and its fragrance the fragrance of musk.
So notice how the Prophet ﷺ stipulated for martyrdom that a person must be fighting in the path of Allah, and fighting in the path of Allah means fighting so that Allah’s word may be supreme.
Therefore, it is incumbent upon the students of knowledge to make clear to the people that fighting for the homeland, by itself, is not legitimate combat; rather, one fights so that Allah’s word may be exalted. I defend my homeland because it is an Islamic homeland, protecting it from its enemies and the enemies of Islam. With this intention the motive is sound, and Allah is the One who grants success.
- Abu ʿAbd Allah Jābir ibn ʿAbd Allah al-Anṣārī (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: “We were with the Prophet ﷺ on a campaign when he said, ‘There are men in Medina who did not travel whatever distance you traveled nor cross any valley you crossed, yet they were with you; illness held them back.’” In another wording: “yet they shared with you the reward.” Related by Muslim.
Al-Bukhārī also narrated from Anas (may Allah be pleased with him): “We returned from the expedition of Tabūk with the Prophet ﷺ, and he said, ‘There are people in Medina behind us; we did not tread any mountain pass or valley except that they were with us—an excuse detained them.’”