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SHOULDER TO SHOULDER #196 ---- 10/01/01

Posted by: lifeunlimited <lifeunlimited@...>

Standing Shoulder To Shoulder Together As We
Fight the Good Fight of Faith

A personal letter of encouragement to you, written
solely to "lift up hands that hang down".

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SHOULDER TO SHOULDER #196 ---- 10/01/01

TITLE: "Riding The Wave Again ---- Joining The Prayer
Movement"

My Dear Friend and Partner in Ministry:

Today I greet you from the city of Chester, Illinois,
where I have just concluded a one-day conference
on "Patterns Of Purification", a study about which I
wrote you in 1998 that describes the patterns a church
goes through when facing certain conflicts such as
losing a pastor or having a split. Today I will speak
at a pastors' luncheon on the same subject as well as
developing a city-wide vision.

I find it appropriate to be in this city at this
particular time while we are still coping with the
murderous events of September 11th. While small,
Chester is typical of America ---- made up of mostly
blue collar hard working citizens, having a strong
agricultural influence, situated on the mighty
Mississippi River, and fully wrapped up in U.S.
government as host to three federal penitentaries.

Several wrote regarding my letter on the Koran.
Therefore, as an addendum at the very end of this
letter, I have included additional information sent me
by a friend from Missouri.

I don't know if you and I will ever have adequate time
to thoroughly contemplate what happened to our
country. My mind is filled with "what happened"
questions. What happened that brought this nation
into existence? What happened that made her great?
What happened that brought us to the depraved state we
are in? What happened as a result of September 11th?
What happened to the government's attitude? What
happened to the Church in America? What happened to
the world's attitude toward us? What happened to the
Church internationally?

What do you think?

In regard to these questions, one thing is certain.
We are not the same, and we will never be the same.
As so many have said, the whole world is different now.

And, that's good news ---- very good news.

GOD AT WORK IN WASHINGTON:

We have all known for years that there have been many
Christians in the governmental systems throughout
American history, including our generation. And,
there is not doubt remaining as to the strong personal
faith of President Bush and his wife, Attorney General
John Ashcroft and his family, a large number of
congressional legislators, and many others.

However, you may not be aware of some of the things
going on both before and since the September 11th
terrorist attack. I thought you might be encouraged
to know the following information which I have
received from various sources.

1. From a Report by John Robb with World Vision:
<[email protected]>

Thanks to those of you who were able to join us in
prayer during the Washington, D.C. Prayer Summit last
week. Approximately 30-40 pastors and prayer leaders
from a variety of ethnic backgrounds, denominations
and organizations took part including those of us who
came from other parts of the country. . . .

The city's history was presented ----racial wounds,
tensions and divisions going back to its founding, as
well as the violent riots between Blacks and Whites
that have erupted from time to time due to frustration
over injustice and lack of compassion. In recent years
the world has come to Washington in the form of many
other ethnic groups, complicating the dynamics of the
city even more. However, God is doing a new thing
bringing Christian leaders from many diverse groups
together. They have been praying for three years for
the city and each other. . . .

On Tuesday, July 3, John Dawson, Dick Eastman and I
met with a key official in the White House concerning
the issue of healing America's wounds through
spiritual means. He seemed quite open and sympathetic
to what we shared with him. That evening some of us
returned to pray inside the White House at the
invitation of a small group of regular intercessors,
one of whom is on the staff. . . . The staff person
who is also an intercessor told me that the atmosphere
has been changing since President Bush, a committed,
praying Christian, took over. Now she is hearing staff
people saying "God bless you" they pass in the
corridors. Another intercessor told us that there are
now 70 senators and congress people studying the Bible
and praying together with Lloyd Ogilvie, the Senate
Chaplain.

Please give thanks to God with us for what He is doing
to cleanse and heal our capital.

As an example of what God is doing around the world,
read this report from the Lighthouse Movement:

2. A Report from the Lighthouse Movement

PRESIDENTIAL PRAYER TEAM GROWS:

Launched just a week ago, The Presidential Prayer Team
is experiencing phenomenal response from around the
world. Originally planned for starting in November,
the need for this grass-roots prayer effort was
accelerated by the terrorist attacks on September 11.
Today, 100,000 Americans have already registered to
pray daily for the President, his Cabinet and the
Nation. That number is now rising by over 2,000 new
members per hour.

For more information, call 1-800-295-1235 or go online
to http://www.presidentialprayerteam.org.

3. Below is another exciting development.

BILLY GRAHAM PRAYER CENTER OPENS IN NEW YORK:

"Religion Today Summaries" by Crosswalk.com reports
the following.

In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the World
Trade Center, international relief organization
Samaritan's Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic
Association opened a prayer center in New York City to
help bring comfort and hope to those shaken by the
tragedy.

The Billy Graham New York Prayer Center is staffed by
teams of pastors dedicated to giving New Yorkers
spiritual and emotional support in their time of
grief. Located in Manhattan, the prayer center is
available by telephone to anyone who needs help coping
with the recent attacks.

"While all Americans feel pain and sadness over the
recent terrorist attacks, the people of New York
witnessed this tragedy with their own eyes," said
Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan's Purse and
CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. "We
want to make sure that New Yorkers know that we love
them and God loves them, and that we just want to be
there to listen and pray for them in their time of
need."

Individuals and families can call (212) 206-1001 for
prayer and support.
For additional support, or to make a donation, visit
http://www.samaritanspurse.org and http://www.billygraham.org.

4. Here are excerpts from a USA Today article:

Our President and His Stand for Christ
President's faith is a 'great comfort' to him
By Judy Keen, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON - After President Bush met with Macedonian
President Boris Trajkovski in the White House this
month, Bush invited his guest into his private study.
There, the two men knelt side by side in silent prayer.

White House aides didn't mention that devotional
interlude when the described Trajkovski's visit May 2
to reporters, and they were displeased to learn that
the private moment was about to become public.

Religion infuses the president's daily life. Bush, 54,
starts every day on his knees, praying. He reads the
Bible each morning and studies a daily Bible lesson.
He often asks a Cabinet secretary to lead a prayer at
the beginning of Cabinet meetings. He says he
frequently prays in the Oval Office. He sometimes
prays on the phone with a minister friend who lives in
Houston.

Bush's family, friends and longtime aides say faith
helped him quit drinking, find his vocation in
politics and check his fiery temper. He says it has
made him more humble and tolerant. "I find great
comfort in my faith," he told Fox News last month. "It
helps me realize that I am a person that has a lot of
responsibility, but I
am just a person - nothing more than a human being who
seeks redemption, solace and strength through
something greater than me."

Bush isn't reluctant to describe his active faith. "I
pray all the time," he said in the Fox News
interview. "When I am alone in the Oval Office (and)
something might be on my mind ... I will pray. I don't
think that I could be sitting here as comfortable as I
am and as peaceful as I am had it not been for my
religion."

Bush's prayers in the Oval Office are usually
solitary. But Trajkovski, like Bush, is a Methodist.
The Macedonian president is also a lay minister.
Before the visit, Trajkovski's staff suggested to
White House aides that he would welcome a chance to
pray with Bush. When Trajkovski entered the Oval
Office for the formal meeting, Bush recognized a pin
on his lapel. It was the emblem of the United
Methodist Church, a cross and a flame signifying the
Holy Spirit. After their official
conversation, Bush invited Trajkovski to join him in
prayer.

Kirbyjon Caldwell is senior pastor at Windsor Village
United Methodist Church in Houston and a Bush friend
who sometimes prays with the president over the
phone. Caldwell says Bush's faith is such a
significant part of his life that he can't help but
talk about it. "The president's faith is
extraordinarily important to him, not just
for spiritual reasons but for professional, emotional,
social and family reasons," Caldwell says. "The
president allows his faith to permeate his entire
being. He does not keep his faith in a box and open it
when he's in trouble."

However, he doesn't impose it on anybody, his aides
say. They see his expressions of faith as one key to
his character. "I find it very welcoming," says press
secretary Ari Fleischer, who is Jewish. "It's a
reminder for everyone about the importance of faith in
our lives, and the president practices his so
powerfully and so privately that it serves as a simple
reminder of the American tradition of having a strong
faith."

Bush has said he doesn't think of himself as an
advocate for his religion, but he doesn't intend to
hide his faith. "I am ... a lowly sinner who sought
redemption and found it," he told USA TODAY in
January. "That doesn't make me better than anybody,
it just adds perspective, I hope. I think people are
going to find that in tough times ... they're going to
see a steady hand because the rock on which I stand is
something other than the moment, the emotion of the
day."

5. Here is a fascinating report from a church member
where Max Lucado is pastor:

Hello Dear Friends,

I heard such a wonderful thing at church today that I
knew I would have to share it with you all.

Most of you already know that our pastor is Max
Lucado, a Christian author who is very popular for his
many wonderful books about the Lord.

This week, Max was invited (along with several other
famous preachers) to have lunch at the White House
with President Bush. Their meeting took place on
Thursday and Max shared with us this morning how it
had gone.

As the ministers sat down to lunch and waited for
President Bush to appear, Max said that he was
expecting G.W. to walk in the room looking tired,
serious, and depressed. When the President came in,
Max said he looked totally the opposite of tired: he
was energetic, joyful, and very focused on his talk
with the ministers.

Max asked President Bush how he could seem so calm and
peaceful in the midst of all the tragedy. The
President's reply was, "I'm feeling stronger now than
I've ever been in my life. And the reason is because
every person in America is praying for me. When I
stay on my knees, that's when I have power."

The ministers then asked the President how he would
like them to pray for him, and how their congregations
back home should be praying. Mr. Bush asked, first,
for clarity of mind so that he could make wise
decisions, and then he asked that we pray
specifically for his wife and two daughters, as he is
very concerned about their safety.

I knew that you would be as encouraged as I was to
hear about this meeting. We must thank God that we
have a President who loves and fears the Lord. No
human leader is perfect, but God is perfect, so let's
keep President Bush lifted up in prayer before the
Father.

So, what about our praying? Is the Church in America
really praying? Are we praying in authority? Are we
going to pray , , , , without ceasing? Are we willing
to pray as long as it takes? Are we willing to become
people of prayer?

There is absolutely no doubt that there is a new
movement of prayer. However, it must not wane. It
must go beyond situational praying or panic praying.
Now that God's people have begun to pray, we must stay
at it. There has not been a time such as this since
World War II when so many people have been
praying . . . . not only in America, but also around
the world. I have received personal messages from
people in Indonesia, Nigeria, Bosnia, Croatia,
Germany, Austria, Ukraine, France, New Zealand,
Australia, England, Scotland, and many other places.
In each case they have expressed three things . . . .
their horror and sorrow over what happened, their love
and compassion for America, and their outpouring of
prayer in our behalf.

So, I say we are at a pivotal point in our history.
We have before us an opportunity . . . . one that can
make or break our nation. It has never been more
clear in my mind that we as believers must ---- we
Must ---- become people of repentant, believing,
prevailing prayer. I know I've written about this
frequently in recent weeks, but it cannot be said
enough.

If you do not have a vital personal prayer life,
repent and get one. If your church does not have a
corporate prayer ministry, create one. If your people
are not crying out to God at this time, do whatever it
takes to bring them to that point. Prayer must once
again be a foundational ministry upon which all else
is built and from which all else flows.

WHAT SHOULD WE BE DOING?

What should we be doing? I mean as Christians, not
just in America, but around the world. Not only do we
have over 6,000 lives dead through the terrorist
attacks, not only do we have an economy is deep
trouble, not only do we have the airline industry and
others teetering on the brink of collapse, but we also
have five million Afghani's with no place to go, and
starving to death by the tens of thousands.

We have thousands of terrorists scattered around the
globe in over 60 countries and now migrating to still
more countries. We have continued terrorist
activities taking place such as the murder of a
Colombian official's wife last week near Bogota,
rampaging Muslim radicals killing Christians daily in
Indonesia, Nigeria, and other places. Terrorist
attacks and religious extremism are being carried out
daily in places like Sudan. Almost every continent is
under attack from the grossest of evil.

It's as if all hell has been opened and the powers of
darkness and destruction are rolling over our world
like black waves of hate and violence. It is not just
that America will never be the same . . . . the entire
world will never be the same. Prophecy, theory, and
theological prediction have suddenly become living
reality. The world suddenly shrank in size, and we
are staring at evil face to face. As of September
11th, there is no safe place left on earth. It is as
if someone opened the gate, lowered the fence, and
turned evil loose. Someone has said it is as if
someone took the lid of the bottomless pit, and hell
flew out in all its evil fury.

In light of that, I'm sure you'd agree that we must
pray. Especially in situations such as we now face
world-wide.

Paul told young Timothy that "first of all" we should
pray for all people, and especially those placed in
authority over us. As we do so, let me suggest the
following:

1. We must recognize that the battle in the physical
realm will not be won if we do not do battle in the
spiritual realm . . . . a truth far too often
neglected by the Church.

I don't know what it is that keeps many Christians
from doing battle against the demonic hordes of
Satan. Is it a belief that since Jesus won the
victory, we don't need to fight? Is it fear? Is it
that some don't believe in the demonic? Is it because
we think it's a sign of weakness to admit we can't
handle it? Is it pride? What, in heaven's name, is
it that keeps us from doing battle in the heavenlies
so we can see liberation and victory on this earth?

2. We must stop wasting time deciding just whose
prayer God hears and whose He doesn't. Leave that up
to God. Who are we to declare that God doesn't hear
the prayer of a Muslim or a Jew, as one evangelist
declared a decade ago? How do we know what God hears
and doesn't hear? Like Job's friends, we made some
really stupid and unsubstantiated claims. Now it may
be time for God to correct us as well.

Not only can He choose to hear, but, and this may come
as some shock, He might even choose to act in response
to the prayers of an unbeliever. If He loves the
world, then it seems reasonable to assume He is well
capable of hearing them.

3. We must pray from a position of conviction as a
lifestyle rather than a position of a crisis of the
moment. One thing that bothers me greatly, as it
probably does you, is that it takes some grave tragedy
such as September 11th to call America . . . . and
even churches . . . . to pray. We should have been
doing that all along. Of all the things that disturb
me regarding the past condition of the Church in
general, it's the fact that prayer has not been its
primary focus and ministry. Ministry, evangelism,
missions, disciple making . . . . all of these flow
out of a solid prayer base.

4. We must pray from the motive that the purposes of
God be fulfilled rather than we be relieved of our
suffering, heartache, and hardship. There is liottle
doubt that God is using this recent experience to
expose our sinfulness, our worldliness, and our
hypocritical conduct, both as a nation and as
believers. We have no right to beg God for mercy
until we beg for His forgiveness. A good place to
begin would be Nehemiah's prayer in chapter one, and
David's prayer at the end of Psalm 139. It would't do
any harm to include his prayer in Psalm 51 either.
God is a God of forgiveness, healing, restoration, and
redemption. However, there's lots of garbage between
us and Him that must be dealt with before we can
expect any significant results.

5. We must pray as our first choice and not our last
resort. I sometimes wonder what America would be like
of God's people had spent the last ten years crying
out to Him for mercy instead of neglecting such a
vital part of Biblical instruction. Could it be that
this fiasco could have been averted? Only God knows.

6. We must see that every church once again becomes a
house of prayer, just as Jesus said it should be. Set
aside the clock and the agenda, and get to praying.
Give more time for prayer and ministry in your
services. Precede each committee meeting and Sunday
school class with a season of prayer, and not just an
opening routine.

7. We must pray from hearts that are broken,
burdened, and filled with frantic but confident
faith. One of America's great Bible teachers Ron Dunn
said it well: "We don't really believe God and pray
until we have to." Well, God has brought us to
the "have to". And now it's time.

I am immensely excited over the rising prayer movement
that has been going on for the past ten to fifteen
years. The tragedies of September 11th, however, seem
to have really thrust that movement onto a new level.
If we were to ever strike while the iron is hot, this
is the time.

CAN WE MAKE THIS OUR PRAYER?

Perhaps you have already received this prayer voiced
by author Max Lucado. Few things I have read seem to
say it any more succinctly.

Do It Again, Lord (By Max Lucado, Sept. 15, 2001,
http://www.injoy.com)

"Dear Lord, We're still hoping we'll wake up. We're
still hoping we'll open a sleepy eye and think, "What
a horrible dream."

But we won't, will we, Father? What we saw was not a
dream. Planes DID gouge towers. Flames DID consume our
fortress. People DID perish. It was no dream and, dear
Father, we are sad.

There is a ballet dancer who will no longer dance and
a doctor who will no longer heal. A church has lost
her priest, a classroom is minus a teacher. Cora ran
a food pantry. Paige was a counselor and Dana, dearest
Father, Dana was only three years old. (Who held her
in those final moments?)

We are sad, Father. For as the innocent are buried,
our innocence is buried as well. We thought we were
safe. Perhaps we should have known better. But we
didn't.

And so we come to you. We don't ask you for help; we
beg you for it. We don't request it; we implore it.
We know what you can do. We've read the accounts.
We've pondered the stories and now we plead, "Do it
again, Lord. Do it again."

Remember Joseph? You rescued him from the pit. You
can do the same for us. Do it again, Lord.

Remember the Hebrews in Egypt? You protected their
children from the angel of death. We have children
too, Lord. Do it again.

And Sarah? Remember her prayers? You heard them.
Joshua? Remember his fears? You inspired him. The
women at the tomb? You resurrected their hope. The
doubts of Thomas? You took them away. Do it again,
Lord. Do it again.

You changed Daniel from a captive into a king's
counselor. You took Peter the fisherman and made him
Peter an apostle. Because of you, David went from
leading sheep to leading armies. Do it again, Lord,
for we need counselors today, Lord. We need apostles.
We need leaders. Do it again, dear Lord.

Most of all, do again what you did at Calvary. What
we saw here last Tuesday, you saw there that Friday.
Innocence slaughtered. Goodness murdered. Mothers
weeping. Evil dancing. Just as the smoke eclipsed our
morning, so the darkness fell on your Son. Just as our
towers were shattered, the very Tower of Eternity was
pierced. And by dusk, heaven's sweetest song was
silent, buried behind a rock.

But you did not waver, O Lord. You did not waver.
After three days in a dark hole, you rolled the rock
and rumbled the earth and turned the darkest Friday
into the brightest Sunday. Do it again, Lord. Grant us
a September Easter.

We thank you, dear Father, for these hours of unity.
Christians are praying with Jews. Republicans are
standing with Democrats. Skin colors have been
covered by the ash of burning buildings. We thank you
for these hours of unity.

And we thank you for these hours of prayer. The Enemy
sought to bring us to our knees and succeeded. He had
no idea, however, that we would kneel before you. And
he has no idea what you can do!

Let your mercy be upon our President, Vice-president,
and their families. Grant to those who lead us wisdom
beyond their years and experience. Have mercy upon the
souls who have departed and the wounded who remain.
Give us grace that we might forgive and faith that we
might believe.

And look kindly upon your church. For two thousand
years you've used her to heal a hurting world.

Do it again, Lord. Do it again.

Through Christ, Amen."

IN CONCLUSION:

Our lives are now in God's hands alone. Without Him,
we are without hope. It is imperative that God's
people rise to the occasion in passionate prayer,
compassionate ministry, and courageous witness.

Oh, my dear friend and partner! Please! Please
become a person of prayer . . . . a person who
prevails in prayer . . . . a true prayer warrior.
Gather your family around you and make family praying
a priority . . . . every day, seven days a week.
Teach your children to pray. Gather pastor friends
together and begin praying regularly . . . . for each
other, for your respective churches, for your
community, for your nation, for the world.

It's time to ride the wave . . . . the new wave of a
great prayer movement.

Don't be left behind by indifference, preoccupation,
or judgmental walls built between you and other
believers. If God passes you by this time, there may
not be another.

In His Bond,

Bob Tolliver -- Rom 1:11-12
Copyright October, 2001

Life Unlimited Ministries
[email protected]
Do You Get "Shoulder To Shoulder"?

ADDENDUM ON ISLAM:

Below is information sent me in response to my earlier
note containing quotes from the Koran. Thanks, Dick.

Dear Bob,
Here are Quotes from CARM.org on Islam & the Koran:

Quotes from the Qur'an
Is there or is there not compulsion in religion
according to the Qur'an? "Let there be no compulsion
in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error:
whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath
grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never
breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things,"
(2:256).

"And an announcement from Allah and His Messenger, to
the people (assembled) on the day of the Great
Pilgrimage,- that Allah and His Messenger dissolve
(treaty) obligations with the Pagans. If then, ye
repent, it were best for you; but if ye turn away,
know ye that ye cannot frustrate Allah. And proclaim a
grievous penalty to those who reject Faith," (9:3).

"But when the forbidden months are past, then fight
and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, an seize
them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in
every stratagem (of war); but if they repent, and
establish regular prayers and practice regular
charity, then open the way for them: for Allah is Oft-
forgiving, Most Merciful," (9:5).

Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day,
nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by
Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion
of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the
Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing
submission, and feel themselves subdued," (9:29).

Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry
http://www.carm.org/islam.htm

Interesting Quotes from the Hadith on Jihad Jihad
means striving. It is used to describe the inner
struggle against sin as well as the outer struggle
against those who would oppose Islam.

Did Muhammad teach Holy War upon those who reject
Islam? Yes he did. Following are various quotes from
the Hadith dealing with killing people. The second
best deed is to participate in Jihad

Allah's Apostle was asked, "What is the best deed?" He
replied, "To believe in Allah and His Apostle
(Muhammad). The questioner then asked, "What is the
next (in goodness)? He replied, "To participate in
Jihad (religious fighting) in Allah's Cause." The
questioner again asked, "What is the next (in
goodness)?" He replied, "To perform Hajj (Pilgrim age
to
Mecca) 'Mubrur, (which is accepted by Allah and is
performed with the intention of seeking Allah's
pleasure only and not to show off and without
committing a sin and in accordance with the traditions
of the Prophet)." Volume 1, Book 2, Number 25,
Narrated Abu Huraira:

Muhammad said if someone leaves Islam, to kill him Ali
burnt some people and this news reached Ibn 'Abbas,
who said, "Had I been in his place I would not have
burnt them, as the Prophet said, 'Don't punish
(anybody) with Allah's Punishment.' No doubt, I would
have killed them, for the Prophet said, 'If somebody
(a Muslim) discards his religion, kill him.'" Volume
4, Book 52, Number 260

<http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/
bukhari/052.sbt.ht
ml>, Narrated Ikrima. Also, see Volume 9, Book 84,
Number 64

<http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/
bukhari/084.sbt.html>,

Narrated 'Ali. Muhammad approves of killing someone
who hurt him and having the killer lie

"Allah's Apostle said, "Who is willing to kill Ka'b
bin Al-Ashraf who has hurt Allah and His Apostle?"
Thereupon Muhammad bin Maslama got up saying, "O
Allah's Apostle! Would you like that I kill him?" The
Prophet said, "Yes," Muhammad bin Maslama said, "Then
allow me to say a (false) thing (i.e. to deceive
Kab). "The Prophet said, "You may say it." Then
Muhammad bin Maslama went to Kab and said, "That man
(i.e. Muhammad demands Sadaqa (i.e. Zakat) from us,
and he has troubled us, and I have come to borrow
something from you." On that, Kab said, "By Allah, you
will get tired of him!" Muhammad bin Maslama
said, "Now as we have followed him, we do not want to
leave him unless and until we see how his end is going
to be. .." Volume 5, Book 59, Number 369

<http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/
bukhari/059.sbt.html>,

Narrated Jabir bin 'Abdullah.

Paradise was guaranteed to the first to take part in a
naval battle That 'Umair bin Al-Aswad Al-Anasi told
him that he went to 'Ubada bin As-Samit while he was
staying in his house at the sea-shore of Him with (his
wife) Um Haram. 'Umair said. Um Haram informed us that
she heard the Prophet saying, "Paradise is granted to
the first batch of my followers
who will undertake a naval expedition." Um Haram
added, I said, 'O Allah's Apostle! Will I be amongst
them?' He replied, 'You are amongst them.' The Prophet
then said, 'The first army amongst' my followers who
will invade Caesar's City will be forgiven their
sins.' I asked, 'Will I be one of them, O Allah's
Apostle?' He replied in the negative." Volume
4, Book 52, Number 175 Narrated Khalid bin Madan:

Those who fight in Jihad have the right to the spoils
of the conquered or Paradise if he dies The Prophet
said, "The person who participates in (Holy battles)
in Allah's cause and nothing compels him to do so
except belief in Allah and His Apostles, will be
recompensed by Allah either with a reward, or booty
(if he survives) or will be admitted to Paradise (if
he is killed in the battle as a martyr). Had I not
found it difficult for my followers, then I would not
remain behind any sariya going for Jihad and I would
have loved to be martyred in Allah's cause and then
made alive, and then martyred and then made alive, and
then again martyred in His cause." Volume 1, Book 2,
Number 35

<http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/
bukhari/002.sbt.html>,

Narrated Abu Huraira.

". . . "This is the Will of Allah, "After the people
returned, the Prophet sat and said, "Anyone who has
killed an enemy and has a proof of that, will posses
his spoils." I got up and said, "Who will be a witness
for me?" and then sat down. The Prophet again
said, "Anyone who has killed an enemy and has proof of
that, will possess his spoils." I (again) got up and
said, "Who will be a witness for me?" and sat down.

Then the Prophet said the same for the third time. I
again got up, and Allah's Apostle said, "O Abu Qatada!
What is your story?" Then I narrated the whole story
to him. A man (got up and) said, "O Allah's Apostle!
He is speaking the truth, and the spoils of the killed
man are with me. So please compensate him on my
behalf." On that Abu Bakr As-Siddiq said,
"No, by Allah, he (i.e. Allah's Apostle ) will not
agree to give you the spoils gained by one of Allah's
Lions who fights on the behalf of Allah and His
Apostle." The Prophet said, "Abu Bakr has spoken the
truth." So, Allah's Apostle gave the spoils to me. I
sold that armor (i.e. the spoils) and with its price I
bought a garden at Bani Salima, and this was my first
property which I gained after my conversion to Islam."
Volume 4, Book 53, Number 370

<http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/
bukhari/053.sbt.html>,

Narrated Abu Qatada.

". . . . While we were in this state, the Lord of the
Heavens and the Earths, Elevated is His Remembrance
and Majestic is His Highness, sent to us from among
ourselves a Prophet whose father and mother are known
to us. Our Prophet, the Messenger of our Lord, has
ordered us to fight you till you worship Allah Alone
or give Jizya (i.e. tribute); and our Prophet has
informed us that our Lord says:-- Whoever amongst us
is killed (i.e. martyred), shall go to Paradise to
lead such a luxurious life as he has never seen, and
whoever amongst us remain alive, shall become your
master." (Al-Mughira, then blamed An-Numan for
delaying the attack and) An-Nu' man said to Al-
Mughira, "If you had participated in a similar battle,
in the company of Allah's Apostle he would not have
blamed you for waiting, nor would he have disgraced
you. But I accompanied Allah's Apostle in many battles
and it was his custom that if he did not fight early
by daytime, he would wait till the wind had started
blowing and the time for the prayer was due (i.e.
after midday)." Volume 4, Book 53,
Number 386

<http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/
bukhari/053.sbt.html>,

Narrated Jubair bin Haiya.

Allah's Apostle said, "Allah guarantees (the person
who carries out Jihad in His Cause and nothing
compelled him to go out but Jihad in His Cause and the
belief in His Word) that He will either admit him into
Paradise (Martyrdom) or return him with reward or
booty he has earned to his residence from where he
went out." Volume 9, Book 93, Number 555,
Narrated Abu Huraira:

The preceding Hadith are translated by Sahih Bukhari
and are quoted from and online source found at
<http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/
bukhari/>.

CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS AND RESEARCH MINISTRY
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Copyright by Matthew J. Slick, 1998. All rights
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Most of this site is assembled in the Apologetics
Notebook