English Translation

Abu al-Mughirah narrated to us, Mu'an ibn Rifa'ah narrated to us, 'Ali ibn Yazid told me, from al-Qasim, from Abu Umamah al-Bahili, from 'Uqbah ibn 'Amir, who said: I met the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and I approached him first and took his hand. I said, "O Messenger of Allah, what is the salvation in this matter?" He said, "O 'Uqbah, guard your tongue, let your house suffice you, and weep over your sin." He said: Then the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, met me and approached me first and took my hand and said, "O 'Uqbah ibn 'Amir, shall I not teach you the best three surahs revealed in the Torah, the Gospel, the Psalms, and the great Criterion?" I said, "Yes indeed, may Allah make me your ransom." So he taught me "Say: He is Allah, One" and "Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak" and "Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind." Then he said, "O 'Uqbah, do not forget them, and do not spend a night without reciting them." He said: I have never forgotten them since he said, "Do not forget them," and I have never spent a single night without reciting them. 'Uqbah said: Then I met the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and I approached him first and took his hand, and said, "O Messenger of Allah, tell me of the most excellent deeds." He said, "O 'Uqbah, maintain ties with him who cuts you off, give to him who deprives you, and turn away from him who wrongs you."