55. We were told by Muhammed bin Hasan bin Ahmad bin Waleed, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said: We were told by Muhammed bin Hasan al-Saffar, from Muhammed bin Isa bin ‘Ubaid al-Yaqteeni, from Abu’l-Hasan, Ali bin Yahya, from Ali bin Maruk al-Ta’i, from Abu Abdillah, from his fathers, peace be upon them, that he said: The Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, said: Which of the ropes of faith is the most solid? They said: Allah and His Messenger are more knowledgeable. Some of them said (it is) prayer, some others said (it is) alms tax, some others said (it is) fasting, some others said (it is) pilgrimage and Umrah, and some others said (it is) striving. The Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, then said: To all that which you said, there is virtue, but it is not with it. However, the most solid of the ropes of faith is love for the sake of Allah, hatred for the sake of Allah, befriending the Allies of Allah and dissociation from the enemies of Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He.