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.
tabarani:9821bʿAlī b. ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz > Ḥajjāj b. al-Minhāl > Ḥammād b. Salamah > ʿAbd al-Malik b. ʿUmayr > ʿAbdullāh b. Masʿūd

[Machine] I said, "O Messenger of Allah, which deed is best?" 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." Then he remained silent and if I had asked him more, he would have added more to me.  

الطبراني:٩٨٢١bحَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ ثنا حَجَّاجُ بْنُ الْمِنْهَالِ ثنا حَمَّادُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ بْنِ عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ

قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَيُّ الْعَمَلِ أَفْضَلُ؟ قَالَ «إِقَامُ الصَّلَاةِ لِوَقْتِهَا» قُلْتُ ثُمَّ مَهْ؟ قَالَ «ثُمَّ بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ» قُلْتُ ثُمَّ مَهْ؟ قَالَ «ثُمَّ الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ» ثُمَّ سَكَتَ وَلَوِ اسْتَزَدْتُهُ لَزَادَنِي  


See similar narrations below:

Collected by Bukhārī, Muslim, Tirmidhī, Aḥmad, Ḥākim, Ibn Ḥibbān, Aḥmad's Zuhd
bukhari:2782al-Ḥasan b. Ṣabbāḥ > Muḥammad b. Sābiq > Mālik b. Mighwal > al-Walīd b. al-ʿAyzār Dhakar > Abū ʿAmr al-Shaybānī > ʿAbd

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.  

البخاري:٢٧٨٢حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ صَبَّاحٍ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سَابِقٍ حَدَّثَنَا مَالِكُ بْنُ مِغْوَلٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ الْوَلِيدَ بْنَ الْعَيْزَارِ ذَكَرَ عَنْ أَبِي عَمْرٍو الشَّيْبَانِيِّ قَالَ قَالَ

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  

muslim:85aAbū Bakr b. Abū Shaybah > ʿAlī b. Mushir > al-Shaybānī > al-Walīd b. al-ʿAyzār > Saʿd b. Iyās Abū ʿAmr al-Shaybānī > ʿAbdullāh b. Masʿūd

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).  

مسلم:٨٥aحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُسْهِرٍ عَنِ الشَّيْبَانِيِّ عَنِ الْوَلِيدِ بْنِ الْعَيْزَارِ عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ إِيَاسٍ أَبِي عَمْرٍو الشَّيْبَانِيِّ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ

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  

muslim:85cʿUbaydullāh 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:٨٥cوَحَدَّثَنَا 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  

tirmidhi:1898Aḥmad b. Muḥammad > ʿAbdullāh b. al-Mubārak > al-Masʿūdī > al-Walīd b. al-ʿAyzār > Abū ʿAmr al-Shaybānī > Ibn Masʿūd

"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.'"  

الترمذي:١٨٩٨حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ عَنِ الْمَسْعُودِيِّ عَنِ الْوَلِيدِ بْنِ الْعَيْزَارِ عَنْ أَبِي عَمْرٍو الشَّيْبَانِيِّ عَنِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ

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  

قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى وَهَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ رَوَاهُ الشَّيْبَانِيُّ وَشُعْبَةُ وَغَيْرُ وَاحِدٍ عَنِ الْوَلِيدِ بْنِ الْعَيْزَارِ وَقَدْ رُوِيَ هَذَا الْحَدِيثُ مِنْ غَيْرِ وَجْهٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَمْرٍو الشَّيْبَانِيِّ عَنِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ وَأَبُو عَمْرٍو الشَّيْبَانِيُّ اسْمُهُ سَعْدُ بْنُ إِيَاسٍ
ahmad:3973Yaḥyá b. Ādam And Ḥusayn b. Muḥammad > Isrāʾīl > Abū Isḥāq > Abū al-Aḥwaṣ Waʾabī ʿUbaydah > ʿAbdullāh

[Machine] I asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ , "Which deeds are best?" He replied, "Praying on time, being dutiful to one's parents, and striving in the cause of Allah. Even if I were to request more, he said, Husayn would increase it (meaning it would not be sufficient)."  

أحمد:٣٩٧٣حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ آدَمَ وَحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ قَالَا حَدَّثَنَا إِسْرَائِيلُ عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ عَنْ أَبِي الْأَحْوَصِ وَأَبِي عُبَيْدَةَ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ قَالَ

سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ أَيُّ الْأَعْمَالِ أَفْضَلُ؟ فَقَالَ الصَّلَاةُ لِوَقْتِهَا وَبِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ وَالْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ وَلَوِ اسْتَزَدْتُ لَزَادَنِي قَالَ حُسَيْنٌ ولَوِ اسْتَزَدْتُهُ  

ahmad:3998ʿAbd 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:٣٩٩٨حَدَّثَنَا 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:4313Yazīd And ʾAbū al-Naḍr > al-Masʿūdī > al-Walīd b. al-ʿAyzār > Abū ʿAmr al-Shaybānī > ʿAbdullāh b. Masʿūd

"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)  

أحمد:٤٣١٣حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ وَأَبُو النَّضْرِ قَالَا حَدَّثَنَا الْمَسْعُودِيُّ عَنِ الْوَلِيدِ بْنِ الْعَيْزَارِ عَنْ أَبِي عَمْرٍو الشَّيْبَانِيِّ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ

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  

ahmad:3890ʿAffān 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:٣٨٩٠حَدَّثَنَا 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  

ahmad:4243Wakīʿ > Isrāʾīl > Abū Isḥāq > Abū ʿUbaydah > ʿAbdullāh

[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."  

أحمد:٤٢٤٣حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ عَنْ إِسْرَائِيلَ عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ عَنْ أَبِي عُبَيْدَةَ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ قَالَ

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  

hakim:674Abū ʿAmr ʿUthmān b. Aḥmad b. ʿAbdullāh b. al-Sammāk al-Thiqah al-Maʾmūn> al-Ḥasan b. Mukram > ʿUthmān b. ʿUmar > Mālik b. Mighwal > al-Walīd b. al-ʿAyzār > Abū ʿAmr al-Shaybānī > ʿAbdullāh

[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."  

الحاكم:٦٧٤حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَمْرٍو عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ السَّمَّاكِ الثِّقَةُ الْمَأْمُونُ بِبَغْدَادَ ثنا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ مُكْرَمٍ ثنا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ عُمَرَ ثنا مَالِكُ بْنُ مِغْوَلٍ عَنِ الْوَلِيدِ بْنِ الْعَيْزَارِ عَنْ أَبِي عَمْرٍو الشَّيْبَانِيِّ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ

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»  

«هَذَا حَدِيثٌ يُعْرَفُ بِهَذَا اللَّفْظِ بِمُحَمَّدِ بْنِ بَشَّارٍ بُنْدَارٍ عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عُمَرَ وَبُنْدَارٌ مِنَ الْحُفَّاظِ الْمُتْقِنِينَ الْأَثْبَاتِ» على شرطهما

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

ibnhibban:1476al-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:١٤٧٦أَخْبَرَنَا 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:1477al-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:١٤٧٧أَخْبَرَنَا 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  

ahmad-zuhd:1195ʿAbdullāh > Abū Bakr > ʿAlī b. Mushir > al-Shaybānī > al-Walīd b. al-ʿAyzār > Saʿd b. Abū Iyās Abū ʿAmr al-Shaybānī > ʿAbdullāh

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)   

الزهد لأحمد:١١٩٥حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرٍ حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُسْهِرٍ عَنِ الشَّيْبَانِيِّ عَنِ الْوَلِيدِ بْنِ الْعَيْزَارِ عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ أَبِي إِيَاسٍ أَبِي عَمْرٍو الشَّيْبَانِيِّ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ

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