In his sight, who is the best among us? Let us listen to a few hadith narrations in this regard.

In the light of these narrations, we must evaluate ourselves. If we are truly the best Muslims according to these statements of the Prophet  صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, then we must express gratitude to Allah Almighty. But if, Allah forbid, we are not among the best, then we must strive to become better by adhering to the Prophetic advice.

Let us consider some insights through hadith:

(1): Feeding Others, Responding to Salām

The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, said: خِيَارُكُمْ مَنْ أَطْعَمَ الطَّعَامَ وَ رَدَّ السَّلَامَ meaning, "The best among you is he who feeds others and responds to the greeting."^[1]

From this hadith, it is clear that a Muslim who feeds people and responds to salām is the best. Let each of us reflect: Do I feed people? Do I respond to salām? If your conscience answers yes, then thank Allah Almighty! And if the answer is no, then make an intention to adopt these two actions from today! (1): To feed others (2): To respond to salām.

Feeding Others is an Act of the People of Paradise

Allah Almighty also described one of the qualities of the people of Paradise in verse 8 of Surah al-Dahr:

وَ یُطْعِمُوْنَ  الطَّعَامَ عَلٰی حُبِّہٖ مِسْکِیْنًا وَّ  یَتِیْمًا  وَّ  اَسِیْرًا (۸)

And they offer food, in His love, to the destitute and the orphan and the prisoner.^[2]