I went to Ubayy b. Ka‘b and said to him, “I am confused about the divine decree, so tell me something by means of which God may remove the confusion from my mind.” He replied, “Were God to punish everyone in the heavens and the earth He would do so without being unjust to them, and were He to show mercy to them His mercy would be much better than their actions merited. Were you to spend in support of God’s cause an amount of gold equivalent to Uhud, God would not accept it from you till you believed in the divine decree and knew that what has come to you could not miss you and that what has missed you could not come to you. Were you to die believing anything else you would enter hell.” He said: I then went to ‘Abdallah b. Mas'ud and he said something to the same effect. I next went to Hudhaifa b. al-Yaman and he said something to the same effect. I next went to Zaid b. Thabit and he told me something from the Prophet to the same effect. Ahmad, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Nafi' told how a man came to Ibn ‘Umar with a message that so and so sent him a greeting. He replied that he had heard he had introduced an innovation and that if that were so, he was not to convey his greeting to him, for he had heard God’s messenger say, “Among my people,” or “among this people the believers in freewill will be swallowed up and metamorphosed or pelted.” Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, and Ibn Majah transmitted it, and Tirmidhi said this is a hasan sahih gharib tradition.

‘Ali said that Khadija asked the Prophet about two children of hers who had died in the pre-Islamic period and God’s messenger replied, “They are in hell.” Then when he saw her look of disapproval he said, “If you saw their position you would hate them.” She asked, “Messenger of God, what about my son whom I had from you?” He replied, “He is in paradise.” Then God’s messenger said, “The believers and their children are in paradise and the polytheists and their children are in hell.” Then God’s messenger recited, “Those who believe and whose offspring have followed them.” Ahmad transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “When God created Adam He wiped his back and every soul of his offspring He was to create up to the day of resurrection fell from his back. He put on the forehead of everyone of them a flash of light, then presented them to Adam who asked, ‘My Lord, who are these?’ He replied, ‘Your offspring.' On seeing one of them and being charmed by the flash on his forehead he asked, ‘My Lord, who is this?’ He replied, ‘David.’ He asked, ‘My Lord, how long a term of life hast Thou appointed him?” He replied, ‘Sixty years.’ He said, ‘My Lord, give him an extra forty years out of my term of life.’” God’s messenger said, “When Adam’s period of life all but forty years had come to an end the angel of death came to him. Adam said, ‘Are there not forty years of my life remaining?’ He replied, ‘Did you not give them to your son David?' Adam denied it and his offspring denied; Adam forgot and ate of the tree and his offspring forgot; and Adam sinned and his offspring sinned.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Abud Darda' reported God’s messenger as saying, “God created Adam when He created him and struck his right shoulder and brought forth his offspring white like small ants. And he struck his left shoulder and brought forth his offspring black as though they were charcoal. Then He said to the party on his right side, ‘To paradise, and I do not care’ and He said to the party in his left shoulder, ‘To hell, and I do not care’.” Ahmad transmitted it.

Abu Nadra told how a companion of the Prophet called Abu ‘Abdallah was visited by his friends who found him weeping. They asked him what made him weep, and whether God’s messenger had not told him to clip some of his moustache and keep it like that till he met him. He replied, “Yes, but I heard God’s messenger say that God took a handful in His right hand and another in His left saying, ‘This is for this, and that is for that, and I do not care;’ and I do not know in which of the two handfuls I am.” Ahmad transmitted it.

God made the covenant from Adam’s back in Na‘man, i.e. ‘Arafa, and brought forth from his loins all his offspring whom He created and scattered before Him like small ants. He then spoke to them face to face saying, “Am I not your Lord?’ They replied, “Yes, we testify this.” [It was] lest you should say on the day of resurrection, “We were neglectful of this,” or should say, “Our fathers were polytheists before us and we were an offspring after them. Wilt Thou destroy us for what the workers of vanity did?” ¹ Ahmad transmitted it. ¹ Quran, vii, 172f.

He gathered them and put them in pairs. Thereafter He fashioned them and endowed them with speech, and they spoke. He then made an agreement and covenant with them, calling them to witness regarding themselves, [saying] “Am I not your Lord?” They replied, “Yes.” He said, “I call the seven heavens and the seven earths to witness regarding you, and I call your father Adam to witness regarding you, lest you should say on the day of resurrection, ‘We did not know of this.’ Know that there is no god other than me and no lord other than me, and do not associate anything with me. I shall send to you my messengers to call to your remembrance my agreement and my covenant, and I shall send down my books to you. They replied, “We testify that Thou art our Lord and our God; we have no other lord and no other god but Thee.” So they confirmed that. Adam was raised above them and looked at them, and seeing the rich and the poor, the beautiful and those not so beautiful, he asked, “My Lord, why didst Thou not make Thy servants equal?” He replied, “I wanted to be thanked.” He also saw among them the prophets like lamps with light in them. They had another -special covenant concerning their mission and prophetic office, viz. His words, “And when we took from the prophets their covenant... Jesus son-of Mary.” ² He was among those spirits and He sent him to Mary. Ubayy is quoted as saying that he entered by her mouth. Ahmad transmitted it. ¹ ibid. ² Quran, xxxiii, 7.

While we were with God’s messenger discussing what would come to pass God’s messenger said, “When you hear that a mountain has moved from its place believe it; but when you hear that a man's nature has changed do not believe it, for he will remain true to his inborn disposition.” Ahmad transmitted it.

Umm Salama said, “Messenger of God, you continue to be afflicted annually with pain from the poisoned sheep you ate.” He replied, “I am afflicted by nothing due to it which was not decreed for me while Adam was still a lump of clay.” Ibn Majah transmitted it.

“God establishes those who believe with the word which stands firm” was revealed concerning the punishment in the grave. One will be asked who his Lord is and will reply that his Lord is God and his prophet is Muhammad. (Bukhari and Muslim.) ¹ Quran, xiv, 27.

Fadala b. ‘Ubaid reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Everyone who dies will have fully completed his actions, except one who is on the frontier in God’s path, for his deeds will be made to go on increasing for him till the day of resurrection, and he will be safe from the trial in the grave." Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it, and Darimi transmitted it on the authority of ‘Uqba b. ‘Amir.

Mu'adh b. Jabal told of his hearing God’s Messenger say, “If anyone fights in God’s path as long as the time between two milkings of a she- camel* paradise will be assured for him; if anyone is wounded in God’s path or suffers a misfortune, it will come on the day of resurrection as copious as possible, its colour saffron and its odour musk; and if anyone suffers from ulcers while in God's path, he will have on him the stamp of the martyrs." * This refers particularly to the practice of milking a camel, then leaving it for a little to suckle its young, after which it is milked again. The period between the two milkings therefore indicates a very short time. Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

Khuraim b. Fatik reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone makes a contribution towards God's path, seven hundred times as much will be recorded to his credit." Tirmidhi and Nasa’i transmitted it.

Abu Umama reported God's Messenger as saying, “The best sadaqat are the shade of a large tent in God's path, the gift of a servant in God’s path, or providing in God’s path a she-camel old enough to be covered by a stallion." Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “No one who weeps from fear of God will go into hell till the milk returns to the udder, and no servant of God will experience both dust in God’s path and the smoke of jahannam." Tirmidhi transmitted it, and Nasa'i added in another version, “ever in a Muslim’s nostrils." In another by him he added, “ever in the belly of a servant of God; and stinginess and faith will never be combined in the heart of a servant of God."

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God's Messenger as saying, “There are two eyes which will never be touched by hell, an eye which weeps from fear of God and an eye which spends the night on guard in God’s path." Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Abu Huraira told that when one of God’s Messenger’s companion came upon a mountain path containing a small spring of fresh water and was delighted by it, he expressed a desire to withdraw from the people and stay in that path. He mentioned that to God’s Messenger, and he replied, “Do not do it, for when any of you remains in God’s path it is more excellent than prayer in his house during seventy years. Do you not want* God to forgive you and bring you into paradise? Fight* in God's path. He who fights in God's path as long as the time between two milkings of a she-camel will be assured of paradise." *These verbs are in plural. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Uthman reported God’s Messenger as saying, “A day on the frontier in God’s path is better than a thousand days in any other place." Tirmidhi and Nasa’i transmitted it.

a martyr, a continent man who refrains from what is unlawful, and a slave who worships God well and serves his patrons sincerely." Tirmidhi transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. Hubshi told that the Prophet was asked which deed was most excellent and replied, “Standing long in prayer." He was asked what sadaqa was most excellent and replied, “The effort of one who possesses little.” He was asked what hijra was most excellent and replied, “That of one who forsakes what God has prohibited.” He was asked what jihad was most excellent and replied, “That of one who strives against the polytheists with his property and his person.” He was asked what manner of being killed was most honourable and replied, “That of one whose blood is shed and whose steed is wounded.” Abu Dawud transmitted it Nasa’i’s version says that the Prophet was asked which actions were most excellent and replied, “Faith which contains no doubt, jihad which contains no unfaithfulness regarding spoil, and a pilgrimage which is accepted.” He was asked what prayer was most excellent and replied, “Standing long in devotion.” The two versions agree about the remainder.

he is forgiven at the first shedding of his blood, he is shown his abode in paradise, he is preserved from the punishment in the grave, he is kept safe from the greatest terror2, he has placed on his head the crown of honour a ruby of which is better than the world and what it contains, he is married to seventy-two wives of the maidens with large dark eyes,3 and is made intercessor for seventy of his relatives.” 1. There seem to be seven things mentioned in this tradition. 2. Cf. Al-Qur'an; 21:103. 3. Cf. Al-Qur’an, 56:22. Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone meets God with no mark of jihad, he will meet God with a flaw in him.” Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

He reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The martyr experiences no more pain in being killed than one of you experiences from a sting.” Tirmidhi, Nasa’i and Darimi transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying this is a hasan gharib tradition.

Abu Umama reported the Prophet as saying, “Nothing is dearer to God than two drops and two marks, a drop of tears from fear of God and a drop of blood shed in God’s path. Regarding the two marks, they are a mark received in God’s path and one caused by observing one of the ordinances of God most high.”* * This is said to refer to such things as hacks in hands or feet through performing ablution in cold weather, or a mark on the forehead through prostrating oneself on hot ground, or having dust on one’s feet while performing pilgrimage. Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a hasan gharib tradition.

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Do not sail on the sea except when going to perform the hajj, or the ‘umra, or when fighting in God’s path, for under the sea there is a fire and under the fire there is a sea.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Umm Haram reported the Prophet as saying, “He who becomes sick on a stormy sea will have the reward of a martyr, and he who is drowned will have the reward of two martyrs.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Abu Malik al-Ash‘ari told that he heard God’s Messenger say, “He who goes forth in God’s path and dies, or is killed, or has his neck broken through being thrown by his horse or his camel, or is stung by a poisonous creature, or dies on his bed by any kind of death God wishes is a martyr and will go to paradise.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Returning home is like going on an expedition.”* * This is interpreted as referring to rewards. Returning after an expedition means that an opportunity is given for rest and refreshment before beginning another, so it merits reward similar to that for setting out. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

He reported God's Messenger as saying, “The fighter gets his reward, and the one who equips him gets his own reward and that of the fighter.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Abu Ayyub told that he heard the Prophet say, “Capitals will be conquered at your hands and you will have to raise companies in large armies. A man will be unwilling to join a company, so he will escape from his people and go round the tribes offering himself to them, seeking someone whose place he may take in such and such an expedition.* That man is a hireling to the last drop of his blood.” * This is the type of person who dislikes being sent on a warlike expedition, but who is quite willing to take someone else’s place if he is paid for it. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

God’s Messenger announced an expedition, and as I was a very old man who had no servant I sought a hireling who would serve instead of me. I found a man to whom I offered three dinars, and when some booty arrived I wanted to give him his portion, so I went to the Prophet and mentioned the matter to him, but he said, “All I can find for him regarding this expedition of his in this world and the next is the three dinars which were offered him." Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Abu Huraira told that a man said, “Messenger of God, a man wishes to take part in jihad in God’s path desiring some worldly advantage." The Prophet replied, “He will have no reward." Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Mu'adh reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Fighting is of two kinds. The one who seeks God’s favour, obeys the leader, gives property he values, helps his associate and avoids doing mischief will have a reward for all the time he is asleep and awake, but the one who fights in a boasting spirit, for the sake of display and to gain a reputation, who disobeys the leader and does mischief in the earth will not return without credit or blame.’’* * i.e. the wrong he has done exceeds the good. Malik, Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

'Abdallah b. ‘Amr told that he asked God’s Messenger to tell him about jihad and he replied, “If you fight with endurance, ‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr, seeking from God your reward, God will resurrect you showing endurance and seeking your reward from Him, but if you fight for vain show seeking to acquire much God will resurrect you making a vain show and seeking to acquire much. In whatever state you fight or are killed, ‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr, in that state God will resurrect you." Abu Dawud transmitted it.

‘Uqba b. Malik reported the Prophet as saying, “When I send out a man and he does not fulfil my command, are you unable to appoint in his place one who will fulfil my command?" Abu Dawud transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. Abu Aufa told that at one of his battles in which God’s Messenger met the enemy he waited till the sun declined, then stood up among the people and said, “You people must not desire to meet the enemy, but must ask God for wellbeing, and when you meet them show endurance and know that paradise is under the shadows of the swords." He then said, “O God, who sendest down the Book, makest the clouds to travel and routest the confederates, rout them and give us victory over them.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

We went out with God’s Messenger on an expedition and when a man came upon a cave containing some water and vegetables he felt inclined to stay in it and withdraw from the world, so he asked God’s Messenger’s permission regarding that, but he replied, “I was not commissioned with Judaism, or Christianity, but with the easy Hanif religion. By Him in whose hand Muhammad's soul is, a morning or an evening expedition in God’s path is better than the world and what it contains, and for one of you to remain in the line of battle is better than his prayers for sixty years.” Ahmad transmitted it.

‘Ubada b. as-Samit reported God’s Messenger as saying, “He who fights in God’s path with no intention but getting a tethering rope will have what he intended.”* * This saying advocates the necessity of having proper motives. If all one wants is some material gain that is all he will get, for he will not deserve any eternal reward. Nasa’i transmitted it.

Abu Sa'id reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone is pleased with God as Lord, with Islam as religion and with Muhammad as Messenger, paradise will be assured to him.” Abu Sa'id was delighted with this and asked him to repeat it. He did so and then said, “There is also something else for which God will raise a servant in paradise a hundred degrees between each two of which there is a distance like that between heaven and earth.” He asked God's Messenger what it was and he replied, “jihad in God's path; jihad in God’s path; jihad in God’s path.” Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Musa reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The gates of paradise are under the shadow of the swords.” A man with a ragged appearance got up and asked Abu Musa whether he had heard God's Messenger say that; and when he received the reply that he had, he returned to his companions, said, “I salute you,” then broke the scabbard of his sword and threw it away, then went towards the enemy with his sword and plied it till he was killed. Muslim transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s Messenger as saying to his companions, “When your brethren were smitten at the battle of Uhud God put their spirits in the crops of green birds which go down to the rivers of paradise, eat its fruits and nestle in lamps of gold in the shade of the Throne. Then when they experienced the sweetness of their food, drink and rest they asked who would tell their brethren about them that they were alive in paradise in order that they might not cease to desire paradise or recoil in war. God most high said He would tell them about them, so He sent down, ‘And do not consider those who have been killed in God’s path to be dead; nay, they are alive in the presence of their Lord and are being supplied with provision . ..” (Al-Qur’an; 3:169 ff.) Abu Dawud transmitted it.

those who believe in God and His Messenger and do not doubt, but strive with their property and their persons in God’s path; the man whom people trust with their property and their persons; then the man who, when he is about to display greed, abandons it for the sake of God who is great and glorious.” Ahmad transmitted it.

‘Abd ar-Rahman b. Abu ‘Amira* reported God’s Messenger as saying, “No Muslim soul which God takes wants to return to you and have the world and what it contains except the martyr.” Ibn Abu ‘Amira told that God’s Messenger said, “That I should be slain in God’s path is dearer to me than to possess the nomads and the townsmen.” * On p. 725 the name appears as 'Abd ar-Rahman b. Abu ‘Amra al-Ansari. Ibn 'Abd al-Barr, Isti'ab, p 395 treats the two as one man, quoting al-Walid b. Muslim to the effect that he was ‘Abd ar-Rahman b. 'Amra or 'Amira al-Muzani, but in the heading of the section he gives the name as 'Abd ar-Rahman b. Abu 'Amira. He says he has been reputed to have been a companion of the Prophet, but that this is not correct. He was a Syrian. Nasa’i transmitted it.

Hasna’ daughter of Mu'awiya said her paternal uncle told her he had asked the Prophet who were in paradise, and he replied, “Prophets are in paradise, martyrs are in paradise, infants are in paradise, and children buried alive are in paradise.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

‘Ali, Abud Darda’, Abu Huraira, Abu Umama, ‘Abdallah b. ‘Umar, ‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr, Jabir b. ‘Abdallah and ‘Imran b. Husain all reported God’s Messenger as saying, "He who sends a contribution towards God’s path and stays in his house will have seven hundred dirhams for every dirham he contributes, but he who fights in person and contributes towards that expedition of his will have seven hundred thousand dirhams for every dirham he contributes.” Then he recited this verse, "And God multiplies to whom He will.” (Al-Qur’an; 2:261) Ibn Majah transmitted it.

(1) a believing man whose faith is good who meets the enemy and is sincere towards God till he is killed, and that is the one to whom men will raise their eyes on the day of resurrection thus (raising his head till his cap fell off, but I do not know whether he meant ‘Umar’s cap or the Prophet’s cap); (2) a believing man whose faith is good, who meets the enemy and appears as if his skin had been torn by acacia thorns through cowardice, and then is killed by a random arrow, he being in the second class; (3) a believing man who mingles a good deed with another which is bad who meets the enemy and is sincere towards God till he is killed, that one being in the third class; (4) a believing man who has been dissipated who meets the enemy and is sincere towards God till he is killed, that one being in the fourth class.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is hasan gharib tradition.

(1) a believer who strives with his property and person in God’s path and when he meets the enemy fights till he is killed. (Of him the Prophet said that that martyr who has suffered trial is in God's tent under- His Throne and is not excelled by the prophets except in the degree of the prophetic office.) (2) A believer who mingles a good deed with another which is evil, who fights with his person and property in God’s path, fighting till he is killed when he meets the enemy. (Of him the Prophet said that it is a cleansing agent which has obliterated his sins and his errors, for the sword obliterates errors, and he will be introduced by whichever of the gates of paradise he wishes.) (3) A hypocrite who strives with his person and property, and when he meets the enemy fights till he is killed; but that one will go to hell, for the sword does not obliterate hypocrisy.” Darimi transmitted it.

Ibn ‘A’idh told that God’s Messenger went out to a man’s funeral, and when he was laid down ‘Umar b. al-Khattab said, "Do not pray over him, Messenger of God, for he was a wicked man. Thereupon God’s Messenger turned to the people and asked whether any of them has seen him engaged in anything which indicated that he was a Muslim, and when a man replied, "Yes, Messenger of God, he acted as guard one night in God's path,” he prayed over him, scattered dust over him, and then said, "Your companions think you are one of those who go to hell, but I testify that you are one of those who go to paradise.” He then said, "You will not be questioned, ‘Umar, about what people have done, but you will be questioned about the true religion.”* * This is taken to mean that he will not be questioned about acts of disobedience, but about indication that one is a Muslim. Baihaqi transmitted it in Shu'ab al-lman.

‘Uqba b. ‘Amir told that he heard God's Messenger say when he was on the pulpit, “Prepare for them as much strength as you can. Strength is shooting; strength is shooting; strength is shooting.” Muslim transmitted it.