Explanation of the words of Imam al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) regarding what he quoted: "
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The Shaykh : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful:
The author (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "The chapter on dutifulness to parents and maintaining family ties":
The parents are the father and the mother. He used the term "dutifulness" (birr) following what came in the text, using "dutifulness" regarding the parents in accordance with the text, and he used "maintaining ties" (silah) regarding the relatives, because that is how it also came in the text. The relatives are the kin.
Dutifulness to parents is among the best of deeds; indeed, it is the second right after the right of Allah and His Messenger.
The author (may Allah have mercy on him) mentioned many verses in this sense, such as His saying, the Exalted:[An-Nisa 4:36], and He said, the Exalted: [Al-Isra 17:23], and He said, the Exalted: [Al-'Ankabut 29:8], and He said, the Exalted: [Luqman 31:14].
And He said, the Exalted:[Al-Isra 17:23-24].
All these verses and others indicate the greatness of the right of the parents. Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, explained the state of the mother, that she carries her child with weakness upon weakness: meaning weakness upon weakness, from the time she conceives him until she gives birth to him, while she is in weakness, hardship, and toil. And likewise at the time of delivery, as He said, the Exalted:[Al-Ahqaf 46:15]. All of this is to clarify the reason for their great right.
Then Allah mentioned the most severe state in which the parents may be, saying:[Al-Isra 17:23], because when the parents reach old age, their spirits weaken and they become a burden on the child. And yet He says: [Al-Isra 17:23], meaning: do not say, "I am annoyed with you both." Rather, treat them with gentleness, kindness, and softness. And do not rebuke them when they speak, [Al-Isra 17:23], meaning: respond to them with a beautiful response because of the greatness of their right.
Then he mentioned the hadith of Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him),: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) placed the rank of dutifulness to parents before the rank of jihad in the path of Allah. He said: "If I had asked him for more, he would have given me more." In it is evidence of the virtue of dutifulness to parents.
So if someone asks: What is dutifulness? We say: It is: "Being kind to them in speech, action, and wealth to the extent of one's ability. Fear Allah as much as you are able. And the opposite of that is undutifulness to parents".
Then he mentioned the second hadith, which is:Sahih Muslim 1510a: meaning he frees him by buying him, because he released his father from the bondage of slavery to other than Allah, to a human being. This hadith does not indicate that one who owns his father does not have to free him. Rather, we say: its meaning is "unless he buys him and then frees him," meaning he frees him by buying him. Because when a person owns his father, he is freed by the mere fact of ownership, and he does not need to say, "I have freed you." Likewise, if he owns his mother, she is freed by the mere fact of ownership, and he does not need to say, "I have freed you." And success is from Allah.
The author (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "The chapter on dutifulness to parents and maintaining family ties":
The parents are the father and the mother. He used the term "dutifulness" (birr) following what came in the text, using "dutifulness" regarding the parents in accordance with the text, and he used "maintaining ties" (silah) regarding the relatives, because that is how it also came in the text. The relatives are the kin.
Dutifulness to parents is among the best of deeds; indeed, it is the second right after the right of Allah and His Messenger.
The author (may Allah have mercy on him) mentioned many verses in this sense, such as His saying, the Exalted:
Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him, and to parents do good
وَاعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَلا تُشْرِكُوا بِهِ شَيْئاً وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَاناًAnd your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment
وَقَضَى رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَاناًAnd We have enjoined upon man goodness to parents
وَوَصَّيْنَا الْإنْسَانَ بِوَالِدَيْهِ حُسْناًAnd We have enjoined upon man [care] for his parents. His mother carried him, [increasing her] in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years. Be grateful to Me and to your parents; to Me is the [final] destination.
وَوَصَّيْنَا الْإنْسَانَ بِوَالِدَيْهِ حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُ وَهْناً عَلَى وَهْنٍ وَفِصَالُهُ فِي عَامَيْنِ أَنِ اشْكُرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيْكَ إِلَيَّ الْمَصِيرُAnd He said, the Exalted:
Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much as], "uff," and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word. (24) And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy and say, "My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small."
إِمَّا يَبْلُغَنَّ عِنْدَكَ الْكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَا أَوْ كِلاهُمَا فَلا تَقُلْ لَهُمَا أُفٍّ وَلا تَنْهَرْهُمَا وَقُلْ لَهُمَا قَوْلاً كَرِيماً وَاخْفِضْ لَهُمَا جَنَاحَ الذُّلِّ مِنَ الرَّحْمَةِ وَقُلْ رَبِّ ارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرا ًAll these verses and others indicate the greatness of the right of the parents. Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, explained the state of the mother, that she carries her child with weakness upon weakness: meaning weakness upon weakness, from the time she conceives him until she gives birth to him, while she is in weakness, hardship, and toil. And likewise at the time of delivery, as He said, the Exalted:
His mother carried him with hardship and gave birth to him with hardship
حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُ كُرْهاً وَوَضَعَتْهُ كُرْهاًThen Allah mentioned the most severe state in which the parents may be, saying:
Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much as], "uff,"
إِمَّا يَبْلُغَنَّ عِنْدَكَ الْكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَا أَوْ كِلاهُمَا فَلا تَقُلْ لَهُمَا أُفٍّsay not to them [so much as], "uff,"
لا تقل لهما أفٍbut speak to them a noble word.
وقل لهما قولاً كريماًThen he mentioned the hadith of Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him),
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said when 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud asked him: "Which deed is most beloved to Allah?" He said: "Prayer at its prescribed time." I said: "Then what?" He said: "Dutifulness to parents." I said: "Then what?" He said: "Jihad in the path of Allah."
أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال حين سأله عبد الله بن مسعود : أي العمل أحب إلى الله؟ قال: الصلاة على وقتها، قلت: ثم أيٌّ؟ قال: بر الوالدين، قلت: ثم أي؟ قال: الجهاد في سبيل اللهSo if someone asks: What is dutifulness? We say: It is: "Being kind to them in speech, action, and wealth to the extent of one's ability. Fear Allah as much as you are able. And the opposite of that is undutifulness to parents".
Then he mentioned the second hadith, which is: