The Messenger of Allah was asked about the best of deeds. He observed: Belief in Allah. He (the inquirer) said: What next? He (the Holy Prophet) replied: Jihad (struggle to the utmost) in the cause of Allah. He (the inquirer) again said: What next? He (the Holy Prophet) replied: Pilgrimage accepted into the grace of the Lord. In the. tradition narrated on the authority of Muhammad b. Ja'far (the words are) that he (the Holy Prophet) said: Belief in Allah and His Messenger. Muhammad b. Rafi and 'Abd b. Humaid, 'Abdur-Razzaq and Ma'mar and Zuhri have narrated a hadith like this on the authority of the same chain of transmitters.
The Book of Faith - Sahih Muslim 83
This narration from Sahih Muslim establishes the hierarchy of virtuous deeds in Islam, with faith (iman) occupying the foremost position, followed by jihad, then accepted pilgrimage (hajj mabroor).
Commentary on the Hierarchy of Deeds
The Prophet's response begins with "Belief in Allah" as the foundation of all righteous actions. Without correct faith, no deed is accepted by Allah. This emphasizes that iman is not merely verbal affirmation but encompasses belief in the heart and submission in practice.
Jihad follows as the pinnacle of physical devotion, representing the ultimate sacrifice of one's life and wealth for divine cause. The scholars explain this includes both the greater jihad (struggle against self) and lesser jihad (righteous struggle).
Accepted pilgrimage completes this triad, representing the perfection of worship through comprehensive devotion. The condition "accepted into the grace of the Lord" indicates that mere performance of rituals is insufficient without sincerity and adherence to prophetic guidance.
Scholarly Insights
Classical commentators note that this hierarchy demonstrates Islam's balance between internal faith and external action. Faith grounds the soul, jihad protects the faith, and pilgrimage perfects the worship.
The variation in wording ("Belief in Allah" vs "Belief in Allah and His Messenger") reported by different transmitters complements rather than contradicts, as belief in the Messenger is inherent to complete faith in Allah.
This teaching reminds believers that while all good deeds are valuable, they derive their worth from proper faith and are prioritized according to their benefit to the individual and community.