The tradition has been narrated through a different chain of transmitters on the authority of Abu Qatadah (RA) who said: A man came to the Messenger of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) while he was on the pulpit and said: Do you think if I am killed in the way of Allah... (except this difference in its beginning, the rest of the tradition is the same as the previous one).

Another version of the tradition differently transmitted begins with the words:" A man came to the Messenger of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) and he was sitting on the pulpit.... He said: What do you find if I strike with the sword?" (The rest of the tradition is the same as the previous one.)

It has been reported on the authority of 'Amr bin al-'As that the Messenger of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) said: All the sins of a Shahid (martyr) are forgiven except debt.

It has been reported on the authority of Amr bin al-'As through a different chain of transmitters that the Messenger of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) said: Death in the way of Allah blots out everything except debt.

It has been narrated on the authority of Masruq Who said: We asked 'Abdullah about the Qur'anic verse:" Think not of those who are slain in Allah's way as dead. Nay, they are alive, finding their sustenance in the presence of their Lord.." (iii. 169). He said: We asked the meaning of the verse (from the Holy Prophet) who said: The souls, of the martyrs live in the bodies of green birds who have their nests in chandeliers hung from the throne of the Almighty. They eat the fruits of Paradise from wherever they like and then nestle in these chandeliers. Once their Lord cast a glance at them and said: Do ye want anything? They said: What more shall we desire? We eat the fruit of Paradise from wherever we like. Their Lord asked them the same question thrice. When they saw that they will continue to be asked and not left (without answering the question). they said: O Lord, we wish that Thou mayest return our souls to our bodies so that we may be slain in Thy way once again. When He (Allah) saw that they had no need, they were left (to their joy in heaven).

It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Sa'id Khudri that a man came to the Holy Prophet ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) and said: Who is the best of men? He replied: A man who fights in the way of Allah spending his wealth and staking his life. The man then asked: Who is next to him (in excellence)? He said: Next to him is a believer who lives in a mountain gorge worshipping hid Lord and sparing men from his mischief.

It has been narrated (through a diferent chain of transmetters) on the same authority (i. e. Abu Sa'id Khadri) who said: A man asked: Messenger of Allah, which of men is the best? He said: A believer who fights staking his life and spending his wealth in the way of Allah. He asked: Who is next to him (in excellence)? He said: Next to him is a man who lives an isolated life in a mountain gorge, worshipping his Lord and sparing men from his mischief.

A version of the tradition narrated on the authority of Ibn Shihab has a little differently worded ending. i. e." A man in a mountain valley." but did not mention" next to him a man who...."

It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Hurairah (RA) that the Messenger of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) said: Of the men he lives the best life who holds the reins of his horse (ever ready to march) in the way of Allah, flies on its back whenever he hears a fearful shriek, or a call for help, flies to it seeking death at places where it can be expected. (Next to him) is a man who lives with his sheep at a hill-top or in a valley, says his prayers regularly, gives Zakat and worships his Lord until death comes to him. There is no better person among men except these two.

This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of Abu Hurairah (RA) with a slight variation of wording.