47/30. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 3189 — Parents and Faith Boundaries
Regarding Surat Al-'Ankabut
Honoring Parents Without Leaving Faith Hadith
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 3189
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 3189
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ سِمَاكِ بْنِ حَرْبٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ مُصْعَبَ بْنَ سَعْدٍ، يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ أَبِيهِ، سَعْدٍ قَالَ أُنْزِلَتْ فِيَّ أَرْبَعُ آيَاتٍ . فَذَكَرَ قِصَّةً فَقَالَتْ أُمُّ سَعْدٍ أَلَيْسَ قَدْ أَمَرَ اللَّهُ بِالْبِرِّ وَاللَّهِ لاَ أَطْعَمُ طَعَامًا وَلاَ أَشْرَبُ شَرَابًا حَتَّى أَمُوتَ أَوْ تَكْفُرَ قَالَ فَكَانُوا إِذَا أَرَادُوا أَنْ يُطْعِمُوهَا شَجَرُوا فَاهَا فَنَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ : (ووَصَّيْنَا الإِنْسَانَ بِوَالِدَيْهِ حُسْنًا ) الآيَةَ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ .
Mus'ab bin Sa'd Narrated from:
Narrated Mus'ab bin Sa'd: That His Father, Sa'D, Said: "Four Ayat Were Revealed About Me" And He Mentioned The Story. Umm Sa'D Had Said: "Did Not Allah Command You To Honor (Your Parents). By Allah! I Will Not Eat Or Drink Anything Until I Die Or You Renounce (Islam)." He Said: "So When They Wanted To Make Her Eat, They Would Force Her Mouth Open. So This Ayah Was Revealed:And We Have Enjoined On Man To Be Dutiful To His Parents; But If They Strive To Make You Associate (Partners) With Me, Of Which You Have No Knowledge, Then Obey Them Not (29:8)."
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3189In-book reference : Book 47, Hadith 241English translation : Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 3189
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 3189
This hadith gives a clear example of pressure from a parent. Sad mentioned that verses were revealed about him, and the narration tells how Umm Sad refused to eat or drink until he renounced Islam. She argued from the command to honor parents. The verse then came: We have enjoined man to be dutiful to his parents; but if they strive to make you associate partners with Me, then obey them not. The hadith keeps two truths together. Parents are to be treated with goodness, but obedience has a limit when it leads to shirk or leaving faith. The text teaches balance, not disrespect.
What we learn from this hadith
- Parents have a right to good treatment and honor.
- Obedience to parents does not include leaving faith or committing shirk.
- Emotional pressure should not push a believer away from tawhid.
- Islam teaches kindness to parents with clear limits in matters of faith.
