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Parents in Islam
Islam teaches about every aspect of life. Respecting parents is an issue
which has a currency in the present world particularly when our grown ups are
interacting a lot with the western culture.
In Islam, the first principle of Faith is the belief in the Unity of Allah and
His worship. Then comes goodness to parents. This suggests that Allah loves us
and cares for us on an infinitely higher plane and can only be understood by
our ideal of parental love, which is purely unselfish. Our first duty among
our fellow creatures is to our father and mother whose love leads us to the
conception of Divine Love.1
The Holy Qur’an guided us and clearly indicated the position of parents in
Islam and how one should behave with his/her parents. Some of the verses are
quoted below:
“Thy Lord hath decreed that ye worship none but Him, and that ye be kind to
parents. Whether one or both of them attain old age in thy life, say not to
them a word of contempt, nor repel them, but address them in terms of honor.
(S17, V23)
Respecting parents is the Islamic way of life. The importance of serving
parents is clear from the following traditions of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
1.Abdullah bin Mas’ud ® relates: “I submitted to the Holy Prophet (pbuh)
which deed will win the highest favor of Allah?” The Prophet (pbuh) said: “The
prayer that is offered at the appointed hour.” I submitted again: “Next to
this which other deed will win the greatest favor of Allah?” The Prophet (pbuh)
affirmed: “Good conduct towards father and mother.” I again submitted: “And
next to this?” The Prophet (pbuh) observed: “Jihad (fighting in the way of
Allah).” (Bukhari)
2.Abu Umama ® relates: “A man inquired from the Holy Prophet (pbuh): “ O
Prophet of Allah (pbuh)! What are the rights of parents over their offspring?”
The Holy Prophet (pbuh) affirmed: “Your entry into Paradise or Hell depends on
your good or bad conduct towards your parents.” (Ibn Majah)
3. The Prophet of Allah (pbuh) said: “ Let that man be disgraced, and
disgraced again and let him be disgraced even more.” The people inquired: O
Prophet of Allah (pbuh)! Who is that man?” The Prophet (pbuh) affirmed “ I
refer to the man who finds his parents old in age – both of them or one of
them – and yet did not earn entitlement to Paradise by rendering good service
to them.” (Muslim)[1]
The Holy Qur’an enjoins upon the pious to say the follow prayer:
“O our Allah! Grant forgiveness to me and my parents and pardon all the
faithful on the day of Reckoning.”[2]
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[1] Subjects in the Holy Qur’an, Vol. III
[2] Etiquette of life in Islam
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