Parents Rights in Islam

3. 1 - The Greatest Obligatory Act
The Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) has said: “Goodness towards (one’s)
parents is the greatest obligatory act.”
Mizanul Hikmah, Volume 10, Page 709
2 - The Best of Deeds
Imam as-Sadiq (peace be upon him) has said: “The best deeds are: Salat in its stipulated
hour, goodness towards parents and Jihad in the way of Allah.”
Biharul Anwar, Volume 74, Page 85

4. Allah (Glory and Greatness be to Him) says in Hadith al-Qudsi: I swear by My Glory
and power that if a (child who is) disobedient to his parents comes to me with all the
good deeds of all the prophets, I will not accept them from him.
Although our existence is from Allah (Glory and Greatness
be to Him), it is our parents who are the means of giving
us life. We are an offshoot of their existence and a fruit of
the garden of their unparalleled affection, training, love
and sentiments. When the forgetful human being grows
up to become big and strong and comes to acquire a
certain credibility (in life), he forgets the period wherein
he was weak and lacking in strength. He disregards the
exhaustive efforts of his parents; what ingratitude could be
worse than this?

5. Humanity and ethics demand that we safeguard these
two jewels (our mother and father) - by exhibiting
goodness towards them while they are alive, and by
means of charity and goodly remembrance after their
death.
Our lives are an extension of our parent's lives while our
children's lives are a continuation of ours. Our good
behaviour towards our parents and our exhibition of
kindness towards them shall cause our children to grow
up as grateful and righteous individuals. They shall
behave with us just as we have behaved with our own
parents.

6. Just as it is beyond our means to fulfil the rights of
Allah (Glory and Greatness be to Him) and to
thank Him for all His bounties in their entirety,
similarly we can never thank our parents
sufficiently for their efforts. The only thing that
we can do is to acknowledge our inability and
submit ourselves, in humility and reverence,
before these two angels. However, comprehension
of their status in the eyes of Allah (Glory and
Greatness be to Him) paves the way to fulfil some
of their numerous rights.

7. Why so much emphasis on the rights of Parents? (Status of Parents in Islam,
Rights of Parents)
Here is a point to ponder over: We do not find in Noble Qur'an and Hadith so much
emphasis on looking after the children as is the case with the rights of the parents. Why?
The Sharia (Islamic law) has put a new challenge to those who think. Find out how logical
this attitude is. The fact is that the parent's heart is the fountain-head of the love for the
child; this affection becomes the life-blood of the parents. Noble Qur'an has alluded to this
instinctive parental love in several places.
On the other hand, children especially when they are no longer in need of parental care, do
not feel so much love for the parents. We are not speaking about respect. Here the talk is
about instinctive love; and experience is a reliable witness to confirm this observation.
It is a known fact that sign-posts are not needed on straight highways; but at a cross-road
where several routes branch out, one cannot expect to get onto the right path without a
guide or a sign-post.
t is for this reason that Islam does not emphasize in so many words those aspects of life
which are taken care of by human nature itself. It is where the hold of natural instinct is
loosened that Islam extends its helping hand and leads man on the right path by telling
him what he is expected to do.
It was for this reason that Islam did not explain the rights of children so forcefully; but full
emphasis was given to the rights of the parents.

8. Allah Ta’ala says in the Holy Quran, “And We have enjoined on man to be good to
his parents, in travail upon travail did his mother bear him, and for two years was
his weaning, so show gratitude to Me and to your parents and to me is your
return.”
(Quran, 31:14)
Allah Ta’ala says in the Holy Quran, “And remember when we took a covenant
from the Children of Israel that you Worship none but Allah and you treat with
kindness your parents.”
(Quran, 2:83)
Abdullah Bin Umar Radiyallahu ‘anhu narrates that, I asked the
Prophet Sallallohu alaihi wasallam, “Which deed is the dearest to
Allah?” He replied, “To offer the prayers at their fixed times.” I asked,
“What is next?” He replied, “To be good and dutiful to your parents.”
I again asked, “What is the next?” He replied, “To strive in the path
of Allah.”
(Bukhari)

9. Rasulullah Sallallohu alaihi wasallam was asked about the
major sins, Rasulullah Sallallohu alaihi wasallam said,
they are:-
* To join others in worship with Allah, (to commit shirk)
* To be undutiful to one’s parents, (disobedience to
parents)
* To kill a person un justly (Muslim or Non-Muslim which
Allah has forbidden to kill)
* And to give a false witness.”
(Bukhari)
Rasulullah (pbuh) was asked as to what rights parents can
demand from their children.” Rasulullah Sallallohu alaihi
wasallam replied that, “They are your Paradise and your
Hell.”
(Tirmidhi)

10. Once while the Sahabah Radhiallohu ‘anhum were
with the Prophet Sallallohu alaihi wasallam, a man
from the Banu Salmah came to Him and said: Oh
Allahs Messenger Sallallohu alaihi wasallam, is
there any kindness left that I can do to my parents
after their death? Rasulullah Sallallohu alaihi
wasallam replied: Yes, you can invoke blessings on
them, ask forgiveness for them, carry out their final
instructions after their death, join ties of
relationship which are dependent on them,
and honour their friends.
(Abu Dawood)

11. 1- Kindness to Parents and Paradise
Imam ar-Ridha (peace be upon him) relates that the Noble Prophet (peace be
upon him and his family) has said: “Be good and kind to your parents so that
your recompense is paradise, and if you have been disowned by them, your
abode shall be the fire (of Hell).”
Al-Kafi, Volume 2, pg.348
2.Worship in Looking
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) has said: “The look of a child
towards his parents out of love for them is an act of worship.”
Biharul Anwar, Volume 74, Page 80

13. Prophet Muhammad SAW said:
One who pleases his parents has
verily pleased Allaah, and one who
has angered his parents have verily
angered Allaah
Submitted by
Hashmatullah Meyakhel