1. On the authority of Bahz b. Hakim from his father through his grandfather, Mu’awiya bin Haida, who said:

“I asked,

‘Messenger of Allah, towards whom should I be dutiful?’

He said, ‘Your mother.’

I asked, ‘Then towards whom?’

He replied, ‘Your mother.’

Again I asked, ‘Then towards whom?’

He answered, ‘Your mother.’

I said, ‘Then towards whom should I be dutiful?’

He said, ‘Your father, and then the next nearest relative and then the next nearest.’” (Sound)

Commentary:
(1) The eagerness of the companions of Allah’s Messenger ﷺ to know the ranks of good deeds is shown in this hadeeth.

(2) Preference is given for the mother because she suffered the difficulties of pregnancy, childbirth, breast-feeing and general care.

(3) The fact that the nearest relatives should take precedence over others when we show kindness is also evinced in the narration.

2. ‘Ata bin Yasar reported from Abdullah bin ‘Abbas that:

“A man came to Ibn ‘Abbas and said,

‘I asked a woman to marry me and she refused to marry me. Another man asked her and she agreed to marry him. I became jealous and killed her. Is there a way for me to repent?’

He asked, ‘Is your mother alive?’

The man replied, ‘No.’

Ibn ‘Abbas said, ‘Repent to Allah, the Mighty and Exalted, and try to draw near to Him as much as you can.’”

‘Ata said:

“I went to ask Ibn ‘Abbas,

‘Why did you ask him whether his mother was alive?’

He replied, ‘I do not know of any action better for bringing a person near to Allah than dutifulness to his mother.’” (Authentic)

Commentary:
The people of knowledge should guide the rest of the people towards the things that benefit them such as how to repent from sins, no matter their gravity. Also, being obedient and kind to the mother is mentioned in this hadeeth as an atonement for the sin of taking a soul unlawfully. Jealousy could lead to backbiting, slander, hatred and worse sins such as killing.