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Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Whoever dies without having taken part in battle, nor even having resolved in his heart to do so, dies upon a branch of hypocrisy.” Narrated by Muslim (1).
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Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet ﷺ said, “Strive against the polytheists with your wealth, your selves, and your tongues.” Narrated by Ahmad and al-Nasāʾī, and declared authentic by al-Hākim (2).
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Hadith Grading (1095)
Its chain of transmission is sound. Ibn ʿAbd al-Hādī said in al-Muḥarrar, “It was narrated by Ahmad, al-Dārimī, Abū Dāwūd, and al-Nasāʾī, and its isnād conforms to the criteria of Muslim.” End quote. Al-Hākim authenticated it, al-Dhahabī endorsed his judgment, and al-Nawawī said in al-Riyāḍ, “Its chain is sound.”
Vocabulary (1094)
• Shuʿbah: with a ḍammah on the shīn. Al-Miṣbāḥ states that a shuʿbah is a portion of something; hence the meaning is that he dies upon a part—or fraction—of hypocrisy.
• Nifāq: with a kasrah on the nūn. The term comes from one of the jerboa’s burrows: it hides in one tunnel and appears to use another, and from this image the word nifāq (hypocrisy) is derived. The munāfiq (hypocrite) is therefore one who conceals disbelief and displays faith, outwardly showing the opposite of what he inwardly harbors.