Being dutiful and kind to our parents is a religious obligation upon every Muslim. Hence Allah (swa) had revealed several verses in Quran relating this matter.
FROM QURAN
And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout at them but address them in terms of honour.
( سورة الإسراء , Al-Isra, Chapter #17, Verse #23)
And We have enjoined on man to be good and dutiful to his parents; but if they strive to make you join with Me (in worship) anything (as a partner) of which you have no knowledge, then obey them not. Unto Me is your return and I shall tell you what you used to do.
( سورة العنكبوت , Al-Ankaboot, Chapter #29, Verse #8)
And We have enjoined on man to be dutiful and kind to his parents. His mother bears him with hardship. And she brings him forth with hardship, and the bearing of him, and the weaning of him is thirty months, till when he attains full strength and reaches forty years, he says: "My Lord! Grant me the power and ability that I may be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents, and that I may do righteous good deeds, such as please You, and make my offspring good. Truly, I have turned to You in repentance, and truly, I am one of the Muslims (submitting to Your Will)."
( سورة الأحقاف , Al-Ahqaf, Chapter #46, Verse #15)
If you look at these verses you will see that after worshiping Allah (swa) the next thing Allah (swa) commands us is to be dutiful and good to our Parents. This shows us that disobeying our parents and hurting them is the second biggest sin after disobeying Allah (swa) and His Messenger Muhammad (saw).
FROM SUNNAH
Bahz ibn Hakim's grandfather said, "I asked, 'Messenger of Allah, to whom should I be dutiful?' 'Your mother,' he replied. I asked, 'Then whom?' 'Your mother,' he replied. I asked, 'Then whom?' 'Your mother,' he replied. I asked, 'Then to whom should I be dutiful?' 'Your father,' he replied, 'and then the next closest relative and then the next.'"
Abu Bakra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Shall I tell you which is the worst of the major wrong actions?" "Yes, Messenger of Allah," they replied. He said, "Associating something else with Allah and disobeying parents." he had been reclining, but then he said up and said, "And false witness." Abu Bakr said, "He continued to repeat it until I said, 'Is he never going to stop?'"
Abdullah ibn 'Amr said, "A man came to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and said, 'I have come to make you a pledge that will do hijra although I have left my parents in tears." The Prophet said, 'Go back to them and make them laugh as you made them cry.'"
SHORT STORIES
Being unkind to your parents is the only sin that you will face its consequences in this world and the hereafter. There are many true stories which is a witness to this.
There once was a son who spent his entire youth in serving his old Father. As time passed this youth became tired of taking care of his father and decided to kill him finally. One night he lifted his father and took him on top of a Mountain to throw him of the cliff. The Father in a sad voice said to the son" Son I know that you are trying to kill me by throwing me off the cliff,but don't throw me off this Mountain ! Throw me off that Mountain ! That is the Mountain I threw off your Grandfather !
In another story a man once traveling saw in a town an old women being chased by her children. The children were scolding her with vulgar language and throwing sand at her. Behind them there was another man shouting out " Don't stop them ! don't stop them ! I saw with my own eyes this old lady doing the same to her old Mother !
A Family consisting of five members gathered to dine. The family consist of a Grandfather ( from Fathers side), Father, Mother and two Boys.The Grandfather being very old and due to his weakness dropped a plate and broke it. The Son of this old man (the Father of two Boys) scolded his Father angrily in front of the boys and humiliated his Father.The next day the Son of this old man brought a big coconut shell instead of a plate for the old man to dine. The Boys puzzled asked their Father " Why is Grandpa dinning on a Coconut shell". The Father of the Boys said "How can we buy plates everyday for your Grandfather, you have seen what he did yesterday". The boys said "Alright ! Once Grandpa passed away we will keep the coconut shell to feed you when you grow old !". These words spoken by the Boys penetrated the heart of their Father which made him realize that old age will set upon himself too. From that day onwards he stopped treating his Father like that.
These stories tells us that we will face the consequences of treating our parents unjustly in this world. Also the reality is that we might be young and strong now but one day our body will be covered with wrinkles and our head will be covered with grey hair. That day your children will be left to take care of you. If you were kind to your Parents and Children they will take good care of you. If you were unkind to them you will despair in both worlds.
NOW
The Mother and Father who worked so hard to raise you, who nourished you, who clothed you, who fed you, who educated you and who gave you shelter are thrown out of their houses once they reach old age. In the West the children abandon their Parents once they grow up and get employed because the state have arranged retirement scheme's and all shorts of benefits which are given to old people. Due to this the children most of the time doesn't have to financially support them or be around to help them. So the children leave and seek their dreams abandoning their Parents. But will these retirement schemes and benefits replace the touching care and love of a Son or a Daughter? Or do you think you don't need love and care of your children ? Because of this unethical behaviors the Western countries mark and celebrate days like "Mother's day" and "Father's day" just to please these old abandoned Parents. But even then some children just send a card to greet them on this occasion. What they don't realize is that the same fate awaits them. Even we have seen and heard stories of Parents being taken to old age homes or nursing homes because they don't have time to take care of their Parents. These children will face the same fate and they will face the harsh punishments in the hell fire.
The children are so busy deluded in the worldly desires they forget the commands of Allah (swa) and the Parents who made them who they are in this world. Another very sad thing happening is that after our Parents die most of us think that our obligations to our Parents are over. But reality is that they need our supplications to give them steadfastness in the grave. Apart from this its a pity that we don't find time to visit the graves of our Parents and that we appoint foreigners to keep their graves clean. Also it is common among us that we raise our voice and speak rudely to our Parents. Arguing our Parents and raising our voice is a very serious sin we commit and we should repent to all of these unlawful acts we commit. For once ask your self if you would like your children to do the same thing to you when you grow old and need their care !
BENEFITS OF KINDNESS TO PARENTS
Moosa (as) once made dua to Allah (swa) to show Moosa (as) the closest companion who will accompany him in the Paradise. Allah (swa) revealed Moosa (as) the whereabouts of this companion. So Moosa (as) traveled and found the house of this person and went there and called out the Salaam to enter the house of this companion. This companion didn't reply Moosa (as) and went on serving two pigs he had with him. One of these pig was a female and the other was a male. He showered and fed both of the Pigs and then replied the Salaam to Moosa (as). Because of this rude behavior Moosa (as) was puzzled and thought how can such rude person who doesn't reply the Salaam and who doesn't take care of travelers be the closest companion in Paradise of him. So to clear everything Moosa (as) asked about the actions of the companion. The companion told Moosa (as) that the two Pigs are his Parents. Allah (swa) cursed them due to their transgression. But even then he is obliged to pay the rights of their Parents,so he is full filling his rights upon his parents. Then only Moosa (as ) realized the virtue of this companion. So brothers and sisters strive hard to be dutiful to your Parents.
LAST WORDS
Our Parents are our path to eternal bliss. If our Parents are alive and living with us it is a great opportunity for us to attain the love of Allah (swa) by being kind and dutiful to them. Unlike the Western world for us Muslim's everyday is a Mother's day and a Father's day. We are obliged to treat them well, greet them well, take care of them well and pray for them everyday.
May Allah (swa) bless our Parents who labored their whole life to raise us. May Allah (swa) save our Parents eyes from hell fire which were kept open on long nights without sleep to take care of us.May Allah (swa) save our Parents hands from hell fire which worked tirelessly serving us. May Allah (swa) save our Parents faces from hell fire which smiled and cheered us, May Allah (swa) save our parents feet from hell fire which walked miles to get us what we needed and May Allah (swa) save our Parents bodies from hell fire which sheltered us from harm and cuddled us with warmth.
DEDICATED TO MY MOM AND DAD
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