Majma al-Zawaid — Hadith 13806

Sayyiduna Abu Dharr al-Ghifari (may Allah be pleased with him) states: I came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) while he (peace and blessings be upon him) was sitting in the mosque, and I sat down. He (peace and blessings be upon him) asked: "O Abu Dharr, have you prayed?" I said: "No." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Get up and pray." The narrator says: I got up and prayed, then came and sat down. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "O Abu Dharr, seek refuge in Allah from the evil of the devils among mankind and jinn." The narrator says: I said: "O Messenger of Allah, are there devils among mankind as well?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Yes." I asked: "What is prayer?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "It is the best thing that has been given; whoever wishes may do little of it, and whoever wishes may do much." The narrator says: I said: "O Messenger of Allah, what is fasting?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "It is an obligation that will be rewarded, and with Allah Almighty there is more (bounty and honour as well)." I said: "O Messenger of Allah, what is charity?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Something whose reward will be multiplied many times over." The narrator says: I said: "O Messenger of Allah, which charity is most excellent?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The charity of a person who has little wealth and gives through hard effort (from his earnings), or giving secretly to a poor person." I said: "O Messenger of Allah, who was the first of the prophets?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Sayyiduna Adam (peace be upon him)." I said: "O Messenger of Allah, was he a prophet?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Yes, he was a prophet who was spoken to." I said: "O Messenger of Allah, how many messengers were there?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Three hundred and ten and some more, a large number." (Once the narrator transmitted the words: three hundred and fifteen.) I said: "O Messenger of Allah, was Sayyiduna Adam (peace be upon him) a prophet?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Yes, and he was also spoken to." I said: "O Messenger of Allah, of all that has been revealed to you (peace and blessings be upon him), which is the greatest verse?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Ayat al-Kursi, that is: 'Allah, there is no god but He, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of all.'" (Allamah al-Haythami says:) I say: Imam al-Nasa'i (may Allah have mercy on him) recorded part of this narration.
Ahmad recorded it. This narration has already passed before, and the hadith narrated by Sayyiduna Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him) has also passed, along with the discussion of both of them, in the Book of Knowledge, in the chapter on asking questions in a good manner.