Prophet Muhammad(PBUH)received the elderly in a respect- ful manner

Under category: How He treated them?

A noteworthy story in this regard is that of the old 

lady who was one of the friends of Khadeejah (the Prophet’s first wife) who came to the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and he gave her a warm wel- come and a respectful reception. When ‘Aa’ishah (another of his wives) asked him about this, saying: ‘O Messenger of Allah, why were you so friendly and kind with this old lady?’ He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, replied: “O ‘Aa’ishah, she used to visit us during the lifetime of Khadeejah and being kind to old friends is a sign of one’s good faith.”1

He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, received her in a respectful and pleas- ant manner and asked about her condition and how she was doing. The way he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, dealt with this old lady reflects his good and noble manners and the kind treatment he accorded elders.

He(PBUH) used to joke with them:

Al-Hasan (a Companion) narrated:

“An old woman came to the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, supplicate that Allah admits me into Jannah (Paradise).’ To which he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, replied: “O Umm so and so [the mother of so and so], Paradise will not have old people in it.” The old lady started to cry and walk away, so the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said to his Companions: “Tell her that she will not enter it while she is old

because Allah Says (what means):

, «Indeed, We have produced them [i.e. the women of Paradise] in a [new] creation. And made them virgins. Devoted [to their husbands] and of equal age.»

[Quran: 56:35-37]””2


المراجع

  1. Reported by Al-Haakim Nasaa’i (17/1).
  2. Reported by At-Tirmithi in his book Ash-Shamaa’il (page 199).