a man,

«أَسْلِم»

(Embrace Islam,) but the man said, "I dislike doing so.'' The Messenger (صلي الله عليه وسلم)  said,

«أَسْلِمْ وَإِنْ كُنْتَ كَارِهًا»

(Embrace Islam even if you dislike it).'' [Ahmad 3:109]

لَوْ كَانَ عَرَضًا قَرِيبًا وَسَفَرًا قَاصِدًا لَاتَّبَعُوكَ وَلَٰكِنْ بَعُدَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الشُّقَّةُ ۚ وَسَيَحْلِفُونَ بِاللَّهِ لَوِ اسْتَطَعْنَا لَخَرَجْنَا مَعَكُمْ يُهْلِكُونَ أَنْفُسَهُمْ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ إِنَّهُمْ لَكَاذِبُونَ

Had it been a near gain (booty in front of them) and an easy journey, they would have followed you, but the distance (Tabuk expedition) was long for them, and they would swear by Allah, "If we only could, we would certainly have come forth with you." They destroy their ownselves, and Allah knows that they are liars. [9:42].

Source: Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Vol 4) P: 432 to 435, Jihad is Required in all Conditions

And Hasten to the Forgiveness from Your Lord – Abu Ayyub al-Maaldifi

وَسَارِعُوا إِلَىٰ مَغْفِرَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا السَّمَاوَاتُ وَالْأَرْضُ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ

“And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and a garden as wide as the heavens and earth, prepared for the righteous”

When the enemies join forces, to destroy the Deen of Allah, When the Sharia of Allah is belittled, and the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alaihi wasallam is mocked, when the Muslims are oppressed, and mischief widespread, when the true callers are imprisoned, and the word jihad omitted, Oh you who are oppressed by the hands of tyrants Oh you who are distressed by the situation of the Ummah Know that the Victory of Allah is near.

For; This is the religion of Allah the Creator of Heavens and Earth, No doubt Allah will keep sending His glorious soldiers, the best of His creation to protect & safeguard the firm Religion of Islam.

This is the Ummah of Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasallam which produced Sahabas of Great Caliber most of whom took their last breath in the battlefields never to give up even when their limbs were cut off and their bodies mutilated. And no doubt their successors and grandsons will rise to irrigate the oasis of faith and action with their blood to aid the Ummah of Islam as time goes by.

This is the Muslim Ummah of Jihad in which, no doubt mother’s would keep giving birth to heroes and wives would keep sending their husbands out of comfort of their life into the cross fire of guns and swords never to return unless in shrouds of lifelessness.

That is when we see the Lions of Allah moving killing and roaring “Labbaik ya Allah” in the battlefields beginning from the deserts of Arabia to the horn of Africa over to the torabora proceeding to open the gate of Ash Sham and finally to al Quds.

That is when we see the magnificent men who are willing to fasten the bridges of Deen with their bodies in response to kuffar’s invasion for nothing but the reward of Paradise responding to the call of Jihad Fi Sabilillahi when it is announced from every corner of the earth; from north to south and from east to west.

They are the Lions of monotheism and the moths of Prophethood, standing in the vanguard of the Ummah defending the Kalimah La ilaha ill Allah. Whose hearts are filled with love of being killed for the sake of Allah and whose hearts are filled with hatred of enemies for the sake of Allah.

At one point this very person may be induced by this world forgetting the hereafter but by the will of Allah sunhanahu wata alaa, the turner of hearts brings him out of darkness into light. After true guidance starts to shine through his life, Allah becomes more beloved than anything else in his life. Tears roll down his cheeks in Salatul Tahajjad. He feels the pain of Muslims in his heart for Muslims are like one body, if one limb is hurting then the rest of the body hurts. As he moves he sees that indigence and indignity has becomes fate of the Ummah. He sees the prevailing kufr with Wahn submerged in the hearts of Muslims. Realization dawns upon him that the aid to the religion of Allah is only through Jihad.

He starts to write the history of sacrifice and devotedness with his heart moving here and there looking for Hijrah to the lands of Jihad like a fish wanting to be in the water. He would cry tears of truth and he would not rest until he gets to the lands of Jihad to help the Ummah to once again raise the banner of Tawheed and eliminate the Disbelievers.

It may be a journey of trials and tribulations, prison and torment but he gives the message to every kuffar’s squadron and leaders that he can slay his neck for the Tawheed of Allah but he would not submit to the sills of their Thagooth with a single beat left in his heart. (In sha Allah)

These are the Soldiers of Allah whose sweat and blood paves the road of the Deen and whose torn bodies become the brick of it pillars. For you will see them with greed and eagerness for the everlasting Jannatul Firdawus which is wider than the heavens and the earth. For they become the Martyrs rushing towards the pleasure of their Lord the true Lord of the heavens and the earth.”

Abu Ayyub al Maaldifi

Source: http://biladalsham.wordpress.com/2014/01/25/and-hasten-to-the-forgiveness-from-your-lord-abu-ayyub-al-maaldifi/

The bravery of Tulayhah al Azdi

When Saad bin Abi Waqqaas (ra) asked the Khalifah Umar (ra) to send him reinforcement. Umar (ra) replied: “I have sent you 2000 men: Amr bin Ma’adi Yakrib and Tulayhah al Azdi. Each one of them counts as a thousand.”

Tulayhah al Azdi , Amr, and Qays bin Makshooh went on a reconnaissance mission to the enemy’s army. Both Amr and Qays kidnapped some Persian soldiers and brought them back to the Muslim camp for interrogation. 

Tulayhah went further until he was in the camp of the army’s commander. He hid until nightfall and then went straight to the tent of the commander and took away his horse - which was tied to the tent - and ran away. A Persian horseman saw that and followed him. Tulayhah killed him and took his horse along with his and the commander’s horse. Another horseman pursued him and Tulayhah also killed him and took his horse. A third horseman attacked him but then surrendered. Tulayhah captured him and carried him away, along with a total of four horses in addition to his. 

The Muslim leaders gathered to question the Persian who was captured who turned out to be one of their leaders. He said: “I have fought numerous battles but I have never seen anything like this man! He crossed our camps until he made it to where even the brave would not dare: the camp of our army’s commander, which had over 70,000 soldiers. As if that wasn’t enough he went ahead and took the commander’s horse! The first of us to follow him was considered among us to be equal to a thousand men and he killed him! The second to follow him was killed and then I pursued him and I don’t think that there is anyone in the army equal to myself in strength and courage. But I saw death on his hands and surrendered! The man then accepted Islam and fought alongside the Muslims.

Source: ‘Mashari al-Ashwaq ila Masari al-Ushaaq’ by Imam Ibn Nuhaas

The status of the shuhadha and the Muraabit on the Day of Judgment

When the people will be filled with terror on the Day of Judgment, the shaheed (martyr) will feel no fear.

In Sunan at-Tirmidhi and sunan ibn Maajah it is narrated that Al-Miqdaam ibn Ma’di Karb related: The Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu ‘Alahi Wasallam) said:

“Before Allah, the shaheed has six virtues: he is forgiven from the first drop of blood shed; he will be shown his place in paradise; he will be protected from the torment of the grave; he will be safe from the greater terror (of the Day of Resurrection); a crown of dignity will be placed on his head, of which one ruby is better than this world and all that is it; he will be married to seventy two of Al-Hoor al ‘Iyn; and he will intercede for seventy of his relatives. “ (1)

The pertinent point of this Hadith is that the shaheed will be safe from the greater terror, the terror of the Day of Resurrection. Similar to the Shaheed (Martyr) is the the muraabit, who guards the borders of Islam for the sake of Allah. If he dies whilst he is guarding the borders of Islam, Allah will keep him safe from the greater terror.

Tabaraani narrated with a saheeh isnaad from Abu’d-Dardaa’ that the Prophet (Sallallahu ‘Alahi Wasallam) said:

“Guarding the borders of Islam for a day is better than fasting for a lifetime. Whoever dies guarding the borders of Islam for the sake of Allah will be kept from the great terror, his provision and breeze will be brought from Paradise, and the reward of the Muraabit will continue until Allah resurrects him.”(2)

One of the ways in which Allah will honor the shaheed on the day of Resurrection will be that He will raise him with his wounds flowing with blood. The color will be blood but it will smell like musk.

Bukhari narrated from Abu Hurayrah ( Radi Allah anhu) that the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu ‘Alahi Wasallam) said:

“By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, no one is wounded for the sake of Allah- and Allah knows best who is wounded for His sake- but he will come on the Day of Resurrection with his wounds flowing with blood . The color will be of blood but smell musk.”(3)

Tirmidhi, Nasaa’i and Abu Dawood narrated with a saheeh isnaad from Mu’aadh ibn Jabal that he heard the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu ‘Alahi Wasallam) say:

“Whoever fights for the sake of Allah , even for the interval between two milkings of a camel, will be entitled to Paradise, and whoever is wounded or injured for the sake of Allah , the injury will appear on the Day od Resurrection bleeding copiously , the color of saffron and with the fragrance of musk.” (4)

Ibn  Hajar said: “The scholars said: ‘The reason why he will be resurrected in this state is that it will be a testimony to his virtue, becausae he sacrificed himself in Obeying Allah.”” (5)

(1)Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 2/358, Hadith no.3834. The editor of Al-Mishkaat said its isnaad is saheeh.

(2)Saheeh al-Jaami’ as-Sagheer, 3/171, hadith no. 3473.

(3) Bukhari: kitaab al-Jihaad, Baab man yujrah fi Sabeel Allah, Fath al-Baari, 6/20.

(4) Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 2/355, Hadith no.3825.

(5)Fath al-Baari, 6/20.

Taken from the book "The Day of Resurrection" by Dr. 'Umar S. al-Ashqar

The Pious predecessors and their love for Jihad

Uthman (ra) stood on the pulpit and said: “I heard from the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) a hadith that I didn’t tell you about previously because I feared you would all leave from Madinah. I heard him say: ‘Being stationed in the path of Allah for a day is better than 1000 days anywhere else. So let everyone choose what they like.”

Abu Bakr as Sideeq (ra) escorted an army and walked with them and then said, “Praise be to Allah for having dust on our feet in his cause.” A man said: “But we just escorted them and gave them farewell?” Abu Bakr said: “We prepared them, gave them farewell and made prayers for them.”

Abu Bakr bin Abi Musa said I heard my father say: “Paradise is beneath the shadow of swords.” A man dressed in poor clothes stood up and said: “O Abu Musa! Did you hear that from the Messenger of Allah(Peace be upon him)?” He said “yes” The man went back to his companions and gave them his salaams, then he drew out his sword, broke his sheath and went on to fight until he was killed.”

Urwah bin al Zubair said: “Al Zubair had three scars from sword wounds. One was on his shoulder. It was so large I would stick my fingers in it. Two of them were from Badr and one in the battle of Yarmuk”

Anas bin Malik (ra) said: ‘Abu al Dujanah threw himself behind the walls in Yamamah and his leg broke. He kept on fighting with a broken leg until he was killed.’

Muadh bin Amr bin al Jamooh said: ‘I made Abu Jahl my target on the day of Badr. When I found him, I charged at him and hit him with my sword and cut his leg in two. Then his son Ikrimah hit me on my shoulder until he cut off my arm. It only remained hanging to my body by the skin of my side. But because fighting distracted me I remained dragging it behind me for most of the day. Dragging my arm behind me annoyed me so I placed my foot over it and pulled it off.’

Khalid bin al Waleed (ra) said: “That I were to marry a beautiful woman whom I love, or that I were given the good news of having a newborn son, it is less beloved and dear to my heart then to be, in a cold icy night, in an army waiting to meet the enemy the next morning. I advise you to go on Jihad”

These were the words of Khalid before his death. He also said, “I was prevented a lot of reciting of Quran because of my preoccupation with Jihad.”

Abdullah bin Amr said, “Shall I tell you about the best martyr on the Day of Judgment? That is the one who stands in the ranks on the battlefield and when they face the enemy he does not turn left or right. Rather he carries his sword and says: “O Allah! Today I hand over to you my soul to make up for my past days!” and then he is killed. That person is among the martyrs who now lie down in the high rooms of Paradise wherever they wish!”

Ibn Umar (ra) said, “One trip on Jihad is better than 50 Hajjs.”

Abu al Hassan al Muradi narrated that Ali bin Bakar said: “I’ve seen a Muslim in a battle against the Romans with his intestines spilled in front of him over his saddle. He stuck them back to his stomach and tied his turban around it. He carried on fighting and ended up killed over ten Roman soldiers before falling dead!”

Al Khateeb mentions in “The history of Baghdad” and Ibn Asakir in “The history of Damascus”, that Muhammad bin Fadhail bin Iyad said: “I saw Ibn al Mubarak in my dream so I asked him “What did you find your best deeds to be?” He said: “The deed that I preoccupied myself with.” I asked “Jihad and Ribaat?” He said: “Yes.” I told him “So what did Allah Almighty do to you?” He said, “He forgave me.”

Al Fadhl bin Ziyad said: I heard Abu Abdullah (Imam Ahmad) when Qazw was mentioned to him he started to cry and then said, “There is no act of worship greater than it”

(Ibn Qudamah records) in al Mugni it states that Imam Ahmad said: “There is nothing comparable in rewards to meeting the enemy. And for one to involve in the actual fighting is the best of deeds (compared to supportive roles.) The ones who are fighting the enemy are the ones defending Islam, so what can be greater than that? People feel save while they feel fear. They have given up their souls for Allah.”

Uthman is one of the Imams of the Tabi’een and one of their fighters. He was asked, “Are you going out to fight this year?” He said, “Yes, I wouldn’t want to miss fighting even if I were to make 100,000 dinars.”

Saad bin Abdul Aziz said Abu Muslim al Khawlani died in the territory of the Romans during the reign of Mu’awyah. He told Bisr bin Arta’ah (a companion who was the leader of their army): “Appoint me as the Amir (commander) over the dead and hand me the banner of war and make my grave the closest of all the graves of the martyrs to the enemy. I want to be resurrected on the Day of Judgment carrying the banner of war leading the martyrs.”

Yazeed bin Abi Ubayd said: “I asked Salamah bin al Akwa: “What was your pledge to the Messenger of Allah on the day of Hudaybiah?” He said: “We pledged to die.”

Al Qurtubi writes in his Tafseer, “As long as the enemy is more than twice the number of Muslims they can retreat but being steadfast and fighting is better. In the battle of Mutah the Muslims with only 3000 faced the Roman army of 200,000 Roman soldiers and 100,000 Arab soldiers. It is also mentioned that when Tariq was opening al Andalusia he had only 1700 soldiers while his enemy was 70,000 strong.”

Source: ‘Mashari al-Ashwaq ila Masari al-Ushaaq’ by Imam Ibn Nuhaas Translated by Imam Anwar Awlaki

The zeal of Salahuddin Ayyubi for Jihad against crusaders

Qadi Ibn Shaddad described Salahuddin’s state when the crusaders were occupying Muslim land.

“The occupation of Jerusalem was a great matter that even a mountain could not bear. He was like a mother who is bereaved of her child. He rode from one place to another urging the people to jihad and wandered about places crying “Oh for Islam” and his eyes shed tears. The more he looked at Acre (which was occupied by Crusaders) and the trials afflicted the people, the more he urged people to Jihad. At that time he ate nothing. He drank medicine given by the doctor. I was told by some of his doctors that from Sunday till Friday he ate only insignificant amount because he was so interested in Jihad”. 

When Salahuddin Ayyubi was asked about the reason why he ate a little, he answered “How can mirth, food and sleep be agreeable to me while Jerusalem is in the hands of the crusader’s”. 

Qadi Ibn  Shaddad also says

“Because of his Jihad and desire to make Allah’s word supreme, he left his children and family for a long time in order to liberate Jerusalem from the claws of the wicked crusaders and cruel invaders.  

Once Salahuddin was told that the enemy has defeated the Muslims, he prostrated and prayed “Oh Allah, my worldly means have been exhausted, so I have failed to achieve victory for your religion. Nothing remains but your aid, holding fast to your rope, and depending on Your grace. You are sufficient for me, as you are the best Trustee “. I saw his weeping so much in prayer that his tears fell on his beard, then on the carpet. I could not hear what he said. 

On the day he was told the Muslims had triumphed over their enemies. He used to fight on Friday in order to get the Blessings of the supplications of the ones giving the sermons in the mosques, for maybe their prayers would be answered”. 

Source: Salah Ad-Din Al Ayyubi (Saladin), Hero of the battle of Hattin and Liberator of Jerusalem from crusaders by ‘Abdullah Nasih ‘Ulwan

The Most Profitable Bargain

By Sayyid Qutb

Allah has bought of the believers their lives and their property, promising them heaven in return: they fight for the cause of Allah, kill and be killed. This is a true promise which He has made binding on Himself in the Torah, the Gospel and the Qur’ān. Who is more true to his promise than Allah? Rejoice, then, in the bargain you have made with Him. That is the supreme triumph. (Verse 111, Surah Thawbah)

This Verse is an inspiring verse, revealing the nature of the relationship between the believers and Allah, and the nature of the deal they make with Allah when they adopt Islam and which remains in force throughout their lives. Whoever makes this deal and remains true to it is the one who may truly be described as a believer reflecting the nature of faith. Otherwise his claim to be a believer remains short of proof.

The nature of this deal, or this contract of sale, as Allah graciously describes it, is that He has taken for Himself the souls and property of the believers, leaving them nothing of all that. They do not retain any part of that which they would feel too dear to sacrifice for His cause. They no longer have any choice whether to spend it in furthering His cause or not. It is indeed a deal that has been concluded and sealed.

The buyer may do what He likes, as He pleases, with what He has bought. The seller has no option other than to fulfil the terms of the deal. He cannot argue or make any choices. He can only do what the deal specifies. The price given for this purchase is paradise, and the way to be followed by the sellers is that of jihād, fighting and sacrificing their lives, and the end result is either victory or martyrdom.

“Allah has bought of the believers their lives and their property, promising them heaven in return: they fight for the cause of Allah, kill and be killed.” (Verse 111) Whoever is party to this deal, signing the contract, paying the price agreed is a true believer. It is with the believers that Allah has made this deal of purchase. He has bestowed His grace on them by specifying a price. He is, after all, the One who gives life and property to all His creation, and He has also given human beings the ability to make a choice. He then bestowed further grace on human beings by making them able to make contracts, even with Allah Himself, and holding them to their contracts. He makes the honoring of their contract an evidence of their humanity, while going back on it is evidence of sinking back to the level of animals, and the worst of animals: “Indeed, the worst of all creatures in Allah’s sight are the ones who have denied the truth, and therefore will not believe; those with whom you have concluded a treaty, and then they break their treaty at every occasion, entertaining no sense of fearing Allah.” (8: 55-56) He has also made the honoring or violation of such deals the criterion of reckoning and reward.

It is indeed an awesome deal, but it remains binding on every believer who is able to honor its terms. He is not to be exempt from it unless he goes back on his faith. Hence the sense of dread that I feel now as I am writing these words. “Allah has bought of the believers their lives and their property, promising them heaven in return: they fight for the cause of Allah, kill and be killed.” (Verse 111) My Lord, we certainly need Your help.

The deal fills us with awe. Yet those who are claiming to be Muslims everywhere, from the far east to the far west are sitting idle, unwilling to strive hard in order to establish the fundamental truth of Allah’s Lordship on earth, or to remove the tyranny which usurps the qualities of Lordship over human life on earth. They are unwilling to fight, kill and be killed for Allah’s cause, and unwilling to undertake a struggle that does not involve fighting and sacrificing one’s life.

These words touched the hearts of the early Muslims at the time of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) and were transformed into a reality that they would experience in life. They were not mere words carrying certain abstract meanings for contemplation and reflection.

They were meant for immediate implementation. This is how `Abdullah ibn Rawahah felt at the time of the second pledge given by the Ansar to the Prophet (Peace be upon him) at `Aqabah as reported by Muhammad ibn Ka`b al-Qurazi and others: “ `Abdullah ibn Rawahah asked Allah’s Messenger(Peace beupon) to specify Allah’s conditions and his own conditions. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: `As for Allah, the condition is that you worship Him alone, associating no partners with Him. And as for myself, the condition is that you protect me like you protect yourselves and your property.’ He said: ‘What do we get in return if we fulfill these terms?’ The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: ‘Paradise.’ They all said: ‘This is a profitable deal. We accept no going back and we will not go back on it ourselves.’”

That is how they felt about the whole contract: it was a profitable deal that allows no going back by either party. They treated it as a final deal concluded and sealed, with no opting out clause. The price, which is paradise, is paid, not deferred. Is it not a promise made by Allah Himself? Is He not the purchaser? Is He not the One who has made an old promise specifying the price in all His revelations: “This is a true promise which He has made binding on Himself in the Torah, the Gospel and the Qur’ān.” (Verse 111)

“Who is more true to his promise than Allah?” (Verse 111) Indeed a promise by Allah is certain to be honored. No one fulfills his promises like He does.

Jihad, or striving for Allah’s cause, is a deal made by every believer, ever since the first Messenger was sent to mankind with a religion setting out the principles of faith. It is a course of action that is necessary to put life on a proper footing. Without it human life will not follow its right course. It is as Allah says in the Qur’ān: “Had it not been for the fact that Allah repels one group of people by another, the earth would have been utterly corrupted.” (2: 251) And He also says: “Had it not been for the fact that Allah repels one group of people by another, monasteries, temples, houses of worship and mosques, wherein Allah’s name is often praised, would have been pulled down.” (22: 40)

The story of Abu Muslim at-Turki

A Turkish brother who lived all his life in Britain, but, who lived a life of a Kafir. He was married to an English woman, and he did not used to pray and did not used to practice anything of Islam. And then Allah guided him to the Straight Path, and when he heard of Bosnia, he said to himself that: 

"I must go to Bosnia and I must repent and I must fight against the Kuffar as maybe Allah will forgive me for what I have done in the past." 

In one operation against the Croats, the Ameer did not pick him due to his age; and he began to cry...not weep, but wail like a baby until he forced the Ameer to let him take part in the operation. He was shot by a machine gun bullet in his arm which broke the bone and metal had to be placed in his arm for a period of six months. Abu-Muslim, he used to exercise his arm a lot, and after 45 days, the doctor said that they could remove the metal. Everyone was surprised, at how  "...the metal could be removed after 45 days.."
He had a dream before one of the large operations in which he saw the Rasulallah (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) and so Abu-Muslim began to kiss his feet. Rasulallah(sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said to him:
"Do not kiss my feet."  Then he began to kiss his hands and Rasulallah said:  "Do not kiss my hands."  And Rasulallah (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) asked him:  "What do you want?"  Abu-Muslim said:  "Ya Rasulallah (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam). Make dua’ that tomorrow in the operation I am killed Shaheed."

Before the operation, the Ameer, Abul-Harith (ra), was picking the people to take part in this operation. He refused Abu-Muslim to take part and said to him: 

"You are still injured." 

A brother who was present there, said that Abu-Muslim cried and cried like a baby and said to the Ameer:  "Fear Allah." 

The brothers there said to him:  "Do not shout and cry so loud, as maybe the Serbs, they will hear you." 

Abu-Muslim replied:  "By Allah, if you do not put me in this operation, I will cry so loudly that the whole country will hear me." ,  he said to the Ameer:  "Put me in this operation, even at the back as the last one." 

The Ameer said to him  "Are you sure? I will put you at the back.."
 
He (Abu-Muslim) said:  "Put me anywhere in this operation,...right at the back...but include me in this operation." 

And so he went and he took part in this operation; and even though he was at the end, the course of the fighting changed, so that the back became the front, and he was killed,...the second one in this operation by a bullet in his heart. The body was returned by the Croats after three months. It was smelling of musk, and no change had come on his body. And all the brothers there, said that his body had become more beautiful and white since the last time they saw him. 


Source: In the hearts of green birds

He entered Paradise without making a single Prostration

Just prior to the conquest of khaybar, a black, Abyssinian slave who resided in Khaybar, was busy herding sheep for his master. ‎When he  saw the citizens of Khaybar taking their weapons, he ‎asked some of them, “What are you intending to do?” They said, "We are about to fight the one who claims he is a Prophet.”The slave suddenly remembered having heard about a prophet.

Being interested in the prophet's message, the slave secretly ‎steered his herd to the Muslim encampment and asked the ‎Messenger of Allah ( )“What do you say? and to what is the you are inviting (people) to follow?” The Prophet ()replied: “I am inviting ‎‎(people) to Islam, to bear witness that none has the right to be ‎worshiped but Allah, and that I am indeed the Messenger of ‎Allah, and to worship none save Allah.” The slave said, “What ‎will I have if I bear witness and believe in Allah The Possessor of Might and Majesty?” The Prophet ( )said: “If you die upon that (upon Islam), you will have Paradise.” The slave embraced Islam and said, “O Messenger of Allah, verily these sheep ‎are trust with me(i.e, they are not mine,so what should I do with them)". The Messenger of Allah ()said: “Release them from your care and send them off through Al-Hasbaa, verily Allah will then ‎fulfill your trust for you.” He did as he was told, and the ‎sheep returned to their master –  who correctly deduced that his ‎slave had embraced Islam and joined the ranks of Muslim army.

Prior to the commencement of the fighting, the Messenger of Allah( )stood up before the people,  admonished them and ‎encouraged them to perform Jihad. During the course of the fighting, one of the people who died was the black Abyssinian slave. The Muslims carried him to their encampment and he was ‎placed in a large tent. It is related that the Prophet ( ) said to his ‎Companions: “Verily, Allah has honored this slave and steered him to Khaybar (for a purpose); I indeed saw beside his ‎head two of the fair Maidens (Hoor al-Ayn who have wide beautiful eyes) of Paradise , and that despite the fact he ‎never performed a single prostration for Allah in prayer.”1

1: Refer to Zaad Al-Ma'ad (3/323, 324), As Seerah An-Nabawiyyah (3/39) and Ibn Katheer's Al Bidaayah wan-Nihaayah