Sahih Muslim , Hadith 85 ⓘ

It is narrated on the authority of 'Abdullah b. Mas'ud that he observed. I asked the Messenger of Allah which deed was the best. He (the Holy Prophet) replied: 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).

حَدَّثَنَا 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 صلى الله عليه وسلم 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 ‏.‏

'Abdullah b. Mas'ud reported: 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.

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ الْمَكِّيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا مَرْوَانُ الْفَزَارِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو يَعْفُورٍ، عَنِ الْوَلِيدِ بْنِ الْعَيْزَارِ، عَنْ أَبِي عَمْرٍو الشَّيْبَانِيِّ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ، قَالَ 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 ‏"‏ ‏.‏

It was heard from Abu 'Amr Shaibani that, pointing towards the house of Abdullah, he said: The owner of this house told me that he asked the Messenger of Allah: 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.

وَحَدَّثَنَا 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 صلى الله عليه وسلم 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 ‏.‏

This hadith has been transmitted by Muhammad b. Bashshar, Muhammad b. Ja'far Shu'ba with this chain of narrators, with the addition that he pointed towards the house of 'Abdullah, but he did not mention his name for us.

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ مِثْلَهُ ‏.‏ وَزَادَ وَأَشَارَ إِلَى دَارِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ وَمَا سَمَّاهُ لَنَا ‏.‏

It is reported on the authority of 'Abdullah that the Messenger of Allah observed: The best of' the deeds or deed is the (observance of) prayer at its proper time and kindness to the parents.

حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ أَبِي عَمْرٍو الشَّيْبَانِيِّ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ أَفْضَلُ الأَعْمَالِ - أَوِ الْعَمَلِ - الصَّلاَةُ لِوَقْتِهَا وَبِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ ‏" ‏ ‏.‏