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Riyad as-Salihin 321

A man came to the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) of Allah and said, “I swear allegiance to you for emigration and Jihad, seeking reward from Allah.” He (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Is…

Abdullahnarrated it
Sahihgraded sahih by agreed upon
2names in the chain
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وعن عبد الله بن عمرو بن العاص رضي الله عنهما

قال: أقبل رجل إلى نبي الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، فقال: أبايعك على الهجرة والجهاد أبتغي الأجر من الله تعالى. قال: «فهل لك من والديك أحد حي؟ «قال: نعم بل كلاهما قال: «فتبتغي الأجر من الله تعالى؟ «قال: نعم. قال: «فارجع إلى والديك، فأحسن صحبتهما» وفي رواية لهما: جاء رجل فاستأذنه في الجهاد فقال: «أحي والداك؟ قال: نعم، قال: «ففيهما فجاهد»

A man came to the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) of Allah and said, “I swear allegiance to you for emigration and Jihad, seeking reward from Allah.” He (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Is any of your parents alive?”

He said, “Yes, both of them are alive.” He (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) then asked, “Do you want to seek reward from Allah?” He replied in the affirmative. Thereupon Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Go back to your parents and keep good company with them”. In another narration it is reported that a person came to Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) and sought his permission to participate in Jihad.

The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) asked, “Are your parents alive?” He replied in the affirmative. The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) a (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “(You should) consider their service as Jihad.”

Riyad as-Salihin 321, Book 1, The Book of Miscellany, Hadith 321. 1 min read

What it means

A man came to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and informed him about his interest and love for fighting and immigration in the cause of Allah. The man had left behind his parents. In another narration by Abu Dawūd: "He left behind his parents crying", out of their fear of him being killed. The man was waiting for the Prophet to approve his proposal.

So the Prophet asked him: "Are either of your parents alive?" He said: "Yes, both of them are alive." The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Do you seek reward from Allah?"

He replied: 'Yes.' The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Then return to your parents and be the best and kindest companion for them." In the narration by Abu Dawūd: "Go back to them and make them laugh just as you made them cry." The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) guided the man to what is worthier and more obligatory on him, which is returning to his parents and giving them his best companionship.

Serving the parents, obeying them, and seeking to please them is part of striving in the cause of Allah. In a narration by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim: "... then strive in their service ." The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) explicitly stated in another Hadīth that dutifulness to parents, obeying them, and kindness to them is better than fighting in the cause of Allah, as in the narration reported by Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) where he said: "A man came to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and asked him about the best deeds.

He said: 'Prayer.' The man asked: 'Then what?' He said: 'Jihad.' The man said: 'I have parents (meaning, my parents are still alive).' The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'Your kindness to your parents is better'" [Ibn Hibbān]. This Hadīth indicates that dutifulness to the parents is better than Jihad, except at times when Jihad becomes an individual obligation. In this case, it takes precedence over obedience to the parents.

From the Encyclopedia of Translated Prophetic Hadiths, hadeethenc.com.

The chain

Who passed it on, from Imam an-Nawawi back to the one who was there.

  1. 1Imam an-NawawiCompiler, died 676 AH
  2. 2Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-AsFrom, Companion, died 63 AH

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