Riyad as-Salihin, 343

Abu Usaid Malik bin Rabi'ah As-Sa'idi (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

We were sitting with Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) when a man of Banu Salamah came to him and asked, "O Messenger of Allah! Is there any obedience to parents left that I can show to them after their death?" He (ﷺ) replied, "Yes, to pray for them, to supplicate for their forgiveness, to fulfill their promises after their death, to maintain the ties of kinship which cannot be maintained except through them, and honour their friends." [Abu Dawud].

و عن أبي أُسَيد- بضم الهمزة وفتح السين- مالك بن ربيعة الساعدي رضي الله عنه قال‏:‏ بينا نحن جلوس عند رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إذ جاءه رجل من بني سلمة فقال‏:‏ يا رسول الله هل بقي من بر أبوي شيء أبرهما به بعد موتهما‏؟‏ فقال‏:‏ ‏

‏ نعم، الصلاة عليهما، والاستغفار لهما، وإنفاذ عهدهما من بعدهما، وصلة الرحم التي لا توصل إلا بهما، وإكرام صديقهما‏

‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه أبو داود‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏

References1 variant

In-Book Reference: Introduction, Hadith 343

Sharh · explanationclick to expand

Guidance from the Hadith: 1) The dutifulness which one can show to his parents after their death is to pray for them, ask Allah to forgive them, honor their friends, fulfill their will, and to maintain ties with those to whom one is related only through them. 2) Parents should be keen on giving righteous upbringing to their children so that they would enjoy their dutifulness during their life and benefit from their supplications for them after their death. 3) The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) were keen to maintain what is good and not stop doing it. A guided believer is the one who follows the example of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) in their good conduct. Words in the Hadith: To pray for them: to supplicate Allah in their favor.

Related hadiths2