Sahih Muslim Book - 4, Hadith - 1093

حَدَّثَنِى زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ حَدَّثَنَا الْوَلِيدُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ الأَوْزَاعِىَّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِى الْوَلِيدُ بْنُ هِشَامٍ الْمُعَيْطِىُّ حَدَّثَنِى مَعْدَانُ بْنُ أَبِى طَلْحَةَ الْيَعْمَرِىُّ قَالَ لَقِيتُ ثَوْبَانَ مَوْلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- فَقُلْتُ أَخْبِرْنِى بِعَمَلٍ أَعْمَلُهُ يُدْخِلُنِى اللَّهُ بِهِ الْجَنَّةَ. أَوْ قَالَ قُلْتُ بِأَحَبِّ الأَعْمَالِ إِلَى اللَّهِ. فَسَكَتَ ثُمَّ سَأَلْتُهُ فَسَكَتَ ثُمَّ سَأَلْتُهُ الثَّالِثَةَ فَقَالَ سَأَلْتُ عَنْ ذَلِكَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- فَقَالَ « عَلَيْكَ بِكَثْرَةِ السُّجُودِ لِلَّهِ فَإِنَّكَ لاَ تَسْجُدُ لِلَّهِ سَجْدَةً إِلاَّ رَفَعَكَ اللَّهُ بِهَا دَرَجَةً وَحَطَّ عَنْكَ بِهَا خَطِيئَةً ». قَالَ مَعْدَانُ ثُمَّ لَقِيتُ أَبَا الدَّرْدَاءِ فَسَأَلْتُهُ فَقَالَ لِى مِثْلَ مَا قَالَ لِى ثَوْبَانُ.

Ma'dan bin Abi Talhah Al-Ya'muri said: "I met Thawban, the freed slave of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w), and said: 'Tell me of a deed that I may do, by which Allah may admit me to Paradise"' - or he said: 'Tell me of the most beloved of deeds to Allah.' He remained silent. I asked him (again) and he remained silent. I asked him a third time and he said: 'I asked the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) about that and he said: You should prostrate to Allah a great deal, for you will not perform one prostration to Allah, but Allah will raise you one degree in status thereby, and erase one sin for you."' Ma'dan said: "Then I met Abu Ad-Darda' and asked him (the same question), and he said the same as Thawban had said to me."