Caution: Translations of Quran and Ḥadīth may lead to possible misapplications and misinterpretations. This site is intended for students of sacred knowledge that are proficient in comprehending classical Arabic and have a strong foundation in Islamic sciences. Also note that religious injunctions rely on several aspects beyond what one may glean through reading individual aḥādīth.
Qurʾān Bukhārī Muslim Nasāʾī Abū Dāwūd Tirmidhī Ibn Mājah Mālik Aḥmad Dārimī Ḥākim Ibn Ḥibbān Ṭabarānī Nasāʾī's Kubrá Bayhaqī al-Luʾluʾ wa-al-Marjān Ibn Rajab's Fifty Riyāḍ al-Ṣāliḥīn Aḥmad's Zuhd Suyūṭī
ahmad:4186 – Muḥammad b. Jaʿfar > Shuʿbah And Ḥajjāj > Shuʿbah > al-Walīd b. al-ʿAyzār > Ḥajjāj > Abū ʿAmr al-Shaybānī > Muḥammad > Abū ʿAmr al-Shaybānī

[Machine] "We were told by the owner of this house, who pointed with his hand towards the house of Abdullah, and he named it for us. He said, 'I asked the Messenger of Allahﷺ which action is most beloved to Allah the Almighty?' He said, 'Praying on time.' Al-Hajjaj said, 'Then what?' He said, 'Being good to parents.' He said, 'Then what?' He said, 'Fighting in the cause of Allah, even if I were to do more, it would increase me.'"  

أحمد:٤١٨٦ – حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ وَحَجَّاجٌ حَدَّثَنِي شُعْبَةُ عَنِ الْوَلِيدِ بْنِ الْعَيْزَارِ قَالَ حَجَّاجٌ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَمْرٍو الشَّيْبَانِيَّ وَقَالَ مُحَمَّدٌ عَنْ أَبِي عَمْرٍو الشَّيْبَانِيِّ قَالَ

حَدَّثَنَا صَاحِبُ هَذِهِ الدَّارِ وَأَشَارَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى دَارِ عَبْدِ اللهِ وَمَا سَمَّاهُ لَنَا قَالَ سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ أَيُّ الْعَمَلِ أَحَبُّ إِلَى اللهِ ﷻ؟ فَقَالَ الصَّلَاةُ عَلَى وَقْتِهَا قَالَ الْحَجَّاجُ لِوَقْتِهَا قَالَ ثُمَّ أَيٌّ؟ قَالَ ثُمَّ بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ قَالَ ثُمَّ أَيٌّ؟ قَالَ ثُمَّ الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ وَلَوِ اسْتَزَدْتُهُ لَزَادَنِي  

See similar narrations below:

Collected by Bukhārī, Muslim, Nasāʾī, Aḥmad, Ibn Ḥibbān, Ṭabarānī, Bayhaqī

The act Allah loves most is performing Ṣalāh at its time, then dutifulness to parents, then jihād

bukhari:527 – Abū al-Walīd Hishām b. ʿAbd al-Malik > Shuʿbah > al-Walīd b. al-ʿAyzār > Abū ʿAmr al-Shaybānī > Ṣāḥib Hadhih al-Dār And ʾAshār > Dār ʿAbdullāh

I asked the Prophet ﷺ "Which deed is the dearest to Allah?" He replied, "To offer the prayers at their early stated fixed times." I asked, "What is the next (in goodness)?" He replied, "To be good and dutiful to your parents" I again asked, "What is the next (in goodness)?" He replied, 'To participate in Jihad (religious fighting) in Allah's cause." ʿAbdullah added, "I asked only that much and if I had asked more, the Prophet ﷺ would have told me more."  

البخاري:٥٢٧ – حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْوَلِيدِ هِشَامُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ قَالَ الْوَلِيدُ بْنُ الْعَيْزَارِ أَخْبَرَنِي قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَمْرٍو الشَّيْبَانِيَّ يَقُولُ حَدَّثَنَا صَاحِبُ هَذِهِ الدَّارِ وَأَشَارَ إِلَى دَارِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ

سَأَلْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ أَىُّ الْعَمَلِ أَحَبُّ إِلَى اللَّهِ؟ قَالَ: «الصَّلاَةُ عَلَى وَقْتِهَا۔» قَالَ: ثُمَّ أَىُّ؟ قَالَ: «ثُمَّ بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ۔» قَالَ: ثُمَّ أَىُّ؟ قَالَ: «الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ۔» قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي بِهِنَّ وَلَوِ اسْتَزَدْتُهُ لَزَادَنِي  

bukhari:5970 – Abū al-Walīd > Shuʿbah > al-Walīd b. ʿAyzār > Abū ʿAmr al-Shaybānī

I heard Abi ʿAmr 'Ash-Shaibani saying, "The owner of this house." he pointed to ʿAbdullah's house, "said, 'I asked the Prophet ﷺ 'Which deed is loved most by Allah?" He replied, 'To offer prayers at their early (very first) stated times.' " ʿAbdullah asked, "What is the next (in goodness)?" The Prophet ﷺ said, "To be good and dutiful to one's parents," ʿAbdullah asked, "What is the next (in goodness)?" The Prophet ﷺ said, "To participate in Jihad for Allah's Cause." ʿAbdullah added, "The Prophet ﷺ narrated to me these three things, and if I had asked more, he would have told me more."  

البخاري:٥٩٧٠ – حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْوَلِيدِ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ قَالَ الْوَلِيدُ بْنُ عَيْزَارٍ أَخْبَرَنِي قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَمْرٍو الشَّيْبَانِيَّ يَقُولُ

أَخْبَرَنَا صَاحِبُ هَذِهِ الدَّارِ وَأَوْمَأَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى دَارِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ أَىُّ الْعَمَلِ أَحَبُّ إِلَى اللَّهِ قَالَ الصَّلاَةُ عَلَى وَقْتِهَا قَالَ ثُمَّ أَىُّ قَالَ ثُمَّ بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ قَالَ ثُمَّ أَىّ قَالَ الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي بِهِنَّ وَلَوِ اسْتَزَدْتُهُ لَزَادَنِي  

muslim:85c – ʿUbaydullāh b. Muʿādh al-ʿAnbarī from my father > Shuʿbah > al-Walīd b. al-ʿAyzār > Abū ʿAmr al-Shaybānī > Ṣāḥib Hadhih al-Dār And ʾAshār > Dār ʿAbdullāh

The owner of this house told me that he asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ: Which of the deeds are liked by Allah? He (the Holy Prophet) observed: Prayer at its proper time. I (again) said: What next? He replied: Then goodness to the parents. I (again) said: What then? He replied: Then Jihad in the cause of Allah. He ('Abdullah) said: This is what I was told (by the Holy Prophet). Had I questioned further, he would have made additions for me.  

مسلم:٨٥c – وَحَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُعَاذٍ الْعَنْبَرِيُّ حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ عَنِ الْوَلِيدِ بْنِ الْعَيْزَارِ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا عَمْرٍو الشَّيْبَانِيَّ قَالَ

حَدَّثَنِي صَاحِبُ هَذِهِ الدَّارِ وَأَشَارَ إِلَى دَارِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَىُّ الأَعْمَالِ أَحَبُّ إِلَى اللَّهِ قَالَ الصَّلاَةُ عَلَى وَقْتِهَا قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَىٌّ قَالَ ثُمَّ بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَىٌّ قَالَ ثُمَّ الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي بِهِنَّ وَلَوِ اسْتَزَدْتُهُ لَزَادَنِي  

nasai:610 – ʿAmr b. ʿAlī > Yaḥyá > Shuʿbah > al-Walīd b. al-ʿAyzār > Abū ʿAmr al-Shaybānī > Ṣāḥib Hadhih al-Dār And ʾAshār > Dār ʿAbdullāh

"I heard Abu 'Amr Ash-Shaibani say: 'The owner of this house - and he pointed to the house of 'Abdullah - said: I asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ: 'Which deed is most beloved to Allah, may He be exalted?' He said: 'Prayer offered on time, honoring one's parents, and Jihad in the cause of Allah.'"  

النسائي:٦١٠ – أَخْبَرَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَلِيٍّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي الْوَلِيدُ بْنُ الْعَيْزَارِ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَمْرٍو الشَّيْبَانِيَّ يَقُولُ

حَدَّثَنَا صَاحِبُ هَذِهِ الدَّارِ وَأَشَارَ إِلَى دَارِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَىُّ الْعَمَلِ أَحَبُّ إِلَى اللَّهِ تَعَالَى قَالَ الصَّلاَةُ عَلَى وَقْتِهَا وَبِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ وَالْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ﷻ  

ahmad:3998 – ʿAbd al-Ṣamad > ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz b. Muslim > Abū Isḥāq al-Hamdānī > Abū al-Aḥwaṣ > Ibn Masʿūd

[Machine] I said, "O Messenger of Allah, which actions are most beloved to Allah Almighty?" He said, "Praying the prayer on time." I said, "Then what?" He said, "Being good to one's parents." I said, "Then what?" He said, "Engaging in Jihad for the sake of Allah, even if you acquire more, it will only increase you in goodness."  

أحمد:٣٩٩٨ – حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الصَّمَدِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو إِسْحَاقَ الْهَمْدَانِيُّ عَنْ أَبِي الْأَحْوَصِ عَنِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ

قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَيُّ الْأَعْمَالِ أَحَبُّ إِلَى اللهِ ﷻ؟ قَالَ صَلِّ الصَّلَاةَ لِمَوَاقِيتِهَا قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَيُّ؟ قَالَ بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَيُّ؟ قَالَ ثُمَّ الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ وَلَوِ اسْتَزَدْتُهُ لَزَادَنِي  

ahmad:3890 – ʿAffān b. Muslim > Shuʿbah > al-Walīd b. al-ʿAyzār b. Ḥurayth > Abū ʿAmr al-Shaybānī

I asked the Prophet ﷺ "Which deed is the dearest to Allah?" He replied, "To offer the prayers at their early stated fixed times." I asked, "What is the next (in goodness)?" He replied, "To be good and dutiful to your parents" I again asked, "What is the next (in goodness)?" He replied, 'To participate in Jihad (religious fighting) in Allah's cause." ʿAbdullah added, "I asked only that much and if I had asked more, the Prophet ﷺ would have told me more." (Using translation from Bukhārī 527)  

أحمد:٣٨٩٠ – حَدَّثَنَا عَفَّانُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ أَخْبَرَنِي الْوَلِيدُ بْنُ الْعَيْزَارِ بْنِ حُرَيْثٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَمْرٍو الشَّيْبَانِيَّ قَالَ

حَدَّثَنَا صَاحِبُ هَذِهِ الدَّارِ وَأَشَارَ إِلَى دَارِ عَبْدِ اللهِ وَلَمْ يُسَمِّهِ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ أَيُّ الْعَمَلِ أَحَبُّ إِلَى اللهِ؟ قَالَ الصَّلَاةُ عَلَى وَقْتِهَا قَالَ قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَيٌّ؟ قَالَ ثُمَّ بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ قَالَ قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَيٌّ؟ قَالَ ثُمَّ الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ قَالَ فَحَدَّثَنِي بِهِنَّ وَلَوِ اسْتَزَدْتُهُ لَزَادَنِي  

ذِكْرُ الْبَيَانِ بِأَنَّ أَدَاءَ الْمَرْءِ الصَّلَوَاتِ الْمَفْرُوضَةَ لِمَوَاقِيتِهَا مِنْ أَحَبِّ الْأَعْمَالِ إِلَى اللَّهِ جَلَّ وَعَلَا

ibnhibban:1476 – al-Ḥasan b. Sufyān > Shaybān b. Abū Shaybah > ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz b. Muslim > Abū Isḥāq > Abū al-Aḥwaṣ > ʿAbdullāh

[Machine] I said, "O Messenger of Allah, which actions are most beloved to Allah?" He replied, "Prayer at its designated times." I said, "Then what?" He said, "Showing kindness to parents." I said, "Then what?" He said, "Jihad (striving in the cause of Allah)." And if I had asked him further, he would have continued to give me more.  

ابن حبّان:١٤٧٦ – أَخْبَرَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ سُفْيَانَ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شَيْبَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو إِسْحَاقَ عَنْ أَبِي الْأَحْوَصِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ

قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَيُّ الْأَعْمَالِ أَحَبُّ إِلَى اللَّهِ؟ قَالَ «الصَّلَوَاتُ لِمَوَاقِيتِهَا» قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَيُّ؟ قَالَ «ثُمَّ بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ» قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَيُّ؟ قَالَ «ثُمَّ الْجِهَادُ» وَلَوِ اسْتَزَدْتُهُ لَزَادَنِي  

ذِكْرُ الْبَيَانِ بِأَنَّ الصَّلَاةَ لِوَقْتِهَا مِنْ أَحَبِّ الْأَعْمَالِ إِلَى اللَّهِ جَلَّ وَعَلَا

ibnhibban:1477 – al-Faḍl b. al-Ḥubāb al-Jumaḥī > Abū al-Walīd al-Ṭayālisī And Muḥammad b. Kathīr al-ʿAbdī Waḥafṣ b. ʿUmar al-Ḥawḍī > Shuʿbah > al-Walīd b. al-ʿAyzār > Abū ʿAmr al-Shaybānī > Ṣāḥib Hadhih al-Dār Waʾawmaʾ Biyadih > Dār ʿAbdullāh b. Masʿūd

[Machine] He asked the Prophet SAW which deeds are most beloved to Allah. The Prophet SAW replied, "Prayer at its appointed time." He asked again, "Then what?" The Prophet SAW said, "Good treatment of parents." He asked again, "Then what?" The Prophet SAW said, "Jihad in the cause of Allah." He said, "He mentioned these to me and if I had asked for more, he would have told me more."  

ابن حبّان:١٤٧٧ – أَخْبَرَنَا الْفَضْلُ بْنُ الْحُبَابِ الْجُمَحِيُّ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْوَلِيدِ الطَّيَالِسِيُّ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ كَثِيرٍ الْعَبْدِيُّ وَحَفْصُ بْنُ عُمَرَ الْحَوْضِيُّ قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ قَالَ الْوَلِيدُ بْنُ الْعَيْزَارِ أَخْبَرَنِي قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَمْرٍو الشَّيْبَانِيَّ يَقُولُ حَدَّثَنَا صَاحِبُ هَذِهِ الدَّارِ وَأَوْمَأَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى دَارِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ

أَنَّهُ سَأَلَ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ أَيُّ الْأَعْمَالِ أَحَبُّ إِلَى اللَّهِ؟ قَالَ «الصَّلَاةُ لِوَقْتِهَا» قَالَ ثُمَّ أَيُّ؟ قَالَ «بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ» قَالَ ثُمَّ أَيُّ؟ قَالَ «الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ» قَالَ خَصَّنِي بِهِنَّ وَلَوِ اسْتَزَدْتُهُ لَزَادَنِي  

tabarani:9805 – [Chain 1] ʿUmar b. Ḥafṣ al-Sadūsī > ʿĀṣim b. ʿAlī [Chain 2] Abū Khalīfah > Ḥafṣ b. ʿUmar al-Ḥawḍī > Shuʿbah > al-Walīd b. al-ʿAyzār > Abū ʿAmr al-Shaybānī > Ṣāḥib Hadhih al-Dār / Ibn Masʿūd

[Machine] I asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ , which deeds are most beloved to Allah? Or which deed is most beloved to Allah? He said, "Praying on time." I asked, "Then what?" He said, "Showing kindness to parents." I asked, "Then what?" He said, "Then striving in the cause of Allah." And if I had asked more, he would have continued to give me guidance.  

الطبراني:٩٨٠٥ – حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ حَفْصٍ السَّدُوسِيُّ ثنا عَاصِمُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ ح وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو خَلِيفَةَ ثنا حَفْصُ بْنُ عُمَرَ الْحَوْضِيُّ قَالَا ثنا شُعْبَةُ عَنِ الْوَلِيدِ بْنِ الْعَيْزَارِ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَمْرٍو الشَّيْبَانِيَّ حَدَّثَنِي صَاحِبُ هَذِهِ الدَّارِ يَعْنِي ابْنَ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ

سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ أَيُّ الْأَعْمَالِ أَحَبُّ إِلَى اللهِ؟ أَوْ أَيُّ الْعَمَلِ أَحَبُّ إِلَى اللهِ؟ قَالَ «الصَّلَاةُ لِوَقْتِهَا» قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَيٌّ؟ قَالَ «بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ» قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَيٌّ؟ قَالَ «ثُمَّ الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ» وَلَوِ اسْتَزَدْتُهُ لَزَادَنِي  

bayhaqi:3165 – Abū al-Ḥasan Muḥammad b. al-Ḥusayn b. Dāwud al-Ḥusaynī ؒ Imlāʾ > Abū Bakr Muḥammad b. Aḥmad b. Dallawayh al-Daqqāq > Muḥammad b. Ismāʿīl al-Bukhārī > Abū al-Walīd Hishām b. ʿAbd al-Malik > Shuʿbah > al-Walīd b. al-ʿAyzār > Abū ʿAmr al-Shaybānī > Ṣāḥib Hadhih al-Dār And ʾAwmaʾ Biyadih > Dār ʿAbdullāh b. Masʿūd

[Machine] I asked the Prophet ﷺ , "Which action is most beloved to Allah?" He said, "Prayer at its appointed time." I asked, "Then what?" He said, "Kindness to parents." I asked, "Then what?" He said, "Jihad in the cause of Allah." He then said, "And he informed me about them, and if I had asked more, he would have told me more."  

البيهقي:٣١٦٥ – حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْحَسَنِ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ دَاوُدَ الْحُسَيْنِيُّ رَحِمَهُ اللهُ إِمْلَاءً أنبأ أَبُو بَكْرٍ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ دَلَّوَيْهِ الدَّقَّاقُ ثنا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ الْبُخَارِيُّ ثنا أَبُو الْوَلِيدِ هِشَامُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ ثنا شُعْبَةُ قَالَ الْوَلِيدُ بْنُ الْعَيْزَارِ أَخْبَرَنِي قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَمْرٍو الشَّيْبَانِيَّ يَقُولُ أَخْبَرَنِي صَاحِبُ هَذِهِ الدَّارِ وَأَوْمَأَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى دَارِ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ ؓ قَالَ

سَأَلْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ أَيُّ الْعَمَلِ أَحَبُّ إِلَى اللهِ؟ قَالَ الصَّلَاةُ لِوَقْتِهَا قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَيُّ؟ قَالَ بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَيُّ؟ قَالَ الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ قَالَ وَحَدَّثَنِي بِهِنَّ وَلَوِ اسْتَزَدْتُهُ لَزَادَنِي هَكَذَا  

أَخْرَجَهُ الْبُخَارِيُّ فِي الصَّحِيحِ وَأَخْرَجَهُ مُسْلِمٌ مِنْ وَجْهٍ آخَرَ عَنْ شُعْبَةَ