The reciter: Abu al-Rabi' al-Zuhri narrated to us, Hammad ibn [Zayd] narrated to us, Hisham ibn 'Urwah narrated to us. And Khalaf ibn Hisham - and the wording is his - said, Hammad ibn Zayd narrated to us from Hisham ibn 'Urwah from his father from Abu Marawh al-Laythi from Abu Dharr, who said:
I said: Messenger of Allah, which of the deeds is the best? He (the Holy Prophet) replied: Belief in Allah and Jihad in His cause. I again asked: Who is the slave whose emancipation is the best? He (the Holy Prophet) replied: One who is valuable for his master and whose price is high. I said: If I can't afford to do it? He (the Holy Prophet) replied: Help an artisan or make anything for the unskilled (labourer). I (Abu Dharr) said: Messenger of Allah, you see that I am helpless in doing some of these deeds. He (the Holy Prophet) replied: Desist from doing mischief to the people. That is the charity of your person on your behalf.
قلت: يا رسول الله، أي الأعمال أفضل؟ قال: الإيمان بالله والجهاد في سبيله قال: قلت : أي الرقاب أفضل؟ قال: أنفسها عند أهلها وأكثرها ثمنا قال: قلت: فإن لم أفعل؟ قال: تعين صانعا أو تصنع لأخرق قال: قلت: يا رسول الله، أرأيت إن ضعفت عن بعض العمل؟ قال: تكف شرك عن الناس فإنها صدقة منك على نفسك .
