Yahyā ibn Ja‘dah(1), who said:
Umar—may Allah be pleased with him—said: “Were it not for three things, I would wish that I had already gone to meet Allah: marching in Allah’s cause, placing my forehead in the dust in prostration, or sitting with people who gather choice words as choice fruit is gathered”(2).
Umar’s words—may Allah be pleased with him—are among the most comprehensive [and perfect forms of speech, for he was divinely inspired](3), one inwardly prompted to the truth. Each of his utterances encompasses a wealth of knowledge, as exemplified by these three things that he mentioned(4): prayer, jihad, and knowledge. By the consensus of the ummah, these three are the best of deeds.
Ahmad ibn Hanbal said: “The best voluntary deed a person can perform is jihad.”
Al-Shāfi‘ī said: “The best voluntary deed is prayer.”
Abū Hanīfah and Mālik said: “Knowledge.”
The considered conclusion is that none of the three can dispense with the other two. One may be superior in one circumstance and another in a different circumstance, just as the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—and his caliphs engaged in all three, each in its proper place according to need and benefit. Umar combined all three.
It is also related in the report of Muhammad ibn Ishāq, from al-Zuhrī, from Ubayd Allah ibn