Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Sahihah

Sayyiduna Abu Umamah says: We set out with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) in an army. A man passed by a low-lying place where there was also a spring of water. He thought that he should withdraw from the world and settle there; this water and the surrounding greenery would suffice for him. Then he decided: I will go to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and present this matter before him. If he gives permission, fine; otherwise, not. He came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: O Messenger of Allah! I passed by such-and-such a low-lying place; its water and greenery could suffice for my livelihood. I thought I would withdraw from the world and settle there. (What do you think?) The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “I have not been sent with Judaism or Christianity; I have been sent with a gentle and easy Shari’ah. By Him in Whose hand is my soul! Going out in the morning or evening in the path of Allah is better than the world and whatever is in it, and standing in the row before the enemy is better than sixty prayers.”

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Mu'adh bin Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Whoever fasts in Ramadan, establishes prayer, and performs Hajj to the House of Allah— I do not know whether he mentioned Zakat or not— then it is incumbent upon Allah to forgive him, whether he migrated in the way of Allah or remained in his birthplace." Sayyiduna Mu'adh said: Should I convey this hadith to the people? The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Leave it, so that they may continue to do more deeds, for there are one hundred levels in Paradise, and between each two levels is a distance like that between the earth and the sky. The highest and most excellent place in Paradise is Firdaus; above it is the Throne of the Most Merciful, and from it the rivers of Paradise flow forth. When you ask Allah, ask Him for Jannat al-Firdaus."