Relations with Parents

Islam highly recommends kindness to parents. This command is mentioned eight times in the Qur’an. In one of the verses, Allah said to Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him):

 “And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him, and that you be dutiful to your parents. If one or both of them become old, do not say to them a word of disrespect nor shout at them, but address them in terms of honour. And be highly submissive out of mercy, and pray for them saying: My Lord, bestow on them your mercy as they brought me up when I was a child.” (Qur’an, Surah Al-Isra’, 17: 23-24)

A man asked Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him): “Whom should I honour most?”

The Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him) replied: “Your mother.”

Then the man questioned: “And who comes next?”

The Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him) answered: “Your mother.”

Then the man inquired again: “And who comes next?”

The Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him) responded: “Your mother.”

Then the man queried again: “And who comes next?”

The Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him) replied: “Your father.” (Reported by Bukhari and Muslim)