عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ رضي الله عنه قَالَ: سَأَلْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ: أَيُّ الْعَمَلِ أَحَبُّ إِلى اللَّهِ؟ قَالَ: «الصَّلاةُ عَلى وقْتِهَا»، قَالَ: ثُمَّ أَيٌّ؟ قَالَ: «ثُمَّ بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ»، قَالَ: ثُمَّ أَيٌّ؟ قَالَ: «الجِهَادُ في سَبيل اللهِ» قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي بِهِنَّ، ولَوِ اسْتَزَدْتُهُ لَزَادَنِي.
ꜤAbdullāh ibn MasꜤūd narrated:
1. I asked God’s Messenger (peace be upon him) which action God loves best? He said: “Prayer on time”. 2. I asked: Then which? He said: “Dutifulness to parents”. 3. I asked: what comes next? He said: “Jihad [i.e. striving] for God’s cause”. 4. [ꜤAbdullāh] said: He mentioned these to me. Had I asked him for more, he would have answered me.
Related by al-Bukhari, 527; Muslim, 85.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) mentions that the action God loves best is offering prayers on time. Next comes dutifulness to one’s parents, followed by striving for God’s cause.
