Mishkat al-Masabih, hadith 42

عَن عَمْرو بن عبسة قَالَ: أَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُول الله من تبعك عَلَى هَذَا الْأَمْرِ قَالَ حُرٌّ وَعَبْدٌ قُلْتُ مَا الْإِسْلَامُ قَالَ طِيبُ الْكَلَامِ وَإِطْعَامُ الطَّعَامِ قُلْتُ مَا الْإِيمَانُ قَالَ الصَّبْرُ وَالسَّمَاحَةُ قَالَ قُلْتُ أَيُّ الْإِسْلَامِ أَفْضَلُ قَالَ مَنْ سَلِمَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ مِنْ لِسَانِهِ وَيَدِهِ قَالَ قُلْتُ أَيُّ الْإِيمَانِ أَفْضَلُ قَالَ خُلُقٌ حَسَنٌ قَالَ قُلْتُ أَيُّ الصَّلَاةِ أَفْضَلُ قَالَ طُولُ الْقُنُوتِ قَالَ قُلْتُ أَيُّ الْهِجْرَةِ أَفْضَلُ قَالَ أَنْ تَهْجُرَ مَا كره رَبك عز وَجل قَالَ قلت فَأَيُّ الْجِهَادِ أَفْضَلُ قَالَ مَنْ عُقِرَ جَوَادُهُ وَأُهْرِيقَ دَمُهُ قَالَ قُلْتُ أَيُّ السَّاعَاتِ أَفْضَلُ قَالَ جَوف اللَّيْل الآخر. . . رَوَاهُ أَحْمد

I came to God's messenger and asked, “Who is associated with you in this matter, messenger of God?” He replied, “Both freeman and slave.” I asked what Islam was and he said, I “Pleasant speech and the provision of food.” I asked what faith was and he said, “Endurance and benevolence.” I asked what aspect of Islam was most excellent, and he replied that it was to be seen in him from whose tongue and hand the Muslims were safe. I asked what aspect of faith was most excellent, and he replied that it was a good disposition. I asked what feature of prayer was most excellent, and he replied that it consisted in standing for a long time in humility. I asked him what aspect of emigration (hijra) was most excellent, and he replied, “Abandoning (an tahjura) what your Lord abhors.” I asked what aspect of jihad was most excellent, and he replied that it was when a man’s steed was wounded and his blood was shed. I asked him which hour was most excellent, and he replied that it was towards the end of the darkest part of the night. Ahmad transmitted it.