not designated as meritorious. In all of these, the reward is commensurate with the intention. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Allah has apportioned his reward according to his intention.” He also said: “The believer’s intention is better than his deed.”
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Prayer is among the finest righteous deeds. Its obligatory forms are better than all other obligatory deeds, and its voluntary forms are better than all other voluntary deeds. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
“Be steadfast, though you cannot fulfil everything; do good deeds, for the best of your deeds is prayer.”
He meant after faith in Allah Most High. He also said:
“Prayer is like a deep river of fresh water at the door of one of you, into which he plunges five times each day. How much dirt do you think that would leave on him?”
He also said:
“No one performs ablution thoroughly and then offers the prayer without being forgiven for what occurs between it and the next prayer, until he offers that prayer.”
He also said:
“The angels pray for one of you as long as he remains in the place where he prayed, provided he does not invalidate his ablution. They say: ‘O Allah, forgive him. O Allah, have mercy on him.’”
He, peace and blessings be upon him, was asked, “Which deeds are best?” He replied, “Faith in Allah.” He was asked, “Then what?” He replied, “Prayer at its appointed times.” He was asked, “Then what?” He replied, “Jihad in the path of Allah.”
In another hadith, he said, “Faith in Allah.” He was asked, “Then what?” He replied, “Jihad in the path of Allah.”
In another hadith, he said, “Faith in Allah.” He was asked, “Then what?” He replied, “Jihad in the path of Allah.”
If the narrator of this hadith did not omit the additional wording found in the first hadith, there is still no contradiction. The meaning is that prayer is better than jihad when jihad is a communal obligation and that obligation has been discharged, since a communal obligation, once discharged, becomes voluntary for everyone else. Jihad is better than prayer for everyone in circumstances where jihad becomes obligatory upon