حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ ثَنَا شُعْبَةُ عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ السَّائِبِ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ السُّلَمِيَّ يُحَدِّثُ أَنَّ رَجُلًا أَمَرَتْهُ أُمُّهُ أَوْ أَبُوهُ أَوْ كِلَاهُمَا قَالَ شُعْبَةُ يَقُولُ ذَلِكَ أَنْ يُطَلِّقَ امْرَأَتَهُ فَجَعَلَ عَلَيْهِ مِائَةَ مُحَرَّرٍ فَأَتَى أَبَا الدَّرْدَاءِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ فَإِذَا هُوَ يُصَلِّي الضُّحَى يُطِيلُهَا فَصَلَّى مَا بَيْنَ الظَّهْرِ وَالْعَصْرِ فَسَأَلَهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو الدَّرْدَاءِ أَوْفِ بِنَذْرِكَ وَبَرَّ وَالِدَيْكَ إِنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ الْوَالِدُ أَوْسَطُ بَابِ الْجَنَّةِ فَحَافِظْ عَلَى الْوَالِدِ أَوِ اتْرُكْ
Abu Abdur Rahman Salmi narrates that a man was ordered by his mother, or his father, or both, to divorce his wife, but he vowed to free one hundred slaves if he divorced her. Then he came to Sayyiduna Abu Darda’ (may Allah be pleased with him) while he was performing the Duha prayer at length. He also prayed between Zuhr and Asr. That man asked him a question. Sayyiduna Abu Darda’ (may Allah be pleased with him) replied: Fulfill your vow and be good to your parents, because I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: The father is the middle gate of Paradise; now it is up to you whether you protect that gate or waste it.