Jami' at-Tirmidhi
Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1658
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدَةُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَىُّ الأَعْمَالِ أَفْضَلُ أَوْ أَىُّ الأَعْمَالِ خَيْرٌ قَالَ " إِيمَانٌ بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ " . قِيلَ ثُمَّ أَىُّ شَيْءٍ قَالَ " الْجِهَادُ سَنَامُ الْعَمَلِ " . قِيلَ ثُمَّ أَىُّ شَيْءٍ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ " ثُمَّ حَجٌّ مَبْرُورٌ " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ وَقَدْ رُوِيَ مِنْ غَيْرِ وَجْهٍ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم .
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Abu Hurairah reported: The Messenger of Allah was asked, Which deeds are most virtuous, or which are best? He replied: Faith in Allah and His Messenger. He was asked, What next? He said: Striving in Allah’s cause is the pinnacle of deeds. He was asked, What next, Messenger of Allah? He said: Then an accepted Hajj.
Abu Isa said: This hadith is hasan sahih. It has also been transmitted through other chains from Abu Hurairah, from the Prophet.
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
The Arabic uses sanam al-amal, literally the hump of deeds, an image for their highest or most prominent part. Hajj mabrur is an accepted and righteous pilgrimage.