Dear Sister,

I already appreciated the work is being done by you in presenting the clear image of Islam
which has been blurred by our so called uneducated people. However, your below email made
me proud that people like YOU spare times to for putting us on the right track.

Please keep us guiding the right way.

May Allah be with us and shower his choiced blessing upon us.
Thank You!

DDN <dominedirigenos@ access.inet. co.th> wrote:

Bismillaahir Rahmaanir Raheem

Assalaamu`Alaykum wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakaatuhu

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Islam,

May Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala bless and reward Sister Aqsa Jihad Fisabeelillah for
sending us many beneficial quotations from the Holy Qur`aan and Ahadeeth, the most
recent being:

http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/bukhari/052.sbt.html

<<< Fighting for the Cause of Allah (Jihaad)

Saheeh Bukhaari - Volume 4, Book 52, Number 73

Narrated 'Abdullah bin Abi Aufa: "Allaah's Apostle said, 'Know that Paradise is
under the shades of swords.'" >>>

However, many of our brothers and sisters, especially those who are new Muslims may
not understand what our Prophet sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam meant when he said:
"Know that Paradise is under the shades of swords." So for those who are
interested to read the explanation (tafseer) vis-à-vis this hadeeth by Ibn Katheer
rahimahullaah, please click on this link, inshaa`Allaah:

http://www.tafsir.com/default.asp?sid=3&tid=9419

I would also like to mention that this hadeeth is often quoted by some people in order to
depict our Prophet Muhammad sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam as someone who glorified
violence and killing. However, if the full saying is quoted by Muslims in it's proper
context, that image of our Prophet sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam is immediately banished.
The full saying is found in another narration in Saheeh Bukhaari - Volume 4, Book 52,
Number 210:

http://www.usc. edu/dept/ MSA/fundamentals /hadithsunnah/ bukhari/052. sbt.html

Narrated Salim Abu An-Nadr:

The freed slave of 'Umar bin 'Ubaidullah who was 'Umar's clerk: 'Abdullah bin Abi Aufa
wrote him (i.e. 'Umar) a letter that contained the following:
"Once Allah's Apostle (during a holy battle), waited till the sun had declined and then he
got up among the people and said, "O people! Do not wish to face the enemy (in a
battle) and ask Allah to save you (from calamities) but if you should face the enemy,
then be patient and let it be known to you that Paradise is under the shades of
swords." He then said,, "O Allah! The Revealer of the (Holy) Book, the Mover of the
clouds, and Defeater of Al-Ahzab (i.e. the clans of infidels), defeat them infidels and
bestow victory upon us."
This narration makes it abundantly clear that the Prophet Muhammad sall Allaahu`alayhi
wa sallam taught his followers to hate violence and never to desire conflict with the
enemy. However, in the event of a battle, the Prophet Muhammad sall Allaahu`alayhi wa
sallam encouraged his companions to be patient and informed them of the reward
promised by Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala to those who die fighting oppression and
injustice.
So this hadeeth "Paradise is under the shades of swords" deals with the situation
where Muslims are forced to the battlefield as the last resort to defend themselves in
which case the use of the sword may be necessary and martyrdom (self-sacrifice) is
rewarded with Paradise. This saying should be presented in its full context so that the
reader may see that the Prophet Muhammad sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam was a man
who desired peace and who patiently endured the struggles thrust upon him by his
enemies.
Inshaa`Allaah, Sister Aqsa will continue to send us her beneficial postings of ayaat from
the Holy Qur`aan and ahadeeth with their respective explanations/ tafseer.
We ask Allaah the Most High, the All-Powerful, to teach us that which will benefit us, and
to benefit us by that which we learn. May Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala grant blessings
and peace to our Prophet Muhammad, his family and companions. Aameen
Fee Amaanillaah,
Your sister,
Karima
DDN