Tirmidhi Book 48, Hadith 3376

حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ لَهِيعَةَ، عَنْ دَرَّاجٍ، عَنْ أَبِي الْهَيْثَمِ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، أَنّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ سُئِلَ:‏‏‏‏ أَيُّ الْعِبَادِ أَفْضَلُ دَرَجَةً عِنْدَ اللَّهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ؟ قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ الذَّاكِرُونَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا وَالذَّاكِرَاتُ ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قُلْتُ:‏‏‏‏ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَمِنَ الْغَازِي فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ؟ قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ لَوْ ضَرَبَ بِسَيْفِهِ فِي الْكُفَّارِ وَالْمُشْرِكِينَ حَتَّى يَنْكَسِرَ وَيَخْتَضِبَ دَمًا لَكَانَ الذَّاكِرُونَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا أَفْضَلَ مِنْهُ دَرَجَةً . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى:‏‏‏‏ هَذَا حَدِيثٌ غَرِيبٌ إِنَّمَا نَعْرِفُهُ مِنْ حَدِيثِ دَرَّاجٍ.

Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri narrated that: The Messenger of Allah was asked: “Which of the worshippers is superior in rank with Allah on the Day of Judgment?” He said: “Those men who remember Allah much [and women].” He said: “I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah! What about the fighter in the cause of Allah?’ He said: ‘If he were to strike with his sword among the disbelievers and the idolater, until it breaks, and he (or it) is dyed with blood, those who remember Allah much would still be superior in rank.”