Mishkat al-Masabih

Mishkat al-Masabih 46

Arabic hadith text

عَن عَمْرو بن عبسة قَالَ: أَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُول الله من تبعك عَلَى هَذَا الْأَمْرِ قَالَ حُرٌّ وَعَبْدٌ قُلْتُ مَا الْإِسْلَامُ قَالَ طِيبُ الْكَلَامِ وَإِطْعَامُ الطَّعَامِ قُلْتُ مَا الْإِيمَانُ قَالَ الصَّبْرُ وَالسَّمَاحَةُ قَالَ قُلْتُ أَيُّ الْإِسْلَامِ أَفْضَلُ قَالَ مَنْ سَلِمَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ مِنْ لِسَانِهِ وَيَدِهِ قَالَ قُلْتُ أَيُّ الْإِيمَانِ أَفْضَلُ قَالَ خُلُقٌ حَسَنٌ قَالَ قُلْتُ أَيُّ الصَّلَاةِ أَفْضَلُ قَالَ طُولُ الْقُنُوتِ قَالَ قُلْتُ أَيُّ الْهِجْرَةِ أَفْضَلُ قَالَ أَنْ تَهْجُرَ مَا كره رَبك عز وَجل قَالَ قلت فَأَيُّ الْجِهَادِ أَفْضَلُ قَالَ مَنْ عُقِرَ جَوَادُهُ وَأُهْرِيقَ دَمُهُ قَالَ قُلْتُ أَيُّ السَّاعَاتِ أَفْضَلُ قَالَ جَوف اللَّيْل الآخر. . . رَوَاهُ أَحْمد

Translation

Amr ibn Abasa reported: I came to the Messenger of God and said, “Messenger of God, who follows you in this cause?” He said, “A free person and an enslaved person.” I asked, “What is Islam?” He said, “Good speech and feeding others.” I asked, “What is faith?” He said, “Patience and generosity.” I asked, “Which aspect of Islam is best?” He said, “One from whose tongue and hand the Muslims are safe.” I asked, “Which aspect of faith is best?” He said, “Good character.” I asked, “Which prayer is best?” He said, “Long standing in devotion.” I asked, “Which emigration is best?” He said, “That you abandon what your Lord, Mighty and Majestic, dislikes.” I asked, “Which striving is best?” He said, “That a man’s horse be hamstrung and his blood be shed.” I asked, “Which hours are best?” He said, “The depths of the latter part of the night.” ... ... Ahmad narrated it.