Sahih Muslim 85a

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حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُسْهِرٍ، عَنِ الشَّيْبَانِيِّ، عَنِ الْوَلِيدِ بْنِ الْعَيْزَارِ، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ إِيَاسٍ أَبِي عَمْرٍو الشَّيْبَانِيِّ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ

قَالَ: سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَىُّ الْعَمَلِ أَفْضَلُ قَالَ: «الصَّلَاةُ لِوَقْتِهَا». قَالَ قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَىٌّ قَالَ: «بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ». قَالَ قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَىٌّ قَالَ: «الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ». فَمَا تَرَكْتُ أَسْتَزِيدُهُ إِلاَّ إِرْعَاءً عَلَيْهِ

He observed. I asked the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) which deed was the best. He (the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam)) replied: Prayer at its appointed hour. I (again) said: Then what? He (the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam)) replied: Kindness to the parents. I (again) said: Then what? He replied: Earnest endeavour (Jihad) in the cause of Allah. And I would have not ceased asking more questions but out of regard (for his feelings).

Sahih Muslim 85a, Book 1, The Book of Faith, Hadith 158. 1 min readCopy the reference

What it means

What it teaches

• Deeds vary in their merit according to how dear they are to Allah.
• Urging Muslims to be keen on performing deeds according to their degree of superiority.
• The Prophet's replies concerning the best of deeds vary according to the various questioners, their conditions, and what is more beneficial to each of them.

From the Encyclopedia of Translated Prophetic Hadiths, hadeethenc.com.

The chain

Who passed it on, from Imam Muslim back to the one who was there.

1. 1Imam MuslimCompiler, died 261 AH
2. 2Abu Bakr ibn Abi ShaybahTold us, Fourth generation, died 235 AH
3. 3Ali ibn MushirTold us, Third generation, died 189 AH
4. 4Sulayman ibn Abi SulaymanFrom, Successor, died 128 AH
5. 5Al-Walid ibn al-AyzarFrom, Successor, died 111 AH
6. 6Sad ibn IyasFrom, Successor, died 95 AH
7. 7Abdullah ibn MasudFrom, Companion, died 28 AH