Hadithcore
Sahih al-Bukhari, 1520
sahih

Narrated `Aisha:

(the mother of the faithful believers) I said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) ! We consider Jihad as the best deed." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The best Jihad (for women) is Hajj Mabrur. "

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ، حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدٌ، أَخْبَرَنَا حَبِيبُ بْنُ أَبِي عَمْرَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ بِنْتِ طَلْحَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ أُمِّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، نَرَى الْجِهَادَ أَفْضَلَ الْعَمَلِ، أَفَلاَ نُجَاهِدُ قَالَ ‏

‏ لاَ، لَكِنَّ أَفْضَلَ الْجِهَادِ حَجٌّ مَبْرُورٌ ‏

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References2 variants
In-Book Reference
Book 25, Hadith 8
USC-MSA web (English) reference
Vol. 2, Book 26, Hadith 595 (deprecated numbering scheme)
Sharh · explanationclick to expand
The kindness of Allah manifests in all forms, and one of which is offering people, both men and women, alternative good deeds that are suitable to their ability and within their capacity. In this hadeeth, the Mother of the Believers, ‘Aaishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reports that she asked o the Prophet ﷺ to allow women fighting in the path of Allah along with men since it is one of the best deeds that a person can do to earn great reward. However, the Prophet ﷺ informed her that the best deed for women is Hajj. He ﷺ explained to her that fighting in the cause of Allah (i.e., Jihaad) is not prescribed for women, and that the best good deed for women and the type of Jihaad that is prescribed for women is performing a Hajj Mabroor i.e., that which has fulfilled all its rulings, is accepted by Allah, free of showing off and sins, and is covered by lawful money. The reason Hajj is called Jihaad as it involves fighting the desires and endurance of physical and financial hardships. One of the benefits to learn from this hadeeth is learning that Jihaad (i.e., fighting in the cause of Allah) is not dictated upon women. It shows that Jihaad is one of the best deeds for women and that Hajj is one of the best deeds for women..
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