Sahih al-Bukhari #2781
Fighting for the Cause of Allah (Jihaad)
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا يَعْقُوبُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ أَبِي حَازِمٍ، عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ السَّاعِدِيِّ ـ رضى الله عنه أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم الْتَقَى هُوَ وَالْمُشْرِكُونَ فَاقْتَتَلُوا، فَلَمَّا مَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِلَى عَسْكَرِهِ، وَمَالَ الآخَرُونَ إِلَى عَسْكَرِهِمْ، وَفِي أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم رَجُلٌ لاَ يَدَعُ لَهُمْ شَاذَّةً وَلاَ فَاذَّةً إِلاَّ اتَّبَعَهَا يَضْرِبُهَا بِسَيْفِهِ، فَقَالَ مَا أَجْزَأَ مِنَّا الْيَوْمَ أَحَدٌ كَمَا أَجْزَأَ فُلاَنٌ. فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَمَا إِنَّهُ مِنْ أَهْلِ النَّارِ ". فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ أَنَا صَاحِبُهُ. قَالَ فَخَرَجَ مَعَهُ كُلَّمَا وَقَفَ وَقَفَ مَعَهُ، وَإِذَا أَسْرَعَ أَسْرَعَ مَعَهُ قَالَ فَجُرِحَ الرَّجُلُ جُرْحًا شَدِيدًا، فَاسْتَعْجَلَ الْمَوْتَ، فَوَضَعَ نَصْلَ سَيْفِهِ بِالأَرْضِ وَذُبَابَهُ بَيْنَ ثَدْيَيْهِ، ثُمَّ تَحَامَلَ عَلَى سَيْفِهِ، فَقَتَلَ نَفْسَهُ، فَخَرَجَ الرَّجُلُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ. قَالَ " وَمَا ذَاكَ ". قَالَ الرَّجُلُ الَّذِي ذَكَرْتَ آنِفًا أَنَّهُ مِنْ أَهْلِ النَّارِ، فَأَعْظَمَ النَّاسُ ذَلِكَ. فَقُلْتُ أَنَا لَكُمْ بِهِ. فَخَرَجْتُ فِي طَلَبِهِ، ثُمَّ جُرِحَ جُرْحًا شَدِيدًا، فَاسْتَعْجَلَ الْمَوْتَ، فَوَضَعَ نَصْلَ سَيْفِهِ فِي الأَرْضِ وَذُبَابَهُ بَيْنَ ثَدْيَيْهِ، ثُمَّ تَحَامَلَ عَلَيْهِ، فَقَتَلَ نَفْسَهُ. فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ " إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيَعْمَلُ عَمَلَ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ فِيمَا يَبْدُو لِلنَّاسِ، وَهْوَ مِنْ أَهْلِ النَّارِ، وَإِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيَعْمَلُ عَمَلَ أَهْلِ النَّارِ فِيمَا يَبْدُو لِلنَّاسِ، وَهْوَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ ".
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and the pagans faced each other and started fighting. When Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) returned to
his camp and when the pagans returned to their camp, somebody talked about a man amongst the
companions of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) who would follow and kill with his sword any pagan going alone. He
said, "Nobody did his job (i.e. fighting) so properly today as that man." Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Indeed,
he is amongst the people of the (Hell) Fire." A man amongst the people said, "I shall accompany him
(to watch what he does)" Thus he accompanied him, and wherever he stood, he would stand with him,
and wherever he ran, he would run with him.
Then the (brave) man got wounded seriously and he decided to bring about his death quickly. He
planted the blade of the sword in the ground directing its sharp end towards his chest between his two
breasts. Then he leaned on the sword and killed himself. The other man came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and
said, "I testify that you are Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)." The Prophet (ﷺ) asked, "What has happened?" He replied,
"(It is about) the man whom you had described as one of the people of the (Hell) Fire. The people
were greatly surprised at what you said, and I said, 'I will find out his reality for you.' So, I came out
seeking him. He got severely wounded, and hastened to die by slanting the blade of his sword in the
ground directing its sharp end towards his chest between his two breasts. Then he eased on his sword
and killed himself." when Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "A man may seem to the people as if he were
practising the deeds of the people of Paradise while in fact he is from the people of the Hell) Fire,
another may seem to the people as if he were practicing the deeds of the people of Hell (Fire), while in
fact he is from the people of Paradise."
Narrated by Narrated Sahl bin Sa`d As-Sa`idi:
Context
During a battle, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ observed a companion who fought valiantly yet was later declared to be among the people of Hell. This revelation shocked the companions, leading one to investigate the man's actions. The man ultimately took his own life due to severe injuries, which further illustrated the complexity of one's deeds and intentions, as the Prophet ﷺ explained that outward appearances can be deceiving.
Modern Application
This hadith reminds us that actions alone do not define a person's fate; intentions matter greatly. In contemporary life, it encourages self-reflection and the pursuit of sincerity in one's actions, urging individuals to align their outer conduct with inner beliefs.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Jihad and Punishments (Hudud) because it discusses the consequences of actions in the context of warfare and the grave implications of one's choices.
Related Ayahs
سُورَةُ الأَنفَالِ
Al-Anfaal (The Spoils of War)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَمَن يُوَلِّهِمْ يَوْمَئِذٍۢ دُبُرَهُۥٓ إِلَّا مُتَحَرِّفًۭا لِّقِتَالٍ أَوْ مُتَحَيِّزًا إِلَىٰ فِئَةٍۢ فَقَدْ بَآءَ بِغَضَبٍۢ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَمَأْوَىٰهُ جَهَنَّمُ ۖ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ
And whoever turns his back to them on such a day, unless swerving [as a strategy] for war or joining [another] company, has certainly returned with anger [upon him] from Allah, and his refuge is Hell - and wretched is the destination.
سُورَةُ آلِ عِمۡرَانَ
Aal-i-Imraan (The Family of Imraan)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
2 ayahs
أَفَمَنِ ٱتَّبَعَ رِضْوَٰنَ ٱللَّهِ كَمَنۢ بَآءَ بِسَخَطٍۢ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَمَأْوَىٰهُ جَهَنَّمُ ۚ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ
So is one who pursues the pleasure of Allah like one who brings upon himself the anger of Allah and whose refuge is Hell? And wretched is the destination.
وَلِيَعْلَمَ ٱلَّذِينَ نَافَقُوا۟ ۚ وَقِيلَ لَهُمْ تَعَالَوْا۟ قَٰتِلُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ أَوِ ٱدْفَعُوا۟ ۖ قَالُوا۟ لَوْ نَعْلَمُ قِتَالًۭا لَّٱتَّبَعْنَٰكُمْ ۗ هُمْ لِلْكُفْرِ يَوْمَئِذٍ أَقْرَبُ مِنْهُمْ لِلْإِيمَٰنِ ۚ يَقُولُونَ بِأَفْوَٰهِهِم مَّا لَيْسَ فِى قُلُوبِهِمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يَكْتُمُونَ
And that He might make evident those who are hypocrites. For it was said to them, "Come, fight in the way of Allah or [at least] defend." They said, "If we had known [there would be] fighting, we would have followed you." They were nearer to disbelief that day than to faith, saying with their mouths what was not in their hearts. And Allah is most Knowing of what they conceal -
سُورَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Al-Baqara (The Cow)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
يَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلشَّهْرِ ٱلْحَرَامِ قِتَالٍۢ فِيهِ ۖ قُلْ قِتَالٌۭ فِيهِ كَبِيرٌۭ ۖ وَصَدٌّ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَكُفْرٌۢ بِهِۦ وَٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ وَإِخْرَاجُ أَهْلِهِۦ مِنْهُ أَكْبَرُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَٱلْفِتْنَةُ أَكْبَرُ مِنَ ٱلْقَتْلِ ۗ وَلَا يَزَالُونَ يُقَٰتِلُونَكُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَرُدُّوكُمْ عَن دِينِكُمْ إِنِ ٱسْتَطَٰعُوا۟ ۚ وَمَن يَرْتَدِدْ مِنكُمْ عَن دِينِهِۦ فَيَمُتْ وَهُوَ كَافِرٌۭ فَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَٰلُهُمْ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْءَاخِرَةِ ۖ وَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَٰلِدُونَ
They ask you about the sacred month - about fighting therein. Say, "Fighting therein is great [sin], but averting [people] from the way of Allah and disbelief in Him and [preventing access to] al-Masjid al-Haram and the expulsion of its people therefrom are greater [evil] in the sight of Allah. And fitnah is greater than killing." And they will continue to fight you until they turn you back from your religion if they are able. And whoever of you reverts from his religion [to disbelief] and dies while he is a disbeliever - for those, their deeds have become worthless in this world and the Hereafter, and those are the companions of the Fire, they will abide therein eternally.
سُورَةُ النِّسَاءِ
An-Nisaa (The Women)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَمَن يَقْتُلْ مُؤْمِنًۭا مُّتَعَمِّدًۭا فَجَزَآؤُهُۥ جَهَنَّمُ خَٰلِدًۭا فِيهَا وَغَضِبَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَلَعَنَهُۥ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُۥ عَذَابًا عَظِيمًۭا
But whoever kills a believer intentionally - his recompense is Hell, wherein he will abide eternally, and Allah has become angry with him and has cursed him and has prepared for him a great punishment.
Common Words
139 total109 unique19 repeated
ٱلله7x
عن4x
ومن3x
من3x
جهنم3x
فى3x
يومئذ2x
أو2x
باء2x
ومأوىه2x
وبئس2x
ٱلمصير2x
ٱلحرام2x
قتال2x
فيه2x
سبيل2x
أكبر2x
هم2x
فيها2x
يولهم1x
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About Sahih al-Bukhari
This hadith is #2781 from Sahih al-Bukhari, in the Book of Fighting for the Cause of Allah (Jihaad). It is graded Sahih and narrated by Narrated Sahl bin Sa`d As-Sa`idi:.