Sayyiduna Hudhayfah bin al-Yaman (may Allah be pleased with him) relates: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to me: "The excellence of knowledge is better than the excellence of worship, and the best thing in your religion (that is, your deeds) is scrupulous piety (wara')."
Al-Tabarani recorded it in al-Mu'jam al-Awsat, and al-Bazzar recorded it; its chain contains Abdullah bin Abd al-Quddus, whom Imam Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) and Ibn Hibban declared thiqah (trustworthy), while Yahya bin Ma'in and a group declared him da'if (weak).
Hadith Referenceمجمع الزوائد ومنبع الفوائد / كتاب العلم / 478
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:إسنادہ ضعیف
Hadith Takhrij«اخرجه الامام الطبراني فى معجمه الاوسط 3960 اورده المؤلف فى كشف الاستار 139 ، أخرجه مسند البزار برقم: 2969، وأخرجه المستدرك على الصحيحين برقم: 323، وأخرجه المعجم الأوسط للطبراني برقم: 3972»