The merit of knowledge is more beloved than the merit of worship, and the best of religion is scrupulousness

Sayyiduna Mus'ab bin Sa'd narrates from his father (Sayyiduna Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas, may Allah be pleased with him), who narrates from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), that he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The virtue of knowledge is dearer to me than the virtue of worship, and the best trait of your religion is piety and scrupulousness (wara')."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The virtue of knowledge is dearer to me than the virtue of worship" (like the previous hadith).
This hadith is sahih (authentic) on the condition of the two Shaykhs (Bukhari and Muslim), but they did not record it. Al-Hasan bin Ali bin Affan is trustworthy and he stated the chain correctly, whereas Bakr bin Bakkar made it vague (left a narrator unnamed).

Sayyiduna Mus'ab bin Sa'd narrates from his father (Sayyiduna Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas, may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said something similar (to the previous hadith).
When we examined it, we found Khalid bin Makhlad to be firmer, of better memory and more reliable than Bakr bin Bakkar, so we ruled in favour of the addition he narrated (the extra narrator in the chain). Abdullah bin Abd al-Quddus also narrated it from al-A'mash with another chain.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The virtue of knowledge is better than the virtue of worship, and the best trait of your religion is piety and scrupulousness."