Al-Matalib al-'Aliyah 2545 — Kindness to parents

It is narrated from Hisham bin Hassan that Sayyidah Hafsah bint Sirin (may Allah have mercy on her) related about her son Hudhayl bin Hafsah that in the summer season he would gather firewood and peel off its bark, and take reeds and split them. Sayyidah Hafsah said: Whenever I felt cold, he would bring a brazier and place it behind me while I was praying, even though he had servants who would have done this work had he wished; but he himself would burn that peeled wood and those split reeds so that the fuel kept me warm and its heat did not harm me. She said: Sometimes I intended to turn to him and say: "O my dear son, go back to your family," but then I would remember his good intention and spirit of service, so I would leave him as he was. He also used to go on jihad and perform Hajj. Once, when the time of Hajj came, he fell ill with fever; then, when he recovered somewhat, I did not know of it until he had called out the talbiyah for Hajj. I said: "O my son, it seems you feared that I might stop you; I would never have done so." He had a milch she-camel, and every morning he would send me a bowl of milk. I would say: "O my son, you know that I am fasting and will not drink this milk," and he would say: "O Umm Hudhayl, the best milk is that which has stayed overnight in the she-camel's udder; give it to drink to whomever you wish." Sayyidah Hafsah said: When he passed away, Allah Almighty granted me patience at his death as He willed, yet there remained in my chest a pang and a choking feeling that would not go away. One night I was praying and reciting Surah al-Nahl until I reached this verse: "And do not sell the covenant of Allah for a small price. Indeed, what is with Allah is better for you, if only you knew. Whatever you have will be exhausted, and what is with Allah will remain, and We will surely give those who were steadfast their reward according to the best of what they used to do." [Surah al-Nahl: 95-96]. She said: I repeated this verse over and over, and Allah Almighty removed all the grief and burden of heart that I had been feeling.
Imam al-Bayhaqi narrated this report in 'Shu'ab al-Iman' and Ibn Abi al-Dunya in 'al-Ta'azi', and its narrators are thiqat (trustworthy).