What the Hadith says
Why Hadith?
Definition of "hadith:"
Hadiths are regarded as a narration on the Sunnah (lived example) of Muhammad.
M.M. Azami formally defines "hadith" as follows:
"According to Muhaddithiin [scholars of hadith] it stands for 'what was transmitted on the authority of the Prophet, his deeds, sayings, tacit approval, or description of his sifaat (features) meaning his physical appearance. However, physical appearance of the Prophet is not included in the definition used by the jurists.' "
"Thus hadith literature means the literature which consists of the narrations of the life of the Prophet and the things approved by him. However, the term was used sometimes in much broader sense to cover the narrations about the Companions [of the Prophet] and Successors [to the Companions] as well."
M. M. Azami, "Studies in Hadith Methodology and Literature." Quoted in "Sunnah and Hadith," at: http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/
Uloom al Hadith- Preservation of the Sunnah
Difference Between Hadith and Sunnah
Hadith - A critical view and overview
Hadith and the Prophet Muhammad
Obligations of Jihad in the name of God.
Muslim jurists have outlined ways to perform the Jihad obligation. These are:
1. With the heart (intentions or feelings),
2. With the hand (weapons, etc.),
3. With the tongue (speeches, etc., in the Cause of Allah)
The first Jihad deals with the devil in oneself. It requires one's self-control or restraint. The second obligation is of war and is most concerned with fighting pagans and polytheists, war waged in the way of God (Allah). The third obligations deal with enjoining right and correcting wrong.
The Prophet, when selecting a commander over an army would instruct him to fear God (Allah) in relationship to himself and the treatment of the soldiers. Then he would say:
"Fight in the name of God (Allah) and in the path of God (Allah); do not cheat, do not break trust, do not mutilate, do not kill minors."
“O you who believe! Avoid much suspicion, in deeds some suspicions are sins. And spy not neither backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it (so hate backbiting). And fear Allah, verily, Allah is the one who accepts repentance, Most Merciful” (Al-Hujuraat 49: 12)
Jihad within oneself.
On returning from a military campaign, the Prophet said to his followers:
"We have returned from the minor jihad to the major jihad - the struggle of the individual with his own self."
The
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
"The best (Jihad) is (to speak) a word of justice to an oppressive ruler." - Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 2040
Reward of doing jihad in the cause of Allah.
In the two Sahihs (of Al-Bukhari and Muslim), it has been narrated on the authority of Sahl ibn Sa`d (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
"To guard Muslims from disbelievers in Allah's Cause for one day is better than the world and whatever is on it, and a place in Paradise as small as that occupied by the whip of one of you is better than the world and whatever is on it; and a morning's or an evening's journey which a slave (of Allah) travels in Allah's Cause is better than the world and whatever is on it."
On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) who reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
"The likeness of the Mujahid in the Cause of Allah – and Allah knows best who really strives in His Cause – is like a person who fasts and prays steadfastly. Allah guarantees that He will admit the Mujahid to Paradise if he dies in His Cause, otherwise He will return him to his home while being unscathed, rewarded, and with booty." (Reported by Muslim in his Sahih)
In another version,
“Allah has guaranteed that one who goes out to fight in His cause while believing in Him and affirming the truth of His Messengers, will either be admitted to Paradise or returned to his home from where he set out with a reward or (his share of) booty.”
