Good Manners and Form (Al-Adab)

Abu Amr al-Shaybani reported that the owner of this house—pointing to Abdullah’s house—told him: I asked the Prophet, “Which deed is most beloved to Allah?” He replied, “Prayer at its appointed time.” I asked, “Then what?” He said, “Kindness to parents.” I asked, “Then what?” He said, “Striving in Allah’s cause.” The narrator said, “He told me these; had I asked for more, he would have told me more.”

Abu Hurayra reported that a man came to the Messenger of Allah and asked, “Messenger of Allah, who is most entitled to my good companionship?” He replied, “Your mother.” The man asked, “Then who?” He said, “Your mother.” He asked again, “Then who?” He said, “Your mother.” He asked, “Then who?” He said, “Then your father.” Ibn Shubrumah and Yahya ibn Ayyub also transmitted the same report from Abu Zur‘a.

Abdullah ibn Amr reported that a man said to the Prophet, “I want to strive in battle.” He asked, “Are your parents alive?” The man said, “Yes.” He said, “Then strive in their service.”

Abdullah ibn Amr reported that the Messenger of Allah said: “Among the gravest major sins is for a man to curse his parents.” They asked, “Messenger of Allah, how can a man curse his parents?” He replied, “He insults another man’s father, and that man then insults his father and mother.”

Ibn Umar reported that the Messenger of Allah said: Three men were walking when rain caught them, so they took shelter in a cave in a mountain. A rock fell from the mountain and blocked the entrance. They said to one another, “Consider a good deed you did sincerely for Allah and call upon Allah by it; perhaps He will relieve us.” One of them said, “O Allah, I had two elderly parents and young children whom I cared for. Whenever I returned with milk, I gave it to my parents before my children. One evening I came back late after searching far among the trees and found them asleep. I milked the animals as usual and stood by their heads with the milk, unwilling to wake them and unwilling to give it to my children before them. My children were crying at my feet. I remained there, and they remained that way, until dawn. If You know I did this seeking Your pleasure, open an opening for us through which we can see the sky.” Allah opened a gap through which they could see the sky. The second said, “O Allah, I had a cousin whom I loved more than men usually love women. I sought her, but she refused until I brought her one hundred dinars. I worked until I gathered one hundred dinars and brought them to her. When I sat between her legs, she said, ‘Abdullah, fear Allah and do not break the seal unlawfully.’ So I got up and left her. If You know I did this seeking Your pleasure, relieve us.” Allah opened another gap for them. The third said, “O Allah, I hired a worker for a measure of rice. When he finished, I offered him his wages, but he left them and turned away. I kept investing them until I had accumulated cattle and a herdsman. Later he came and said, ‘Fear Allah and do not wrong me; give me what I am owed.’ I said, ‘Go to those cattle and their herdsman.’ He said, ‘Fear Allah and do not mock me.’ I replied, ‘I am not mocking you; take those cattle and their herdsman.’ He took them and left with them. If You know I did this seeking Your pleasure, relieve us from what remains.” Allah removed the rock completely.

Al-Mughira reported that the Prophet said: “Allah has forbidden you to disobey your mothers, to withhold what is due while demanding what is not due, and to bury your daughters alive. He dislikes for you gossip, excessive questioning, and wasting wealth.”

Abu Bakra reported that the Messenger of Allah said, “Shall I tell you the gravest major sins?” We said, “Yes, Messenger of Allah.” He said, “Associating partners with Allah and disobedience to parents.” He had been reclining, but sat up and said, “And false speech and false testimony! And false speech and false testimony!” He kept repeating this until I thought he would not stop.

Anas reported that the Messenger of Allah mentioned—or was asked about—the major sins. He said, “Associating partners with Allah, taking a life, and disobedience to parents.” Then he said, “Shall I tell you of the gravest major sin?” He said, “False speech”—or, he said, “false testimony.” Shu‘ba said, “I think he said ‘false testimony.’”

Asma bint Abi Bakr reported: My mother came to me during the Prophet’s lifetime, seeking help and hoping for a gift. I asked the Prophet, “Should I maintain ties with her?” He said, “Yes.” Ibn Uyayna said that Allah revealed concerning her: “Allah does not forbid you from showing kindness to those who did not fight you over religion.”

Asma reported that her mother came—while still a polytheist—during the period of the treaty between Quraysh and the Prophet. Asma asked the Prophet, “My mother has come hoping for help. Should I maintain ties with her?” He said, “Yes, maintain ties with your mother.”

Abu Sufyan reported that Heraclius sent for him and asked about the Prophet. Abu Sufyan said that the Prophet commanded them to pray, give charity, remain chaste, and maintain family ties.

Ibn Umar reported that Umar saw a striped silk garment for sale and said, “Messenger of Allah, buy it and wear it on Fridays and when delegations come to you.” He said, “Only one who has no share in the Hereafter wears this.” Some garments were later brought to the Prophet, and he sent one to Umar. Umar said, “How can I wear it after what you said about it?” He replied, “I did not give it to you to wear; you may sell it or give it to someone as clothing.” Umar sent it to a brother of his in Mecca before he became Muslim.

Abu Ayyub reported that someone said, “Messenger of Allah, tell me a deed that will admit me to Paradise.”

Abu Ayyub al-Ansari reported that a man said, “Messenger of Allah, tell me a deed that will admit me to Paradise.” The people said, “What is the matter with him?” The Messenger of Allah said, “He has a need.” The Prophet replied, “Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him, establish prayer, pay zakat, and maintain family ties. Leave it.” The narrator said that the man seemed to be on his riding animal.

Jubayr ibn Mut‘im reported that he heard the Prophet say: “One who severs family ties will not enter Paradise.”

Abu Hurayra reported that he heard the Messenger of Allah say: “Whoever wishes to have his provision increased and his life extended should maintain his family ties.”

Anas ibn Malik reported that the Messenger of Allah said: “Whoever wishes to have his provision increased and his life extended should maintain his family ties.”

Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet said: “When Allah finished creating creation, the womb said, ‘This is the station of one seeking refuge in You from severance.’ Allah said, ‘Yes. Are you not satisfied that I will maintain ties with whoever maintains ties with you, and sever ties with whoever severs ties with you?’ It said, ‘Yes, my Lord.’ He said, ‘That is yours.’” The Messenger of Allah then said, “Recite, if you wish: ‘Would you then, if you turned away, spread corruption in the land and sever your family ties?’”

Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet said: “The womb is a bond derived from the Most Merciful. Allah says, ‘Whoever maintains ties with you, I will maintain ties with him; and whoever severs ties with you, I will sever ties with him.’”