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

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."

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

Prayer at its appointed hour. I (again) said: Then what? He (the Holy Prophet) replied: Kindness to the parents. I (again) said: Then what? He replied: Earnest endeavour (Jihad) in the cause of Allah. And I would have not ceased asking more questions but out of regard (for his feelings).

سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَىُّ الْعَمَلِ أَفْضَلُ قَالَ الصَّلاَةُ لِوَقْتِهَا قَالَ قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَىٌّ قَالَ بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ قَالَ قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَىٌّ قَالَ الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَمَا تَرَكْتُ أَسْتَزِيدُهُ إِلاَّ إِرْعَاءً عَلَيْهِ

I said: Messenger of Allah, which of the deeds (takes one) nearer to Paradise? He (the Holy Prophet) replied: Prayer at its proper time, I said: What next, Messenger of Allah? He replied: Kindness to the parents. I said: What next? He replied: Jihad in the cause of Allah.

قُلْتُ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ أَىُّ الأَعْمَالِ أَقْرَبُ إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ قَالَ الصَّلاَةُ عَلَى مَوَاقِيتِهَا قُلْتُ وَمَاذَا يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ قَالَ بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ قُلْتُ وَمَاذَا يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ قَالَ الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ

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 asked the Messenger of Allah: 'O Messenger of Allah! Which is the most virtuous of deeds?' He said: 'Salat during its appropriate time.' I said: 'Then what, O Messenger of Allah?' He said: 'Being dutiful to one's parents.' I said: 'Then what, O Messenger of Allah?' He said: 'Jihad in the cause of Allah.' Then the messenger of Allah was silent, and if I had asked him more, he would have told me more.'"

سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَىُّ الأَعْمَالِ أَفْضَلُ قَالَ الصَّلاَةُ لِمِيقَاتِهَا قُلْتُ ثُمَّ مَاذَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ قُلْتُ ثُمَّ مَاذَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ سَكَتَ عَنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ 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] 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 Messenger of Allah: 'O Messenger of Allah! Which is the most virtuous of deeds?' He said: 'Salat during its appropriate time.' I said: 'Then what, O Messenger of Allah?' He said: 'Being dutiful to one's parents.' I said: 'Then what, O Messenger of Allah?' He said: 'Jihad in the cause of Allah.' Then the messenger of Allah was silent, and if I had asked him more, he would have told me more.'" (Using translation from Tirmidhī 1898)

سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَيُّ الْأَعْمَالِ أَفْضَلُ؟ قَالَ الصَّلَاةُ لِمِيقَاتِهَا قَالَ قُلْتُ ثُمَّ مَاذَا يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ؟ قَالَ بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ قَالَ قُلْتُ ثُمَّ مَاذَا يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ؟ قَالَ الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ قَالَفَسَكَتُّ وَلَوِ اسْتَزَدْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ 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 asked, "O Messenger of Allah, which action is the best?" He said, "Praying at its prescribed time." I asked, "Then what?" He said, "Showing kindness to parents." I asked, "Then what?" He said, "Fighting in the cause of Allah, even if it is a small effort, it will increase me."

قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَيُّ الْعَمَلِ أَفْضَلُ؟ قَالَ الصَّلَاةُ لِوَقْتِهَا قَالَ قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَيٌّ؟ قَالَ بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ قَالَ قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَيٌّ؟ قَالَ الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ ﷻ وَلَوِ اسْتَزَدْتُهُ لَزَادَنِي

[Machine] I asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ , "Which action is the best?" He said, "Praying at the beginning of its prescribed time." I asked, "Then which action?" He said, "Jihad in the cause of Allah." I asked, "Then which action?" He said, "Being dutiful to one's parents."

سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَيُّ الْعَمَلِ أَفْضَلُ؟ قَالَ «الصَّلَاةُ فِي أَوَّلِ وَقْتِهَا» قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَيُّ؟ قَالَ «الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ» قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَيُّ؟ قَالَ «بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ»

[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 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

Prayer at its appointed hour. I (again) said: Then what? He (the Holy Prophet) replied: Kindness to the parents. I (again) said: Then what? He replied: Earnest endeavour (Jihad) in the cause of Allah. And I would have not ceased asking more questions but out of regard (for his feelings). (Using translation from Muslim 85a)

سَأَلْتُ [175] النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قُلْتُ أَيُّ الْعَمَلِ أَفْضَلُ؟ قَالَ «الصَّلَاةُ لِوَقْتِهَا» قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَيُّ؟ قَالَ «بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ» قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَيُّ؟ قَالَ «الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ﷻ» فَمَا تَرَكْتُ أَنْ أَسْتَزِيدَ إِلَّا إِبْقَاءً عَلَيْهِ