✍ Written by: Hafiz Muti'ullah
It was asked to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) regarding a man who fights out of bravery, another who fights for tribal zeal, and another who fights to show off; which of these is fighting in the way of Allah?
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "The one who fights so that the Word of Allah is supreme, he is in the way of Allah."
(Agreed upon – Muttafaqun Alayh)
Different reports mention that fighting can occur for five reasons:➊ For gaining war booty.
➋ To demonstrate bravery.
➌ For showing off (riya).
➍ Due to tribal pride (hamiyyah).
➎ Out of anger and rage.
There is both praise and condemnation depending on the intention behind fighting. Thus, the Prophet (ﷺ) gave a wise answer that eliminated confusion and clarified the matter:
"Whoever fights so that the Word of Allah is supreme, he is in the path of Allah."
Meaning, true Jihad is when the sole objective is to elevate Allah's Word and to make Islam prevail.
If during such a sincere Jihad one gains wealth or fame unintentionally, it is considered Allah’s bounty, and there is no harm in it provided that arrogance and pride do not seep into the heart.
Therefore, those who fear their Lord’s punishment must be very cautious to ensure that all their actions are purely for Allah’s pleasure.
"Actions are judged by intentions."
➋ The virtue of Jihad is awarded to one who fights solely to make Allah’s Word supreme and to ensure that the entire religion belongs to Allah.
➌ It is recommended to ask about the reason behind actions, as demonstrated by the questioner seeking clarification about the essence of true Jihad.
➍ Acquiring knowledge before action is necessary, as indicated by the question posed: Which Jihad is truly in the Way of Allah? to ensure that he would act with correct knowledge.
➎ The Hadith condemns worldly ambitions and fighting for any purpose other than seeking Allah’s pleasure.
Hadith Authentication References:
Evidence from Hadith
❀ Narrated by Abu Musa Abdullah bin Qais al-Ash'ari (رضي الله عنه):It was asked to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) regarding a man who fights out of bravery, another who fights for tribal zeal, and another who fights to show off; which of these is fighting in the way of Allah?
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "The one who fights so that the Word of Allah is supreme, he is in the way of Allah."
(Agreed upon – Muttafaqun Alayh)
Authentication of the Hadith
- Narrated by: Al-Bukhari (1/222 – Fath al-Bari) and Muslim (1904, the wording belongs to Muslim).
Explanation of Vocabulary
- حمية (Hamiyyah):
Pride and zeal, whether it is familial, tribal, or for friendship. - رياء (Riya):
Showing off, fighting for the sake of fame and praise from people, invalidating the deed.(For detailed discussion, refer to Mubtilat al-A'mal and Ar-Riya wa Atharuhu as-Sayyi' fil-Ummah by the commentator.) - كلمة الله (Kalimatullah):
The Word of Allah, meaning the call towards Islam and the supremacy of Allah's religion.
Different reports mention that fighting can occur for five reasons:➊ For gaining war booty.
➋ To demonstrate bravery.
➌ For showing off (riya).
➍ Due to tribal pride (hamiyyah).
➎ Out of anger and rage.
There is both praise and condemnation depending on the intention behind fighting. Thus, the Prophet (ﷺ) gave a wise answer that eliminated confusion and clarified the matter:
"Whoever fights so that the Word of Allah is supreme, he is in the path of Allah."
Meaning, true Jihad is when the sole objective is to elevate Allah's Word and to make Islam prevail.
If during such a sincere Jihad one gains wealth or fame unintentionally, it is considered Allah’s bounty, and there is no harm in it provided that arrogance and pride do not seep into the heart.
Therefore, those who fear their Lord’s punishment must be very cautious to ensure that all their actions are purely for Allah’s pleasure.
Fiqh (Understanding) of the Hadith
➊ The acceptance of righteous deeds depends on sincere intention, and this Hadith corroborates the famous Hadith:"Actions are judged by intentions."
➋ The virtue of Jihad is awarded to one who fights solely to make Allah’s Word supreme and to ensure that the entire religion belongs to Allah.
➌ It is recommended to ask about the reason behind actions, as demonstrated by the questioner seeking clarification about the essence of true Jihad.
➍ Acquiring knowledge before action is necessary, as indicated by the question posed: Which Jihad is truly in the Way of Allah? to ensure that he would act with correct knowledge.
➎ The Hadith condemns worldly ambitions and fighting for any purpose other than seeking Allah’s pleasure.
Hadith Authentication References:
- Sahih al-Bukhari 1/222 – Fath al-Bari
- Sahih Muslim 1904
