“You will not be able to do it.” They put the question to him a second and even a third time, and each time he said, “You will not be able to do it!” Then he added, “The likeness of the warrior in the path of Allah is that of one who fasts and stands (1) in prayer, devoutly reciting the revelations of Allah, never slackening in his fasting or his prayer until the warrior in the path of Allah returns.” Agreed upon, and this is Muslim’s wording.

In al-Bukhari’s version a man said, “O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, guide me to a deed that equals jihad.” He replied, “I do not find any.” Then he said, “Are you able, once the warrior has gone forth, to enter your mosque and remain standing without fatigue, and to fast without breaking it?” The man answered, “And who could manage that?!”

1307 – And from him: the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Among the best ways people can live is a man who clasps the reins (2) of his horse in the path of Allah, flying (3) upon its back; whenever he hears a cry of alarm or a call to arms he mounts and hastens off, seeking death where it is most likely (4). Or a man with a small flock on the peak of one of these heights (5) or in the bottom of a valley, who establishes prayer, gives zakah, and worships his Lord until certainty (6) comes to him—no one receives anything from him but good.” Narrated by Muslim.

1308 – And from him: the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “In Paradise there are one hundred ranks that Allah has prepared for those who fight in His path; the distance between any two ranks is like the distance between heaven and earth.” Narrated by al-Bukhari.

1309 – Abu Saʿīd al-Khudrī, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Whoever….”