and said to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, “Which deed is most beloved to Allah?” He replied, “Prayer performed at its appointed time.” The man asked, “Then what?” He said, “Honouring one’s parents.” He asked again, “Then what?” He answered, “Striving in the path of Allah.”

Thus each person is addressed with what suits his particular state. For example, when a man said to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, “Advise me,” he said, “Do not become angry.” The man repeated, “Advise me,” and he replied, “Do not become angry.” A third time the man said, “Advise me,” and again he said, “Do not become angry.” He did not tell him, “I advise you to fear Allah and perform righteous deeds,” because that man’s condition required that he be warned against anger—he was quick-tempered. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ therefore speaks to every person in the manner most fitting to his situation, and this is learnt by examining the general proofs of the Sharia and by recognizing the relative ranks of deeds.

1279 – It is also narrated from Ibn ʿAbbās that a woman said, “O Messenger of Allah, the obligatory duty of pilgrimage has reached my father while he is an old man who cannot sit firmly on a mount. May I perform Hajj on his behalf?” He said, “Yes.” Agreed upon.

1280 – Laqīt ibn ʿĀmir (may Allah be pleased with him) came to the Prophet ﷺ and said, “My father is an old man who is unable to perform Hajj, ʿumrah, or even undertake a journey.” He said, “Perform Hajj and ʿumrah on behalf of your father.” Reported by Abū Dāwūd and al-Tirmidhī, who graded it “sound and authentic.”