Musnad Ahmad 31:729

And with this chain of narration, he said: I said, "O Messenger of Allah, which of the servants is of the highest rank with Allah on the Day of Resurrection?" He said, "Those who remember Allah much." I said, "O Messenger of Allah, even the warrior in the way of Allah?" He said, "If he were to strike with his sword among the disbelievers and the polytheists until it breaks and he is stained with blood, those who remember Allah would still be higher than him in rank."