Explanation

A man from the companions of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was walking through a mountain pass and came across an area that had a small spring of fresh water, which he liked so much. He wanted to seclude himself from the people and live in that place to worship Allah and drink from that fresh water. Nevertheless, he remarked that he would not do this until he would seek the permission of Allah's Messenger (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). So, he mentioned that to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) who forbade him to do so, because fighting in the cause of Allah was due upon him, so withdrawing from the people for optional worship was regarded as a sin, because it entailed abandoning an obligatory act. Then the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The status of one of you who fights in Allah's cause is better then praying in his house for seventy years." Meaning: Fighting in Allah's cause is better than devoting oneself to prayer for seventy years. This is because the benefit of fighting in Allah's cause extends to all Muslims, while the benefit of prayer is restricted to the individual. "Do you not wish that Allah forgives you and admits you into Paradise?" Meaning: If you like that Allah forgives you and admits you into Paradise, then you have to fight in Allah's cause, with the intention of attaining the reward and while showing patience. Then the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) highlighted the virtue of fighting in Allah's cause by saying: "Whoever fights in Allah's cause for a period of time equal to that between two milkings of a she-camel, then he will surely enter Paradise." Meaning: whoever participates in fighting in the cause of Allah, in order to make Allah's religion superior, even if it is a short period of time, he is guaranteed Paradise.