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Prophet Muhammad(PBUH)gave them preference in many matters
There were many examples that highlight this in the life of the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and the following are some of them:
• Giving them preference tothem speak:
Sahl ibn Abu Hathmah (a Companion) and Raafi’ ibn Khadeej (a Companion) narrated:
“’(Two Companions) ‘Abdullaah ibn Sahl ibn Zayd and Mu- hayyisah ibn Mas’ood ibn Zayd went out and as they reached Khay- bar they were separated. Then Muhayyisah found ‘Abdullaah ibn Sahl had been killed. He buried him, and then came to the Messen- ger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. They were Huwayyisah ibn Mas’ood and ‘Abdur-Rahmaan ibn Sahl, and he (the latter one) was the youngest of the people (those three who had come to seek an interview with the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sal-lam) began to talk before his Companions (had spoken). Thereupon the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “The eldest one [eldest in regard to age] should speak.” So he kept quiet, and his companions (Muhayyisah and Huwayyisah) began to speak, and he (‘Abdur-Rahmaan) spoke along with them and they narrated to the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, the murder of ‘Abdullaah Ibn Sahl.”1
• Giving them preference in offering drink:
Ibn ‘Abbaas (a Companion) narrated:
“The Messenger of Allah, sallal- laahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, used to say (when giving water): “Start with an elder” or “Start with old people”. 2
• Giving them preference to leading the prayer:
Abu Mas`ood Al-Ansaari (a Companion) narrated:
“The Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “A man who is well versed in the Book of Allah and can recite it better, should lead the prayer; if [all those present] are equal in this respect, then the man who is senior most in respect of emigration, if they are equal in that respect too, then the oldest of them should lead the prayer.””3
• Giving them preference to his greeting with Salaam:
Abu Hurayrah (a Companion) narrated:
“ The Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “The young should greet the el- derly; a pedestrian should greet one who is sitting; and a small group should greet a large group [of people].””4
• Giving preference to elders is upon the condition that one
These narrations show that the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, gave preference to elders over young people owing to their status and rights in Islam, and because they are usually the ones with more experience and knowledge than others who are younger in age. The Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, gave preference to elders, which tells us that we should honor and not humiliate them. When a youngster is given preference over an elder, the latter would be hurt, because it is known to them (as well as to all Muslims) that the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, gave preference to elders.
المراجع
- Reported by Al-Bukhaari (3173) and Muslim (1669).
- Reported by Abu Ya’la (2425).
- Reported by Muslim (673).
- Reported by Al-Bukhaari (6231) and Muslim(2160).
