Shall I not inform you of the best of your deeds and the purest in the sight of your Sovereign and the highest in your ranks

Arabic text

عَنْ أَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ رضي الله عنه قَالَ: قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «أَلاَ أُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِخَيْرِ أَعْمَالِكُمْ، وَأَزْكَاهَا عِنْدَ مَلِيكِكُمْ، وَأَرْفَعِهَا فِي دَرَجَاتِكُمْ وَخَيْرٌ لَكُمْ مِنْ إِنْفَاقِ الذَّهَبِ وَالوَرِقِ، وَخَيْرٌ لَكُمْ مِنْ أَنْ تَلْقَوْا عَدُوَّكُمْ فَتَضْرِبُوا أَعْنَاقَهُمْ وَيَضْرِبُوا أَعْنَاقَكُمْ؟» قَالُوا: بَلَى. قَالَ: «ذِكْرُ اللهِ تَعَالَى».

Translation

Abu ad-Dardā’ (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Shall I not inform you of the best of your deeds and the purest in the sight of your Sovereign and the highest in your ranks and better for you than spending gold and silver, and better for you than encountering your enemy so you strike their necks and they strike your necks?" They said: Yes. He said: "Dhikr (remembrance) of Allah Almighty."

Explanation

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) asked his Companions: Do you want me to tell you and inform you of the best of your deeds, the most honorable, the most fruitful, the most virtuous, and the purest in the sight of Allah Almighty, the Owner? Deeds that are the highest in terms of your ranks in Paradise? And that are better for you than giving gold and silver in charity? And better for you than encountering the disbelievers in a battle and striking their necks and having them strike yours? The Companions said: Yes, we want this. He (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: Dhikr of Allah Almighty at all times, in all postures, and all circumstances.

Benefits

• Remembering Allah Almighty constantly, outwardly and inwardly, is among the greatest means of drawing close to Allah and among the most beneficial acts in the sight of Allah Almighty.
• All deeds have only been prescribed to establish the remembrance of Allah Almighty, as Allah Almighty says: {And establish prayer to remember Me.} The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Indeed, Tawāf (circumambulation) around the House and between Safa and Marwah and stoning the Jamrahs (stoning pillars) have been prescribed for establishing the remembrance of Allah Almighty." [Narrated by Abu Dāwūd and At-Tirmidhi]
• Al-‘Izz ibn ‘Abdus-Salām said in his Qawā‘id: This Hadīth is part of the evidence that the reward of all acts of worship is not contingent on the amount of fatigue involved; rather, Allah Almighty may grant for a few deeds a reward greater than what He grants for abundant deeds. So, the reward depends on the variation in the degrees of honor.
• Al-Munāwi said in Fayd Al-Qadīr: This Hadīth is taken to refer to the fact that Dhikr was better for those whom it addressed. However, if a courageous and brave person who could benefit Islam through fighting was addressed therewith, then he would be told that it is Jihad. Moreover, if it addressed a rich person who could benefit the poor with his wealth, he would be told that it is voluntary charity. Similarly, one capable of making Hajj would be told that it is Hajj, and one who has parents would be told that it is dutifulness to one's parents. This way the reports could be attuned.
• The most perfect Dhikr is that which is uttered by the tongue and perceived by the heart, followed by what is perceived by the heart alone, like reflection, then what is uttered by the tongue alone, and each entails reward, Allah willing.
• When a Muslim observes the Adhkār (regular supplications) that are linked to certain conditions, like the morning and evening supplications, entering the mosque, entering and exiting the bathroom, etc., this makes him among those who remember Allah frequently.

Topics

• Virtues and Manners
• Virtues
• Merits of Remembering Allah