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
I came to God’s messenger and asked, “Who is associated with you in this matter, messenger of God?” He replied, “Both freeman and slave.” I asked what Islam was and he said, I “Pleasant speech and the provision of food.”
I asked what faith was and he said, “Endurance and benevolence.” I asked what aspect of Islam was most excellent, and he replied that it was to be seen in him from whose tongue and hand the Muslims were safe.
I asked what aspect of faith was most excellent, and he replied that it was a good disposition. I asked what feature of prayer was most excellent, and he replied that it consisted in standing for a long time in humility.
I asked him what aspect of emigration (hijra) was most excellent, and he replied, “Abandoning (an tahjura) what your Lord abhors.” I asked what aspect of jihad was most excellent, and he replied that it was when a man’s steed was wounded and his blood was shed.
I asked him which hour was most excellent, and he replied that it was towards the end of the darkest part of the night.