Sayyiduna al-Bara' bin Azib (may Allah be pleased with him) states: We were sitting with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) when he asked: "Which handhold of Islam is the firmest?" The people said: "Prayer." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "It is good, but that is not what is meant." The people said: "Fasting in Ramadan." He said: "It too is good, but that is not what is meant." The people said: "Jihad." He said: "It too is good, but that is not what is meant." Then he said: "The firmest handhold of Islam is that you love for the sake of Allah Almighty and hate for the sake of Allah."
Imam Ahmad recorded it; its chain contains a narrator, Layth bin Abi Sulaym, whom most (scholars) declared da'if (weak).
Hadith Referenceمجمع الزوائد ومنبع الفوائد / كتاب الإيمان / 306
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:إسناده ضعیف
Hadith Takhrij«اخرجه الامام احمد فى مسنده 286/4 أورده المؤلف فى زوائد المسند 118 ، أخرجه مسند أحمد برقم: 18053، وأخرجه إتحاف الخيرة المهرة بزوائد المسانيد العشرة برقم: 54/2»