Sahl narrates from his father that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, ordered his companions to go on a military expedition. One man stayed behind and said to his family: My purpose in staying behind is that I may perform the Zuhr prayer with the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, then bid him farewell with salutations, and he, peace and blessings be upon him, will supplicate for me in such a way that it will be a means of intercession for me on the Day of Resurrection. So when the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, performed the prayer and that man turned towards him with salutations, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said to him: Do you know how much those people have surpassed you? He said: Yes, they set out in the morning (and I will set out now after Zuhr). The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: By Him in Whose hand is my soul! They have surpassed you in virtue and greatness by so much that it is more than the distance between the two Easts and the two Wests.

Sahl narrates from his father that a woman came to the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: O Messenger of Allah! My husband has gone out for jihad, and I used to pray following his lead and perform the good deeds that he used to do. Now, tell me of an act that will raise me to the level of his deeds until he returns. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Are you able to stand in prayer continuously without pause, fast without breaking, and remember Allah without showing any laziness until your husband returns? She said: O Messenger of Allah! I do not have the strength for such deeds. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: By Him in Whose hand is my soul! Even if you had the strength for it, you would not reach even a tenth of your husband's deeds until he returns.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, sent Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Rawahah, may Allah be pleased with him, with an army. It was Friday. He sent his companions ahead and said about himself: I will stay behind so that I may perform the Friday prayer with the Noble Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and then join them. When the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, saw him, he said: What prevented you from setting out with your companions in the morning? He said: My intention was to perform the Friday prayer with you and then join them. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Even if you spend all that is in the earth, you will not attain the reward of their setting out in the morning.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Salamah bin Nufail (may Allah be pleased with him) that he went to the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: I have become weary of the horse, have thrown away my weapons, war has laid down its burdens, and jihad has ended. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Now fighting has just begun. A group from my Ummah will remain dominant over the people; Allah Almighty will continue to turn the hearts of the people, so they will keep fighting them. In this way, Allah Almighty will provide them sustenance through them, until the command of Allah comes, and that group will remain in that state. Beware! The real center of the believers will be Syria, and goodness has been placed in the forelocks of horses until the Day of Resurrection.