Hadith on Jihad: Rewards of Belief and Striving in the Cause of Allah

📖Sahih al-Bukhari 2790
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Whoever believes in Allah and His Apostle, offer prayer perfectly and fasts the month of Ramadan, will rightfully be granted Paradise by Allah, no matter whether he fights in Allah’s Cause or remains in the land where he is born.” The people said, “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) ! Shall we acquaint the people with the is good news?” He said, “Paradise has one-hundred grades which Allah has reserved for the Mujahidin who fight in His Cause, and the distance between each of two grades is like the distance between the Heaven and the Earth. So, when you ask Allah (for something), ask for Al-firdaus which is the best and highest part of Paradise.” (i.e. The sub-narrator added, “I think the Prophet also said, ‘Above it (i.e. Al-Firdaus) is the Throne of Beneficent (i.e. Allah), and from it originate the rivers of Paradise.”)

• From this hadith, we can learn that belief in Allah and His Messenger, offering prayers, fasting during Ramadan, and striving in the cause of Allah are all actions that lead to Paradise. It emphasizes that Paradise has different levels or grades, and those who engage in jihad (striving) for the sake of Allah are rewarded greatly. In the context of this hadith, the term “fight” refers to engaging in combat for the sake of establishing the laws of God, promoting justice, and defending against oppression and injustice. It is important to note that this concept of jihad does not condone or promote violence or aggression outside of the framework of self-defense or just causes. The overall message of the hadith is that striving for the cause of Allah, whether through physical combat or other means such as promoting justice and helping the poor, is rewarded and leads to a higher status in Paradise. It encourages believers to aspire to the best and highest part of Paradise, known as Al-Firdaus.