كتاب الإيمان
1  
The Book of Faith
(36)
Chapter: Clarifying that faith in Allah most high is the best of deeds
(36)
باب بَيَانِ كَوْنِ الإِيمَانِ بِاللَّهِ تَعَالَى أَفْضَلَ الأَعْمَالِ ‏‏
Sahih Muslim 84 a

Abu Dharr reported:

I said: Messenger of Allah, which of the deeds is the best? He (the Holy Prophet) replied: Belief in Allah and Jihad in His cause. I again asked: Who is the slave whose emancipation is the best? He (the Holy Prophet) replied: One who is valuable for his master and whose price is high. I said: If I can't afford to do it? He (the Holy Prophet) replied: Help an artisan or make anything for the unskilled (labourer). I (Abu Dharr) said: Messenger of Allah, you see that I am helpless in doing some of these deeds. He (the Holy Prophet) replied: Desist from doing mischief to the people. That is the charity of your person on your behalf.
حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الرَّبِيعِ الزَّهْرَانِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ عُرْوَةَ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا خَلَفُ بْنُ هِشَامٍ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لَهُ - حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي مُرَاوِحٍ اللَّيْثِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ، قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَىُّ الأَعْمَالِ أَفْضَلُ قَالَ ‏"‏ الإِيمَانُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِهِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ قُلْتُ أَىُّ الرِّقَابِ أَفْضَلُ قَالَ ‏"‏ أَنْفَسُهَا عِنْدَ أَهْلِهَا وَأَكْثَرُهَا ثَمَنًا ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ قُلْتُ فَإِنْ لَمْ أَفْعَلْ قَالَ ‏"‏ تُعِينُ صَانِعًا أَوْ تَصْنَعُ لأَخْرَقَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ ضَعُفْتُ عَنْ بَعْضِ الْعَمَلِ قَالَ ‏"‏ تَكُفُّ شَرَّكَ عَنِ النَّاسِ فَإِنَّهَا صَدَقَةٌ مِنْكَ عَلَى نَفْسِكَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏
Reference : Sahih Muslim 84a
In-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 156
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 1, Hadith 149
  (deprecated numbering scheme)