Death as a Hypocrite

Abu Hurairah (radi Allahu anhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Whoever dies without having fought (in Jihad) or having thought of fighting, has died as a type of hypocrite.” [The Book of Leadership: Sahih Muslim]

Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) says, "Those who remained behind (did not join the Tabuk expedition) were delighted to sit inactive behind Allah's Rasul, and they hated to make Jihad with their goods and their persons in the cause of Allah. They said to each other ‘Do not go forth in the heat.’ Say to them: 'The fire of hell is much more severe in heat.' If only they could understand!" [Quran 9:81]

Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) questions us, "Will you not fight against those people who have broken their oaths, conspired to expel the Rasul and were the first to attack you? Do you fear them? Nay, it is Allah Who is more deserving of your fear, if you are true believers." [Quran 9:113]

Finally, Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) warns, "If you do not march forth, He will inflict on you a painful punishment and replace you with other people, and you cannot harm Him at all, for Allah has power over everything." [Quran 9:39]

If a graph were to be plotted of suffering and death of Muslims versus their engagement in Jihad, it would be obvious that when the Muslim Ummah is engaged in Jihad the oppression of Muslims is at a minimum, while with the abandonment of Jihad millions of Muslims die at the hands of the Kuffar. When Muslims abandon Jihad they are afflicted with the worst punishment of this world and the Hereafter. Ibn al-Arabi said, "The severe punishment in this world, is through the occupation of the enemy, and in the Hereafter, by fire."