A man came to Prophet (ﷺ) seeking permission to go for Jihad. So he said: 'Do you have parents (living)? ' He said: 'Yes.' He said: 'Then it is for them that you should perform Jihad.'"
[Abu 'Eisa said:] There is something on this topic from Ibn 'Abbas.
This Hadith is Hasan Sahih. (One of the narrators) Abul-Abbas is the blind (Al-A'ma) poet (Ash-Sha'ir), from Makkah, and his name is As-Sa'ab bin Farrukh.
Hadith Text & Status
A man came to Prophet (ﷺ) seeking permission to go for Jihad. So he said: 'Do you have parents (living)? ' He said: 'Yes.' He said: 'Then it is for them that you should perform Jihad.'"
[Abu 'Eisa said:] There is something on this topic from Ibn 'Abbas. This Hadith is Hasan Sahih. (One of the narrators) Abul-Abbas is the blind (Al-A'ma) poet (Ash-Sha'ir), from Makkah, and his name is As-Sa'ab bin Farrukh.
Commentary on the Hadith
This profound narration establishes the elevated status of serving one's parents in Islamic tradition. When the Prophet redirected the man's desire for armed jihad toward caring for his parents, he demonstrated that filial piety constitutes a form of spiritual struggle of the highest order.
The term "jihad" here refers to the greater jihad (al-jihad al-akbar) - the struggle against one's lower self and the fulfillment of sacred obligations. Serving parents requires immense patience, self-sacrifice, and devotion, qualities that parallel the virtues cultivated in physical jihad.
Legal Rulings & Scholarly Consensus
Scholars unanimously agree that serving one's parents takes precedence over voluntary (nafl) military jihad. The rights of parents are among the most emphasized obligations in Islam, second only to the rights of Allah Himself.
Imam al-Nawawi states in his commentary: "This hadith indicates that serving parents is superior to voluntary jihad, and this is the position of all scholars. However, obligatory jihad (fard al-ayn) takes precedence when the Muslim community is under direct threat."
Spiritual Dimensions
Ibn al-Qayyim explains that the jihad of serving parents involves constant struggle against selfish desires, cultivation of humility, and development of compassion. This internal purification prepares the soul for higher spiritual stations.
The parents represent one's immediate connection to divine mercy and the means through which one entered this world. Honoring them is thus honoring the divine system of creation and sustenance.
Practical Applications
This teaching applies particularly when parents are elderly, infirm, or in need of assistance. The companionship and service provided to them becomes an ongoing act of worship that surpasses many voluntary devotions.
Scholars note that this priority remains even if parents are non-Muslims, as the Quran commands kindness toward them regardless of their faith, though without obeying them in matters contrary to Islamic teachings.