JOIN US Caring for one’s parents is considered an honour and blessing, and an opportunity for great spiritual growth. God asks that we not only pray for our parents, but act with limitless compassion, remembering that when we were helpless children they preferred paying more attention to us than to themselves.
Mothers are particularly honoured: the Prophet taught that ‘Paradise lies at the feet of mothers.’ Our parents as a team provided for all our needs: physical, educational, psychological, and in many instances, religious, moral, and spiritual. Our indebtedness to our parents is so immense that it is not possible to repay it fully. In lieu of this, it becomes obligatory for us to show the utmost kindness and obedience to them.
In Islam, serving one’s parents is a duty second only to prayer. It is considered despicable to express any irritation when, through no fault of their own, the old become difficult. The Qur’anic commandments, as well as the sayings of Prophet Muhammad guide us in this matter. The parent-child code of behaviour in Islam is unique. References to parents have been made at least 15 times in the Holy Qur’an A few quoted here:
“And We have enjoined on man (to be good) to his parents. In travail upon travail did his mother bear him, and in years twain was his weaning. Show gratitude to Me and to thy parents; to Me is thy final goal.” (Chapter 31: verse14)
“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 honour. And out of kindness, lower to them the wing of humility, and say, “my Lord! bestow on them Thy Mercy, even as they cherished me in childhood.” (17: 23, 24)
“We have enjoined on man kindness to his parents; in pain did his mother bear him, and in pain did she give him birth…” (46:15)
From the sayings of the Prophet:
“He who wishes to enter Paradise through its best door must please his parents.”
“Let him be humbled into dust; let him be humbled into dust. It was said: Allah’s Messenger, who is he? He said: He who sees either of his parents during their old age or he sees both of them, but he does not enter Paradise.”