It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Musa al-Ash'ari (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was on an expedition, and a man from the polytheists challenged a man from the Muslims to single combat and killed him. Then another man from the Muslims came out against him, and that polytheist killed him too. Then he came near and stood before the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: "On what basis do you people fight?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Our religion is that we fight people until they bear witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is His servant and Messenger, and that we fulfil the right of Allah." He said: "By Allah! This is indeed something good; I believe in it." Then he came over to the Muslims, charged at the polytheists and fought until he was martyred. He was carried back and laid beside the two companions whom he had killed, and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "These will be the people of Paradise who love one another the most."
Imam al-Tabarani (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "This hadith is narrated from Abu Musa (may Allah be pleased with him) only with this chain; Ibn al-Mubarak (may Allah have mercy on him) is alone in narrating it."
Hadith Referenceالمعجم الأوسط / باب الميم / 6016
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:صحيح
Hadith Takhrij«قال الهيثمي: وسماع ابن المبارك من المسعودي صحيح فصح الحديث ورجاله ثقات «مجمع الزوائد ومنبع الفوائد، ج 5، ص 296»»