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. (Using translation from Muslim 1888b)
رَجُلٌ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَيُّ النَّاسِ أَفْضَلُ؟ قَالَ مُؤْمِنٌ مُجَاهِدٌ بِنَفْسِهِ وَمَالِهِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ قَالَ ثُمَّ مَنْ قَالَ ثُمَّ رَجُلٌ مُعْتَزِلٌ فِي شِعْبٍ مِنَ الشِّعَابِ يَعْبُدُ رَبَّهُ ﷻ وَيَدَعُ النَّاسَ مِنْ شَرِّهِ