The finest form of dutifulness is maintaining relations with those whom one’s father loved

Islam > Hadiths > Virtues and manners > The finest form of dutifulness is maintaining relations with those whom one’s father loved

Hadith narrated by Narrated by Muslim

Authentic hadith

Updated on 24 September 2026 at 12:34 AM

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Hadith text: The finest form of dutifulness is maintaining relations…

عن عبد الله بن عمر رضي الله عنهما أَنَّ رَجُلاً مِنَ الأعرَاب لَقِيهَ بِطَريق مَكَّة، فَسَلَّم عَلَيه عَبد الله بنُ عمر، وَحمَلهُ على حمار كان يركَبُهُ، وَأعطَاه عِمَامَة كَانت على رأسه، قال ابن دينار: فقُلنا له: أَصْلَحَك الله، إنَّهم الأعراب وهُم يَرْضَون بِاليَسِير، فقال عبدُ الله بنَ عُمر: إِنَّ أَبَا هَذَا كَانَ وُدًّا لِعُمر بنِ الخطَّاب رضي الله عنه وإنِّي سَمِعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: «إِنَّ أَبَرَّ البِرِّ صِلَةُ الرَّجُل أَهْلَ وُدِّ أَبِيه».
وفي رواية عن ابن دينار، عن ابن عمر: أنَّه كان إذَا خَرَج إلى مكة كان له حمار يَتَرَوَّحُ عليه إذا ملَّ رُكُوبَ الرَّاحِلة، وَعِمَامة يَشُدُّ بها رأسه، فَبينَا هو يومًا على ذلك الحمار إِذْ مَرَّ بِهِ أَعْرَابِي، فقال: أَلَسْتَ فُلاَن بنَ فُلاَن؟ قال: بَلَى. فَأَعْطَاهُ الحِمَار، فقال: ارْكَب هَذَا، وَأَعْطَاهُ العِمَامَةَ وَقَالَ: اشْدُدْ بِهَا رَأْسَكَ، فَقَالَ لَهُ بَعض أصحَابِه: غفر الله لك أَعْطَيت هذا الأعرابي حمارا كنت تَرَوَّحُ عليه، وعِمَامَة كُنتَ تشدُّ بها رأسَك؟ فقال: إِنِّي سمِعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: «إِنَّ مِنْ أَبَرِّ البِّر أَنْ يَصِلَ الرَّجُلُ أَهْلَ وُدَّ أَبِيهِ بَعْدَ أَنْ يُوَلِّيَ» وَإِنَّ أَبَاه كان صَدِيقًا لِعُمَرَ رضي الله عنه .

Explanation of the hadith: The finest form of dutifulness is maintaining relations…

When Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) would leave to Makkah to perform Hajj, he would bring along with him a donkey to rest on when he became tired of riding the camel. Once, he met a Bedouin and asked him: "Are you so and so the son of so and so?" He said: 'Yes.' So, Ibn ‘Umar dismounted from his donkey and said: "Take this and ride it," and he gave him a turban that was tied on his head and said to him: "Tie your head with this." It was said to ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar: "May Allah guide you!" or "May Allah forgive you!" These people are Bedouins, and Bedouins are satisfied with much less – meaning why would you leave your donkey and walk on your feet and give him your turban that you wrap your head with, while he is a Bedouin who would be satisfied with much less? Ibn ‘Umar replied: "The finest form of dutifulness is maintaining relations with those whom one’s father loved." This means that it is from dutifulness that if someone’s father, mother, or relative passes away, that he shows kindness to those whom they loved, and this is not only restricted to their friends, but even their friends' relatives. He then said: "and this man's father was a friend of ‘Umar", meaning ‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb, his father. Because he was a friend of his father, he was kind and generous to him out of dutifulness to his own father ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him).

Categories : Virtues · Merits of Being Dutiful to One's Parents · Virtues and Manners

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