Being kind to one's mother and father is among the most virtuous deeds.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) counted kindness to parents, after prayer performed on time, among the most virtuous deeds, and named disobedience to parents among the greatest sins. The Qur'an says, "Your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him, and that you be good to parents" (Al-Isra, 23).
What does the hadith say?
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ عُمَارَةَ بْنِ الْقَعْقَاعِ بْنِ شُبْرُمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي زُرْعَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَنْ أَحَقُّ بِحُسْنِ صَحَابَتِي قَالَ " أُمُّكَ ". قَالَ ثُمَّ مَنْ قَالَ " أُمُّكَ ". قَالَ ثُمَّ مَنْ قَالَ " أُمُّكَ ". قَالَ ثُمَّ مَنْ قَالَ " ثُمَّ أَبُوكَ ". وَقَالَ ابْنُ شُبْرُمَةَ وَيَحْيَى بْنُ أَيُّوبَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو زُرْعَةَ مِثْلَهُ.
Narrated Abu Huraira: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
Text: Sahih al-Bukhari, hadith no. 5971. Grade: sahih (hadiths in al-Bukhari and Muslim are accepted as sahih).
What is the hadith source of this sunnah?
This sunnah rests on the following hadiths. The reference gives the collection, chapter and number where the hadith appears.
- al-Bukhari, Book of Divine Unity, 48 (hadith no. 7534)
- al-Bukhari, Book of Good Manners, 6 (hadith no. 5976)
- Qur'an, al-Isra 17:23
How this page was prepared: sources and verification method.
More sunnahs in Family & Visiting
As a table with references: Family & Visiting sunnahs.
- Treating One's Spouse Well: Treating one's spouse well and putting love into words is a sunnah the Prophet valued.
- Loving Children: Loving children, showing them affection and giving them time reflects the warmth of the sunnah.
- Visiting Relatives: Visiting relatives regularly — silat ar-rahim — brings great reward.