Riyad as-Salihin, 321

'Abdullah bin 'Amr bin Al-'as (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:

A man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) of Allah and said, "I swear allegiance to you for emigration and Jihad, seeking reward from Allah." He (ﷺ) said, "Is any of your parents alive?" He said, "Yes, both of them are alive." He (ﷺ) then asked, "Do you want to seek reward from Allah?" He replied in the affirmative. Thereupon Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Go back to your parents and keep good company with them". [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]. In another narration it is reported that a person came to Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and sought his permission to participate in Jihad. The Prophet (ﷺ) asked, "Are your parents alive?" He replied in the affirmative. The Prophet (ﷺ) a(ﷺ) said, "(You should) consider their service as Jihad."

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"‏ ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏.‏ وهذا لفظ مسلم‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏ وفي رواية لهما‏:‏ جاء رجل فاستأذنه في الجهاد فقال ‏"‏أحي والداك‏؟‏ قال‏:‏ نعم، قال‏:‏ ‏"‏ففيهما فجاهد‏"‏‏.‏

References1 variant

In-Book Reference: Introduction, Hadith 321

Sharh · explanationclick to expand

Guidance from the Hadith: 1) Prioritization is required in the Muslim’s life; he should start with fulfilling the most confirmed rights, then what comes next. This reflects the person’s good understanding and that he is rightly guided by Allah Almighty. 2) Dutifulness to parents is one of the most confirmed obligations; it is more confirmed than Jihad when it is a communal obligation. 3) Jihad has ranks and branches, and whoever performs an act of obedience, seeking thereby to please Allah Almighty, like being dutiful to his parents, is considered to be performing an aspect of Jihad (striving) for the sake of Allah Almighty.

Related hadiths5