A single journey undertaken in the early morning or in the evening in the cause of Allah is better than whatever the sun rises and sets upon
Authentic hadithعن أبُي أَيُوب الأنصَارِيّ رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : «غَدْوَةٌ فِي سَبِيلِ الله، أَوْ رَوْحَةٌ: خَيْرٌ مِمَّا طَلَعَتْ عَلَيْهِ الشَّمْسُ وَغَرَبَتْ». عن أنس رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : «غَدْوَةٌ فِي سَبِيلِ الله، أَوْ رَوْحَةٌ: خَيْرٌ مِنْ الدُّنْيَا وَمَا فِيهَا».
Abu Ayyūb al-Ansāri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "A single journey undertaken in the early morning or in the evening in the cause of Allah is better than whatever the sun rises and sets upon.” Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "A single journey undertaken in the early morning or in the evening in the cause of Allah is better than the entire world."
Explanation
These two Hadīths illustrate the virtue of performing Jihad in the cause of Allah, even for a short length of time as the morning or evening. So, how about Jihad that lasts for long periods of time, which includes perseverance and struggling against the enemy? This is actually the original meaning intended by the statement: "the cause of Allah", which is fighting against the disbelievers with the hand. It must be known that seeking Islamic knowledge is a magnificent type of striving in the cause of Allah. Likewise supporting the truth, and refuting the arguments of the heretics, atheists and the western missionaries who fight against Islam and wish to eliminate it, are also from the greatest types of striving in the cause of Allah. Hence, what is meant by Jihad is to make Islam superior and support it, for suppressing such people is one of the greatest forms of Jihad. O Allah, grant the Muslims success to bring victory to their religion, and supremacy to Your Word. Indeed, You are Close and Ever-Responding.
Source · Narrated by Muslim - Narrated by Bukhari & Muslim
From the Hadith Encyclopedia (hadeethenc.com).