[Machine] There was a matter in my heart that saddened me: that I had not asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about it, nor had I heard anyone ask him about it. So I kept watching for an opportunity. One day I entered upon him while he was performing ablution, and I found him in two conditions I loved to find him in: free (unoccupied) and in good spirits. I said, “O Messenger of Allah, will you permit me to ask you?” He said, “Yes—ask whatever occurs to you.” I said, “O Messenger of Allah, what is faith?” He said, “Generosity and patience.” I said, “Then which of the believers is best in faith?” He said, “The one with the best character.” I said, “Then which of the Muslims is best in Islam?” He said, “The one from whose tongue and hand the Muslims are safe.” I said, “Then which jihad is best?” He lowered his head and remained silent for a long time, until I feared I had burdened him, and I wished I had not asked him—especially since I had heard him the day before say: “Indeed, the greatest of the Muslims in wrongdoing against the Muslims is the one who asks about something that was not prohibited for them, and then it is prohibited for them because of his question.” So I said, “I seek refuge in Allah from the anger of Allah and the anger of His Messenger ﷺ.” He raised his head and said, “What did you say?” I said, “Which jihad is best?” He said, “A word of justice in the presence of a tyrannical ruler.”

كَانَتْ فِي نَفْسِي مَسْأَلَةٌ قَدْ أَحْزَنَنِي أَنِّي لَمْ أَسْأَلْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَنْهَا وَلَمْ أَسْمَعْ أَحَدًا يَسْأَلُهُ عَنْهَا فَكُنْتُ أَتَحَيَّنُهُ فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَيْهِ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ وَهُوَ يَتَوَضَّأُ فَوَافَقْتُهُ عَلَى حَالَتَيْنِ كُنْتُ أُحِبُّ أَنْ أُوَافِقَهُ عَلَيْهِمَا وَجَدْتُهُ فَارِغًا وَطَيِّبَ النَّفْسِ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَتَأْذَنُ لِي أَنْ أَسْأَلَكَ؟ قَالَ «نَعَمْ سَلْ عَمَّا بَدَا لَكَ» قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا الْإِيمَانُ؟ قَالَ «السَّمَاحَةُ وَالصَّبْرُ» قُلْتُ فَأَيُّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَفْضَلُ إِيمَانًا؟ قَالَ «أَحْسَنُهُمْ خُلُقًا» قُلْتُ فَأَيُّ الْمُسْلِمِينَ أَفْضَلُهُمْ إِسْلَامًا؟ قَالَ «مَنْ سَلِمَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ مِنْ لِسَانِهِ وَيَدِهِ» قُلْتُ فَأَيُّ الْجِهَادِ أَفْضَلُ؟ فَطَأْطَأَ رَأْسَهُ فَصَمَتَ طَوِيلًا حَتَّى خِفْتُ أَنْ أَكُونَ قَدْ شَقَقْتُ عَلَيْهِ وَتَمَنَّيْتُ إِنْ لَمْ أَكُنْ سَأَلْتُهُ وَقَدْ سَمِعْتُهُ بِالْأَمْسِ يَقُولُ «إِنَّ أَعْظَمَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ فِي الْمُسْلِمِينَ جُرْمًا لِمَنْ سَأَلَ عَنْ شَيْءٍ لَمْ يُحَرَّمْ عَلَيْهِمْ فَحُرِّمَ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ أَجْلِ مَسْأَلَتِهِ» فَقُلْتُ أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ غَضَبِ اللَّهِ وَغَضَبِ رَسُولِهِ ﷺ فَرَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ فَقَالَ «كَيْفَ قُلْتَ؟» قُلْتُ أَيُّ الْجِهَادِ أَفْضَلُ؟ فَقَالَ «كَلِمَةُ عَدْلٍ عِنْدَ إِمَامٍ جَائِرٍ»