Hadithcore
Riyad as-Salihin, 597

Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

Someone asked Messenger of Allah (ﷺ): "Who is the best man?" He (ﷺ) answered, "A believer who strives in the Cause of Allah with his life and his wealth." The man asked: "Who is the next?" He said, "One who retires into a narrow valley and worships his Rubb." Another narration is: Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "One who fears Allah and safeguards people against his own mischief." <b>[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]</b>.

وعن أبي سعيد الخدرى رضي الله عنه قال‏:‏ قال رجل‏:‏ أى الناس أفضل يا رسول الله‏؟‏ قال‏:‏ ‏"‏مؤمن مجاهد بنفسه وماله فى سبيل الله‏"‏ قال‏:‏ ثم من‏؟‏ قال‏:‏ ‏"‏ رجل معتزل فى شعب من الشعاب يعبد ربه‏"‏ وفى رواية‏:‏ ‏"‏يتقي الله، ويدع الناس من شره‏"‏ ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏

References1 variant
In-Book Reference
Introduction, Hadith 597
Sharh · explanationclick to expand
<b>Guidance from the Hadith:</b><br> 1) One of the best things to do when there are many trials is to keep away from people, since this makes a person safe from people and makes them safe from him.<br> 2) For such retirement to be Shariah-compliant and commendable, it should be devoted to worshiping Allah. A person should not hide from people and engage in sins.
Related hadiths4
Compare isnād across 4 related chains →