Narrator:Abdullah ibn Mas‘ūd
وَعَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَي الْأَعْمَال أحب إِلَى الله قَالَ: «الصَّلَاةُ لِوَقْتِهَا» قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَيُّ قَالَ: «بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ» قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَيُّ قَالَ: «الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ» قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي بِهِنَّ وَلَوِ استزدته لزادني
Ibn Mas'ud said:
I asked the Prophet which action is dearest to God and he replied, “Prayer at its proper time.” I asked what came next, and he replied that it was kindness to parents. I asked what came next and he replied that it was jihad in God's path. He said, “He told me of them, and if I had asked for more he would have told me more.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)
Reported by Al-Bukhari (No. 527, 2782, 5970, 7534), Muslim (No. 85a, 85b, 85c, 85d), At-Tirmidhi (No. 173, 1898), An-Nasa’i (No. 610, 611), Ahmad (No. 3695, 3776, 3798, 3971, 4022, 4060, 4086) and Ad-Darimi (No. 1197). Cited in Mishkat al-Masabih (No. 568).