Hadith Text & Reference

"O Messenger of Allah! I want to go out and fight (in Jihad) and I have come to ask your advice." He said: "Do you have a mother?" He said: "Yes." He said: "Then stay with her, for Paradise is beneath her feet."

Source: Sunan an-Nasa'i 3104 | The Book of Jihad

Commentary on the Narration

This profound hadith establishes the immense status of mothers in Islam, prioritizing their rights even above voluntary jihad. The Prophet ﷺ redirected a companion seeking martyrdom to instead serve his mother, indicating that filial piety constitutes a form of worship equal to armed struggle in Allah's cause.

"Paradise is beneath her feet" symbolizes that serving one's mother and earning her pleasure is a direct path to divine reward. This metaphor emphasizes that the mother's satisfaction becomes the means through which her child attains ultimate success. The physical location "beneath her feet" indicates the humility and submission required in serving parents.

Legal & Spiritual Implications

Scholars derive from this that serving parents, particularly mothers, takes precedence over recommended (nafl) acts of worship. The mother's right is triple that of the father in Islamic law due to the unparalleled hardships she endures in pregnancy, childbirth, and nursing.

This narration demonstrates Islam's balanced approach to jihad - while combat is legislated for community defense, it never supersedes fundamental social obligations. The hierarchy of duties places immediate family responsibilities before voluntary military service, ensuring societal stability.

The hadith also teaches that spiritual advancement comes through fulfilling mundane responsibilities with excellence. The highest stations in Paradise may be attained not only through dramatic acts of worship but through consistent kindness to parents.