O Messenger of Allah, who is the best among people?

Somebody asked, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Who is the best among the people?" Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) replied "A believer who strives his utmost in Allah's Cause with his life and property." They asked, "Who is next?" He replied, "A believer who stays in one of the mountain paths worshipping Allah and…

مُؤْمِنٌ يُجَاهِدُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بِنَفْسِهِ وَمَالِهِ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالُوا ثُمَّ مَنْ قَالَ ‏"‏ مُؤْمِنٌ فِي شِعْبٍ مِنَ الشِّعَابِ يَتَّقِي اللَّهَ، وَيَدَعُ النَّاسَ مِنْ شَرِّهِ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri

A bedouin came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Who is the best of mankind!" The Prophet said, "A man who strives for Allah's Cause with his life and property, and also a man who lives (all alone) in a mountain path among the mountain paths to worship his Lord and save the…

رَجُلٌ جَاهَدَ بِنَفْسِهِ وَمَالِهِ، وَرَجُلٌ فِي شِعْبٍ مِنَ الشِّعَابِ يَعْبُدُ رَبَّهُ، وَيَدَعُ النَّاسَ مِنْ شَرِّهِ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri

Who is the best of men? He replied: A man who fights in the way of Allah spending his wealth and staking his life. The man then asked: Who is next to him (in excellence)? He said: Next to him is a believer who lives in a mountain gorge worshipping hid Lord and sparing men from his mischief.

رَجُلٌ يُجَاهِدُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بِمَالِهِ وَنَفْسِهِ ‏"‏ قَالَ ثُمَّ مَنْ قَالَ ‏"‏ مُؤْمِنٌ فِي شِعْبٍ مِنَ الشِّعَابِ يَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ رَبَّهُ وَيَدَعُ النَّاسَ مِنْ شَرِّهِ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri

A version of the tradition narrated on the authority of Ibn Shihab has a little differently worded ending. i. e." A man in a mountain valley." but did not mention" next to him a man who...."

وَحَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الدَّارِمِيُّ، أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، عَنِ الأَوْزَاعِيِّ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ وَرَجُلٌ فِي شِعْبٍ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ وَلَمْ يَقُلْ…

Abu Sa’id (Al Khudri) reported The Prophet(ﷺ) was asked “Which believers are most perfect in respect of faith? He replied “A man who strives in the path of Allaah with his life and property and a man who worships Allaah in a mountain valley where he protects the people from his evil.””

رَجُلٌ يُجَاهِدُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بِنَفْسِهِ وَمَالِهِ وَرَجُلٌ يَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ فِي شِعْبٍ مِنَ الشِّعَابِ قَدْ كُفِيَ النَّاسُ شَرَّهُ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri

that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was asked: "Which of the people are most virtuous?" He said: "A man who take part in Jihad in Allah's cause." They said: "Then whom?" He said: "Then a believer who stays in one of the mountains path out of Taqwa for his Lord, leaving the people secure from his evil."…

"‏ رَجُلٌ يُجَاهِدُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالُوا ثُمَّ مَنْ قَالَ ‏"‏ ثُمَّ مُؤْمِنٌ فِي شِعْبٍ مِنَ الشِّعَابِ يَتَّقِي رَبَّهُ وَيَدَعُ النَّاسَ مِنْ شَرِّهِ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "The best life is that of the man who holds his horse's rein in Allah's way and flies on its back to the places from whence he hears a war cry or the clatter of arms, seeking martyrdom or slaughter on the battlefield; or that of a person who goes to stay on the top…

"‏من خير معاش الناس لهم رجل ممسك بعنان فرسه في سبيل الله، يطير على متنه كلما سمع هيعة، أو فزعة طار على متنه، يبتغي القتل أو الموت مظانه، أو رجل في غنيمة أو شعفة من هذه الشعف أو بطن واد من هذه الأودية يقيم الصلاة ويؤتي…

+ 4 other versions

Ibn ‘Abbas said that the Prophet asked some people whether they would like him to tell them who was in the worst position, and when they replied that they would, he said, “The one who is asked for something in God’s name and does not give it in His name.” Ahmad transmitted it.

" أَلَا أُخْبِرُكُمْ بِشَرِّ النَّاسِ مَنْزِلًا؟ قِيلَ: نَعَمْ قَالَ: الَّذِي يُسْأَلُ بِاللَّهِ وَلَا يُعْطِي بِهِ "

Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbās + 7 other versions

Umm Malik al-Bahziya told that when God's messenger mentioned civil strife and its nearness she asked him who would be the best of the people during it and he replied, "A man with his cattle who pays the zakat due on them and worships his Lord, and a man who holds his horse's head and causes fear…

وَعَن أم مَالك البهزية قَالَتْ: ذَكَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِتْنَةً فَقَرَّبَهَا. قُلْتُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَنْ خَيْرُ النَّاسِ فِيهَا؟ قَالَ: «رَجُلٌ فِي مَاشِيَتِهِ يُؤَدِّي حَقَّهَا…

Narrated by Umm Mālik al-Bahziyya + 1 other version

Yahya related to me from Abdullah ibn Abd ar-Rahman ibn Mamar al- Ansari that Ata ibn Yasar said that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Shall I tell you who has the best degree among people? A man who takes the rein of his horse to do jihad in the way of Allah…

"‏ أَلاَ أُخْبِرُكُمْ بِخَيْرِ النَّاسِ مَنْزِلاً رَجُلٌ آخِذٌ بِعِنَانِ فَرَسِهِ يُجَاهِدُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَلاَ أُخْبِرُكُمْ بِخَيْرِ النَّاسِ مَنْزِلاً بَعْدَهُ رَجُلٌ مُعْتَزِلٌ فِي غُنَيْمَتِهِ يُقِيمُ…

+ 1 other version

"in the year of Tabuk, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) addressed the people, while leaning against his mount. He said: 'Shall I not tell you of the best of the people and the worst of the people? Among the best of the people is a man who strives in the cause of Allah on the back of his horse, or on the…

"‏ أَلاَ أُخْبِرُكُمْ بِخَيْرِ النَّاسِ وَشَرِّ النَّاسِ إِنَّ مِنْ خَيْرِ النَّاسِ رَجُلاً عَمِلَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ عَلَى ظَهْرِ فَرَسِهِ أَوْ عَلَى ظَهْرِ بَعِيرِهِ أَوْ عَلَى قَدَمِهِ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَهُ الْمَوْتُ…

Narrated by Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri + 3 other versions