Al-Matalib al-'Aliyah 3275 — Giving precedence to deeds

Maymun bin Abi Shabib narrates about Sayyiduna Mu'adh bin Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) that he was among a group of riders from the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). A man passed by and asked those people some questions, which they answered. Then that man reached Sayyiduna Mu'adh (may Allah be pleased with him), who at that time had his head resting on his saddle and was talking to himself (lost in thought). He asked: "What did you ask them about?" He said: I asked them about such-and-such, and they gave such-and-such answers. At this Sayyiduna Mu'adh (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "There are two things which, if you adopt them, it is as though you have attained the essence of all the best of what they said; and if you abandon them, you have lost all the good they said. They are these: If you begin (your priorities and striving) with your share of this world, your share of the Hereafter will slip from your hands, and it may well be that in this struggle you do not even attain the worldly goal you intend. But if you begin with your share of the Hereafter, it will gather your worldly share along with it and arrange all your affairs in the best manner, and then the world will go round with you wherever you go."
Takhrij: This narration is mentioned in Musnad Ishaq bin Rahwayh (3275).