The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 73
II - Commencement of Jihād by the Sword & Fundamental Discussion on Jihād 73 upset our pots with his bow and angrily began grinding the pieces of meat beneath his feet and exclaimed, ‘Plunder is no better than carrion. ’” 1 This is a narration of such people about whom it is alleged, that God- forbid, they were given teachings of plunder and pillaging. It is my belief that if today, a European army is faced with such circumstances, where their provisions are exhausted and soldiers become restless in hunger, taking possession of the goats of a grazing flock would be a minor thing. Who knows what else they would declare as being lawful. Then, it is narrated: َ عَن ْ اَبِی ْ ھُرَیْرَة َ اَن َّ رَجَلا ً قَال َ یَارَسُوْل َ اللّٰه ِ رَجُل ٌ یُرِیْد ُ الْجِھَاد َ فِی ْ سَبِیْل ِ اللّٰه ِ وَھُو َ یَبْتَغِی ْ عَرَضًا مِن َ الدُّنْیَا فَقَال َ النَّبِی ُّ صَلَّی اللّٰه ُ عَلَیْه ِ وَسَلَّم َ لَا اَجْر َ لَه ُ فَاَعْظْم َ ذَالِک النَّاسُ. وَقَالُوْا لَلرَّجُلِ: عُد ْ لِرَسُول ِ اللّٰه ِ صَلَّی اللّٰه ُ عَلَیْه ِ وَسَلَّم َ فَلَعَلَّک َ لَا تُفْھَم ْ فَقَال َ لَا اَجْر َ لَهُ. فَقَالُوْا لَلرَّجُلِ: عُد ْ لِرَسُول ِ اللّٰه ِ صَلَّی اللّٰه ُ عَلَیْه ِ وَسَلَّم َ فَلَعَلَّک َ لَا تُفْھَم ْ فَقَال َ لَا اَجْر َ لَهُ. فَقَال َ لَه ُ ثَالِثَة ُ فَقَال َ لَه ُ اَجْر َ لَهُ. Meaning, “Abū Hurairah narrates that a person came before the Holy Prophet sa and submitted, ‘O Messenger of Allāh! There is a man whose actual intention is Jihād in the cause of Allāh, but the thought crosses his mind that he would also receive some wealth and riches in war as well. There is no harm in this is there?’ The Holy Prophet sa responded, ‘There is no spiritual reward whatsoever for such a person. ’ That person repeated his question three times in astonishment, but the response of the Holy Prophet sa remained the same that, ‘There is no spiritual reward whatsoever for such a person. ’” 2 This Ḥadīth proves that the intention of an individual who partakes in Jihād should be purely religious and even if the slightest thought of anything other than the defense of religion arises in his heart, such a person becomes 1 * Sunanu Abī Dāwūd, Kitābul-Jihād, Bābu Fin-Nuhba Idhā Kāna Fit-Ta‘āmi Qillatun…. . , Ḥadīth No. 2705 * Sunanut-Tirmidhī, Kitābus-Siyar, Bābu Mā Jā’a Fī Karāhiyatin-Nuhbah, Ḥadīth No. 1600 2 * Sunanu Abī Dāwūd, Kitābul-Jihād, Bābu Fī Man Yaghzū Wa Yaltamisud-Dunyā, Ḥadīth No. 2516 * Sunanun-Nasa’ī, Kitābul-Jihād, Bābu Man Ghazā Yaltamisul-Ajra Wadh-Dhikra, Ḥadīth No. 3140