Rights of Parents in Islam

[Ali Mortada]

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.

Muslim Parent Rights

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?

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 behavior 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.

Just as it is beyond our means to fulfill 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 fulfill some of their numerous rights.

Why so much emphasis on the 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.

It 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

Ahadith regarding Aaq-e-Waledain (Disobedience to parents)

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) says: "Beware! Abstain from angering the parents. The fragrance of Paradise is perceived even at a distance of a thousand years, but those who are disobedient to parents and those who cut off ties with relatives will not be able to smell it."

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) says: "One who displeases the parents, (it is as if) he has displeased Allah (Glory and Greatness be to Him). One who angers both (mother and father) his parents (it is as if) he has angered Allah (Glory and Greatness be to Him)."

Elsewhere, it is mentioned, "One who hurts his parents, hurts me and one who hurts me has hurt Allah (Glory and Greatness be to Him). And the one who hurts Allah (Glory and Greatness be to Him) is accursed."

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) has also stated: "Allah (Glory and Greatness be to Him) will not speak to three kinds of people on the day of judgement. Neither will He have mercy upon them, nor will He purify their sins. There is for them a horrible chastisement. The three types of people are the believers in destiny, the drunkards and those who disobeyed their parents."

The wretchedness of the Aaq-e-Waledain is sufficiently evident from the fact that the trustworthy Jibreel (pbuh) has cursed him and said, "One who is blessed with parents but does not fulfill their (his parent's) rights will not be forgiven (his sins) by Allah (Glory and Greatness be to Him)."

When Jibreel (pbuh) said this, The Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) uttered, 'Amen'!

Imam Jafar Sadiq (pbuh) said, "Accursed, Accursed is the one who beats his parents. Accursed is the one who distresses his parents."

Imam Jafar Sadiq (pbuh) said, "Allah (Glory and Greatness be to Him) will not accept the Namaz of the person who stares angrily at his parents. Even though they (parents) may be unjust."

May Allah (Glory and Greatness be to Him) grant us the Divine success that we may come be regarded amongst those who have been good towards their parents. "O' Allah! Make us such that we may be grateful for the efforts of our parents." "O' Allah! Make us successful in bringing forth a generation of pure-hearted, believing, grateful and righteous individuals."