- “The one who strives in the cause of Allah is like one who fasts and stands in prayer continually, never slackening in prayer or fasting until he returns.”
Malik reported it in al-Muwaṭṭaʾ (2/2), and Ibn Hibban reported it from him in his Ṣaḥīḥ (7/68/4602—al-Iḥsān); Ahmad (2/465) also reported it, through Abu al-Zinad, from al-Aʿraj, from Abu Hurayrah, who said that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said it. Through Malik’s route, al-Baghawi also reported it in Sharḥ al-Sunnah (10/349–350) and said: “Its authenticity is agreed upon. Both reported it through the narration of Abu al-Zinad and others, by several routes from Abu Hurayrah.”
Among its routes is that of Suhayl ibn Abi Salih, from his father, from Abu Hurayrah, who said: It was said to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, “What equals striving in the cause of Allah, Mighty and Majestic?” He said: “You are not capable of it.” They repeated the question to him two or three times, and each time he said: “You are not capable of it.” On the third occasion, he cited the above wording.
Muslim (6/35) and Abu Bakr ibn Abi Shaybah (5/287) reported it; Ibn Hibban (4608) reported it through the latter’s route, as did al-Tirmidhi (1619), who declared it authentic. Ahmad also reported it (2/424), as did al-Baghawi (no. 2612), who said: “It is a hadith whose authenticity is agreed upon. Both reported it through several routes from Abu Hurayrah.”