Note: The original reads: “The best emigrants are those who strive ...,” and the problem with this is evident. Perhaps the correct wording is that found in al-Jamiʿ al-Saghir, which cites al-Tabarani’s al-Kabir, on the authority of Ibn ʿAmr: “... The believers most perfect in faith are those of finest character; the best emigrants are those who forsake what Allah has forbidden; and the best jihad is for a person to strive against his own self for Allah’s sake.” Al-Manawi said: “Its chain is good. Al-Haythami mentioned it.”

Part of it is corroborated by a mursal report with an authentic chain, worded: “Islam is feeding others and gracious speech; faith is generosity and patience; the best Muslims in their Islam are those from whose tongues and hands the Muslims are safe; the believers most perfect in faith are those of finest character; and the best emigration is to forsake what Allah has prohibited for one.” Ibn Nasr transmitted it in al-Salah (143/2), through Ibn Shihab, from ʿAbd Allah ibn ʿUbayd ibn ʿUmayr, from his father, ʿUbayd ibn ʿUmayr, who reported that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, was asked, “What is Islam?” He replied, “Feeding others ...” This is an authentic mursal chain.

He then transmitted it with a connected chain, through Muhammad ibn Dhakwan, from ʿUbayd ibn ʿUmayr, from ʿAmr ibn ʿAbasah, with the same wording. However, Muhammad ibn Dhakwan—al-Jahdami al-Tahi—is weak. He also transmitted it through Suwayd Abu Hatim, who said: “ʿAbd Allah ibn ʿUbayd ibn ʿUmayr narrated to me from his father, from his grandfather,” with the same wording. This Suwayd is also weak; thus, the mursal version is the correct one.

Al-Hakim also transmitted it (3/626) through Bakr ibn Khunays, from ʿAbd Allah ibn ʿUbayd ibn ʿUmayr, from his father, from his grandfather, as a report attributed to the Prophet, with the same wording, except that it does not mention feeding others, gracious speech, or emigration; instead, it states: “The best jihad is a just word spoken before a tyrannical ruler.”