Hadith #203

Arabic Text

English Translation

It was narrated — via Yazid, from Ibn 'Awn — that he said: 'I wrote to Nafi' asking what kept Ibn 'Umar (رضي الله عنه) from fighting, what [words] people use to invite the enemy before battle, and whether a man may charge ahead alone when he is part of a troop without his commander's permission. He wrote back: Ibn 'Umar's son did go on military expeditions and would charge on horseback. [Ibn 'Umar] used to say: The best deed after prayer is jihad in the path of Allah (تعالى). What kept Ibn 'Umar from fighting was only the trust he bore from 'Umar, young children [to care for], and extensive property [to manage]. the Messenger of Allah ﷺ did attack Banu al-Mustaliq while they were unaware, their livestock being watered — he killed their fighters, took their captives, and obtained Juwayriya bint al-Harith. Ibn 'Umar narrated this hadith to me, and he was in that army. [As for calling the enemy before battle,] that was [only] done at the beginning of Islam. As for a man, he must not charge [the enemy] without the permission of his commander.'