a righteous deed on that account. Indeed, Allah does not allow the reward of those who do good to be lost.”

“Nor do they spend any amount, small or large, or cross any valley without it being recorded for them, so that Allah may reward them according to the best of what they used to do.”

Thus, He mentions both the effects of their deeds and the deeds they perform directly.

The commands to undertake jihad and the accounts of its virtues in the Quran and Sunnah are too numerous to enumerate. For this reason, it is the best voluntary deed a person can undertake. By scholarly agreement, it is superior to Hajj and ‘umrah, voluntary prayer, and voluntary fasting, as indicated by the Quran and Sunnah. Indeed, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“The foundation of the matter is Islam, its pillar is prayer, and its highest peak is jihad.”

He also said:

“In Paradise there are a hundred degrees which Allah has prepared for those who strive in His cause. The distance between one degree and the next is like the distance between heaven and earth.”

Reported by al-Bukhārī and Muslim.

He also said:

“Whoever’s feet become dusty in Allah’s cause, Allah forbids the Fire from touching him.”

Reported by al-Bukhārī.

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, also said:

“Keeping guard for a day and a night in Allah’s cause is better than fasting for a month and spending its nights in prayer. If he dies, the reward for the deeds he used to perform continues, his provision continues, and he is spared the trial of the grave.”

Reported by Muslim. The Sunan collections also contain the following:

“Keeping guard for one day in Allah’s cause is better than a thousand days spent in any other station.”

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, also said:

“Two eyes will not be touched by the Fire: an eye that wept out of fear of Allah, and an eye that spent the night intent on Allah’s cause.”

Al-Tirmidhī said: “This is a sound hadith.” And in the Musnad of Imam