Advancing without retreating, going forward without turning one’s back
قتل مقبلا غير مدبر كما كان يتمنى
301:10
He was killed taking them head on without turning his back, as he had hoped
The phrase above from the martyr story at 301:10 is associated with martyrdom and paradise due to hadith such as:
والذي نفس محمد بيده لا يقاتلهم اليوم رجلٌ، فيُقْتَل صابرًا محتَسِبًا، مقْبلًا غير مُدْبر، إلا أدْخَله الله الجنّة
By Him in whose hand is Mohammed’s soul, each man who fights them today, patient and hopeful of reward, advancing without turning his back, will be admitted by Allah into Paradise
فقامَ رَجُلٌ، فقال: يا رسولَ اللهِ، أرأيتَ إن قُتِلْتُ في سبيلِ اللهِ، تُكَفَّرُ عَنِّي خَطَايَايَ؟ فقالَ له رسولُ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم : «نعم، إنْ قُتِلْتَ في سبيلِ اللهِ، وأنتَ صَابِرٌ مُحْتَسِبٌ، مُقْبِلٌ غَيْرُ مُدْبِرٍ».
A man stood up and said: “O Messenger of Allah, inform me, if I am killed for the cause of Allah, will my sins be forgiven?” The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Yes, if you are killed for the cause of Allah while you are patient, hopeful of the reward, and advancing forward without retracing (while fighting)”
The phrase often appears in Al-Naba’s martyr stories, and further examples can be found at 83:8, 115:9, 121:9, 166:10, 176:9, 228:10, 256:8, 322:9, 352:10, 353:10 and 359:11.
The language also reflects Quran verses 8:15-16, cited prominently in an article in Al-Naba’ at 79:15 and an infographic page at 79:16, as well as in an editorial at 81:3 and an article at 52:13 on البيعة على الموت or “The Pledge of Death”:
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا لَقِيتُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ زَحْفًۭا فَلَا تُوَلُّوهُمُ ٱلْأَدْبَارَ
O believers! When you face the disbelievers in battle, never turn your backs to them
وَمَن يُوَلِّهِمْ يَوْمَئِذٍۢ دُبُرَهُۥٓ إِلَّا مُتَحَرِّفًۭا لِّقِتَالٍ أَوْ مُتَحَيِّزًا إِلَىٰ فِئَةٍۢ فَقَدْ بَآءَ بِغَضَبٍۢ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَمَأْوَىٰهُ جَهَنَّمُ ۖ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ
And whoever does so on such an occasion—unless it is a manoeuvre or to join their own troops—will earn the displeasure of Allah, and their home will be Hell. What an evil destination!
The same language is also invoked in Islamic State speeches, such in the transcript of Abu Bakr Al-Husseini Al-Qurashi Al-Baghdadi’s “Give Glad Tidings to the Patients” (وبشر الصابرين) at Al-Naba’ 145:11-15, where he declares at 145:14:
يا أهل السنة، السلاح السلاح، اطلبوا الموت توهب لكم الحياة، فإن من قتل في الحروب مدبرا أكثر ممن قتل مقبلا! و
O People of the Sunnah, to your weapons! Seek death and life will be granted to you, for those killed turning away in wars are more than those killed going in head on!