The Faith of the Prophet’s Parents and the Authenticity of Related Aḥādīth
Source: Fatāwā ʿUlamāʾ Ahl al-Ḥadīth
❖ Question
I heard from someone that the parents of our beloved Prophet ﷺ did not have correct belief. This surprised me. He also narrated a ḥadīth that a Companion (RA) asked the Prophet ﷺ about his father who died without believing, and the Prophet ﷺ replied that he was in Hell. Then the Prophet ﷺ said: “My father and your father are in Hell.”
Is this ḥadīth authentic? Where is it found? Also, someone told me that the Prophet’s mother was brought back to life, believed in him, and then passed away again. Is this true? Please clarify.
❖ Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā Baʿd!
✿ Caution in Such Questions
First of all, such sensitive topics should be avoided, as they bring no religious or practical benefit. Just as no one likes to hear negative things about their own parents, it is even more inappropriate regarding the parents of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. However, since the question is asked, an answer is given with due respect.
✿ Ḥadīth About the Prophet’s Father
The ḥadīth you mentioned is authentic and recorded by Imām Muslim in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim:
عَنْ أَنَسٍ، أَنَّ رَجُلًا قَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ، أَيْنَ أَبِي؟ قَالَ: «فِي النَّارِ» ، فَلَمَّا قَفَّى دَعَاهُ، فَقَالَ: «إِنَّ أَبِي وَأَبَاكَ فِي النَّارِ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Īmān, ḥadīth: 203)
Translation:
Anas (RA) reported: A man asked, “O Messenger of Allah, where is my father?” The Prophet ﷺ said, “In the Fire.” When he turned away, the Prophet ﷺ called him back and said, “My father and your father are both in the Fire.”
✿ Ḥadīth About the Prophet’s Mother
Another authentic narration in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim states:
The Prophet ﷺ visited his mother’s grave, wept, and made those around him weep. He ﷺ said:
“I sought permission from my Lord to visit my mother’s grave, and He granted me permission. I sought permission to pray for her forgiveness, but He did not grant me permission. So visit graves, for they remind you of death.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Kusūf, ḥadīth: 976)
Just as Allah did not permit Ibrāhīm (عليه السلام) to seek forgiveness for his father, the Prophet ﷺ was not permitted to seek forgiveness for his mother.
✿ On the Claim of Resurrection and Faith of the Parents
The reports claiming that the Prophet’s parents were brought back to life to believe and then died again are weak or fabricated.
Shams al-Ḥaqq ʿAẓīmābādī (رحمه الله) said:
“All the narrations about the revival of the Prophet’s parents, their believing, and their salvation are mostly fabricated lies. Some are extremely weak and not authentic at all. Scholars of ḥadīth such as al-Dāraqutnī, al-Jawzaqānī, Ibn Shāhīn, al-Khaṭīb, Ibn ʿAsākir, Ibn Nāṣir, Ibn al-Jawzī, al-Suhaylī, al-Qurṭubī, and others have declared them fabricated or weak.”
(ʿAwn al-Maʿbūd 12/494; Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā 4/324)
✿ Lineage Alone Does Not Guarantee Salvation
- Ibrāhīm (عليه السلام)’s father was a polytheist and his relationship did not save him.
- Nūḥ (عليه السلام)’s son was a disbeliever and kinship did not benefit him.
- The Prophet ﷺ himself addressed his relatives:
“O Quraysh, save yourselves from Allah’s punishment, for I can avail you nothing against Allah… O Fāṭimah daughter of Muḥammad, ask me of my wealth whatever you wish, but I can avail you nothing against Allah.”
(al-Bukhārī 2753, Muslim 206)
◈ Conclusion
- Authentic aḥādīth exist regarding the Prophet’s parents.
- Narrations about their revival and faith are weak or fabricated.
- Salvation is based on īmān, not lineage.
والله أعلم بالصواب
