Question

To our dear noble Scholar Ata Bin Khalil Abu Al-Rashtah,

Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah wa Barakatuhu

The Prophet (saw) said: «مَنْ مَاتَ وَلَمْ يَغْزُ، وَلَمْ يُحَدِّثْ بِهِ نَفْسَهُ، مَاتَ عَلَى شُعْبَةٍ مِنْ نِفَاقٍ» "The one who dies without invading and does not talk to his self about it, then he died upon a branch of hypocrisy", So how does the self talk about invading happen?

Barak Allah Bikum and May He grant you success to all the good.

Answer

Wa Alaikum us Salaam wa Rahmatullah wa Barakatuhu
Muslim extracted in his Sahih on the authority of Abu Huraira that he said that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said: «مَنْ مَاتَ وَلَمْ يَغْزُ، وَلَمْ يُحَدِّثْ بِهِ نَفْسَهُ، مَاتَ عَلَى شُعْبَةٍ مِنْ نِفَاقٍ» "The one who dies without invading and does not talk to his self about it, then he died upon a branch of hypocrisy".

This was also extracted by Ahmad in his Musnad, and in the Sunan of Abu Dawud and Nasaii in his Sunan and in Mustadrak of al-Hakim.

As for its meaning it is for a Muslim to take the decision that he will go out in Jihad if he is being called by the Khaleefah to fight in the offensive Jihad in order to open lands and spread Islam, if he has no excuse. Also to decide if he has the ability and was not excused to participate in defensive Jihad if the Kuffar attack Muslim lands and must be truthful in his intention and his decision. All this is because of the importance of Jihad in Islam.

At-Tabaraani extracted in al-Ma'jam al-Kabeer from Abi Umamah from the Prophet (saw) that he said:

«ذُرْوَةُ سَنَامِ الْإِسْلَامِ: الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ لَا يَنَالُهُ إِلَّا أَفْضَلُهُمْ» "The peak of Islam is Jihad in the way of Allah only the best of them will attain it". Extracted by the son of Abu ‘Asim from Abu Dhar from the Prophet (saw) that he said: «ذُرْوَةُ سَنَامِ الْإِسْلَامِ الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ لَا يَنَالُهُ إِلَّا أَفْضَلُهُمْ» "The peak of Islam is Jihad in the way of Allah only the best of them will attain it".

Your brother,
Ata Bin Khalil Abu Al-Rashtah

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