prosper.” [Al ʿImrān] The foremost matter included in this verse is remaining stationed at the frontiers. A person remains stationed there in order to protect the Muslim lands from the enemy’s entry. Muslims must safeguard their borders against the disbelievers, either through treaty and guarantees of security, or through arms and men, as circumstances require.

The minimum period of frontier watch is one hour. That is, if a person takes turns with his companions for a single hour, he will receive a reward. Its full period is forty days, as mentioned in the hadith (1). But if he remains for more than forty days, will he still be rewarded?

The answer is: Yes, he will undoubtedly be rewarded.

Then, is it preferable for him to take his family with him to these frontiers so that they may live with him, or is it preferable not to take them out of concern for their safety?

The answer is that this depends on the circumstances. If the frontier is dangerous, he should not take his family with him. But if it is not dangerous, it is preferable for him to take them, so that he may be more at ease. For when a person is far from his family, his mind will remain occupied with concern for his wife and children.

His statement: “If his parents are Muslims, he must not undertake voluntary jihad except with their permission.” A person’s two parents are his mother and father. They are collectively referred to as “the two fathers” by way of the masculine form prevailing, just as the sun and moon are called “the two moons,” and Abu Bakr and Umar—may Allah be pleased with them—are called “the two Umars.” Thus, if a person has two parents