Who to Rescue First: Mother or Wife?

26-6-2002 | IslamWeb

Question:

Suppose I am going in a boat with my wife and mother and the boat sank. I can rescue only one person, whom should I rescue? My wife or my mother?

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

We ask Allah that this never happens to you or any other Muslim. But, in case it happens, you should rescue your mother as she deserves dutifulness and kindness more than anybody else. Allah Says (what means): {And We have enjoined on man to be dutiful and kind to his parents…} [Quran 46: 15]

The Prophet was asked who is more deserving of my kindness? He said: “Your mother, your father, your sister, your brother and then the nearest one and so on.” [Al-Haakim and Al-Albaani who classified it as a Hasan Hadeeth]

Allah knows best.