Author: Dr. Muhammad Zia-ur-Rahman A‘zami رحمه الله
Chapter: Disobedience to Parents is Among the Major Sins
«باب عقوق الوالدين من الكبائر»
✿ Narrated by al-Mughīrah ibn Shu‘bah (رضي الله عنه):
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Indeed, Allah has made disobedience to mothers, burying daughters alive, miserliness, and excessive begging unlawful for you. And He has disliked for you idle talk, asking too many questions, and wasting wealth.”
[Agreed upon: Al-Bukhārī 2408; Muslim 593, after 1715]
✿ Narrated by Abū Bakr (رضي الله عنه):
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Shall I not inform you of the gravest of the major sins?”
We said: “Yes, O Messenger of Allah.”
He said: “Associating partners with Allah and disobedience to parents.”
He was reclining but then sat up and added:
“Beware of false speech and false testimony. Beware of false speech and false testimony.”
He continued repeating this until we wished he would stop.
[Agreed upon: Al-Bukhārī 5976; Muslim 87]
✿ Narrated by Anas ibn Mālik (رضي الله عنه):
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ, when asked about major sins, said:
“Associating partners with Allah, murder, and disobedience to parents.”
Then he said: “Shall I not tell you the gravest of the major sins? False speech or false testimony.”
Shu‘bah (the narrator) said: I think he said: false testimony.
[Agreed upon: Al-Bukhārī 5977; Muslim 88:144]
✿ Narrated by Ibn ‘Umar (رضي الله عنهما):
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“There are three people to whom Allah will not look on the Day of Judgment: the one who is disobedient to his parents, the woman who acts like men, and the cuckold (the one who tolerates indecency in his family).”
“And three will not enter Paradise: the one who is disobedient to his parents, the habitual drinker, and the one who boasts of favors he has given.”
[Hasan: Al-Nasā’ī 2562]
✿ Narrated by ‘Abdullah ibn Unays al-Juhanī (رضي الله عنه):
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Among the gravest of major sins are: associating partners with Allah, disobedience to parents, and the false oath.”
“Whoever swears a deliberate false oath by Allah—even as small as the wing of a mosquito—Allah places a black mark on his heart that remains until the Day of Judgment.”
[Hasan: Al-Tirmidhī 3020; Aḥmad 16043; Al-Ṭaḥāwī in Sharḥ al-Mushkil 893]
① Disobeying parents is among the greatest of sins—next only to shirk and murder.
② It leads to Allah’s wrath and deprives one of Paradise and divine mercy.
③ One must fear falsehood and injustice, especially against parents.
④ Kindness to parents is a fundamental obligation, regardless of their personal conduct.
Chapter: Disobedience to Parents is Among the Major Sins
«باب عقوق الوالدين من الكبائر»
✿ The Prohibition of Disobeying Parents and Other Grave Acts
✿ Narrated by al-Mughīrah ibn Shu‘bah (رضي الله عنه):
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Indeed, Allah has made disobedience to mothers, burying daughters alive, miserliness, and excessive begging unlawful for you. And He has disliked for you idle talk, asking too many questions, and wasting wealth.”
[Agreed upon: Al-Bukhārī 2408; Muslim 593, after 1715]
✿ Among the Greatest of Major Sins
✿ Narrated by Abū Bakr (رضي الله عنه):
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Shall I not inform you of the gravest of the major sins?”
We said: “Yes, O Messenger of Allah.”
He said: “Associating partners with Allah and disobedience to parents.”
He was reclining but then sat up and added:
“Beware of false speech and false testimony. Beware of false speech and false testimony.”
He continued repeating this until we wished he would stop.
[Agreed upon: Al-Bukhārī 5976; Muslim 87]
✿ Disobedience to Parents Ranked with Shirk and Murder
✿ Narrated by Anas ibn Mālik (رضي الله عنه):
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ, when asked about major sins, said:
“Associating partners with Allah, murder, and disobedience to parents.”
Then he said: “Shall I not tell you the gravest of the major sins? False speech or false testimony.”
Shu‘bah (the narrator) said: I think he said: false testimony.
[Agreed upon: Al-Bukhārī 5977; Muslim 88:144]
✿ Those Whom Allah Will Not Look at on the Day of Judgment
✿ Narrated by Ibn ‘Umar (رضي الله عنهما):
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“There are three people to whom Allah will not look on the Day of Judgment: the one who is disobedient to his parents, the woman who acts like men, and the cuckold (the one who tolerates indecency in his family).”
“And three will not enter Paradise: the one who is disobedient to his parents, the habitual drinker, and the one who boasts of favors he has given.”
[Hasan: Al-Nasā’ī 2562]
✿ Disobedience, False Oaths, and Major Sins
✿ Narrated by ‘Abdullah ibn Unays al-Juhanī (رضي الله عنه):
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Among the gravest of major sins are: associating partners with Allah, disobedience to parents, and the false oath.”
“Whoever swears a deliberate false oath by Allah—even as small as the wing of a mosquito—Allah places a black mark on his heart that remains until the Day of Judgment.”
[Hasan: Al-Tirmidhī 3020; Aḥmad 16043; Al-Ṭaḥāwī in Sharḥ al-Mushkil 893]
⚠ Key Warnings and Lessons
① Disobeying parents is among the greatest of sins—next only to shirk and murder.
② It leads to Allah’s wrath and deprives one of Paradise and divine mercy.
③ One must fear falsehood and injustice, especially against parents.
④ Kindness to parents is a fundamental obligation, regardless of their personal conduct.
