١ـ قَالَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَعْقُوبَ الْكُلَيْنِيُّ مُصَنِّفُ هَذَا الْكِتَابِ رَحِمَهُ الله حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ وَهْبٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) عَنْ أَفْضَلِ مَا يَتَقَرَّبُ بِهِ الْعِبَادُ إِلَى رَبِّهِمْ وَأَحَبِّ ذَلِكَ إِلَى الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ مَا هُوَ فَقَالَ مَا أَعْلَمُ شَيْئاً بَعْدَ الْمَعْرِفَةِ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ هَذِهِ الصَّلاَةِ أَ لاَ تَرَى أَنَّ الْعَبْدَ الصَّالِحَ عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ (عَلَيْهِما الْسَّلام) قَالَ وَأَوْصانِي بِالصَّلاةِ وَالزَّكاةِ ما دُمْتُ حَيًّا.
1. The compiler of this book, Muhammad ibn Ya’qub al-Kulayni, has said that Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Tsa from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from Mu’awiyah ibn Wahab who has said the following: “I asked abu ’Abd Allah , ’What is the best thing through which a servant of Allah may become closer to his Lord that is also most beloved to Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious?’ The Imam replied, T do not know anything after knowing (knowing Allah and His religion) more excellent than this prayer. Consider what the pious servant of Allah, Jesus son of Mary has said, “He (the Lord) has advised me to pray and pay Zakat as long as I live.’”” 