JIHAD SECTION · 22 – Courage and Cowardice
Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Amongst the evils a person can possess are avarice and cowardice.”
COMMENTARY:
*Shuḥh:* It is extreme miserliness, to the extent that one cannot bear even those who give. This miserliness becomes most reprehensible when compounded by greed.
*Jubn:* Cowardice.
*Ḥālī:* Meaning a remover. If cowardice is severe, it removes everything.
It is narrated on the authority of Abu Imran (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said:
“We set out for jihad from Medina, intending to conquer Constantinople. At the head of our army was Abdurrahman, the son of Khalid bin al-Walid. The Romans were leaning against the city walls. A man made a charge against the enemy. Nas (a narrator) said to him, “Restrain yourself, restrain yourself; you are putting yourself in danger with your own hands while saying ‘There is no god but Allah.’” Abu Ayyub said: "This verse was revealed concerning our group, the Ansar. After we helped the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and established Islam, we said, 'Let us stay by our wealth and put it in order.' Then Allah Almighty revealed the verse, ‘Spend in the way of Allah and do not throw yourselves into danger with your own hands.’ Putting ourselves in danger with our own hands is staying by our wealth, putting it in order, and abandoning jihad.” Abu Imran said: “Abu Ayyub did not cease to be separate from jihad in the way of Allah until he died as a martyr in Constantinople." [366]
COMMENTARY
Abu Ayyub al-Ansari is buried near the Ayyub Mosque, which was built in his name, in Constantinople.