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  

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  

"A man said to Ibn Mas'ud: 'Which deed is most virtuous?' He said: 'I asked Messenger of Allah (that). He said: "Salat at the beginning of its time." I asked him: "What is after that O Messenger of Allah?" He said: "Being dutiful to one's parents." I said: "What is after that [O Messenger of Allah]?" He said: "Jihad in the Way of Allah."  

سَأَلْتُ عَنْهُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ الصَّلاَةُ عَلَى مَوَاقِيتِهَا قُلْتُ وَمَاذَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ وَبِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ قُلْتُ وَمَاذَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ وَالْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ  

[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)."  

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

[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] 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 Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said, "O Messenger of Allah, which deeds are the best?" He said, "Prayer done on time." I said, "Then what, O Messenger of Allah?" He said, "Showing kindness to parents." I said, "Then what, O Messenger of Allah?" He said, "To prevent harm to people from your tongue." Then he remained silent, and if I had asked him more, he would have said more to me.  

سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَيُّ الْأَعْمَالِ أَفْضَلُ؟ قَالَ «الصَّلَاةُ عَلَى مِيقَاتِهَا» قُلْتُ ثُمَّ مَاذَا يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ؟ قَالَ «بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ» قُلْتُ ثُمَّ مَاذَا يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ؟ قَالَ «أَنْ يَسْلَمَ النَّاسُ مِنْ لِسَانِكَ» ثُمَّ سَكَتَ وَلَوِ اسْتَزَدْتُهُ لَزَادَنِي  

[Machine] I asked the Messenger of Allah, may ﷺ , which actions are the best? He said, "Prayer at its prescribed 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 he stopped speaking, and if I had asked him more, he would have said more to me.  

سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ أَيُّ الْأَعْمَالِ أَفْضَلُ؟ قَالَ «الصَّلَاةُ لِوَقْتِهَا» قُلْتُ ثُمَّ مَاذَا يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ؟ قَالَ «ثُمَّ بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ» قُلْتُ ثُمَّ مَاذَا يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ؟ قَالَ «الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ» ثُمَّ سَكَتَ 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 Prophet ﷺ which deeds are the best. He said, "Praying at the appointed time, then being kind to one's parents, then striving in the cause of Allah."  

سَأَلْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ أَيُّ الْأَعْمَالِ أَفْضَلُ؟ قَالَ «الصَّلَاةُ لِوَقْتِهَا ثُمَّ بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ ثُمَّ الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ»  

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked, "Which actions are the best?" He said, "Praying on time." It was said, "Then what?" He said, "Being kind to parents." It was said, "Then what?" He said, "Fighting in the way of Allah."  

سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أَيُّ الْأَعْمَالِ أَفْضَلُ؟ قَالَ «الصَّلَاةُ لِوَقْتِهَا» قِيلَ ثُمَّ أَيٌّ؟ قَالَ «بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ» قِيلَ ثُمَّ أَيٌّ؟ قَالَ «الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ»  

[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] You asked me about what the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ asked me. He said, "Prayer on time, kindness to parents, and jihad in the way of Allah." And if I had asked him for more, he would have given me more.  

سَأَلْتَنِي عَمَّا سَأَلْتُ عَنْهُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ «الصَّلَاةُ لِوَقْتِهَا وَبِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ وَالْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ» وَلَوِ اسْتَزَدْتُهُ لَزَادَنِي  

[Machine] I asked the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ , "Which deeds are the best?" He said, "Praying on time, being kind to your parents, and striving in the path of Allah." If I had asked for more, he would have given me more.  

سَأَلْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ أَيُّ الْأَعْمَالِ أَفْضَلُ؟ قَالَ «الصَّلَاةُ لِوَقْتِهَا وَبِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ وَالْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ» 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 said, "O Messenger of Allah, which action is best?" He replied, "Offering the prayer at its prescribed time." I said, "Then what?" He said, "Being dutiful to the parents." I said, "Then what?" He said, "Then striving in the cause of Allah." Then he remained silent, and if I had asked him more, he would have answered me.  

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  

[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.  

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  

[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  

"عَنْ أَبِى عُبَيْدَةَ عَنِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ أَىُّ الأَعْمَالِ أَفْضَلُ؟ قَالَ: الصَّلاةُ لِمَواقِيتِها، وَبِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ، وَجِهَادٌ فِى سَبِيلِ اللهِ، وَلَوِ اسْتَزَدْتُهُ لَزَادَنِى".