Jihad: The forgotten obligation

3: Grade of the Mujahideen

Narrated Abu Huraira (r), the Prophet (saw) said, "Whoever believes in Allah and His Messenger, performs salaah and observes sawm of the month of Ramadhan, then it will be a promise binding upon Allah to admit him to Paradise, no matter whether he fights in Allah's cause or remains in the land where he was born." The people said, "O Allah's Messenger (saw) shall we aquaint the people with the good news?". He said, "Paradise has one hundred grades which Allah has reserved for the Mujahideen who fight in his cause, and the distance between each of two grades is like the distance between the Heaven and the Earth. So when you ask Allah (for something), ask for al-Firdaus which is the middle (best) and the highest part of Paradise. And above it is the throne of the Beneficient (Allah), and from it gushes forth the rivers of Paradise." (Sahih Bukhari, p.391, vol.1)

When a Mujahid sacrifices his wealth and life in the elevation of Allah's Religion, Allah in exchange will give him high ranks in Jannah, on the day of Judgement. This hadith states that the distance between two grades in Jannah, is the distance between the earth and the sky. This reference is to illustrate the greatness of Jannah and in a hadith in Tirmidhi, the distance between the two grades of jannah is quoted as 100 years and in a further hadith in Tabarani this distance is quoted as 500 years.

The greatness of these Jannahs can be further established by a hadith in Tirmidhi in which it is stated that, if the total universe was to be placed in only one of these grades in Jannah, it would be adequately accomodated. Allah has created these heavens as a gift in exchange for the sacrifices and the noble deed of Jihaad. It is stated in this hadith that the Creator of these grades of Jannah is Allah Himself. One can taste the sweetness of this hadith by the above mentioned words. Without any doubt, the Mujahids are very fortunate for who Allah has created Jannah himself. Due to Allah's religion being elevated by Jihaad, the reward for the Mujahid is equally great. (Hujjatullahil Baligha p.548)

The Muslims should revive this work of Jihaad today so that they may attain these great virtues.