Righteousness Toward Parents Is a Deed Loved by Allah

ʿAbdullāh reported:
I asked the Prophet ﷺ: “Which deed is most beloved to Allah?”
He said: “Prayer at its proper time.”
I asked: “Then which?”
He said: “Then honoring one’s parents.”
I asked: “Then which?”
He said: “Jihad in the cause of Allah.”
He said: “He told me these, and if I had asked for more, he would have added (more).”

Those Most Deserving of Kindness

Abu Hurayrah reported:
A man came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said:
“O Messenger of Allah, who is most deserving of my good companionship?”
He replied: “Your mother.”
The man asked: “Then who?”
He replied: “Your mother.”
He asked again: “Then who?”
He replied: “Your mother.”
He asked: “Then who?”
He replied: “Then your father.”

Cursing One’s Parents Is Among the Major Sins

ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAmr reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Among the greatest of major sins is that a man curses his own parents.”
They said: “O Messenger of Allah, how can a man curse his own parents?”
He replied: “He insults another man’s father, so the man insults his father; and he insults another man’s mother, so the man insults his mother.”

From the Virtues of Dutifulness to Parents

Ibn ʿUmar reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“While three men were walking, rain forced them to seek shelter in a cave on a mountain. A rock fell from the mountain and blocked the entrance of their cave. They said to one another: ‘Look at righteous deeds you have done solely for Allah and supplicate to Allah by them; perhaps He will relieve us.’

One of them said: ‘O Allah, I had two elderly parents, and I had young children. I would herd (my animals) for them, and when I returned, I would milk and begin by serving my parents before my children. One day I was delayed and did not return until night. I found them asleep. I milked as usual and came with the vessel and stood at their heads, disliking to wake them and disliking to give my children before them, while my children cried at my feet. I remained like this until dawn. If You know that I did this seeking Your Face, then relieve for us an opening through which we may see the sky.’
So Allah relieved for them an opening through which they could see the sky.

The second said: ‘O Allah, I had a cousin whom I loved more than any man loves a woman. I sought her (for myself), but she refused unless I brought her one hundred dinars. I worked hard until I collected one hundred dinars and met her with it. When I sat between her legs, she said: “O servant of Allah, fear Allah and do not break the seal unlawfully.” So I stood up and left her. O Allah, if You know that I did this seeking Your Face, then relieve us (further).’
So Allah relieved for them another opening.

The third said: ‘O Allah, I hired a laborer for a measure of rice. When he finished his work, he asked for his wage, but when I presented it to him he left it and did not take it. I planted it and continued to cultivate from it until I gathered cows and their herder. Later he returned and said: “Fear Allah and do not wrong me; give me my right.” I said: “Go to those cows and their herder; they are your right.” He said: “Fear Allah and do not mock me.” I said: “I am not mocking you; take the cows and the herder.” So he took them and left. O Allah, if You know that I did this seeking Your Face, then relieve what remains for us.’
So Allah relieved them completely.”

Disobedience to One’s Parents Is Among the Major Sins

The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Indeed, Allah has forbidden you from disobeying your mothers, from withholding while demanding (i.e., being stingy while asking from others), and from burying daughters alive.
And He dislikes for you idle talk, excessive questioning, and wasting wealth.”

Disobedience to Parents as One of the Major Sins Before Allah

Abū Bakrah reported:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Shall I not inform you of the greatest of the major sins?”
We said: “Yes, O Messenger of Allah.”
He said: “Associating partners with Allah, and disobedience to parents.”
He had been reclining, then he sat up and said:

“And false speech and false testimony;
and false speech and false testimony.”
He continued to repeat it until I said to myself: He will not stop.”