Is the following incident authentic?
A person once asked Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn Abbas (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) that he was in love with a girl but his proposal was rejected. When somebody else’s proposal was accepted, he became angry and killed the girl. He asked whether there was any way he would be forgiven. ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) asked him if his mother was alive. He replied in the negative. ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) then told him: Make sincere tawbah. When he left the ‘Ulama in the majlis asked ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) why he had asked the youngster regarding his mother. Abdullah ibn Abbas (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) replied that he had not found any higher position than the mother’s position. He had hope if he served his mother he would be forgiven.
Answer
Imam Bukhari (rahimahullah) has recorded the following narration in his Al Adabul Mufrad with a reliable chain:
‘Ata ibn Yasar (rahimahullah) reports that a man once came to Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) and said, “I proposed to a woman and she refused to marry me. Another man proposed to her and she agreed to marry him. I became jealous so I killed her, is there any way for me to repent?’ Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas asked him if his mother was alive. When he replied in the negative, ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) said to him, ‘Repent to Allah sincerely and try to draw near him as much as possible [by obeying him].
‘Ata says, ‘I asked Ibn ‘Abbas (radiyallahu ‘anhuma), why did you ask him if his mother is alive?’. He replied, ‘I do not know of any action [which will lead you closer to Allah] than being dutiful to your mother”.
(Al Adabul Mufrad, Hadith: 4)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar