In the Name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful
Imam al-Nawawi records in his book Meadows of the Righteous:
باب بر الوالدين وصلة الأرحام
Chapter on righteousness to parents and kindred.
Source: Riyāḍ al-Ṣāliḥīn 1/118
Allah Almighty said:
وَاعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَلَا تُشْرِكُوا بِهِ شَيْئًا وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا وَبِذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْيَتَامَىٰ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَالْجَارِ ذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْجَارِ الْجُنُبِ وَالصَّاحِبِ بِالْجَنبِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ وَمَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ مَن كَانَ مُخْتَالًا فَخُورًا
Worship Allah alone and associate none with Him. And be kind to parents, relatives, orphans, the poor, near and distant neighbours, close friends, needy travellers, and those bondspeople in your possession. Surely, Allah does not like whoever is arrogant, boastful.
Surat al-Nisa’ 4:36
And Allah said:
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُم مِّن نَّفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ وَخَلَقَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنْهُمَا رِجَالًا كَثِيرًا وَنِسَاءً وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ الَّذِي تَسَاءَلُونَ بِهِ وَالْأَرْحَامَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَيْكُمْ رَقِيبًا
O humanity! Be mindful of your Lord Who created you from a single soul, and from it He created its mate, and through both He spread countless men and women. And be mindful of Allah, in Whose Name you appeal to one another, and honour family ties. Surely, Allah is ever Watchful over you.
Surat al-Nisa’ 4:1
And Allah said:
إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ الَّذِينَ يُوفُونَ بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ وَلَا يَنقُضُونَ الْمِيثَاقَ وَالَّذِينَ يَصِلُونَ مَا أَمَرَ اللَّهُ بِهِ أَن يُوصَلَ وَيَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُمْ وَيَخَافُونَ سُوءَ الْحِسَابِ
None will be mindful of this except people of reason, those who honor Allah’s covenant, never breaking the pledge, and those who maintain whatever ties Allah has ordered to be maintained, who stand in awe of their Lord and fear strict judgment.
Surat al-Ra’d 13:19-21
And Allah said:
وَوَصَّيْنَا الْإِنسَانَ بِوَالِدَيْهِ حُسْنًا وَإِن جَاهَدَاكَ لِتُشْرِكَ بِي مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ فَلَا تُطِعْهُمَا إِلَيَّ مَرْجِعُكُمْ فَأُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
We have commanded people to honour their parents. But if they urge you to associate with Me what you have no knowledge of, then do not obey them. To Me you will all return, and then I will inform you of what you used to do.
Surat al-‘Ankabut 29:8
And Allah said:
وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا ۚ إِمَّا يَبْلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ الْكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَا أَوْ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَا أُفٍّ وَلَا تَنْهَرْهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوْلًا كَرِيمًا وَاخْفِضْ لَهُمَا جَنَاحَ الذُّلِّ مِنَ الرَّحْمَةِ وَقُل رَّبِّ ارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرًا
For your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And honour your parents. If one or both of them reach old age in your care, never say to them even ‘ugh,’ nor yell at them. Rather, address them respectfully. And be humble with them out of mercy, and pray, ‘My Lord! Be merciful to them as they raised me when I was young.’
Surat al-Isra’ 17:23-24
And Allah said:
وَوَصَّيْنَا الْإِنسَانَ بِوَالِدَيْهِ حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُ وَهْنًا عَلَىٰ وَهْنٍ وَفِصَالُهُ فِي عَامَيْنِ أَنِ اشْكُرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيْكَ إِلَيَّ الْمَصِيرُ وَإِن جَاهَدَاكَ عَلَىٰ أَن تُشْرِكَ بِي مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ فَلَا تُطِعْهُمَا وَصَاحِبْهُمَا فِي الدُّنْيَا مَعْرُوفًا ۖ وَاتَّبِعْ سَبِيلَ مَنْ أَنَابَ إِلَيَّ ثُمَّ إِلَيَّ مَرْجِعُكُمْ فَأُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
We have commanded people to honor their parents. Their mothers bore them through hardship upon hardship, and their weaning takes two years. So be grateful to Me and your parents. To Me is the final return. But if they pressure you to associate with Me what you have no knowledge of, do not obey them. Still keep their company in this world courteously, and follow the way of those who turn to Me in devotion. Then to Me you will all return, and then I will inform you of what you used to do.
Surat Luqman 31:14-15
Abdullah ibn Mas’ud reported: I asked, “O Messenger of Allah, which deed is best?” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
الصَّلَاةُ عَلَى مِيقَاتِهَا
Prayer in its proper time.
I asked, “What is next?” The Prophet said:
بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ
Righteousness with your parents.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 2782, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
لَا يَجْزِي وَلَدٌ وَالِدًا إِلَّا أَنْ يَجِدَهُ مَمْلُوكًا فَيَشْتَرِيَهُ فَيُعْتِقَهُ
No child can compensate his father unless he finds him as a slave, buys him, and sets him free.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1510, Grade: Sahih
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَلَقَ الْخَلْقَ حَتَّى إِذَا فَرَغَ مِنْهُمْ قَامَتْ الرَّحِمُ فَقَالَتْ هَذَا مَقَامُ الْعَائِذِ مِنْ الْقَطِيعَةِ قَالَ نَعَمْ أَمَا تَرْضَيْنَ أَنْ أَصِلَ مَنْ وَصَلَكِ وَأَقْطَعَ مَنْ قَطَعَكِ قَالَتْ بَلَى قَالَ فَذَاكِ لَكِ
Verily, Allah made the creation and when He finished, the womb said: In this place, I seek refuge in you from those who sever me. Allah said: Are you not pleased that I keep good relations with those who are good to you and I will cut off whoever severs relations with you? The womb said: Yes, my Lord. Allah said: Thus, you will have it.
Then, the Prophet said:
اقْرَءُوا إِنْ شِئْتُمْ فَهَلْ عَسَيْتُمْ إِنْ تَوَلَّيْتُمْ أَنْ تُفْسِدُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَتُقَطِّعُوا أَرْحَامَكُمْ
Recite the verse if you wish: Now, if you turn away, perhaps you would then spread corruption throughout the land and sever your ties of kinship! (47:22)
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5987, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
Abu Huraira reported: A man asked the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, “Who is most deserving of my good company?” The Prophet said:
أُمُّكَ
Your mother.
The man asked, “Then who?” The Prophet said:
أُمُّكَ
Your mother.
The man asked again, “Then who?” The Prophet said:
أُمُّكَ
Your mother.
The man asked again, “Then who?” The Prophet said:
أَبُوكَ
Your father.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5971, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
رَغِمَ أَنْفُ ثُمَّ رَغِمَ أَنْفُ ثُمَّ رَغِمَ أَنْفُ
He is disgraced! Again, he is disgraced! Again, he is disgraced!
It was said, “Who is disgraced, O Messenger of Allah?” The Prophet said:
مَنْ أَدْرَكَ أَبَوَيْهِ عِنْدَ الْكِبَرِ أَحَدَهُمَا أَوْ كِلَيْهِمَا فَلَمْ يَدْخُلْ الْجَنَّةَ
The one who sees his parents grow old, one or both of them, and he does not enter Paradise through them.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2551, Grade: Sahih
Abu Huraira reported: A man said, “O Messenger of Allah, I have relatives with whom I try to relate but they cut me off. I treat them well, but they treat me badly. I am forbearing with them, but they are harsh with me.” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
لَئِنْ كُنْتَ كَمَا قُلْتَ فَكَأَنَّمَا تُسِفُّهُمُ الْمَلَّ وَلاَ يَزَالُ مَعَكَ مِنَ اللَّهِ ظَهِيرٌ عَلَيْهِمْ مَا دُمْتَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ
If it is as you say, then it is as if you threw hot ashes at them. Allah will be with you as a supporter as long as you remain like so.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2558, Grade: Sahih
Anas ibn Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
مَنْ سَرَّهُ أَنْ يُبْسَطَ لَهُ فِي رِزْقِهِ أَوْ يُنْسَأَ لَهُ فِي أَثَرِهِ فَلْيَصِلْ رَحِمَهُ
Whoever is pleased to have his provision expanded and his life span extended, let him keep good relations with his family.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 2067, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
Abdullah ibn Amr reported: A man came to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, asking permission to strive in jihad. The Prophet said:
أَحَيٌّ وَالِدَاكَ
Are your parents alive?
He said yes. The Prophet said:
فَفِيهِمَا فَجَاهِدْ
Then strive in their service.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 3004, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
In another narration, the Prophet said:
فَارْجِعْ إِلَى وَالِدَيْكَ فَأَحْسِنْ صُحْبَتَهُمَا
Return to your parents and treat them with good company.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2549, Grade: Sahih
Abdullah ibn Amr reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
لَيْسَ الْوَاصِلُ بِالْمُكَافِئِ وَلَكِنْ الْوَاصِلُ الَّذِي إِذَا قُطِعَتْ رَحِمُهُ وَصَلَهَا
The one who keeps good relations with family is not the one who is reciprocated. Rather, the one who keeps good relations with family is one who does so, despite being cut off by them.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5991, Grade: Sahih
Aisha reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
الرَّحِمُ مُعَلَّقَةٌ بِالْعَرْشِ تَقُولُ مَنْ وَصَلَنِي وَصَلَهُ اللَّهُ وَمَنْ قَطَعَنِي قَطَعَهُ اللَّهُ
The bond of family is suspended from the Throne, and it says, ‘Whoever upholds me, Allah will uphold him. Whoever severs me, Allah will sever him.’
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5989, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
Asma’ bint Abu Bakr reported: My mother, who was an idolater, came to me hoping for good treatment during the truce of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, so I asked him, “Shall I keep relations with her?” The Prophet said yes. Then, Allah Almighty revealed the verse:
لَّا يَنْهَاكُمُ اللَّهُ عَنِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يُقَاتِلُوكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ وَلَمْ يُخْرِجُوكُم مِّن دِيَارِكُمْ أَن تَبَرُّوهُمْ وَتُقْسِطُوا إِلَيْهِمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُقْسِطِينَ إِنَّمَا يَنْهَاكُمُ اللَّهُ عَنِ الَّذِينَ قَاتَلُوكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ وَأَخْرَجُوكُم مِّن دِيَارِكُمْ وَظَاهَرُوا عَلَىٰ إِخْرَاجِكُمْ أَن تَوَلَّوْهُمْ وَمَن يَتَوَلَّهُمْ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ
Allah does not forbid you from dealing kindly and fairly with those who have neither fought nor driven you out of your homes. Surely, Allah loves those who are fair. Allah only forbids you from befriending those who have fought you for your faith, driven you out of your homes, or supported others in doing so. And whoever takes them as friends, then it is they who are the true wrongdoers. (60:8-9)
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5978, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
Ibn Abbas reported: Abu Sufyan told him that the Roman Emperor, Heraclius, sent for him and asked, “What does he order you to do?” Abu Sufyan told him:
يَأْمُرُنَا بِالصَّلَاةِ وَالصَّدَقَةِ وَالْعَفَافِ وَالصِّلَةِ
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, orders us to perform prayer, give charity, to abstain from vices, and to uphold family ties.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5980, Grade: Sahih
Amr ibn al-‘As reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, saying publicly and not secretly:
إِنَّ آلَ أَبِي لَيْسُوا بِأَوْلِيَائِي إِنَّمَا وَلِيِّيَ اللَّهُ وَصَالِحُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَلَكِنْ لَهُمْ رَحِمٌ أَبُلُّهَا بِبَلَاهَا يَعْنِي أَصِلُهَا بِصِلَتِهَا
Verily, the relatives of my father are not my allies. Verily, only Allah and the righteous believers are my allies. Yet, they have the bonds of kinship and I will uphold their family ties.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5990, Grade: Sahih
Abu Ayyub reported: A man came to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and he said, “Tell me what I can do to enter Paradise and avoid Hellfire.” The Prophet said:
تَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ لَا تُشْرِكُ بِهِ شَيْئًا وَتُقِيمُ الصَّلَاةَ وَتُؤْتِي الزَّكَاةَ وَتَصِلُ ذَا رَحِمِكَ
Worship Allah and do not associate anything with Him, perform the prayer, give in charity, and keep good relations with your family.
When the man turned away, the Prophet said:
إِنْ تَمَسَّكَ بِمَا أُمِرَ بِهِ دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ
If he adheres to what he has been commanded, then he will enter Paradise.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1396, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
Salman ibn Amr reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
إِنَّ الصَّدَقَةَ عَلَى الْمِسْكِينِ صَدَقَةٌ وَعَلَى ذِي الرَّحِمِ اثْنَتَانِ صَدَقَةٌ وَصِلَةٌ
Verily, charity given to the poor has one reward, and charity given to family has two rewards: one for charity and one for upholding family ties.
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 658, Grade: Sahih
Abu Darda reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
الْوَالِدُ أَوْسَطُ أَبْوَابِ الْجَنَّةِ فَإِنْ شِئْتَ فَأَضِعْ ذَلِكَ الْبَابَ أَوْ احْفَظْهُ
The father is the middle of the gates of Paradise. If you wish, you can squander this gate or keep to it.
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 1900, Grade: Sahih
Al-Bara’ ibn ‘Azib reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
الْخَالَةُ بِمَنْزِلَةِ الْأُمِّ
The maternal aunt has the same status as the mother.
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 1904, Grade: Sahih
Success comes from Allah, and Allah knows best.
