ONE HADITH A DAY
Narrated by Muslim - Narrated by Bukhari & Muslim · Authentic hadith
عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: جاء رجل إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال: يا رسول الله، مَنْ أحقُّ الناس بِحُسن صَحَابَتِي؟ قال: «أمك» قال: ثم مَنْ ؟ قال: «أمك»، قال: ثم مَنْ؟ قال: «أمك»، قال: ثم مَنْ؟ قال: «أبوك». متفق عليه. وفي رواية: يا رسول الله، مَنْ أحقُّ بحُسْنِ الصُّحْبَةِ؟ قال: «أمك، ثم أمك، ثم أمك، ثم أباك، ثم أدْنَاك أدْنَاك».
“Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that a man came to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and said: "O Messenger of Allah, who is the most entitled among people to my good companionship?" He said: "Your mother." The man said: "Who next?" He said: "Your mother." The man asked again: "Who next?" He replied: "Your mother." The man further said: "Who next?" He said: "Your father." In another narration, the man asked: "O Messenger of Allah, who is the most entitled among people to my good companionship?" He said: "Your mother, then your mother, then your mother, then your father, and then those who are the closest to you."”
This Hadīth indicates that both parents have a right to good companionship and utmost care of their affairs. Allah says: {Accompany them in [this] world with appropriate kindness} [Sūrat Luqmān: 31]. However, the right of the mother precedes the right of the father by far. The father's right was not mentioned except after the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) had emphasized the right of the mother by mentioning her three times. The mother's status is greater than the father's status, even though they both raise and bring up their children - the father with his wealth and care, and the mother with her services such as preparing their food, drinks, clothes, beds, etc. In fact, the mother suffers in raising her children greater than the father. She carries the child in her womb for nine months adding more to her pain and weakness; she gives birth to the child with hardship and severe pain as if she is almost dying; and she breast-feeds the child for two years during which she remains awake in order for him to relax and spares no effort of his betterment regardless of her pains. The Qur'an described these experiences saying: {And We have enjoined upon man, to his parents, good treatment. His mother carried him with hardship and gave birth to him with hardship, and his gestation and weaning [period] is thirty months} [Sūrat al-Ahqāf: 15]. In this verse, Allah enjoined man to be dutiful to his parents and justified this injunction by listing only the suffering the mother endures as a sort of highlighting her great right on the children. Good companionship wit…