Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates that the Holy Prophet ﷺ sent an army towards Mu'tah and appointed Hazrat Zaid (may Allah be pleased with him) as the commander over them. He instructed that if Zaid (may Allah be pleased with him) is martyred, then Ja'far (may Allah be pleased with him) should be made the leader, and if Ja'far is also martyred, then Abdullah bin Rawahah should be made the leader. Despite the army's departure, Hazrat Abdullah bin Rawahah (may Allah be pleased with him) stayed behind with the intention of offering Jumu'ah (Friday prayer) with the Prophet ﷺ. When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saw him, he asked, "Why did you stay behind?" He replied, "With the intention of offering Jumu'ah with you." The Prophet ﷺ said, "Spending a morning or an evening in the path of Allah is better than the world and whatever is in it."

It is narrated from Hazrat Sahl bin Sa’d (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: To spend a morning or an evening in the way of Allah is better than the world and whatever is in it.

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Ayyub Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Spending a morning or an evening in the way of Allah is better than everything upon which the sun rises and sets.

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "A morning or an evening spent in the way of Allah is better than the whole world."

Hazrat Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that I asked: O Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)! Which deed is the best? He replied: To have faith in Allah and to strive in the path of Allah.

Hazrat Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that I asked, "O Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)! Which deed is the best?" He replied, "To perform the prayer at its appointed time." I asked, "Then which deed is the best?" He replied, "To treat your parents well." I asked, "Then which deed is the best?" He replied, "To strive in the path of Allah."

Hazrat Nu'man bin Bashir (may Allah have mercy on him) narrates that the one who strives in the path of Allah is, until he returns, like a person who fasts during the day and stands in prayer at night.

It is narrated from Hazrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: To spend a morning or an evening in the way of Allah is better than the world and whatever is in it.

Hazrat Salman (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that when a person is in the path of Allah and his heart trembles out of fear, his sins fall away just as dates fall from a date cluster.

Hazrat Mu'adh bin Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that when we returned from the Battle of Tabuk, I said, "O Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)! Tell me about the peak of the hump of Islam." He replied, "The peak of the hump of Islam is striving in the way of Allah (jihad)."

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Allah Almighty has guaranteed that whoever sets out in the way of Allah, believing in Allah and affirming His Messenger, He will either admit him into Paradise or return him with reward and spoils.

Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that people asked, "O Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)! Tell us of a deed that is equal to striving in the path of Allah (jihad)?" He replied, "You do not have the ability to do that." The people said, "O Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)! Please tell us, perhaps we may be able to do it!" The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "The example of the one who strives in the path of Allah is like that of a person who fasts continuously and stands in prayer at night, reciting Allah’s verses, without any negligence in his fasting and standing, until the warrior returns."

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: I wish that I would not remain behind any army going out in the way of Allah, but I have no option except to send people. I wish that I be martyred in the way of Allah, then brought back to life, then martyred, then brought back to life, then martyred.

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet ﷺ said: Allah has promised him whoever goes out for jihad in My way, believing in Me and affirming My Messenger, I will admit him into Paradise as My responsibility, or I will return him to his home with reward and booty. After saying this, the Prophet ﷺ said: By the One in Whose hand is the life of Muhammad! If I did not fear difficulty for the Muslims, I would not remain behind from any army going out for jihad in the path of Allah. But since my remaining here is necessary, I dispatch people, and since their departure is necessary, they accept my command. Their hearts are not content that they leave me behind. By the One in Whose hand is the life of Muhammad! My desire is that I fight in the path of Allah, then I be martyred, then fight again, then I be martyred, then fight again, and then I be martyred.

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Saeed Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: There are three types of people at whom Allah Almighty smiles: one is the person who gets up at night to pray; the second are those who form rows for prayer; and the third are those who form rows to face the enemy.

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: There are three types of people whom Allah Almighty looks at with His smile. Among them, the Prophet (peace be upon him) mentioned a man who is in an army, they are fighting the enemy and are defeated, but this man stands firm with his chest puffed out and is martyred, or Allah grants victory by means of him.

It is narrated from Hazrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet ﷺ said: Whenever a person dies, Allah Almighty surely grants him so much that he feels returning to the world or obtaining the world and all that is in it would not be more pleasant to him. Except for the martyr, for when he sees the reward for martyrdom, he will wish to return to the world and be martyred in the way of Allah again.

Hazrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that in a battle, a woman's son was martyred whose name was Haritha (may Allah be pleased with him). That woman had no one except her son. She came to the service of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and said, "O Messenger of Allah! If my son is in Paradise, I will be patient. If he is anywhere other than Paradise, I will mourn in such a way that everyone will know." The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "There are many gardens in Paradise, and he is in Jannat al-Firdous."

It is narrated from Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Prophet ﷺ said: The martyrs are at Barq. Barq is a river at the gate of Paradise, which is in a green dome. The martyrs are given their sustenance there morning and evening.

Hazrat Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that some martyrs were mentioned in the presence of the Prophet (peace be upon him), so he said: The blood of the martyr does not even dry on the earth before two wives of his in Paradise anxiously await him in such a manner as a nursing mother whose suckling child is lost on the ground and she searches for him. In the hands of both of them is such a precious garment (for the martyr’s use) that is more valuable than the entire world and whatever is in it.

Hazrat Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Prophet was asked: "Whose jihad is the most virtuous?" He replied: "The one whose horse is killed and whose own blood has been shed."

Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) narrates that the Prophet was asked: Whose jihad is the most virtuous? He replied: The one whose horse is killed and whose own blood has been shed.

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: A time will come upon people when, in the sight of Allah, the best person will be the one who, holding the reins of his horse in the path of Allah, sets out; whenever he senses any danger, he quickly mounts his horse. Then he seeks death in the places of death. The second is the person who goes into a mountain pass, establishes prayer there, pays zakat, and leaves people for the sake of goodness.

Hazrat Bara’ (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that once a man came to the service of the Holy Prophet ﷺ and said, “I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and you are Allah’s servant and His Messenger.” After that, he moved forward, fought, and was martyred. The Prophet ﷺ said, “He did little action but earned a great reward.”

Hazrat Abu Bakr bin Abi Musa Ash'ari (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that once, when my father faced the enemy, he said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say that swords are the keys to Paradise. Upon hearing this hadith, a man in a disheveled state said, "O Abu Musa (may Allah be pleased with him)! Did you hear this from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)?" Hazrat Abu Musa (may Allah be pleased with him) replied, "Yes, I heard it." Upon this, the man drew his sword, broke its sheath, greeted his companions, then advanced towards the enemy and kept fighting them until he was martyred.

Hazrat Mujahid narrates that Hazrat Yazid bin Shajrah (may Allah have mercy on him) once stood among his companions and said to them: "Blessings of green, red, and yellow are showering upon you in your homes. Tomorrow, when you advance towards the enemy, move forward step by step, because I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say that when a person takes a step forward to face the enemy, the wide-eyed houris move towards him, and when he retreats, the houris also veil themselves from him. When he is martyred, the first drop of his blood becomes an expiation for his sins. After he is martyred, two houris come to him, clean the dust from him, and say to him, 'Welcome! We are for you.' He replies, 'Congratulations to you, I am for you.'"

Hazrat Sabrah bin Abi Fakahah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that I heard the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) say that Satan sits on the paths of the son of Adam. Sometimes he sits on the path of Islam and says: If you accept Islam and leave your own and your forefathers’ religion, it will be a great loss for you. Then he sits on the path of migration and says: If you migrate, you will leave your birthplace and become like a horse tied in shackles. Then he sits on the path of jihad and says: If you go for jihad, you will die. Then your wife will marry someone else and your inheritance will be distributed. After this, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said that despite these satanic whispers, whoever continues to perform these deeds, Allah guarantees Paradise for him, whether he is martyred, drowns and dies, burns and dies, or is eaten by wild animals.

Hazrat Abdullah bin Atik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: Whoever sets out for jihad in the way of Allah—while saying this, he joined his three fingers together—and then said: Where are those who strive in jihad? If he falls from his mount and dies, then his reward is guaranteed by Allah; or if something bites him, then his reward is guaranteed by Allah; or if he dies a natural death, then his reward is also guaranteed; and if he dies bearing the blow of the enemy, then he has attained a good abode.

Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) once came to the people while everyone was sitting. He (peace be upon him) said, "Shall I tell you who holds the highest rank in the sight of Allah?" We said, "Why not, O Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)! Please do tell us." He (peace be upon him) said, "The highest rank in the sight of Allah is for the person who holds the reins of his horse in the path of Allah and is martyred or dies." He (peace be upon him) then said, "Shall I tell you who holds the next rank after him?" The people said, "Please do tell us." He (peace be upon him) said, "It is the person who, distancing himself from people, lives in a mountain pass, establishes prayer, gives zakat, and remains safe from the evil of people."

It is narrated from Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: When your brothers are martyred, Allah Almighty places their souls in green birds. They go to the rivers of Paradise, eat the fruits of Paradise, and roam wherever they wish in Paradise. When they see their excellent abode and the best food and drink, they say: If only our people knew what Allah has created for us, so that they too would desire jihad and not hold back from it. Allah Almighty says: I will inform your brothers of these things. Then they become happy and express joy. This is referred to in the verses of the Holy Qur’an. Translation: Do not think of those who are slain in the way of Allah as dead. They are not dead, but alive with their Lord, receiving provision. They rejoice in what Allah has bestowed upon them of His bounty, and they rejoice for those who have not yet joined them from behind, that there shall be no fear upon them, nor shall they grieve. They rejoice in Allah’s favor and bounty, and in the fact that Allah does not let the reward of the believers go to waste. (Aal-e-Imran: 169-171)

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Iyas Muawiyah bin Qurrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Every nation has its own form of monasticism, and the monasticism of my nation is striving in the path of Allah.

Hazrat Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) says: Shall I tell you of a night that is even more virtuous than Laylat al-Qadr? It is the night of that guard who keeps watch in the path of Allah at such a place from where he fears he may not be able to return to his family.

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Three persons will enter Paradise first. One is the martyr, the second is the chaste person who, despite having a family, refrains from begging, and the third is the slave who worships his Lord in the best manner and fulfills the rights of his masters. Similarly, three persons will enter Hell first: one is the unjust leader, the second is the wealthy person who does not fulfill the rights of his wealth, and the third is the arrogant poor person.

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Allah Almighty laughs at two men, one of whom kills the other, yet both of them enter Paradise. This is how: one fights in the way of Allah and is martyred, then Allah guides the other, and he accepts Islam and fights in the way of Allah and is martyred.

Hazrat Mak’hool (may Allah have mercy on him) narrates that a man came to the service of the Holy Prophet ﷺ and said, “People have fought in the way of Allah and I was left behind due to some compulsion. Please tell me of an action by which I may become equal to them.” The Prophet ﷺ asked him, “Are you able to stand in prayer at night?” He replied, “I will do so.” The Prophet ﷺ then asked, “Are you able to fast every day?” The man replied, “Yes! I will do so.” The Prophet ﷺ said, “Your standing in prayer at night and fasting during the day cannot be equal to their sleep.”

Hazrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that on the day of the Battle of Yamama, I went to Hazrat Thabit bin Qais (may Allah be pleased with him). I said to him, "Do you know what has happened to the people?" He replied, "O nephew! Now I have come to know, now I have come to know."

Hazrat Awza'i (may Allah have mercy on him) says that Hazrat Usman bin Abi Sawdah (may Allah have mercy on him) once recited this verse { وَالسَّابِقُونَ السَّابِقُونَ أُولَئِکَ الْمُقَرَّبُونَ } and then said that it refers to those people who are the first to go to the mosque and the first to set out in the way of Allah.

It is narrated from Hazrat Farrah Lakhmi (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: When a group sets out in the way of Allah and returns without any spoils of war, then for them there is a double reward.

Hazrat Hassan bin Atiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) says that whoever spends the night standing guard in the way of Allah, all his sins are forgiven in the morning. Hazrat Mak’hool (may Allah have mercy on him) says that whoever stands guard the whole night, his sins are forgiven.

It is narrated from Hazrat Ibn Muhairiz (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Persia will fight the Muslims once or twice, then after that the kingdom of Persia will no longer exist. Rome is the one with horns; they are the people of the sea and the rocks. When one of their horns ends, another takes its place. In the last era, they will come to an end.