Bukhari

Hadith Commentary:
Many Qur’anic verses and Prophetic hadiths have been narrated regarding the virtues of jihad in the path of Allah. Among these are also the hadiths mentioned here, which clearly express the virtues of jihad.

The lives of the early generations of Muslims bear witness that they truly understood Islam and its lofty objectives as they ought to be understood. On this basis, with shrouds tied upon their heads, they wandered and strove throughout the world, and created such a history that will remain a guiding light for the people of Islam until the Day of Judgment.

Hadith Commentary:
➊
These ahadith are intended to encourage striving (jihad) in the way of Allah, because Allah, the Exalted, grants the mujahid a tremendous reward in the Hereafter in exchange for even a little striving. So, for the one who spends his wealth in jihad and sacrifices his life, there is truly no limit to his reward and recompense.

➋
People hold great esteem in their hearts for the wealth and possessions of this world, but the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) expressed its transience in these words:
Even if someone were to receive the entire world and become the owner of everything in it, it would still hold no value whatsoever compared to even the lowest of the lowly blessings of Paradise.

➌
Such was the effect of the sacred teachings of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) that the Muslims came to understand Islam and its objectives. Then, with their shrouds tied upon their heads (ready for martyrdom), they spread over the entire world and wrote such a history that it remains a guiding light for the people of Islam until the Day of Resurrection.

Hadith Commentary:
In an Islamic legal state, if someone is assigned the duty of guarding a post at the border and fulfills this responsibility well, his name is also recorded among the mujahideen, and he receives such a reward that, in comparison, all the wealth of the world holds no value, because the world is, after all, perishable, while its reward is everlasting.

"Al-Ribat" (with a kasrah under the letter ra and a light meem) means to remain stationed at the place between the Muslims and the disbelievers in order to protect the Muslims from them. The author has deduced from the verse, choosing the most well-known interpretations. According to Hasan al-Basri and Qatadah: "Be steadfast in obedience to Allah, and persevere against the enemies of Allah in jihad, and remain stationed (murabitun) in the path of Allah." And according to Muhammad ibn al-Ka'b: "Be steadfast in obedience, persevere in awaiting the promise, remain stationed against the enemy, and fear Allah in your mutual dealings." (Fath)

Hadith Commentary:
➊
Regarding the virtue of standing guard (keeping watch), the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said:
“One day and night spent in guarding (the frontier) is better than a month’s fasting and standing in prayer at night. If a person is martyred while standing guard, his (reward for this) deed will continue and he will be given its reward, and he will remain safe from trials.”
(Sahih Muslim, Al-Imarah, Hadith 4938(1913))

➋
To observe the movements of the enemy at the border so that the enemy does not infiltrate the Muslim territories, and to guard one’s own borders, is called ribat (frontier watch). This act of standing guard is better than all worldly possessions and equipment, because the world is perishable and its possessions are destined to end, whereas the fruits of standing guard are everlasting. And how can something that is destined to perish be superior to things that are everlasting?

Explanation:
1:
The mention of the whip has been made specifically because it is customary for a horseman that, before dismounting from his mount, he throws his whip on the ground to reserve a spot for himself. In this way, he intends to indicate that this place has now been reserved for him, so that no one else should try to get ahead of him regarding it. Secondly, by mentioning the amount and distance of a whip here, the intention is to convey the virtue and value of Paradise.

Because the reward for going out for jihad is something everlasting, while everything in this world is perishable. What comparison can there be between the “everlasting” and the “perishable”? Even if the “everlasting” is small in quantity and the “perishable” is abundant.

Benefit:
From this hadith, the importance of even a small space in Paradise becomes clear. When a place in Paradise equivalent to the space occupied by a whip is better than the world and all that it contains, then what will be the status and rank of a palace in Paradise?