عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى رضي الله عنه قَالَ: سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يُقَاتِلُ شَجَاعَةً، وَيُقَاتِلُ حَمِيَّةً، وَيُقَاتِلُ رِيَاءً، أَيُّ ذَلِكَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ؟ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنْ قَاتَلَ لِتَكُونَ كَلِمَةُ اللهِ هِيَ الْعُلْيَا، فَهُوَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ».
Abu Mūsa (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about a man who fights out of valor, fights out of chauvinism, and fights out of ostentation. Which one of them is in the cause of Allah? The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever fights so that the word of Allah be supreme is indeed in the cause of Allah."
Agreed uponGradeAuthentic
Explanation
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about the fighters' different motives, like the one who fights out of valor, chauvinism, or to impress people or for any other purpose. Which of these is in the cause of Allah? The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) stated that the fighter in the cause of Allah is the one who fights to make the word of Allah supreme.
Benefits
- Intention and sincerity toward Allah are the criteria for the validity or invalidity of deeds.
- If the intention behind Jihad is to make the word of Allah supreme and it is coupled with another valid intention, like taking war spoils, this does not affect one's original intention.
- Repelling enemies from homelands and sanctities is a form of fighting for the cause of Allah.
- The merit reported regarding the Mujāhids (fighters in the cause of Allah) is peculiar to whoever fights to make the word of Allah supreme.
Reference
صحيح البخاري (9/ 136) (7458). صحيح مسلم (3/ 1513) (1904). تيسير العلام شرح عمدة الأحكام، لعبد الله البسام (ص753). الإعلام بفوائد عمدة الأحكام، لابن الملقن (10/ 380).