The So-Called Story of Alqamah, Whose Mother was Displeased with Him

In the Name of Allaah…

The following fabricated story has been passed around in emails and is found on some websites that don’t seem too concerned about what is attributed to the Messenger of Allaah (may Allaah raise his rank and grant him peace):

Alqamah (radi Allahu anhu) was a very pious person. He spent his time in prayer and fasting. At the approach of death he was unable to proclaim the Kalima Shahada, in spite of repeated instruction by those present. Alqamah’s wife sent a messenger to Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) to inform him of Alqamah’s grave condition.

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) enquired whether the parents of Alqamah were alive. He was informed that Alqamah’s mother was alive. Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) asked the aged mother about Alqamah. She replied: ‘Alqamah is a very pious person. He passes his time in Salat and Saum. He performs Tahajjud, but he always disobeys me for the sake of his wife. I am, therefore, displeased with him.’

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: ‘It will be best for him if you forgive him.’ However, she refused. Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) ordered Bilal (radi Allahu anhu) to gather firewood. On hearing this order, Alqamah’s mother asked in consternation: ‘Will my child be burnt in the fire?’

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: ‘Yes! Compared to the punishment of Allah, our punishment is light. I take oath by Allah that as long as you remain displeased with him, neither his Salat nor his Sadaqah is accepted.’

The old lady said: ‘I make you and all people present witness that I have forgiven Alqamah.’ Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) addressing the gathering, said: ‘Go and see if the Kalima is on the tongue of Alqamah or not.’

After returning from Alqamah the people informed him that he was reciting the Kalima. Thus, he left this world with the Kalima on his lips. After burying Alqamah, Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: ‘The curse of Allah is on the one who causes difficulty to his mother. The curse of the angels and the curse of mankind be on him. Allah Ta’ala neither accepts his Fardh nor his Nafl Ibadat as long as he does not repent and obey his mother. He has to gain her pleasure as best as he can. Allah’s Pleasure depends on the mother’s pleasure and His Wrath is concealed in her wrath.’ [Ahmad]

This is a fabrication that was actually deleted from the Musnad of Imaam Ahmad by the author himself, since it was narrated by Faa’id ibn ‘Abdir-Rahmaan, an abandoned narrator.  So it is not correct to attribute it to Imaam Ahmad, as pointed out by Shaykh al-Albaanee in his Dha’eef at-Targheeb (2/144), and he referenced it for those who want more details about it to as-Silsilah ad-Dha’eefah (#3183), calling it dha’eef jiddan.  Other scholars listed it in their books warning against fabrications, like Ibn al-Jowzee in his al-Mowdhoo’aat.
 
it seems to be widespread on websites in both Arabic and English, those that don’t seem to care much about authenticity.  Furthermore, it is incorrect to narrate this story as a hadeeth under the pretense that it is about fadhaa’il al-a’maal (virtuous deeds), since there is a lot of meaning to the narration outside of that, and the permissibility of using such narrations just for admonishments does not include narrations that are severely weak or fabricated, as is the case here.
 
Furthermore, in the story are clear indications that it is not authentic, like the mention of a person not having his prayer or charity accepted whilst his mother is not pleased with him, or that the Messenger (sallallaahu alayhe wa sallam) was actually gathering firewood to burn him!  We seek refuge with Allaah!
 
So be warned, fear Allaah the One who puts people in the Hellfire because of lies on the Messenger (sallallaahu alayhe wa sallam), and warn those who have narrated this to you.  And Allaah knows best.
 
Written by: Moosaa Richardson
 
ST Archives: 4/13/2011

13 thoughts on “The So-Called Story of Alqamah, Whose Mother was Displeased with Him

  1. The majority of this story is found in the Urdu school books.
    It is in the Urdu school books (as part of the National Curriculum) taught in Pakistan.
    So anyone who went through the Pakistani education system will certainly know\heard this story. And Allaahu’Alam.

  2. As salaam u alikum
    in kashmir,our katheebs often mention it on pulpits.We people here are so much devoid of knowlege that we rely on these fabrications and leave the authentic ahaadeeth and athaar.May Allaah guide us

  3. Assalaamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullaah! Alhamdulillaah we in Nigeria have a strong, dedicated cycle of Sunni scholars who battle day and night to teach us not the only the Sunnah, but also the fabricated and weak reports in the Deen and how to identify and avoid them. We have since learnt about stories like these and their Weaknesses. Alhamdulillaah!
    However, we have been battling with the KHAWAARIJ in the last 5-6 years, the Sufis for decades, and now worst of all, the Shiites are gaining ground. We therefore need your Prayers and frequent talks on the Shiites or Shiah – related ‘shubuhahs’ and their clarfications. Alhamdulillaah I have been Visiting this site for almost a year now (and other Salafi Websites like […] Salafitalk, Shiah.Bs […] etc)…
    …Therefore, I always pray for you people and ask Allah subhaanahu wa Ta’aala to guide and protect you and us, and to increase us in knowledge, guidance, Ikhlaas and Wisdom to continue loving and protecting the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam.
    Baarakallaahu feekum. [comment abridged by admin]

  4. As-salaamu Alaykum ustaadh, what does curse mean? I know that magicians do curses with black magic. But what would it mean curse of Allah, curse of Angels and curse of mankind? What kind of curse is this and what is it exactly in meaning. BarakaAllahu feek.

    • Wa ‘alayk as-salaamu wa rahmatullaah. It means to invoke Allaah’s curses upon a person, which would be deprivation and distance from the Mercy of Allaah.

  5. Asalaamu alaykum Ustaadh,

    I have an unrelated question May Allaah be pleased with you. I did not find anywhere to ask this privately. My mother may Allaah be pleased with her at times loses her patience with my younger siblings when they do not do as they’re told etc. In these instances my mother utters a dua “May Allaah never make me in need of you” and “May Allaah allow me to live in a place where I will never have to see you” (I.e when she is old). I have tried to advise my mother that this dua is indeed a curse as it is asking Allaah for something bad. I believe my mother will naturally need my siblings when she is older and they will always need her in their lives and this dua seeks division and disunity. My mother firmly believes this is not a curse upon herself or my siblings and I do not know any other way to explain this to her and I do not want to argue with my mother. I pray Allaah grants my family tranquility and unity and places love and mercy in our hearts for each other. Please advise me and my mother on this ustaadh.

    • Wa ‘alaykum as-Salaamu wa rahmatullaah wa barakaatuh.

      May Allah bless her and allow her to continue seeing her family in good health and happiness in this life and the Next. As for the supplication, “May Allaah allow me to live in a place where I will never have to see you,” this is not a “curse”, but rather it is supplicating for something impermissible: the severing of family ties. This is a kind of transgression in du’aa’, and as Allah has said:

      ادْعُوا رَبَّكُمْ تَضَرُّعًا وَخُفْيَةً إِنَّهُ لا يُحِبُّ الْمُعْتَدِينَ
      “Call upon your Lord in humble submission, and in secret. Verily, He does not love those who transgress [in du’aa’].” [7:55]

      And it is reported that the Prophet (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) said:

      ما من مسلم يدعو بدعوة ليس فيها إثم، ولا قطيعة رحم، إلا أعطاه الله بها إحدى ثلاث: إما أن تعجل له دعوته، وإما أن
      يدخرها له في الآخرة، وإما أن يصرف عنه من السوء مثلها
      “There is no Muslim who supplicates with any supplication, with no [request of] sin or breaking family ties in it, except that Allah gives that to him in one of three ways: either he will be given [exactly] what he has asked for, or it will be stored up for him in the Hereafter, or some evil of its magnitude will be diverted away from him.” [Musnad Ahmad]

      So notice that supplicating for the breaking of family ties is specifically forbidden by the Prophet (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace).

      Family ties are extremely important in Islam. The Prophet (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) said:

      الرحم معلقة بالعرش تقول من وصلني وصله الله، ومن قطعني قطعه الله
      “The ties of kinship are connected to the Throne, they say: Whoever keeps me connected, Allah will connect him [to His Mercy]; whoever cuts me off, Allah will cut him off.” [Saheeh Muslim #2555]

      She must be advised to supplicate for the keeping of family ties in safety and good health, and to repent for supplicating for breaking family ties or weakening them by not seeing her family. And Allah knows best.

    • They are your blood relatives, those who share lineage with you at least back to your shared great, great, great grandfather, according to Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have Mercy on him). ARABIC SOURCE: LINK | SCREENSHOT And Allah knows best.

  6. As-Salaamu’alayk Ustaadh,

    I have been working on my relationship with my mother for a while however the relationship is still far from what I want it to be. I find it hard to please my mother as some of her expectations are difficult upon me. She wants a lot of affection and attention from me, and I love her and am happy to show her, but I am
    not always able to meet her demands or expectations or do it in the exact way she wants. In that case, how else can I make her happy? Ya’ni, can you suggest any easy things that I can consistently commit to doing for her, given that I live in another city? Things I can say to make her happier? What is the secret to having such a wonderful relationship with ones mother?

    • Wa ‘alaykum as-Salaamu wa rahmatullaah.

      May Allah bless you for your lofty concern! May Allah aid you and grant you success! Ask Allah for better service to your mother. Ask Allah to make it easy. Ask Allah for her companionship and the ability to fulfill her rights. Seek His aid and assistance constantly. Then, when this is on your tongue as a constant concern in your supplications, you will find that every opportunity that arises to better serve her, you will be ready and eager to take it, in shaa’ Allah, because the tongue leads the way! Perhaps when a chance to live in her city pops up, you will view it as one of the greatest things in this world, and you will not hesitate. Until then, stay in touch, speak to her with kindness, apologize for not being there, send gifts, travel to visit her more, spend quality time with her, and make du’aa’ for her. May Allah grant you success.

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