Observing Ribāt (guarding the Muslim frontiers in the cause of Allah) for a day and a night is better than fasting and standing for night prayer for a whole month. If a person dies (while performing Ribāt), he will receive the reward for his righteous deeds perpetually, will receive his provision, and will be saved from the trials of the grave
وعن سلمان رضي الله عنه قال: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول:
"رباط يوم وليلة خير من صيام شهر وقيامه، وإن مات فيه أجري عليه عمله الذي كان يعمل، وأجري عليه رزقه، وأمن الفتان"
Salmān al-Fārisi (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Observing Ribāt (guarding the Muslim frontiers) for a day and a night is better than fasting and standing for night prayer for a whole month. If a person dies (while performing Ribāt), he will receive the reward for his righteous deeds perpetually, will receive his provision, and will be saved from the trials of the grave."
Reported by Muslim (No. 1913a). Cited in Riyad as-Salihin (No. 1291).
Guarding the borders of Muslim lands for a day and a night protecting Muslims (from their enemies) is better than fasting for a month and standing for night prayer for a month. If a Muslim dies while in Ribāt in the cause of Allah, the reward for his good deeds will continue to be added to his account and not stopped. He will receive provision from Paradise, because he is alive in the Paradise of his Lord and will also enjoy the special privilege of being spared the questioning in the grave by the two angels, because he died while being on guard in the cause of Allah. It is worth noting that Ribāt is a part of Jihad in the cause of Allah, because it means staying at the borders to protect the Muslims from the disbelievers.
Explanation in Arabic
حراسة يوم وليلة في سبيل الله لحماية المسلمين خير من صيام شهر وقيام ليله، وإذا مات المجاهد بقي أجر عمله مستمراً لا ينقطع، و كذلك يرزق من الجنة ؛لأنه حي عند ربه في الجنة، وتحصل له كرامة بأن لا يأتيه الملكان ليسألاه، وذلك لأنه مات مرابطاً في سبيل الله تعالى ، مع العلم أن الرباط من الجهاد في سبيل الله، لأنه ملازمة أماكن الحدود لحماية المسلمين من الكفار.
فضيلة الرباط والجهاد في سبيل الله -تعالى-.
ثواب عمل المرابط لا ينقطع بل يستمر، وكذلك رزقه يأتيه من الجنة.
إكرام الله للمرابط بأن لا يسأل في قبره عن ربه ودينه ونبيه، ولا يأتيه الملكان من أجل ذلك.
Scholars’ grades
Original grading term, without a named scholar: صحيح
Grades of other versions (4)
AuthenticAl-Albaniصحيح — صحيح الجامع (3483)
AuthenticMuslimصحيح — صحيح مسلم (1913)
Authenticالدمياطيصحيح — المتجر الرابح (169)
الرشيد العطارإسناده مقطوع إلا أن مسلما رحمه الله قد أخرج هذا الحديث من طريق آخر ظاهره الاتصال — غرر الفوائد المجموعة (241)
