Sahih al-Bukhari #2850
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 مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ سَعِيدٍ الأَنْصَارِيِّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو صَالِحٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم
" لَوْلاَ أَنْ أَشُقَّ عَلَى أُمَّتِي مَا تَخَلَّفْتُ عَنْ سَرِيَّةٍ، وَلَكِنْ لاَ أَجِدُ حَمُولَةً، وَلاَ أَجِدُ مَا أَحْمِلُهُمْ عَلَيْهِ، وَيَشُقُّ عَلَىَّ أَنْ يَتَخَلَّفُوا عَنِّي، وَلَوَدِدْتُ أَنِّي قَاتَلْتُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَقُتِلْتُ، ثُمَّ أُحْيِيتُ ثُمَّ قُتِلْتُ، ثُمَّ أُحْيِيتُ ".
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Were it not for the fear that it would be difficult for my followers, I would not
have remained behind any Sariya, (army-unit) but I don't have riding camels and have no other means
of conveyance to carry them on, and it is hard for me that my companions should remain behind me.
No doubt I wish I could fight in Allah's Cause and be martyred and come to life again to be martyred
and come to life once more."
Narrated by Narrated Abu Huraira:
Context
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) expressed a deep desire to participate in battles for the sake of Allah but refrained due to concerns for his followers' well-being. His longing to sacrifice himself repeatedly for Allah's cause highlights the profound dedication and love he had for his community and the challenges of leadership during times of conflict.
Modern Application
In contemporary life, this reflects the importance of selflessness and the responsibility leaders have towards their followers. It encourages individuals to act with compassion and to consider the well-being of others in their decisions.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Jihad and Martyrdom because it conveys the Prophet's yearning for martyrdom in the path of Allah while also addressing the practical concerns of leadership.
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سُورَةُ التَّوۡبَةِ
At-Tawba (The Repentance)
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مَا كَانَ لِأَهْلِ ٱلْمَدِينَةِ وَمَنْ حَوْلَهُم مِّنَ ٱلْأَعْرَابِ أَن يَتَخَلَّفُوا۟ عَن رَّسُولِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا يَرْغَبُوا۟ بِأَنفُسِهِمْ عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ لَا يُصِيبُهُمْ ظَمَأٌۭ وَلَا نَصَبٌۭ وَلَا مَخْمَصَةٌۭ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا يَطَـُٔونَ مَوْطِئًۭا يَغِيظُ ٱلْكُفَّارَ وَلَا يَنَالُونَ مِنْ عَدُوٍّۢ نَّيْلًا إِلَّا كُتِبَ لَهُم بِهِۦ عَمَلٌۭ صَٰلِحٌ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
It was not [proper] for the people of Madinah and those surrounding them of the bedouins that they remain behind after [the departure of] the Messenger of Allah or that they prefer themselves over his self. That is because they are not afflicted by thirst or fatigue or hunger in the cause of Allah, nor do they tread on any ground that enrages the disbelievers, nor do they inflict upon an enemy any infliction but that is registered for them as a righteous deed. Indeed, Allah does not allow to be lost the reward of the doers of good.
فَإِن رَّجَعَكَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَىٰ طَآئِفَةٍۢ مِّنْهُمْ فَٱسْتَـْٔذَنُوكَ لِلْخُرُوجِ فَقُل لَّن تَخْرُجُوا۟ مَعِىَ أَبَدًۭا وَلَن تُقَٰتِلُوا۟ مَعِىَ عَدُوًّا ۖ إِنَّكُمْ رَضِيتُم بِٱلْقُعُودِ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍۢ فَٱقْعُدُوا۟ مَعَ ٱلْخَٰلِفِينَ
If Allah should return you to a faction of them [after the expedition] and then they ask your permission to go out [to battle], say, "You will not go out with me, ever, and you will never fight with me an enemy. Indeed, you were satisfied with sitting [at home] the first time, so sit [now] with those who stay behind."
فَرِحَ ٱلْمُخَلَّفُونَ بِمَقْعَدِهِمْ خِلَٰفَ رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ وَكَرِهُوٓا۟ أَن يُجَٰهِدُوا۟ بِأَمْوَٰلِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَقَالُوا۟ لَا تَنفِرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْحَرِّ ۗ قُلْ نَارُ جَهَنَّمَ أَشَدُّ حَرًّۭا ۚ لَّوْ كَانُوا۟ يَفْقَهُونَ
Those who remained behind rejoiced in their staying [at home] after [the departure of] the Messenger of Allah and disliked to strive with their wealth and their lives in the cause of Allah and said, "Do not go forth in the heat." Say, "The fire of Hell is more intensive in heat" - if they would but understand.
۞ وَلَوْ أَرَادُوا۟ ٱلْخُرُوجَ لَأَعَدُّوا۟ لَهُۥ عُدَّةًۭ وَلَٰكِن كَرِهَ ٱللَّهُ ٱنۢبِعَاثَهُمْ فَثَبَّطَهُمْ وَقِيلَ ٱقْعُدُوا۟ مَعَ ٱلْقَٰعِدِينَ
And if they had intended to go forth, they would have prepared for it [some] preparation. But Allah disliked their being sent, so He kept them back, and they were told, "Remain [behind] with those who remain."
سُورَةُ آلِ عِمۡرَانَ
Aal-i-Imraan (The Family of Imraan)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَمَا مُحَمَّدٌ إِلَّا رَسُولٌۭ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهِ ٱلرُّسُلُ ۚ أَفَإِي۟ن مَّاتَ أَوْ قُتِلَ ٱنقَلَبْتُمْ عَلَىٰٓ أَعْقَٰبِكُمْ ۚ وَمَن يَنقَلِبْ عَلَىٰ عَقِبَيْهِ فَلَن يَضُرَّ ٱللَّهَ شَيْـًۭٔا ۗ وَسَيَجْزِى ٱللَّهُ ٱلشَّٰكِرِينَ
Muhammad is not but a messenger. [Other] messengers have passed on before him. So if he was to die or be killed, would you turn back on your heels [to unbelief]? And he who turns back on his heels will never harm Allah at all; but Allah will reward the grateful.
Common Words
146 total118 unique14 repeated
ٱلله9x
ولا5x
من3x
رسول3x
لا3x
فى3x
ومن2x
أن2x
عن2x
سبيل2x
إلا2x
معى2x
مع2x
على2x
ما1x
كان1x
لأهل1x
ٱلمدينة1x
حولهم1x
ٱلأعراب1x
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About Sahih al-Bukhari
This hadith is #2850 from Sahih al-Bukhari, in the Book of Fighting for the Cause of Allah (Jihaad). It is graded Sahih and narrated by Narrated Abu Huraira:.