The hadith is also supported by a report attributed to the Companion Ibn ʿUmar, which Nafiʿ relates: Ibn ʿUmar used to say, “Indeed, the best deed after prayer is jihad in the way of Allah Most High.” Ahmad transmitted it (2/32).

I say: Its chain of transmission is authentic according to the conditions of al-Bukhari and Muslim. ʿAbd Allah al-ʿUmari, however, attributed its opening statement to the Prophet, relating it from Nafiʿ. Al-Khatib transmitted it in al-Tarikh (12/66), through Muhammad ibn Humayr al-Himsi, from him, with the wording: “The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, was asked, ‘Which deeds are best?’ He replied, ‘Prayer at the beginning of its time.’” He cited it in the biographical entry on ʿAli ibn Muhammad ibn Mukhlad ibn Khazim, Abu al-Tayyib al-Kufi, without recording any narrator criticism or accreditation for him.

It is also supported by the hadith of Anas, who said: “I asked the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, ‘Which deeds are best?’ He replied, ‘Prayer at its proper time.’” Al-Khatib transmitted it (10/286) in the biographical entry on ʿAbd al-Rahman ibn al-Hasan ibn Ayyub al-Darir. A group of trustworthy narrators reported from him; he died in 315 AH, and no narrator criticism or accreditation is recorded concerning him. The narrators above him are trustworthy and among Muslim’s narrators.

Al-Suyuti included it in al-Jamiʿ, citing al-Khatib’s narration from Anas with the wording: “The best deeds are prayer at its proper time, dutifulness to one’s parents, and jihad in the way of Allah.” I have not found it in the index of al-Tarikh in this complete form. Attributing it to al-Khatib alone is a clear shortcoming; attributing it to Ahmad would have been more appropriate. More appropriate still would have been to cite it in the wording of al-Bukhari and Muslim: “then … then …,” as is clear to those endowed with understanding.

1490 — “The best deed is faith in Allah and jihad in the way of Allah.”

Ibn Hibban transmitted it (94) through Ibrahim ibn Hisham ibn Yahya ibn Yahya al-Ghassani: My father narrated to us from my grandfather, from Abu Idris al-Khawlani, from Abu Dharr, who said: