Obligations of Children towards their Parents

There is a reciprocity of rights and duties in Islam.  While parents are enjoined to be mindful of their children for their overall development, children are also exhorted to be obedient and kind to their parents.

Both parents and children have corresponding duties towards each other along with their rights. There are several Qur'anic verses and Prophetic traditions which throw abundance of light on the etiquette of children towards their parents.  The Qur'an says:

 “Thy Lord hath decreed that ye worship none save Him and (that ye show) kindness to parents.”

Islam thus ordained children to be kind and grateful to his parents. Good   conduct towards parents is even regarded as a key to paradise.  The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:

 “Your entry into Paradise or Hell depends on your good or bad conduct towards your parents.”

Another   tradition    of   the   Prophet    (Peace be upon him) also highlights   the necessity of fair treatment to parents by children:

“Let that man be disgraced and disgraced again and let him be disgraced even more.”  The people Enquired:  "O Prophet of God (Peace be upon him) who is that man?” The Prophet affirmed: “It refer to the man who  finds  his  parents  old   in age - both of them or one of them - and  yet  did  not  earn  entitlement  to  Paradise by rendering  good service to them.”

It seems  also pertinent to point out here that although children are exhorted   to   be obedient and  kind  to  both  parents,   a  greater emphasis   is   given  for  more  better  treatment   and  devotion  to mother.  This is obviously because   of her greater sacrifices and sufferings for children.  The Qur'an says:

 “And We have commanded unto man kindness towards parents His mother beareth him with suffering bringing forth with suffering, bearing him and weaning of him in thirty months.”

This is also illustrated through various Prophetic traditions:

 “I enjoin man about his mother.

I enjoin man about his mother.

I enjoin man about his mother.

I enjoin man about his father.”

Thus   motherhood  in  Islam   is   not  discarded  as  a  burden,  a stumbling  block for woman's development,  a source of oppression and  suppression.   It is looked upon with respect and honor and is considered   as a blessing from Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) to man. Motherly affection and care deems indispensable for the proper upbringing of children along with father's affection and concern. Motherhood is regarded as an essential institution for human civilization.

As discussed above, Islam attaches great importance to the mutual love and concern for each other in the family.  A

s father is asked to  pray to Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) to bring in his wife and children comfort for his  eyes,  children  are  exhorted  to  show  glances  of  love  and devotion to parents.  The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:

"The  pious  offspring  who castes a single look of affection at his parents  receives  a  reward  from  God  equal  to   the reward of an accepted  Hajj."

`The people submitted:  "O Prophet of Allah (peace be upon you), if someone casts a hundred such glances of love and affection at his parents, what then?" The Prophet replied:

“Yes, indeed,  even  if  one  does  so  a  hundred time a day, he will get a hundred  fold  reward. God is far greater than you imagine and is completely free from petty narrow mindedness.”

Children are also exhorted to pray for their parents:

“O, our Lord!  Grant forgiveness to my parents and me and pardon all the faithful on the Day of Reckoning.”