Silsilah Sahihah

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id Khudri, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "The best jihad in the sight of Allah Almighty is of those people who stand in the first row facing the enemy and do not turn back until they are martyred. These are the people who will enter the highest chambers of Paradise. Your Lord looks towards them, and when your Lord smiles at a people, then there is no reckoning for them."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Amr bin Abasah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "The best jihad is that of a man whose horse's legs are cut and his blood is shed."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) that a man came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and asked: "Which people are the best?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) replied: "The best (or most virtuous) among the people is the one who strives in the way of Allah with his wealth and his life. (After him is) the believer who worships Allah in a mountain pass and does not cause any harm to the people."

Sayyiduna Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him) says: I asked, "O Messenger of Allah! Which martyrs are the most virtuous?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) replied: "The one whose blood is shed and whose horse's legs are cut."