the Prophet said: “Should I not inform you of the best of your deed, and the purest of them with your Master, and the highest of them in your ranks, and what is better for you than spending gold and silver, and better for you than meeting your enemy and striking their necks, and they strike your necks?” They said: “Of course.” He said, “The remembrance of Allah [Most High].” [Then] Mu’adh bin Jabal [may Allah be pleased with him] said: “There is nothing that brings more salvation from the punishment of Allah than the remembrance of Allah.”
Hadith Commentary: The Excellence of Divine Remembrance
This noble tradition from Jami' at-Tirmidhi (3377) in the "Chapters on Supplication" reveals the supreme status of dhikr (remembrance of Allah) in Islamic spirituality. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) employs a rhetorical question to emphasize dhikr's superiority over all other righteous deeds.
Comparative Excellence of Dhikr
The Prophet enumerates three categories where dhikr excels: it is the purest deed in Allah's estimation, elevates one's spiritual rank most effectively, and surpasses even material charity (gold and silver) and military jihad in merit.
This comparison demonstrates that while external acts of worship have their place, the internal, continuous remembrance of Allah holds greater spiritual weight and proximity to the Divine.
Companion's Affirmation
Mu'adh ibn Jabal's supplementary statement reinforces the hadith's message, highlighting dhikr's protective quality against divine punishment. This indicates that consistent remembrance serves as both spiritual elevation and divine protection.
Scholarly Insights
Classical scholars explain that dhikr encompasses all forms of remembering Allah - through tongue, heart, and limbs. Its superiority lies in its accessibility to all believers regardless of circumstance, its continuous nature, and its direct connection to the heart's purification.
Ibn al-Qayyim notes that just as the body cannot live without food, the soul cannot thrive without Allah's remembrance. This hadith establishes dhikr as the essential nourishment for the believer's spiritual life.