At-Tawbah 120: It does not befit the people of Madina and the Bedouin Arabs in the vicinity of it to stay back from Allah’s Messenger and to think of their own lives before thinking of his life. When they (those who obey) suffer on the path of Allah from thirst, from tiredness, or from hunger, when they step into a place that angers the deniers and when they gain a victory against the enemy, these are to have good deeds written for them in return. Allah does not let the reward of those who commit good deeds go in vain.

We have come to verse 120 of Surah At-Tawbah.

It does not befit the people of Medina and the Bedouin Arabs around them to stay behind Allah's Messenger and to think of their own lives before his life. So here a person, more than his own life, will love and protect the life of the Prophet (peace be upon him). That is why the Companions used to say: O Messenger of Allah, may my mother, my father, my life be sacrificed for you.

So that those who obey suffer in Allah's way thirst, fatigue and hunger, that they set foot on a place that will anger the unbelievers, and that they gain a success against the enemy — this is only so that in return a righteous deed is recorded for them. Look how beautifully Muslims obey Allah's command. They will endure hunger, endure thirst, endure fatigue, and set foot on a land that will anger the unbelievers. Why does the Muslim do this? Hunger, thirst, separation from family and children; his vineyard, his garden, his property and possessions he leaves behind, to carry out his Lord's command, to win His pleasure — that is why he does it.

Now, in this case, what would Allah not give such a person? Yes.

Yes. Because Allah does not let the reward of those who do good go to waste, He says.

It is only so that in return a righteous deed is recorded for them. Because Allah does not let the reward of those who do good go to waste. The Prophet (peace be upon him): Ve mâ erselnâke illâ rahmeten li'l-âlemîn. In this respect all the worlds were created from his light, and all people, indirectly, from his spirit. Accordingly, when the Prophet (peace be upon him) set out on a campaign, their staying behind the Prophet (peace be upon him), that is, sitting with those who sat at home, just as it did not befit them, likewise if a person, more than his mother and father, his most beloved relative or friend, even more than his own life, cannot love the Prophet (peace be upon him), his faith has not reached perfection. Yes.

That is why, to no Muslim — and to those who knew him and lived in his time, the people of Medina and the Arab Bedouins — while the Prophet (peace be upon him) is there, loving their own lives more than him did not befit them, and it befits no Muslim either. Yes. It befits no Muslim either. I mean, today I suppose, if the Prophet (peace be upon him) were among us, and from among us to execution they took him. Didn't they kill prophets? They did. Suppose they took him to execution. Suppose they said: if one person gives his life in his place, if one person gives his life, we will pardon him. I wonder, out of so many people, how many would come forward?

(?) people, all of us give it, they say. Those people of faith, the Muslims, say: all of us give it. But when they consult their consciences, turning inward like this, when they consult themselves, their conscience speaks to them.

Do they really give their life or not? Yes. Those people who reach the point of giving their life — their faith has become perfect.

So

these people, in Allah's way, during jihad — so these people, in Allah's way, during jihad, suffering thirst, fatigue and hunger, setting foot on a place against the unbelievers or gaining a success, is so that in return a righteous deed is written, recorded for them. These people, these righteous servants, who know Allah just as He sees you and me, who for Allah, for the Messenger, their lives give.

So if, as I said at the start, they had made people love Allah and His Messenger nicely, and had not told stories of Ahmet the Saint and Mehmet the Saint, our people would not have come to this state. Yes. The meaning in this verse: people fight in Allah's way, go hungry and thirsty, grow tired. But they never hold back from standing against the enemy, and in this state they enter enemy lands and gain a success. In return, the unbelievers' (?) against the armies of Islam increases. And Muslims, when they strengthen their faith, for Allah's sake and so that a righteous deed is recorded for them, carry out Allah's commands.

Yes.

Because Allah does not let the reward of those who do good, of the (?), go to waste. No Muslim on earth fights for oppression. These traits belong to idolaters and unbelievers deprived of the light of faith. Yes.

So Allah does not let the good deeds of Muslims who fight against such oppression go to waste. Multiplying these good deeds many times, in His sight to great rewards He makes them attain. Yes.