Best of the Best

Best of Imaan:

• that which has no doubts in it [Musnad Ahmad: 9700]
• Out of the 70+ branches of Imaan, best is: saying ‘la ilaha illa Allah’ [Abu Dawud: 4678]
• patience and forgiveness [as-Silsilah as-Saheehah: 1495]
• good character [as-Silsilah as-Saheehah: 551]

Best of Islam:

• consistency, focus and ease [Saheeh Jami' as-Sagheer: 1090]
• leaving that which doesn’t concern you [Bukhari]
• feeding others, saying Salaam to those you know and those whom you do not know [Bukhari]

Best of Deeds:

• {Highest level:} Iman, Tasdeeq (affirmation), Jihad, Hajj Mabroor
  {Lower level:} being soft-spoken, easy going and feeding people
  {Lowest level:} not thinking bad/wrong about Allah [Musnad Ahmad: 17814]

Best of Jihaad:

• fighting against your desire and nafs [as-Silsilah as-Saheehah: 1496]

Best of Prayers:

• praying in the first time [Abu Dawud: 426] [Bukhari: 2782]
• praying in congregation (for men) [Muslim: 1504]
• praying Fajr in congregation on Jumu’ah (for men) [as-Silsilah as-Saheehah: 1566]
• praying nawafil at home [Bukhari: 731]
• tahajjud/night prayer [Muslim: 2812]
• praying in the last portion of the night (when Allah descends down to the lowest heaven) [Musnad Ahmad: 281555]
• praying like Dawud (AS): sleep the first half of the night, pray one-third, sleep one-sixth. [Irwaa al-Ghaleel: 199/2]
• praying with long qiyaam/recitation [Muslim: 1804] [Abu Dawud: 1325]
• praying in a hidden/covered place (for women) [Abu Dawud: 570]
• praying in Masjid Haraam and Masjid Nabawi [Muslim: 2812]

Best of Fasts:

• fasting like Dawud (AS): on alternate days [Bukhari: 5052]
• fasting in Muharram, esp. on the 10th [Muslim: 2812]
• fasting on the day of Arafah (9th of Dhul-Hijjah)

Best of Hajj:

• that which has lots of talbiyah and sacrifice (of animals) [as-Silsilah as-Saheehah: 1500]
• that which has maximum dhikr/remembrance of Allah

Best of Sadaqah:

• spending on your family [Muslim: 2357]
• spending on your ride/friends in the Way of Allah (worship/knowledge/jihaad etc.) [Muslim: 2357]
• giving presents to a friend [Musnad Ahmad: 4415]
• making others happy, clothing them, feeding them, fulfilling their needs [Saheeh at-Targheeb wa at-Tarheeb: 2621] [as-Silsilah as-Saheehah: 1494]
• giving to the relative who dislikes/hurts you [Musnad Ahmad: 23530]
• providing residence/shade/ride in Allah’s Way [Musnad Ahmad: 22321]
• helping someone who is serving in the Way of Allah
• gifting a milk-giving animal [as-Silsilah as-Saheehah: 2587]
• providing drinking-water [Sunan an-Nasaai: 3665]
• spending in health and fear of poverty [Bukhari: 2748]
• spending but keeping some to yourself [Bukhari: 5355]
• making peace between two people [as-Silsilah as-Saheehah: 1448 & 2639]
• paying off someone’s debt [as-Silsilah as-Saheehah: 2291]
• feeding others [as-Silsilah as-Saheehah: 1494]
• relieving someone off their trouble/problem [as-Silsilah as-Saheehah: 2291]

Best of People:

• those who praise Allah a lot (and appreciate good things) [as-Silsilah as-Saheehah: 1584]
• those who have beautiful character/akhlaaq [as-Silsilah as-Saheehah: 1384]
• those to whom Allah bestows a long age and they do maximum good deeds (tasbeeh, tahleel, takbeer) in it Musnad Ahmad: 1401 & 20480]
• those who are soft-hearted (fearful of Allah and sincere) and truthful [as-Silsilah as-Saheehah: 948]
• those who keep others safe from harm (from their hands and tongue) [Bukhari: 2786] [Musnad Ahmad: 15210]
• those who do Jihaad with their wealth and life (time, strength, energy etc.) [Musnad Ahmad: 9723]
• those who worship Allah and deal with people with ‘khayr’ (good) [Musnad Ahmad: 9723]
• strong believers (physical/emotional strength) [Musnad Ahmad: 8839]
• those who live among others and bear with patience the harm that people cause them [as-Sunan al-Kubra lil Baihaqi: 20669] [Saheeh al-Jami' as-Sagheer lil Albani: 6651]

Best of Dhikr:

• la ilaha illa Allah لا إله إلا الله  [as-Silsilah as-Saheehah: 1497] [Musnad Ahmad: 21847]
• subhan Allahi wa bi hamdihi سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ [Muslim: 7101]
• subhan Allahi wal hamdu lillahi wa la ilaha illa Allah wa Allahu Akbar سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَلَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ [Musnad Ahmad: 16412]
• la ilaha illa Allahu wahdahu la shareeka lahu lahu al-mulku wa lahu al-hamdu wa huwa ‘alaa kulli shay’in qadeer لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ [Muslim: 7018]
• سبحان الله عدد ما خلق ، سبحان الله ملء ما خلق ، سبحان الله عدد ما في الأرض و السماء ، سبحان الله ملء ما في السماء و الأرض ، سبحان الله ملء ما خلق، سبحان الله عدد ما أحصى كتابه ، و سبحان الله ملء كل شيء [as-Silsilah as-Saheehah: 2578]
• Alhamdulillah الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ [as-Silsilah as-Saheehah: 1497]

Best of Qur’an:

• Surah al-Fatihah [as-Silsilah as-Saheehah: 1499]
• Best ayah: Ayat-ul-Kursi [as-Silsilah as-Saheehah: 109]

Best of Ta’awwuz (Seeking Allah’s Protection):

• Mu’awwizatayn: Surah al-Falaq and an-Naas [Musnad Ahmad: 17297]

Best of Days:

• first 10 days of Dhul-Hijjah [Bukhari: 969]
• 9th and 11th of Dhul-Hijjah [Saheeh Ibn Hibban: 2811] [Abu Dawud: 1765]
• Friday [Musnad Ahmad: 7687]

Best Time of the Day:

• last portion of the night (when Allah descends down to the lowest heaven) [as-Silsilah as-Saheehah: 551]

Courtesy:
http://ilookilisten.wordpress.com/2011/10/28/best-days-best-deeds-first-10-days-of-dhul-hijjah/