Jihad & Military Expeditions

Mishkat al-Masabih

Jihad

Anas reported God’s Messenger as saying, "Keep to travelling by night, for the earth is traversed * by night.” *Literally ‘the earth is folded up.' The idea is that at night the journey seems shorter. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Mishkat al-Masabih

Jihad

‘Amr b. Shu'aib, on his father’s authority, told that his grandfather reported God's Messenger as saying, "A single rider is a devil and a pair of riders are a pair of devils, but three are a company of riders.” Malik,...

Mishkat al-Masabih

Jihad

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported God’s Messenger as saying, "When three are on a journey they should appoint one of them as their commander.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Mishkat al-Masabih

Jihad

Ibn ‘Abbas reported the Prophet as saying, "The best number of companions is four, the best number in expeditions four hundred, and the best number in armies four thousand; and twelve thousand will not be overcome through smallness of numbers."...

Mishkat al-Masabih

Jihad

Jabir told that God’s Messenger used to keep to the rear when traveling and urge on the weak. He would take someone up behind him and would make supplication for them all. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Mishkat al-Masabih

Jihad

Abu Tha'laba al-Khushani said that when the people encamped they scattered in the glens and wadis, but when God’s Messenger said, “Your scattering in these glens and wadis is only of the devil," they afterwards kept close together when they...

Mishkat al-Masabih

Jihad

At the battle of Badr there was one camel to every three men of us. Abu Lubaba and ‘Ali b. Abu Talib were the travelling companions of God’s Messenger, and when his turn to dismount came they would offer to...

Mishkat al-Masabih

Jihad

Abu Huraira reported the Prophet as saying, “Do not treat the backs of your beasts as pulpits, for God most high has made them subject to you only to convey you to a town which you could not reach without...

Mishkat al-Masabih

Jihad

When we encamped we did not glorify God* till we had loosened the saddles. * This is explained as meaning to perform the salat. Cf. Mirqat, iv, 218. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Mishkat al-Masabih

Jihad

Buraida told that while God’s Messenger was walking a man who had an ass came to him and, moving to the back of the animal, invited him to mount, but he said, “No; you have more right to ride in...

Mishkat al-Masabih

Jihad

Sa'id b. Abu Hind told that Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “There are camels which belong to devils and houses which belong to devils." He1 said he had seen the devils’ camels; one goes out with fine she-camels...

Mishkat al-Masabih

Jihad

We went on an expedition with the Prophet and the people occupied so much space that they encroached on the road,* so God’s Prophet sent a man to announce among the people, “Those who occupy much space or encroach on...

Mishkat al-Masabih

Jihad

Jabir reported the Prophet as saying, “The best time for a man to go in to his family on returning from a journey is at the beginning of the night.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Mishkat al-Masabih

Jihad

Abu Qatada told that when God's Messenger encamped at night on a journey he lay down on his right side, and when he encamped a little before morning he raised his forearm and placed his head on the palm of...

Mishkat al-Masabih

Jihad

Ibn ‘Abbas told that the Prophet sent ‘Abdallah b. Rawaha with a detachment and that happened to be on a Friday. His companions set off in the morning, but he decided to stay behind and catch up on them after...

Mishkat al-Masabih

Jihad

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The angels do not go with a travelling company in which there is a panther skin.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Mishkat al-Masabih

Jihad

Sahl b. Sa'd reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The lord of the people on a journey is their servant,* and he who precedes them in service will not be preceded by them on account of any deed but martyrdom.” *...

Mishkat al-Masabih

Jihad

In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful. From Muhammad, God’s servant and Messenger, to Hiraql1 chief of the Byzantines. Peace be to those who follow the guidance. To proceed: I send you the summons to accept Islam (bi...

Mishkat al-Masabih

Jihad

He told that God’s Messenger sent his letter to Kisra with ‘Abdallah b. Hudhafa as-Sahmi, ordering him to hand it to the governor of al- Bahrain. The governor of al-Bahrain conveyed it to Kisra, and when he read it he...

Mishkat al-Masabih

Jihad

Anas told that the Prophet wrote to Kisra, Qaisar, the Najashi, and every powerful man, summoning them to God, but it was not the Najashi on whom the Prophet invoked a blessing.* * It says that the Najashi (Negus) of...