1/36. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 85a — Prayer on Time and Kindness to Parents
Clarifying that faith in Allah most high is the best of deeds
Best Deeds Hadith: Prayer at Its Appointed Time and Parents
Sahih Muslim : 85a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 85a
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 ibn Mas'ud Narrated from:
I asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) 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).
Reference : Sahih Muslim 85aIn-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 158USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 1, Hadith 151
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 85a
This Hadith gives a clear order of beloved and best deeds. Abdullah b. Mas'ud asked the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم which deed was best. The answer began with prayer at its appointed hour. Then came kindness to parents. Then came earnest endeavour, Jihad in the cause of Allah. The main search phrase is prayer at its appointed time hadith, but the Hadith also strongly highlights kindness to parents. The narrator then said he stopped asking more out of regard for the Prophet's feelings. The message is simple: regular prayer at the right time and good treatment of parents are not small matters. They are placed very high in this answer.
What we learn from this hadith
- Prayer at its appointed hour is named first in this report.
- Kindness to parents is placed next among the best deeds.
- Jihad in the cause of Allah is also mentioned as a great deed.
- The narrator showed good manners by not overburdening the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم with more questions.
