is in the position of the mother.” Reported by al-Tirmidhi, who declared it authentic.

There are many other well-known sound reports on this subject in the two Ṣaḥīḥ collections: among them are the story of the men in the cave (1) and the story of Jurayj (2), both cited earlier, as well as other famous narrations that I have left out for the sake of brevity. One of the most important of these is the lengthy ḥadith of ʿAmr ibn ʿAbasah (may Allah be pleased with him), which encompasses numerous foundational principles and etiquettes of Islam. I shall quote it in full, Allah willing, in the Chapter on Hope (3). It includes the following:

“I came to the Prophet ﷺ in Mecca—at the very beginning of his prophethood—and said, ‘What are you?’ He answered, ‘A prophet.’ I asked, ‘What is a prophet?’ He replied, ‘Allah the Exalted has sent me.’ I said, ‘With what has He sent you?’ He said, ‘He has sent me to uphold the ties of kinship, to smash idols, and so that Allah alone is declared One with no partner.’” He then related the rest of the narration; Allah knows best.

41 – Chapter: The prohibition of undutifulness and of severing family ties

Allah the Exalted says: “Would you, if you gained authority, spread corruption in the land and sever your ties of kinship? Such are the ones whom Allah has cursed, rendering them deaf and blinding their sight.” [Muhammad: 21–22]

And He says: “Those who break the covenant of Allah after ratifying it, sever what Allah has commanded to be joined, and spread corruption in the land—it is they who are cursed, and for them is the worst abode.” [Al-Raʿd: 25]

And He says: “Your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him, and that you show excellence to your parents. If one or both of them reach old age with you, do not even say to them ‘Uff,’ nor rebuke them; rather, speak to them noble words. Lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy, and say, ‘My Lord, have mercy on them as they raised me when I was small.’” [Al-Isrāʾ: 23–24]