What is Sunan an-Nasa'i 3111 about?

This hadith from Sunan an-Nasa'i (Book of The Book of Jihad), narrated by It was narrated from Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri that a man came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said:, states: ""O Messenger of Allah! Which of the people is best?" He said: "One who strives with himself and his wealth in the cause of Allah." He said: "Then who, O Messenger of Allah?" He said: "Then a believer…"

Is this hadith authentic?

This hadith is graded Hasan. Hasan hadiths are considered good and acceptable in hadith classification.

Which collection is this hadith from?

This hadith is from Sunan an-Nasa'i, which contains 5,768 hadiths across 52 books. It is hadith number 3111 in the Book of The Book of Jihad.

I searched for a different number — is this the right hadith?

Hadith numbering varies across editions and translations (USC-MSA, Dar as-Salam, Fath al-Bari, and others). If you followed a link citing a different number but landed here, you may have been redirected to the canonical version in our library. If you were looking for a different hadith entirely, use the search bar to find it by text.

‹

#3110

#3111

Sunan an-Nasa'i

#3112

›

Sunan an-Nasa'i #3111

The Book of Jihad

Hasan

The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.

أَخْبَرَنَا كَثِيرُ بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا بَقِيَّةُ، عَنِ الزُّبَيْدِيِّ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، أَنَّ رَجُلاً، أَتَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَىُّ النَّاسِ أَفْضَلُ قَالَ ‏"‏ مَنْ جَاهَدَ بِنَفْسِهِ وَمَالِهِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ ثُمَّ مَنْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ ‏"‏ ثُمَّ مُؤْمِنٌ فِي شِعْبٍ مِنَ الشِّعَابِ يَتَّقِي اللَّهَ وَيَدَعُ النَّاسَ مِنْ شَرِّهِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

"O Messenger of Allah! Which of the people is best?" He said: "One who strives with himself and his wealth in the cause of Allah." He said: "Then who, O Messenger of Allah?" He said: "Then a believer (isolating himself) in one of the mountain passes, who fears Allah and spares the people his evil."

Narrated by It was narrated from Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri that a man came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said:

Context

A man inquires about the best among people, and the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) responds that the best is one who strives with their self and wealth in the cause of Allah. He further explains that a believer who isolates themselves to avoid causing harm to others is also among the best. This highlights the values of sacrifice and self-restraint in Islam.

Modern Application

This hadith encourages individuals to strive for personal improvement and to contribute positively to society. It serves as a reminder that true excellence lies in self-discipline and the pursuit of righteousness.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Jihad because it emphasizes the struggle for self-improvement and the importance of striving in the path of Allah.

Jihad

Related Ayahs

سُورَةُ النِّسَاءِ

An-Nisaa (The Women)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

2 ayahs

لَّا يَسْتَوِى ٱلْقَٰعِدُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ غَيْرُ أُو۟لِى ٱلضَّرَرِ وَٱلْمُجَٰهِدُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ بِأَمْوَٰلِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ ۚ فَضَّلَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُجَٰهِدِينَ بِأَمْوَٰلِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ عَلَى ٱلْقَٰعِدِينَ دَرَجَةًۭ ۚ وَكُلًّۭا وَعَدَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ ۚ وَفَضَّلَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُجَٰهِدِينَ عَلَى ٱلْقَٰعِدِينَ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًۭا

Not equal are those believers remaining [at home] - other than the disabled - and the mujahideen, [who strive and fight] in the cause of Allah with their wealth and their lives. Allah has preferred the mujahideen through their wealth and their lives over those who remain [behind], by degrees. And to both Allah has promised the best [reward]. But Allah has preferred the mujahideen over those who remain [behind] with a great reward -

وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ دِينًۭا مِّمَّنْ أَسْلَمَ وَجْهَهُۥ لِلَّهِ وَهُوَ مُحْسِنٌۭ وَٱتَّبَعَ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ حَنِيفًۭا ۗ وَٱتَّخَذَ ٱللَّهُ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ خَلِيلًۭا

And who is better in religion than one who submits himself to Allah while being a doer of good and follows the religion of Abraham, inclining toward truth? And Allah took Abraham as an intimate friend.

سُورَةُ فُصِّلَتۡ

Fussilat (Explained in detail)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ قَوْلًۭا مِّمَّن دَعَآ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَعَمِلَ صَٰلِحًۭا وَقَالَ إِنَّنِى مِنَ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ

And who is better in speech than one who invites to Allah and does righteousness and says, "Indeed, I am of the Muslims."

سُورَةُ التَّوۡبَةِ

At-Tawba (The Repentance)

1 ayah

ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَهَاجَرُوا۟ وَجَٰهَدُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ بِأَمْوَٰلِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ أَعْظَمُ دَرَجَةً عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْفَآئِزُونَ

The ones who have believed, emigrated and striven in the cause of Allah with their wealth and their lives are greater in rank in the sight of Allah. And it is those who are the attainers [of success].

سُورَةُ الصَّفِّ

As-Saff (The Ranks)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

تُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ وَتُجَٰهِدُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ بِأَمْوَٰلِكُمْ وَأَنفُسِكُمْ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌۭ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ

[It is that] you believe in Allah and His Messenger and strive in the cause of Allah with your wealth and your lives. That is best for you, if you should know.

Common Words

94 total69 unique14 repeated

ٱلله9x

فى3x

سبيل3x

بأمولهم3x

وأنفسهم3x

من2x

ٱلمجهدين2x

على2x

ٱلقعدين2x

درجة2x

ومن2x

أحسن2x

ممن2x

إبرهيم2x

لا1x

يستوى1x

ٱلقعدون1x

ٱلمؤمنين1x

غير1x

أولى1x

Scroll to explore ayah details

Related Hadiths

About Sunan an-Nasa'i

This hadith is #3111 from Sunan an-Nasa'i, in the Book of The Book of Jihad. It is graded Hasan and narrated by It was narrated from Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri that a man came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said:.

Browse all Sunan an-Nasa'i All Hadith Collections

Sunan an-Nasa'i #3111

Context

Modern Application

Topics

Related Ayahs

Common Words

Related Hadiths

About Sunan an-Nasa'i

About This Hadith