فضائل الذكر
Abu Ad-Dardā’ (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Shall I not inform you of the best of your deeds which are the most praiseworthy in the sight of your Lord, and the highest in rank, and better for you than spending gold and silver in charity, and better for you than encountering your enemies in battle so they strike your necks and you strike theirs?" They said: 'Certainly.' He said: "Remembrance of Allah, the Exalted."
عن أبي الدَّرْدَاء -رضي الله عنه- قال: قال رسول الله -صلى الله عليه وسلم-: «ألا أُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِخَيْرِ أعْمَالِكُم، وأزْكَاها عند مَلِيكِكُم، وأرْفَعِهَا في دَرَجَاتِكُمْ، وخير لكم من إنْفَاق الذهب والفضة، وخير لكم من أن تَلْقَوا عَدُوَّكُمْ فَتَضْرِبُوا أعْنَاقَهُمْ ويَضْرِبوا أعْنَاقَكُم؟» قالوا: بلى، قال: «ذكر الله -تعالى-».
شرح الحديث :
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) asked his Companions if they would like him to tell them what the best deed they can do is, that is regarded as the most pious act in the sight of Allah, that will raise their rank most (in faith and Paradise), that is better for them than spending gold and silver for the sake of Allah, and which is better for them than meeting the non-believers in warfare where they slay them and are slain, striving to raise the word of Allah to ascendancy. The Companions replied that they most certainly want him to tell them what is this great deed. He said that it is Dhikr of Allah, the Almighty.