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."  

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  

I asked Messenger of Allah ﷺ, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! What is the best deed?" He replied, "To offer the prayers at their early stated fixed times." I asked, "What is next in goodness?" He replied, "To be good and dutiful to your parents." I further asked, what is next in goodness?" He replied, "To participate in Jihad in Allah's Cause." I did not ask Messenger of Allah ﷺ anymore and if I had asked him more, he would have told me more.  

عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْعُودٍ ؓ سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَىُّ الْعَمَلِ أَفْضَلُ قَالَ الصَّلاَةُ عَلَى مِيقَاتِهَا قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَىٌّ قَالَ ثُمَّ بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَىٌّ قَالَ الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَسَكَتُّ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَلَوِ اسْتَزَدْتُهُ لَزَادَنِي  

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.  

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  

"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.'"  

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  

[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."  

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  

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)  

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  

[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.'"  

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  

[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.  

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  

[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."  

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  

[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.  

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  

[Machine] I asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ : Which deeds are the best? He replied, "Prayer at the appointed time." I said, "Then what?" He said, "Goodness towards parents." I said, "Then what?" He said, "Jihad in the cause of Allah." Then he remained silent, and if I had asked him more, he would have answered me more.  

سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ أَيُّ الْأَعْمَالِ أَفْضَلُ؟ قَالَ «الصَّلَاةُ لِمِيقَاتِهَا» قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَيٌّ؟ قَالَ «بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ» قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَيٌّ؟ قَالَ «الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ» ثُمَّ سَكَتَ عَنِّي وَلَوِ اسْتَزَدْتُهُ لَزَادَنِي  

[Machine] I asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ , "Which deed is the best?" He said, "To offer prayers at their appointed times." I asked, "Then what?" He said, "To be dutiful to one's parents." I asked again, "Then what?" He said, "To strive in the cause of Allah." And if I asked him further, he would have told me more, for the wording of this hadith is similar to the hadith narrated by Ibrahim ibn Tahman and others.  

سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ أَيُّ الْأَعْمَالِ أَفْضَلُ؟ قَالَ «أَنْ تُصَلِّيَ الصَّلَاةَ لِمَوَاقِيتِهَا» قَالَ ثُمَّ مَهْ؟ قَالَ «بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ» قَالَ ثُمَّ مَهْ؟ قَالَ «الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ» وَلَوِ اسْتَزَدْتُهُ لَزَادَنِي وَاللَّفْظُ لِحَدِيثِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ طَهْمَانَ وَالْآخَرُونَ نَحْوُهُ  

[Machine] I asked the Prophet ﷺ , "O Messenger of Allah, which deeds are most beloved to Allah and closest to Him?" He said, "Prayer at its prescribed time." I asked, "What then?" He said, "Showing respect and goodness to one's parents." I asked, "What then?" He said, "Striving in the cause of Allah, even with a little effort." If I had asked for more, he would have given me more.  

سَأَلْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَيُّ الْأَعْمَالِ أَحَبُّهَا إِلَى اللهِ وَأَقْرَبُهَا؟ قَالَ «الصَّلَاةُ لِوَقْتِهَا» قُلْتُ ثُمَّ مَاذَا عَلَى أَثَرِ ذَلِكَ؟ قَالَ «ثُمَّ بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ» قُلْتُ ثُمُّ مَاذَا عَلَى أَثَرِ ذَلِكَ؟ قَالَ «الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ» وَلَوِ اسْتَزَدْتُهُ لَزَادَنِي  

[Machine] I asked the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ , "O Messenger of Allah, which deeds are most beloved to Allah and closest to Him?" He said, "Offering the obligatory prayer at its prescribed time." I asked, "Then what?" He said, "Being dutiful to one's parents." I asked, "Then what?" He said, "Jihad in the cause of Allah."  

سَأَلْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَيُّ الْأَعْمَالِ أَحَبُّهَا إِلَى اللهِ وَأَقْرَبُهَا؟ قَالَ «الصَّلَاةُ لِوَقْتِهَا» قُلْتُ ثُمَّ مَاذَا عَلَى أَثَرِ ذَلِكَ؟ قَالَ «ثُمَّ بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ» قُلْتُ ثُمُّ مَاذَا عَلَى أَثَرِ ذَلِكَ؟ قَالَ «الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ» وَلَوِ اسْتَزَدْتُهُ لَزَادَنِي  

[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."  

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  

The owner of this house – and he pointed at the house of Abdullah b. Masud – said, "I asked the Prophet ﷺ which action Allah loves best. He replied, (1) 'Prayer at its proper time.' 'Then what?' I asked. He said, (2) 'Then kindness to parents." I asked, 'Then what?' He replied, (3) 'Then jihad in the Way of Allah.'" He added, "He told me about these things. If I had asked him to tell me more, he would have told me more."  

سَأَلْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ: أَيُّ الْعَمَلِ أَحَبُّ إِلَى اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ؟ قَالَ: «الصَّلاَةُ عَلَى وَقْتِهَا» قُلْتُ: ثُمَّ أَيٌّ؟ قَالَ: «ثُمَّ بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ» قُلْتُ: ثُمَّ أَيٌّ؟ قَالَ: «ثُمَّ الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ» قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي بِهِنَّ وَلَوِ اسْتَزَدْتُهُ لَزَادَنِي