An Islamic Treasury of Virtues
9. Manners In Society
~ 207 ~
PUTTING ONE’S PARENTS BEFORE ONESELF
Abu Hurayrah, a man who used to look after his
mother with great devotion, went one day, early on
in the Madinan period, to the mosque of the
Prophet. There he found a number of other people,
who asked him why he had come there. “Hunger,”
he replied. They told him that they had come there
too for that very reason. Then they all arose and
went to see the Prophet. “What has brought you
here?” asked the Prophet. When they told him, he
sent for a dish full of dates, from which he gave
them two dates each. “Eat them, and drink some
water afterwards,” he told them. “That’s enough for
you for today.” When Abu Hurayrah ate one date
and put the other in his pocket, the Prophet wanted
to know why he had done so. “It’s for my mother,”
replied Abu Hurayrah. “Eat it,” said the Prophet.
“You can have another two for your mother.”
HOW MUSLIMS BRING CALAMITY UPON
THEMSELVES
One night, the Prophet went out, and, entering an
Ansari settlement called Banu Muawiyah, he
offered two rakats in the mosque there and
