This hadith teaches that after Allah, our greatest duty is to our parents with special emphasis on the mother due to her sacrifices. A Muslim should strive to serve them, obey them (in what is lawful), make duʿaaʾ for them, and treat them with gentleness and honor. Whoever does this will earn Allah’s pleasure and Paradise.
Arabic text
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ – رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ – قَالَ: جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ -صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ- فَقَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ، مَنْ أَحَقُّ النَّاسِ بِحُسْنِ صَحَابَتِي؟ قَالَ: “أُمُّكَ”. قَالَ: ثُمَّ مَنْ؟ قَالَ: “أُمُّكَ”. قَالَ: ثُمَّ مَنْ؟ قَالَ: “أُمُّكَ”. قَالَ: ثُمَّ مَنْ؟ قَالَ: “أَبُوكَ . (مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ)
Translation (meaning)
On the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, he said: A man came to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and said: “O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, who among the people is most deserving of my good companionship?” He said: “Your mother.” The man asked: “Then who?” He ﷺ said: “Your mother.” The man asked: “Then who?” He ﷺ said: “Your mother.” The man asked: “Then who?” He ﷺ said: “Your father.” (Agreed upon by Bukhari and Muslim)
Brief Explanation
This hadith unequivocally establishes the paramount importance of the mother in Islam. The repeated emphasis on “your mother” three times before mentioning the father signifies her immense sacrifice, suffering, and role in nurturing her child. The man’s persistent questioning shows he was seeking a definitive hierarchy, and the Prophet’s response provided it, leaving no doubt about the mother’s elevated status. This teaching is rooted deeply in the Quran, which links the worship of Allah with kindness to parents. The Prophet ﷺ repeated “your mother” three times to emphasize her greatest right to love, service, respect, and kindness.Why? Because of the difficulties she endures: pregnancy, childbirth, nursing, and upbringing.
Surah Luqmaan (31:14): “And We have enjoined upon man [care] for his parents. His mother carried him, [increasing her] in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years. Be grateful to Me and to your parents; to Me is the [final] destination.”Here, Allah singles out the mother’s hardship before mentioning both parents together.
After the mother, the Prophet ﷺ mentioned “your father.” The father’s role is also very important: he provides protection, financial support, education, and guidance.Thus, after the mother, he is most deserving of kindness and good treatment.
Surah al-Israaʾ (17:23): “And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [even] ‘uff’ and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word.” This verse commands obedience and kindness to both parents, but the Prophet ﷺ clarified that the mother comes first in rank.
Allah says, Surah Al-Isra (17:23-24): “And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And to parents, be kind. Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, do not say to them [even] ‘uff,’ nor repel them. But speak to them a noble word. And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy and say, ‘My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small.'”
Other Hadiths Supporting this hadith
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Paradise lies beneath the feet of mothers.” (al-Nasaa’ee, Ibn Maajah – authentic by al-Albaanee) . This means that serving one’s mother sincerely leads to Paradise.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “The pleasure of Allah is in the pleasure of the parent, and the anger of Allah is in the anger of the parent.” (al-Tirmidhee) .This shows that respecting parents is directly linked to Allah’s pleasure.
A man asked the Prophet ﷺ: “Which deed is best?” He ﷺ said: “Prayer at its proper time.” He asked: “Then what?” He ﷺ said: “Being good to one’s parents.” (Bukhaaree, Muslim). So, kindness to parents is ranked among the highest acts of worship.
This hadith teaches that after Allah, our greatest duty is to our parents with special emphasis on the mother due to her sacrifices. A Muslim should strive to serve them, obey them (in what is lawful), make duʿaaʾ for them, and treat them with gentleness and honor. Whoever does this will earn Allah’s pleasure and Paradise.
Allah (SWT) knows best!