Abu 'Amr ash-Shaybani said, "The owner of this house (and he pointed at the house of 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud) said, "I asked the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, which action Allah loves best. He replied, 'Prayer at its proper time.' 'Then what?' I asked. He said, 'Then kindness to parents." I asked, 'Then what?' He replied, 'Then jihad in the Way of Allah.'" He added, "He told me about these things. If I had asked him to tell me more, he would have told me more."
The Excellence of Righteous Actions
This narration from Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) establishes a hierarchy of virtuous deeds in Islam. The Prophet (ﷺ) explicitly ranked actions according to their excellence before Allah, beginning with the most fundamental obligation.
The Primacy of Timely Prayer
The first and most beloved action to Allah is performing prayer at its prescribed time. This emphasizes that while all worship is important, the obligatory prayers (Salah) take precedence when performed punctually, as they represent the direct connection between the servant and the Creator.
Kindness to Parents: The Second Most Beloved Deed
Remarkably, kindness to parents (birr al-wālidayn) is ranked immediately after the fundamental pillar of prayer. This demonstrates the immense status of parents in Islam. Their rights are so significant that they come directly after the rights of Allah Himself in the order of virtuous actions.
Jihad in the Way of Allah
Jihad fi sabilillah holds the third position in this hierarchy. This includes both the greater jihad (struggle against one's ego) and the lesser jihad (righteous struggle). Its placement after parental kindness shows that even this noble act, which may involve sacrificing one's life, does not supersede the duty toward one's parents.
The Wisdom of Limited Inquiry
Abdullah ibn Mas'ud's concluding remark - "If I had asked him to tell me more, he would have told me more" - teaches us the proper etiquette of seeking knowledge. It shows the Companions' wisdom in asking about what was most essential first, recognizing that the Prophet's teachings were vast and comprehensive.