A man came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Who is more entitled to be treated with the best companionship by me?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Your mother." The man said. "Who is next?" The Prophet said, "Your mother." The man further said, "Who is next?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Your mother." The man asked for the fourth time, "Who is next?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Your father. "
The Excellence of Honoring One's Mother
This profound hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari (5971) establishes the unparalleled status of the mother in Islamic teachings. The Prophet's repetition of "your mother" three times before mentioning the father emphasizes her superior right to kindness, service, and good treatment.
Scholarly Commentary on Maternal Rights
Classical scholars explain that the mother's precedence stems from the immense hardships she endures during pregnancy, childbirth, and nursing - burdens the father does not share equally. Her physical and emotional sacrifices create a debt of gratitude that can never be fully repaid.
Imam al-Qurtubi notes that the Prophet's triple emphasis indicates the mother deserves three times the kindness owed to the father, though both parents must be honored throughout their lives.
Practical Implications of Good Manners (Al-Adab)
This teaching from the Book of Good Manners and Form (Al-Adab) instructs believers to serve their mothers with utmost tenderness, provide for their needs, speak gently to them, and seek their pleasure even in small matters. Disobedience to parents is among the gravest sins after shirk.
The graduated response also teaches the Islamic method of instruction - repeating essential truths until they are firmly established in the heart, while answering questions patiently according to their importance.