Mu'jam Kabir Tabarani 17277 — I was with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ when

Sayyiduna Mu'adh bin Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I was with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) when he (peace and blessings be upon him) went on the expedition of Tabuk. One night he (peace and blessings be upon him) travelled through the night and we travelled with him (peace and blessings be upon him). Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed Fajr and we prayed with him (peace and blessings be upon him). Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) set off early in the morning and we set off with him (peace and blessings be upon him). The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) kept going until the companions of the caravan scattered here and there, while the she-camels grazed along the way as they walked, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) had a Najrani cloak on him. My eye fell on the nose-ring of the she-camel of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) while he (peace and blessings be upon him) was asleep, and I thought that (revelation) was about to descend upon him (peace and blessings be upon him). While I was like that, my she-camel let out a cry, which unsettled her, and her foot twisted, and the she-camel of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was startled by its stumble. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) woke up, turned and saw me, and said: "O Mu'adh!" I said: Yes, O Messenger of Allah. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Come close." So I came close. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said this three times, so I came so close that the two mounts touched each other. Then I said (what was in my heart): There is a matter in my heart that has been troubling me and making me ill. I have not asked you about it, nor have I heard anyone ask you about it. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Ask me, O Mu'adh." I said: O Messenger of Allah, tell me of a deed that will admit me into Paradise. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Bakh, bakh (excellent)! You have asked about a tremendous matter, yet it is easy: that you testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establish the prayer, give the zakah, and worship Allah alone." Then I turned to him (peace and blessings be upon him) again and began asking. I said: O Messenger of Allah, which deed is best? Prayer after prayer? He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "No, though that too is a good thing." I said: O Messenger of Allah, (voluntary) zakah after the obligatory zakah? He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "No, though that too is a good thing." I said: O Messenger of Allah, (voluntary) fasting after the obligatory fasting? He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "No, though that too is a good thing." He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Shall I not tell you, O Mu'adh, of the head of this matter, its pillar and its peak?" I said: Yes, O Messenger of Allah. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The head of this matter is that you testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger; its pillar is establishing the prayer and giving the zakah; and its peak is jihad in the path of Allah. By the One in whose Hand is my soul, the feet and face of a servant have never been covered with dust in a deed more excellent than this." Then he narrated the full hadith.