Superiority of offering As-Salat (the prayers) at the stated times
باب فَضْلِ الصَّلاَةِ لِوَقْتِهَا
Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Times of the Prayers(view book)
Sahih al-Bukhari 527
Narrated 'Abdullah:
I asked the Prophet "Which deed is the dearest to Allah?" He replied, "To offer the prayers at their early stated fixed times." I asked, "What is the next (in goodness)?" He replied, "To be good and dutiful to your parents" I again asked, "What is the next (in goodness)?" He replied, 'To participate in Jihad (religious fighting) in Allah's cause." 'Abdullah added, "I asked only that much and if I had asked more, the Prophet would have told me more."
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْوَلِيدِ، هِشَامُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، قَالَ الْوَلِيدُ بْنُ الْعَيْزَارِ أَخْبَرَنِي قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَمْرٍو الشَّيْبَانِيَّ، يَقُولُ حَدَّثَنَا صَاحِبُ، هَذِهِ الدَّارِ وَأَشَارَ إِلَى دَارِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ أَىُّ الْعَمَلِ أَحَبُّ إِلَى اللَّهِ قَالَ " الصَّلاَةُ عَلَى وَقْتِهَا ". قَالَ ثُمَّ أَىُّ قَالَ " ثُمَّ بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ ". قَالَ ثُمَّ أَىُّ قَالَ " الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ". قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي بِهِنَّ وَلَوِ اسْتَزَدْتُهُ لَزَادَنِي.