| On the authority of Abu Amr Ash-Shaibaani who said, "The owner of this house - and he pointed to the house of Abdullah - said, 'I asked the Prophet (sas) which action is most loved by Allah and he (sas) said, "Prayer in its time period."' Then he (i.e. Abdullah) said (i.e., asking the Prophet), "And what next?" He (sas) answered, "Righteousness towards your two parents." Then he said, "And what next?" He (sas) answered, "Jihad in the path of Allah." He said, "He (sas) told me these and if I continued he (sas) would have given me more. |
عن أَبَا عَمْرٍو الشَّيْبَانِيَّ يَقُولُ أَخْبَرَنَا صَاحِبُ هَذِهِ الدَّارِ وَأَوْمَأَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى دَارِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَيُّ الْعَمَلِ أَحَبُّ إِلَى اللَّهِ قَالَ الصَّلَاةُ عَلَى وَقْتِهَا قَالَ ثُمَّ أَيٌّ قَالَ بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ قَالَ ثُمَّ أَيٌّ قَالَ الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي بِهِنَّ وَلَوْ اسْتَزَدْتُهُ لَزَادَنِي |
Ibn Katheer: Allah Most High here orders mankind to be good to their parents after urging them to hold fast to tauhid. Indeed, one's two parents are the cause behind their existence and they have a huge right over him - the father by infaaq (support, spending) and the mother by ishfaaq (compassion, caregiving).
This verse was revealed concerning Saad ibn Abi Waqqaas as is reported in Sahih Muslim. He said, "My mother swore that she would not speak to me, eat anything or drink anything until I returned to kufr." She said, "You CLAIM that Allah enjoined upon you goodness towards your parents. Well, I am your mother and I command you this." She stayed like this for three days until she passed out from hunger. Then, one of her sons named Umara gave her drink and begain making du'a against Saad. At this point, Allah sent the verse in Sura Luqman:15:
| And We have enjoined on man (To be good) to his parents: in travail upon travail did his mother bear him, and in years twain was his weaning: (hear the command), "Show gratitude to Me and to thy parents: to Me is (thy final) Goal. (14) But if they strive to make thee join in worship with Me things of which thou hast no knowledge, obey them not; yet bear them company in this life with justice (And consideration), and follow the way of those who turn to Me (in love). In the End the return of you all is to Me, and I will tell you the truth (and meaning) of all that ye did. (15) "O my son!" (said Luqman), "If there be (but) the weight of a mustard-seed and it were (hidden) in a rock, or (any where) in the heavens or on earth, Allah will bring it forth: for Allah understands the finest mysteries, (and) is well-acquainted (with them). (16) "O my son! establish regular prayer, enjoin what is just, and forbid what is wrong; and bear with patient constancy whatever betide thee; for this is firmness (of purpose) in (the conduct of) affairs. (17) |
وَوَصَّيْنَا الْإِنْسَانَ بِوَالِدَيْهِ حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُ وَهْنًا عَلَى وَهْنٍ وَفِصَالُهُ فِي عَامَيْنِ أَنِ اشْكُرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيْكَ إِلَيَّ الْمَصِيرُ (14) وَإِنْ جَاهَدَاكَ عَلَى أَنْ تُشْرِكَ بِي مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ فَلَا تُطِعْهُمَا وَصَاحِبْهُمَا فِي الدُّنْيَا مَعْرُوفًا وَاتَّبِعْ سَبِيلَ مَنْ أَنَابَ إِلَيَّ ثُمَّ إِلَيَّ مَرْجِعُكُمْ فَأُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ (15) يَا بُنَيَّ إِنَّهَا إِنْ تَكُ مِثْقَالَ حَبَّةٍ مِنْ خَرْدَلٍ فَتَكُنْ فِي صَخْرَةٍ أَوْ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ أَوْ فِي الْأَرْضِ يَأْتِ بِهَا اللَّهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَطِيفٌ خَبِيرٌ (16) يَا بُنَيَّ أَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ وَأْمُرْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَانْهَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَاصْبِرْ عَلَى مَا أَصَابَكَ إِنَّ ذَلِكَ مِنْ عَزْمِ الْأُمُورِ (17) |
The word wasiya used here means to order or command. It is also used for one's last advice/commands to his relatives and friends before death so here it also means "connection" or that which connects what was in his life to that which comes after. The term is used to mean that which causes one to flee from the forbidden or encourages one to abide by that which is commanded.
"Which action is most loved by Allah?" This shows the focus of the Sahaba on good deeds and their competition in achieving them. As for the ordering of these answers even though other hadith are clear as to jihad being the very best of all deeds, the reason is either that the answer differs depending on the questioner or depending on the times.
Al-Hafidh: "Sound analysis dictates favoring jihad over all other physical acts because it involves offering up one's life. However, being steadfast in the prayers in their proper times and maintaining righteousness with parents is something which constant and constantaly recurring (unlike jihad) and only the best of believers can maintain discipline and care therein. And Allah knows best."
In this hadith:
Abullah ibn Umar said:
|
Acceptance/pleasure of the Lord is found in acceptance of one's father, and the rejection/displeasure of the Lord is found in displeasure of one's father. |
رضى الرب في رضى الوالد , وسخط الرب في سخط الوالد |
The Prophet (sas) mentioned righteousness (in another narration compassion or closeness) towards one's mother three times before mentioning the father.
The Prophet (sas) said:
| No child has sufficiently repayed his/her father unless he finds him enslaved and buys him and sets him free. |
لَا يَجْزِي وَلَدٌ وَالِدًا إِلَّا أَنْ يَجِدَهُ مَمْلُوكًا فَيَشْتَرِيَهُ فَيُعْتِقَهُ |