Getting things cosy…
Getting things cosy…
It was a busy, busy day in Peterborough.
Mama had shopping to fetch. Mama had washing to do. Phew! Mama was busy, busy, busy. And Nabil wanted to help.
On the way to the shops, Mama told Nabil something the Prophet ﷺ said.
Long ago, a man asked the Prophet ﷺ who he should be kindest to.
The Prophet ﷺ said, "Your mother."
"Then who?" asked the man.
"Your mother."
"Then who?"
"Your mother."
"Then who?"
"Then your father," said the Prophet ﷺ.
Nabil beamed. "Your mother, your mother, your mother! And my mother is you, Mama!"
At the shop, Mama filled two big bags. Rustle, rustle! Nabil got a tiny bag with two bananas inside. He carried it all the way home. Step, step, step. "Kind to Mama!" he sang. One kind thing.
At home, Nabil found his socks on the floor. Plop! Plop! Into the washing basket they went. "Kind to Mama!" he sang. Two kind things.
After lunch, Mama sat on the sofa. "Ooh, I'm tired," she sighed.
Nabil climbed up and gave her a big, squeezy hug. "Kind to Mama," he whispered. Three kind things.
Mama smiled a sleepy smile. "JazakAllahu khayran, my little helper."
When it got dark, the front door went click. Baba was home!
Nabil ran down the hall. "And then Baba!" he called, and he gave Baba a big hug too.
Baba laughed and lifted him up high. "What was that for?"
"Kind to Mama, Mama, Mama," said Nabil, "and then you!"
That night, tucked up in bed, Nabil yawned. "Your mother, your mother, your mother," he whispered, "then your father."
And with Mama on one side and Baba on the other, Nabil drifted off to sleep.
When a man asked who most deserved his best treatment, the Prophet ﷺ said "your mother" three times, and then "your father". Imam an-Nawawi records the scholars' explanation: the mother comes first because of all she goes through in carrying, birthing, feeding and raising her child. Even the smallest hands can carry, tidy and hug, and every little kindness to Mum, and then to Dad, follows what the Prophet ﷺ taught.
Because every little heart deserves a real answer.
A man once asked the Prophet ﷺ who should get his very best kindness. The Prophet ﷺ said "your mother" three times, and then "your father". So be kind to your mummy, your mummy, your mummy, and then your daddy.
Your mummy looked after you even before you were born, and she looks after you every single day. Your daddy loves you and looks after you too. Being kind to them is something the Prophet ﷺ taught us, so every kind thing you do for them is a way of following him.
Tomorrow, see how many kind things you can do for Mummy, just like Nabil: carry something, tidy something, and give her a big, squeezy hug. And then find a kind thing to do for Daddy too!
“A man came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Who is more entitled to be treated with the best companionship by me?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Your mother." The man said. "Who is next?" The Prophet said, "Your mother." The man further said, "Who is next?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Your mother." The man asked for the fourth time, "Who is next?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Your father."”
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ — Sahih al-Bukhari 5971
Graded SahihRead it on sunnah.com ↗
Snuggle up and wonder together. There are no wrong answers.