Allah has blessed us with numerous bounties, the greatest bounty amongst which is the bounty of the esteemed personality of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and his Ahle Bayt (a.s.). These esteemed personalities have conveyed to us Allah’s message, and thus prevented us from treading on the wrong path. After this bounty, the next important bounty is that of our parents.
Just the mention of our parents fills our hearts with immense love for them. Our parents have taken a lot of trouble to educate us with worldly and Islamic knowledge. Allah has firmly planted our love in their hearts. Parents are prepared to tolerate difficulties themselves, but are not prepared to make their children undergo any kind of suffering. They are willing to go hungry, but are not willing to see their children starve. They ensure that their children are adorned with better clothes than them. They sacrifice their sleep and comfort so that their children may live in comfort. They ensure that their children get the best worldly education, and receive religious knowledge and ethical (akhlaq) training so that they may become good humans and perfect Muslims. And the most amazing part is that despite doing all this, they never brag about this to their children.
Islam has instructed us to respond to goodness with goodness, and benevolence with benevolence. Therefore it is obligatory (wajib) that we respond to our parents’ kindness and boundless love, by respecting them and being good to them. Allah commands us in the Quran:
وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا
And (do) goodness to your parents.[1]
A person asked Imam Jafar Sadiq (a.s.): ‘What is the meaning of doing good to the parents?’
Imam (a.s.) replied, ‘When you meet them and sit next to them, then behave with them in a nice manner. Fulfill their wishes before they ask you. It should never happen that they are forced to seek their necessities from you. When they upset you, you are not permitted to displease them, rather you should pray for them. Remember, never annoy your parents and never raise your voice in their presence, and never walk ahead of them.’
Those who do good to their parents and observe their rights enjoy an exalted position near Allah. Our beloved Prophet Muhammad Mustafa (s.a.w.a.) declared, ‘Those who behave kindly with their parents will find themselves in Paradise just one degree below the ranks of Prophets (a.s.).’
Those who displease their parents earn the displeasure of Allah, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) and Imam (a.s.). Our Prophet (s.a.w.a.)
has warned, ‘One who has troubled his parents has troubled me, and one who has troubled me has troubled Allah, and such a person is accursed.’
In another place the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said, ‘One who displeases his parents will not be able to even smell the fragrance of Paradise.’
We thank Allah that He has bestowed us with loving parents, who are one of His greatest bounties. Then it is obligatory (wajib) that we serve them in the best possible manner, never displease them and always pray for them thus:
رَّبِّ ارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرًا
O my Lord! have compassion on them, as they brought me up (when I was) little.[2]
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Islamic Library: Introduction to Islam
[1] . Surah Bani Israel (17): 23
[2] . Surah Bani Israel (17): 24