Aboo Hurayrah radhiyallahu anhu narrates that (once) a person enquired from
the Apostle of Allah
sallallahu alayhi wasallam :
"Who has the greatest claim on
Ire with regard to service and kind treatment?" The Prophet sallallahu alayhi
wasallam replied: "Your
mother; and again, your mother; and once again, your mother. After her, there is the claim
of your father, and, after it, of your near kinsmen, and then, of the kinsmen who are next
to their."
Bukhaari, Muslim
COMMENTARY:
The name of the questioner is not given in Aboo Hurayrah's
radhiyallahu anhu narration, but, in Tirmizi and Aboo
Daawood, it is related, on the authority of Bahz Ibne Hakeem Mu'aawiyah Qushayri radhiyallahu anhumaa
, that his father, Mu'aawiyah Qushayri radhiyallahu anhu
, had asked the
Apostle of Allah sallallahu
alayhi wasallam : "Whom
should I serve and take care off (Who deserves my thoughtful attention foremost)?"
The Prophet sallallahu
alayhi wasallam replied:
"Your mother".
He, then asked: "Who comes next?"
The Prophet sallallahu
alayhi wasallam said: "Your
mother".
He, once again asked: "Who comes next?"
The Holy Prophet sallallahu
alayhi wasallam replied again:
"Your mother."
He asked for the fourth time, "Who comes next?"
The Prophet sallallahu
alayhi wasallam said: "After
your mother is the claim of your father, and then, grade by grade, of your
relatives".
The subject matter of both the narrations and even the
phrasing of the questions and answers is almost identical. It is, therefore, highly
probable that the questioner referred to in Aboo Hurayrah's radhiyallahu anhu narrative was Mu'aawiyah
Qushayri radhiyallahu anhu
.
Anyhow, the purpose of both the Traditions
is that where care and kindly treatment are concerned, the claim of mother is greater than that of father. From the Qur'aan, too, it appears to be
the same for at many places, the pain and suffering of the mother during
pregnancy and at childbirth and in fostering and bringing up the children has been
mentioned, in particular along with the exhortation of showing
kindness to parents.
Unfortunate
is he who is not regardful of needs and comforts of his aged parents
Service Of Parents Is
Preferable Even To Jihaad In Certain Circumstances