Nothing is equivalent to meeting the enemy. Engaging in combat personally is the best of deeds, and those who fight the enemy are the ones who defend Islam and its sanctities. What deed could be better than that? People are safe while they are in fear, having sacrificed their own lives. It has been narrated that Ibn Mas'ud said: I asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): Which deed is best? He said: "Prayer at its [appointed] times." I asked: Then what? He said: "Then kindness to parents." I asked: Then what? He said: "Jihad in the path of Allah." Al-Tirmidhi (2) said: This is a hasan sahih (good and authentic) hadith. Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) also narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was asked: Which deed is best? Or: Which deed is better? He said: "Faith in Allah and His Messenger." It was said: Then what? He said: "Jihad, the pinnacle of deed." It was said: Then what? (3) He said: "A mabrur (accepted) Hajj." This was recorded by Al-Tirmidhi (4), who said: It is a hasan sahih hadith. Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri narrated that it was said: O Messenger of Allah, which of the people is best? He said: "A believer who strives (mujahid) (5) in the path of Allah with his soul and his wealth." This is agreed upon (6). Also, from Ibn Abbas, that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Shall I not inform you of the best of people? A man holding the reins of his horse in the path of Allah."
(2) In [the chapter on]: The virtue of kindness to parents, from the chapters on righteousness and maintaining ties. Aridat al-Ahwadhi 8/94, 95. It was also recorded by Al-Bukhari, in: The chapter on the virtue of prayer at its time, from the Book of Prayer Times; and in: The chapter on the virtue of Jihad and expeditions, from the Book of Jihad; and in: The chapter on His saying: {And We have enjoined upon man [care for] his parents}, from the Book of Good Manners (Al-Adab). Sahih Al-Bukhari 1/140, 4/17, 8/1. And by Muslim, in: The chapter on the clarification that faith in Allah the Exalted is the best of deeds, from the Book of Faith. Sahih Muslim 1/89, 90. And by Imam Ahmad, in: Al-Musnad 1/409, 410, 5/368. (3) Omitted from: [M]. (4) In [the chapter on]: What has been narrated regarding which deeds are best, from the chapters on the virtues of Jihad. Aridat al-Ahwadhi 7/159. It was also recorded by Al-Bukhari, in: The chapter on the virtue of an accepted Hajj, from the Book of Hajj. Sahih Al-Bukhari 2/164. And by An-Nasa'i, in: The chapter on what is equivalent to Jihad in the path of Allah the Almighty, from the Book of Jihad. Al-Mujtaba 6/17. And by Imam Ahmad, in: Al-Musnad 2/287. (5) In [A]: "strives". (6) Recorded by Al-Bukhari, in: The chapter on the best of people being a believer who strives with his soul and wealth in the path of Allah, from the Book of Jihad. Sahih Al-Bukhari 4/18. And by Muslim, in: The chapter on the virtue of Jihad and stationing (Ribat), from the Book of Leadership (Imarah). Sahih Muslim 3/1503. It was also recorded by Ibn Majah, in: The chapter on seclusion, from the Book of Tribulations (Fitan). Sunan Ibn Majah 2/1316, 1317.
