This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Abi Abdul Saboor Abdul Ghafoor Damni's book Fazail al-Jihad.
عن عائشة زوج النبى أنها قالت خرج رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قبل بدر فلما كان بحرة الوبرة أدركه رجل قد كان يذكر منه جرأة ونجدة ففرح أصحاب رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم حين رأوه فلما أدركه قال لرسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم جئت لأتبعك وأصيب معك قال له رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم تؤمن بالله ورسوله قال لا قال فارجع فلن أستعين بمشرك قالت ثم مضى حتى إذا كنا بالشجرة أدركه الرجل فقال له كما قال أول مرة فقال له النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم كما قال أول مرة قال فارجع فلن أستعين بمشرك قال ثم رجع فأدركه بالبيداء فقال له كما قال أول مرة تؤمن بالله ورسوله قال نعم، فقال له رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: فانطلق.
Narrated from the wife of the Prophet, Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), she said that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) set out towards Badr. When he reached a place called Harrah al-Wabra (which is some distance from Madinah), he met a man who was famous for his bravery and courage. When the companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) saw him, they were pleased. When the man approached the Prophet and met him, he said: "I have come to accompany you and to have a share in whatever spoils of war are obtained." The Prophet (peace be upon him) asked him: "Do you believe in Allah and His Messenger?" He said: "No." The Prophet (peace be upon him) said to him: "Then go back, I do not seek help from a polytheist." Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said: Then he left. When we reached Shajrah, the same man met the Prophet (peace be upon him) again and repeated the same request. The Prophet (peace be upon him) again told him the same: "Go back, I do not seek help from a polytheist." The man came again and met the Prophet at a place called Bidaa, and repeated the same request. The Prophet (peace be upon him) asked: "Do you believe in Allah and His Messenger?" This time he said: "Yes." The Prophet (peace be upon him) said to him: "Very well, now come along."
Reference: (Sahih Muslim) (Narrated by Muslim, Book of Jihad and Expedition, Chapter: Dislike of seeking help in battle from a disbeliever, Number: 1817)
Derived Benefits
Importance of Faith:
From the mentioned Hadith, the importance of faith is understood; the point is that no action of a person is acceptable to Allah without faith. This is why when the person expressed to the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, that he wanted to participate in Jihad with him, the Prophet, peace be upon him, asked: "Do you believe in Allah and His Messenger?"
Preparation for a Great Deed:
From the mentioned Hadith, it is also proven that one should prepare for a special and significant task, as the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, repeatedly asked the person if he believed in Allah and His Messenger for the great act of Jihad.
No Assistance to Polytheists:
From the mentioned Hadith, it is understood that helping or assisting polytheists in fighting and combat is not permissible.
Benefit:
Keep this well in mind that the ruling of non-cooperation and non-support in war and fighting with polytheists and disbelievers was initially in place, but later this ruling was abrogated. The clear evidence of this is that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ took material and moral support from the polytheists of Mecca in the Battle of Hunayn (which took place in 8 AH). For example, the Prophet ﷺ took disbelievers such as Suhail bin Amr, Safwan bin Umayyah, etc., with him, while these individuals were still disbelievers and polytheists at that time. Specifically, the Prophet ﷺ borrowed some weapons from Safwan bin Umayyah as a loan, and after the battle, to reconcile Safwan’s heart, the Prophet ﷺ gave him three hundred camels, which led to Safwan’s acceptance of Islam. As it is mentioned in the narration:
”ومنها أن الإمام له أن يستعير سلاح المشركين وعدتهم لقتال عدوهم كما استعار رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أدراع صفوان وهو يومئذ مشرك“
Reference: (Zad al-Ma'ad 3/382)
