حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الصَّبَّاحِ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، عَنْ عَطَاءٍ، عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ أَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ، سَمِعَ النَّبِيَّ صَلّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: الْوَالِدُ أَوْسَطُ أَبْوَابِ الْجَنَّةِ، فَأَضِعْ ذَلِكَ الْبَابَ أَوِ احْفَظْهُ

Book [33]: Chapters on etiquette 
Chapter [1]: Honoring one’s parents

Ḥadīth [3663]: It is narrated on the authority of Abī Dardā’ (may Allāh be pleased with him) that he heard the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) say: “The father is the middle door of Paradise (i.e., the best way to Paradise), so it is up to you whether you take advantage of it or not.”

a) ‘Or not’ here means if one displeases his parent, the door of Paradise will not be opened for him, and thus he will lose at the door of Paradise.
b) ‘Whether you take advantage’ means if one pleases his father, the door of Paradise will surely be opened for him.
c) If a parent orders something which displeases Allah then he should not be obeyed. Despite this he should be respected and served.

• Reference: [3663 (5/13-14), Sunan ibn Mājah, Dārussalām (Eng)]

• Sunan ibn Mājah (2089)
• Talkhīṣ al-Jāmi’ al-Kāmil (6554 (2/745); & 14030 (5/691-692))

Grade:

• Ṣaḥīḥ by Shaykh al-Albānī (Sunan ibn Mājah (3663 (1/608)))
• Ṣaḥīḥ by Majlis ‘Ilmi Dar ad-Da’wah, New Delhi (Sunan ibn Mājah (3663 (5/64)))
• Ḥasan by Ḥāfiẓ Zubayr ‘Alī Za’ī (Sunan ibn Mājah (3663 (1/663-664)))
• Ṣaḥīḥ by Shaykh Dr. Ḍiyā’-ur-Raḥmān al-‘Aẓamī (Talkhīṣ al-Jāmi’ al-Kāmil)
• Isnād Ṣaḥīḥ by Shaykh Shu’ayb al-Arna’ūṭ (Sunan ibn Mājah (3663 (4/632)))