Which of the following acts yields the greatest reward: memorizing the Qur'an, spreading religious knowledge, or offering free medical examinations, and what is their order in terms of reward?

Scholars have differed regarding the best acts of worship after the obligatory duties. Some say it is knowledge, others say it is jihad, and still others say it is prayer. Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah held that superiority varies according to individuals and circumstances. He stated that prayer, knowledge, and jihad are all, by consensus, among the best deeds, and what is best in one situation might be best in another. He also pointed out that the constant remembrance of Allah is, in general, the best thing for a servant to occupy himself with.

Therefore, the superiority of deeds after the obligatory duties depends on the times and the condition of the doer. The more a Muslim combines multiple intentions in a single act of worship, the greater his reward will be. Acts of obedience are linked to intentions, both in their validity and in the multiplication of their merit. A single act of obedience can contain many good intentions, and for each intention, the Muslim receives a reward.