O Messenger of Allah, who is the most entitled among people to my good companionship? He said: Your mother, then your mother, then your mother, then your father, and then those who are the closest to you

Explanation

This Hadīth indicates that both parents have a right to good companionship and utmost care of their affairs. Allah says: {Accompany them in [this] world with appropriate kindness} [Sūrat Luqmān: 31]. However, the right of the mother precedes the right of the father by far. The father's right was not mentioned except after the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) had emphasized the right of the mother by mentioning her three times. The mother's status is greater than the father's status, even though they both raise and bring up their children - the father with his wealth and care, and the mother with her services such as preparing their food, drinks, clothes, beds, etc. In fact, the mother suffers in raising her children greater than the father. She carries the child in her womb for nine months adding more to her pain and weakness; she gives birth to the child with hardship and severe pain as if she is almost dying; and she breast-feeds the child for two years during which she remains awake in order for him to relax and spares no effort of his betterment regardless of her pains. The Qur'an described these experiences saying: {And We have enjoined upon man, to his parents, good treatment. His mother carried him with hardship and gave birth to him with hardship, and his gestation and weaning [period] is thirty months} [Sūrat al-Ahqāf: 15]. In this verse, Allah enjoined man to be dutiful to his parents and justified this injunction by listing only the suffering the mother endures as a sort of highlighting her great right on the children. Good companionship with the parents includes providing their food, drink, accommodation, clothing, and the other needs of living, particularly when they are needy. Moreover, if your parents' standard of living is low or adequate and you lead a luxurious and comfortable life, then you should raise them to your living standard or even higher. Doing this is part of your good companionship to the parents. Remember what Prophet Yūsuf did with his parents; when he was granted sovereignty, he raised his parents upon the throne after bringing them from the desert. The best manifestation of good companionship is what Allah said: {And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment. 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. 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"} [Sūrat al-Isrā': 23-24] So, hold back your tongue from saying bad words to them and keep them far from all things that could harm them. Speak to them kindly and be humble and obedient to them. Always supplicate to Allah for them sincerely from your heart and soul and say: "My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up when I was small." Do not forget to provide your mother with special and greater care as implied by divine revelation and stated in this Hadīth.