1. The Book of Faith
١۔ كتاب الإيمان
Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked, "What is the best deed?" He replied, "To believe in Allah and His Apostle (Muhammad). The questioner then asked, "What is the next (in goodness)? He replied, "To participate in Jihad (religious fighting) in Allah's Cause." The questioner again asked, "What is the next (in goodness)?" He replied, "To perform Hajj (Pilgrim age to Mecca) 'Mubrur, (which is accepted by Allah and is performed with the intention of seeking Allah's pleasure only and not to show off and without committing a sin and in accordance with the traditions of the Prophet)."
أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ سُئِلَ أَىُّ الْعَمَلِ أَفْضَلُ فَقَالَ إِيمَانٌ بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ قِيلَ ثُمَّ مَاذَا قَالَ الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ قِيلَ ثُمَّ مَاذَا قَالَ حَجٌّ مَبْرُورٌ
The least you can do to help someone is keep them safe from your harm
I asked the Prophet ﷺ, “Which deed is best?” He said, “Belief in Allah and striving in His cause.” I said, “Then which slave is best to free?” He said, “The one with the highest price and the most valued by his people.” I said, “And if I cannot do that?” He said, “Help a craftsman, or do something for one who has poor judgement or is incompetent.” I said, “And if I cannot do that?” He said, “Keep people safe from your harm, for that is a charity you give on your own behalf.”
سَأَلْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ أَىُّ الْعَمَلِ أَفْضَلُ؟ قَالَ: «إِيمَانٌ بِاللَّهِ، وَجِهَادٌ فِي سَبِيلِهِ» قُلْتُ: فَأَىُّ الرِّقَابِ أَفْضَلُ؟ قَالَ: «أَغْلاَهَا ثَمَنًا وَأَنْفَسُهَا عِنْدَ أَهْلِهَا» قُلْتُ: فَإِنْ لَمْ أَفْعَلْ؟ قَالَ: «تُعِينُ صَانِعًا أَوْ تَصْنَعُ لِأَخْرَقَ» قَالَ: فَإِنْ لَمْ أَفْعَلْ؟ قَالَ: «تَدَعُ النَّاسَ مِنَ الشَّرِّ فَإِنَّهَا صَدَقَةٌ تَصَدَّقُ بِهَا عَلَى نَفْسِكَ»
The act Allah loves most is performing Ṣalāh at its time, then dutifulness to parents, then jihād
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