Allah, the Exalted, says:

"And We have enjoined on man to be dutiful and kind to his parents. His mother bears him ith hardship and she brings him forth with hardship, and the bearing of him, and the weaning of him is thirty (30) months, till when he attains full strength and reaches forty years, he says: "My Lord! Grant me the power and ability that I may be grateful for Your Favour which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents, and that I may do righteous good deeds, such as please You, and make my off-spring good. Truly, I have turned to You in repentance, and truly, I am one of the Muslims (submitting to Your Will)." [46:15]

"And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout at them but address them in terms of honour. And lower unto them the wing of submission and humility through mercy, and say: "My Lord! Bestow on them Your Mercy as they did bring me up when I was small." [17: 23-24]

Abu Bakrah Nufai` bin Al-Harith (radiallahu anh) reported: Messenger of Allah (salallahu 'alayhi wasallam) said, "Shall I not inform you of the biggest of the major sins?'' Messenger of Allah (salallahu 'alayhi wasallam) asked this question thrice. We said, "Yes, O Messenger of Allah. (Please inform us.)" He said, "Ascribing partners to Allah, and to be undutiful to your parents." Messenger of Allah (salallahu 'alayhi wasallam) sat up from his reclining position and said, "And I warn you against giving forged statement and a false testimony; I warn you against giving forged statement and a false testimony." Messenger of Allah (salallahu 'alayhi wasallam) kept on repeating that warning till we wished he would stop.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

This Hadith mentions some of the major sins. A major sin is one against which there is a serious warning in the Noble Qur'an and Hadith. When disobedience to parents is mentioned along with Shirk (polytheism), it makes the fact evident that both of these are very serious sins. Similar is the case of telling a lie and false testimony, which in the incident mentioned in this Hadith made Messenger of Allah (salallahu 'alayhi wasallam) sit attentively. May Allah protect all Muslims from all such sins.

Abdullah bin `Amr bin Al-`as (radiallahu anhuma) reported: The Prophet (salallahu 'alayhi wasallam) said, "(Of the) major sins are: to ascribe partners to Allah, disobey parents, murder someone, and to take a false oath (intentionally)."
[Al-Bukhari]

There are many more major sins which have been enlisted and discussed at length by Muhaddathun in independent volumes, such as Kitab-al-Kaba'ir by Adh-Dhahabi (rahmatullahi alaih). This Hadith mentions some of the major sins enumerated by the Prophet (salallahu 'alayhi wasallam) on a particular occasion. We can also say that the sins mentioned here are some of the most serious among the major sins.

'Abdullah bin `Amr bin Al-`as (radiallahu anhuma) reported: Messenger of Allah (salallahu 'alayhi wasallam) said, "It is one of the gravest sins to abuse one's parents.'' It was asked (by the people): "O Messenger of Allah, can a man abuse his own parents?'' Messenger of Allah (salallahu 'alayhi wasallam) said, "He abuses the father of somebody who, in return, abuses the former's father; he then abuses the mother of somebody who, in return, abuses his mother."
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Another narration is: Messenger of Allah (salallahu 'alayhi wasallam) said, "One of the major sins is to curse one's parents." It was submitted: "O Messenger of Allah! How can a man curse his own parents?'' He (salallahu 'alayhi wasallam) said, "When someone curses the parents of another man who in return abuses the former's father; and when someone abuses the mother of another man who in return abuses his mother.''

We learn from this Hadith that one should not abuse anyone's parents, because in the event, he is paid in the same coin, he will be responsible for disgracing his own parents.

Abu Muhammad Jubair bin Mut`im (radiallahu anh) reported: Messenger of Allah (salallahu 'alayhi wasallam) said, "The person who severs the bond of kinship will not enter Jannah."
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

This Hadith poses a serious threat to those who violate the Divine injunctions of maintaining good ties of kinship. In spite of such a serious warning, this major sin is very common in our present-day society. The purpose of this warning is that Muslims prevent themselves from it. May Allah save us from it.

Abu 'Isa Al-Mughirah bin Shu`bah (radiallahu anh) reported: The Prophet (salallahu 'alayhi wasallam) said, "Allah has forbidden you: disobedience to your mothers, to withhold (what you should give), or demand (what you do not deserve), and to bury your daughters alive. And Allah dislikes idle talk, to ask too many questions (for things which will be of no benefit to one), and to waste your wealth."
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

`Abdullah bin Mas`ud (radiallahu anh) reported: I asked the Prophet (salallahu 'alayhi wasallam), "Which of the deeds is loved most by Allah?'' Messenger of Allah (salallahu 'alayhi wasallam) said, "Salat (prayer) at its proper time.'' I asked, `What next?' He (salallahu 'alayhi wasallam) replied, `Kindness to parents.' I asked, `What next?' He replied, `Jihad in the way of Allah.'
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Abu Hurairah (radiallahu anh) reported: A person came to Messenger of Allah (salallahu 'alayhi wasallam) and asked, "Who among people is most deserving of my fine treatment?'' He (salallahu 'alayhi wasallam) said, "Your mother." He again asked, `Who next?' 'Your mother', the Prophet (salallahu 'alayhi wasallam) replied again. He asked, "Who next?'' He (the Prophet (salallahu 'alayhi wasallam)) said again, "Your mother.'' He again asked, "Then who?'' Thereupon he (salallahu 'alayhi wasallam) said, 'Then your father.''

In another narration: "O Messenger of Allah! Who is most deserving of my fine treatment?'' He (salallahu 'alayhi wasallam) said, "Your mother, then your mother, then your mother, then your father, then your nearest, then nearest."
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

`Aishah (radiallahu anha) reported: Messenger of Allah (salallahu 'alayhi wasallam) said, "The bond of relationship is suspending from the Throne, and says: `He who keeps good relations with me, Allah will keep connection with him, but whosoever severs relations with me, Allah will sever connection with him."
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Asma' bint Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (radiallahu anha) said: My mother came to me while she was still a polytheist, so I asked Messenger of Allah (salallahu 'alayhi wasallam), "My mother, who is ill-disposed to Islam, has come to visit me. Shall I maintain relations with her?'' He (salallahu 'alayhi wasallam) replied, "Yes, maintain relations with your mother."
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

It is essential to be kind to parents even if they are Mushrikun (polytheists) and Kuffar (disbelievers). This has also been clearly ordained in the Noble Qur'an: "... but behave with them in the world kindly." (31:15)

It was related that the Messenger of Allah (salallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said,
"Whoever shows disrespect to his parents, he who reminds recipients of his charity to them, and he who is addicted to wine will not enter Paradise.”
[Ad-Darimi, Ahmad, An-Nisa'i and Ibn Hibban]

In another tradition the Prophet (salallahu 'alayhi wasallam) said, "Had Allah known something concerning showing disrespect to one's parents little than Uf (a word of contempt) He would have forbidden it. Let the rebellious son do whatever he does, he will not enter Paradise, and let the obedient son do whatever he wants, he will not enter the Hell-Fire.”
[Ad-Dailami]

The Messenger of Allah (salallahu 'alayhi wasallam) said, "May Allah curse he who shows disrespect to his parents.” [Al-Hakim]
And in another narration, "May Allah curse he who reviles his father; may Allah curse he who reviles his mother.” [Imam Ahmad and An-Nisa'i]

It was related that the Messenger of Allah (salallahu 'alayhi wasallam) said,
“Allah respites whatever He wants of the sins until the day of Judgment save showing disrespect to one's parents, it will be hastened to its doer.”
[Al-Hakim]

i.e. the worldly punishment before the Day of Judgment

Ka'b Al-Ahbar (radiallahu anh) said, "Allah hastens the death of anyone who shows disrespect to his parents so as torture him. On the other hand, Allah increases one's life span if he is kind to his parents to bless him."

Treating one's parents with honour also requires sustaining them with the living costs when they are needy. A man came and said to the Prophet (salallahu 'alayhi wasallam), "O Messenger of Allah, my father asks for my property.” Then the Prophet (salallahu 'alayhi wasallam) said, "Both you and what you possess are your father's.”
[Ibn Majah and Ahmad]

Ibn 'Umar (radiallahu anhuma) saw a man bearing his mother upon his shoulder and making circumambulation around the Ka'ba. The man asked him, "Do you think that I have requited her?" Ibn 'Umar (radiallahu anhuma) replied, "No, not even one cry from childbirth. But, well done. Allah will give you in return for a little deed a great reward."
[Bukhari]

Abu Hurairah (radiallahu anh) related that the Prophet (salallahu 'alayhi wasallam) said, "There are four people who will not enter Paradise as Allah decreed: a drunkard, a usurer, he who appropriates the orphan's property without a legal cause and he who shows disrespect to one's parents.”
[Al-Hakim]

The Messenger of Allah (salallahu 'alayhi wasallam) said, "Paradise lies beneath the feet of mothers.”
[Numerous References]

The Messenger of Allah (salallahu 'alayhi wasallam) said, "Three supplications are surely acceptable: the supplication of the oppressed, the traveler and the parents against their children.”
[At- Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah]

Wahb Ibn Munabbih said, "In the tablets written by Allah to Musa is the following, 'O Musa! Respect your parents. Whoever respects his parents I will extend his life span and grant him a grateful progeny. But, whoever shows disrespect to his parents I will shorten his life span and grant him an ungrateful progeny.”
[As-Sini postulated it in Ad-Dur AI-Manthur]

In the Prophet's (salallahu 'alayhi wasallam) lifetime, there was a young man called Alqamah. He was so devout that he exerted great efforts in performing many prayers, fasting and spending money in charity. He had a fatal disease that his wife informed the Prophet (pbuh) that her husband was dying. Thereby, the Prophet (salallahu 'alayhi wasallam)) sent `Ammar, Suhaib and Bilal to instruct the dying to say the testification of Faith. When they arrived there, they found him dying. Therefore, they began to instruct him to say there is no god but Allah, but he could not repeat it. They returned to the Prophet (pbuh) to consult him.

Then, the Prophet (pbuh) said, "Did he have living parents?" They said, "He had an aged mother." Accordingly, the Prophet (salallahu 'alayhi wasallam) asked them to bring her if she was able to walk. Otherwise he himself will go there. When being informed by the Prophet's (salallahu 'alayhi wasallam) message, the mother said, "I sacrifice him with my soul. I will go to him." She then went to him leaning on a staff.

After greeting, the Prophet (salallahu 'alayhi wasallam) said; "O mother of Alqamah, tell me the truth and if you lie Allah will reveal to me the truth. How was Alqamah?" She said, "He performed much prayers, fasting and spending money in charity." Then, the Prophet (salallahu 'alayhi wasallam) asked, "What about you?" She said, "O Messenger of Allah! I am angrywith him." The Prophet (salallahu 'alayhi wasallam) asked, "Why?" She said, "Because he prefers his wife to me and also disobeys me."

Then, the Prophet (salallahu 'alayhi wasallan) said, "The anger of Alqamah's mother holds Alqamah's tongue to utter the testification of Faith." Afterwards, the Prophet (salallahu 'alayhi wasallam) said, 'O Bilal, go and gather a pile of wood." The woman said, "Why, Messenger of Allah?" The Prophet (salallahu 'alayhi wasallam) said, “To burn him before your eyes." She said, "O Messenger of Allah, he is my son! I cannot endure that he be burnt before my eyes." Then, the Prophet (salallahu 'alayhi wasallam) said, "But Allah's torture is more severe and lasting, mother of `Alqamah. So if you like him to be forgiven by Allah, you forgive him. By Whom in Whose hands my soul is, what he performed of prayers, fasting and charity is of no avail so long as you are angry with him."

Then, she said, "O Messenger of Allah, may Allah the Almighty, his angels and all Muslims who are present witness that I forgive my son, Alqamah." Thereupon, the Prophet (salallahu 'alayhi wasallam) said, "Go to him, Bilal to see whether he can utter the testification of Faith or not? She might forgive him out of shyness." Approaching Alqamah's house, Bilal (radiallahu anh) heard him saying, "There is no god but Allah (la ilaha illallah)." Then, the Prophet (salallahu 'alayhi wasallam) ordered them to prepare the funeral, washing and shroud. Then, he prayed over him and witnessed the funeral. Then, the Prophet (salallahu 'alayhi wasallam) stood in front of the deceased grave and said, "O Muhajirin (Emigrants) O Ansar (Helpers), he who prefers his wife to his mother entails the curse of Allah, His angels and the whole people. Allah never accepts his deeds or a reason unless he makes repentance, treats his mother well and asks her consent. This is because Allah's consent is conditioned on the mother's and His wrath is hers.”
[Ibn Hajar AI-Haithami]

[Riyad us Saliheen, and Kitab al-Kaba'ir]

» Posted by Seifeddine-M on 9th January 2011

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