Yahya related to me from Abdullah ibn Abd ar-Rahman ibn Mamar al-Ansari that Ata ibn Yasar said that the Messenger of Allah, may Allahbless him and grant him peace, said, "Shall I tell you who has thebest degree among people? A man who takes the rein of his horse to dojihad in the way of Allah. Shall I tell you who has the best degreeamong people after him? A man who lives alone with a few sheep,performs the prayer, pays the zakat, and worships Allah withoutassociating anything with him."
USC-MSA web (English) reference: Book 21, Hadith 4
Arabic reference: Book 21, Hadith 965