The Story of Alqamah

At the time of
the Prophet
(peace be
upon him),
there was a
young man
named
Alqamah. He
was very
diligent in
obeying Allah
by engaging in
prayer and fasting and spending
in charity. Then he fell ill and his
illness became serious. His wife
went to the Prophet and said,
"My husband, Alqamah, is on his
deathbed. I therefore came to
tell you, Messenger of Allah,
about his condition." The
Prophet (then) sent for Ammar
or Suhaib and Bilal, and told
them to go to him (Alqamah)
and have him repeat the
Shahadah. Thereupon they went
to him and found him in the
agony of death. They asked him
to say, "La illaha illa Allah," but
his tongue was unable to
pronounce it. At that, they came
and told the Messenger of Allah
that he was unable to repeat the
Shahadah.
The Prophet asked, "Is either of
his parents alive?" He was told,
"Messenger of Allah, his mother
is, but she is very old." The
Prophet sent her a message that
if it was convenient for her (that
is, is she was able to go out),
she should come to him;
otherwise she should stay in her
house and the Prophet would
come to her.
The Prophet's messenger came
to her and informed her of the
Prophet's message. She said,
"May my life be a ransom for
him, it is my pleasure to go to
him!" She then stood up,
leaning on her walking stick,
and came to the Prophet and
greeted him. The Prophet
returned her greeting and said
to her, "Umm Alqamah, tell me
the truth, for otherwise Allah
Most High will reveal the truth
to me! What is the situation
concerning your son, Alqamah?"
She replied, "Messenger of Allah,
he prays much, fasts a great
deal, and spends a great amount
in charity." The Prophet said,
"And what about yourself?" She
said, "Messenger of Allah, I am
angry with him." He said,
"Why?" She replied, "Messenger
of Allah, he has preferred his
wife to me and has disobeyed
me." Then Allah's Messenger
said, "Umm Alqamah, surely
your anger has prevented
Alqamah's tongue from
pronouncing the Shahadah."
He then turned to Bilal and said,
"Bilal, go out and collect a
quantity of firewood." She said,
"Messenger of Allah, what do
you plan to do?" He replied, "I
will burn him in front of your
eyes." She said, "Messenger of
Allah, he is my son! My heart
cannot bear your burning him in
front of me!" He said, "Umm
Alqamah, Allah's punishment is
more severe and more lasting!
Therefore, if you want Allah to
forgive him, be reconciled to
him. By the One in Whose Hand
is my soul, the prayer, fasting,
and spending in charity (which
he has done) are of no benefit
to Alqamah as long as you are
angry with him! Thereupon she
said, "Messenger of Allah, I call
upon Allah Most High and His
angels and the Muslims who are
present to be my witnesses that
I am pleased with my son
Alqamah." Allah's Messenger
said, "Bilal, go to him and see
whether he is now able to say,
"La illaha illa Allah" or not. It
may be that Umm Alqamah is
saying something for my sake
which is not in her heart."
Thereupon Bilal went, and while
entering the door he heard
Alqamah saying, "La illaha illa
Allah." (Concerning this), Bilal
remarked, "It is surely true that
while Alqamah's mother was
angry with him his tongue was
tied, and now that she is
pleased with him his tongue is
freed." Alqamah died the same
day. The Prophet came to him
and gave the order for his
washing and shrouding, and
then prayed the funeral prayer
for him and buried him. He then
stood by the side of his grave
and said, "You company of
Muhajireen and Helpers, if
anyone favors his wife over his
mother, Allah and His angels and
all the people curse him! Allah
does not accept his spending (in
charity) and his uprightness
unless he repents toward Allah,
the Glorious and Majestic, and
reconciles with her and attains
her pleasure, because Allah's
pleasure consists in her pleasure
and Allah's anger consists in her
anger."
Source: Reported in Tabarani
and Ahmed.
We must always be respectful
and obedient to our parents.
However, we are not to obey
them if they order us to disobey
Allah and His Prophet. Other
than this, they deserve our
utmost attention and respect.