The hadith continues:

“He asked, ‘Which form of Islam is best?’ He replied, ‘That of one from whose tongue and hand the Muslims are safe.’ He asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, which believers are most complete in faith?’ He replied, ‘Those with the best character.’ He asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, which death in battle is noblest?’ He replied, ‘That of one whose blood is shed and who hamstrings his steed.’ He asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, which jihad is best?’ He replied, ‘That of those who strive with their wealth and their lives in Allah’s cause.’ He asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, which charity is best?’ He replied, ‘The utmost that someone of little means can give.’ He asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, which prayer is best?’ He replied, ‘Prolonged standing in prayer.’ He asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, which migration is best?’ He replied, ‘That of one who abandons evil.’”

This report is reliably transmitted from Ubayd ibn Umayr, sometimes without naming a Companion and sometimes with a connected chain to the Prophet. One version reads:

“‘Which hours are best?’ He replied, ‘The depths of the remaining night.’”

His statement, “The best faith is generosity and patience,” is also narrated through another chain from Jābir, from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.

Likewise, throughout the other hadiths, Islam is explained as submission to Allah with the heart, together with outward deeds. This is illustrated by the well-known hadith narrated by Ahmad from Bahz ibn Hakīm, from his father, from his grandfather, who said:

“By Allah, O Messenger of Allah, before coming to you, I swore as many times as I have fingers here that I would not come to you. By Him who sent you with the truth, what has He sent you with?”

He replied, “Islam.”

He asked, “What is Islam?”

He replied, “To submit your heart to Allah, turn your face towards Allah, perform the prescribed prayer, and pay the obligatory zakat. These two are brothers, each supporting the other. Allah accepts nothing from a servant who associates partners with Him after embracing Islam.”

In another version, he said:

“To say, ‘I have submitted myself to Allah and detached myself,’ to establish prayer and pay zakat. Every Muslim is inviolable to every other Muslim.”

Another wording reads:

“You say, ‘I have surrendered myself to Allah and turned my face solely towards Him.’”

Muhammad ibn Nasr also narrated a report through Khālid