The Messenger of Allah ﷺ replied, “Whoever fights so that the word of Allah is supreme—that person is fighting in the path of Allah.”
Overall meaning:
A man asked the Prophet ﷺ about three types of combatants. One confronts the enemies of the faith, yet his motive is merely to show courage and audacity before the people. A second fights because of tribal zeal—out of loyalty to his clan or homeland. A third fights ostentatiously, eager for people to regard him as a mujahid deserving praise and esteem. Which of these, the man wondered, is truly fighting for Allah’s sake?
The Prophet ﷺ answered with the briefest yet most comprehensive statement: “Whoever fights so that the word of Allah is exalted—he alone is in the path of Allah. Anyone else is not, for he fights with another motive.”
Deeds stand or fall by their intentions, whether good or corrupt. This rule is universal: every action is judged by the intention behind it, and the proofs for this are many.
Lessons derived from the hadith
1 – The validity or corruption of all deeds hinges on the intention; it is their decisive element.
2 – Therefore, anyone who fights the disbelievers for the sake of showing off, tribal zeal, displaying bravery, or any other worldly aim is not fighting in the path of Allah.
3 – The one whose combat is in Allah’s path is he who fights to raise high the word of Allah Most High.
4 – If, alongside the aim of exalting Allah’s word, a person also hopes for booty, does this remove him from the path of Allah? Al-Ṭabarī said it does not, and the majority concurred, provided that the wish for booty is secondary to the primary righteous intention. This ruling holds for every act of devotion and worship.
Allah the Exalted says, “There is no blame on you if you seek bounty from your Lord” (i.e., engage in trade during the pilgrimage) (Q 2:198). The Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, set out for Badr hoping to intercept the caravan of Quraysh: “You wished that the one unarmed would be yours” (Q 8:7).
5 – Defending one’s homeland and sacred precincts against aggressors is a form of sacred fighting. Whoever is killed in that defense is a martyr, as the Prophet ﷺ said, “Whoever is killed while protecting his property is a martyr …” and so on.