The rights of parents in Islam

    All Praise is due to Allah and may Allah exalt the mention of His Prophet and render him and his household, his Companions, and those who follow their way safe from every evil, and grant them security on the Day of Resurrection.

Dear brothers and sisters:

When we listen to some words such as: love ,affection , care ,and forgiveness , we think directly  about our beloved parents ,  basically ,  there are countless rights of the parents which one has to fulfill it , not only when they are living ,  but also when they are gone from this world ,therefore: Do you know the importance of taking care of one`s parents  in Islam?

What are the rights of parents in the religion of  Islam?

Dear brothers and sisters in Islam:

 The rights of parents are the duties of children, and  Kindness to parents is one of greatest obligations and duties thereby Allah coupled it with worshiping him saying : « worship Allah and associate nothing with him , and  to parents do good , and to relatives , orphans , the needy,   the near neighbor , the neighbor father  away, the companion at your side , the traveler , and those whom your right hands posses .Indeed , Allah does not like those who are self –deluding and boastful »

 ( Quran 4:36).

The prophet was asked: which action is the best? «Performing  prayers on time » he replied: what is next? he replied: « Kindness to parents » they asked: what is next?

He replied: « fighting in the way of Allah »[1].

  Islam holds parents in high esteem with many rights should be devoted to them:

First of all, the right to be respected and kind to them Allah, the Most High, says: «your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him, and that you be kind to parents. whether one or both  of  them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of contempt(disrespect), nor repel them but address them in terms  of  honor. And, out  of  kindness, lower to them the wing of  humility, and say: "My Lord! Bestow on them Mercy even as they cherished me in childhood.»(Al-lsra17/ 23-24)

it is our opportunity to treat our parents  kindly, before they die, so hurry up to rescue yourself  the hellfire.

Narrated Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him): A man came to Allah’s Apostle and said: « 0 Allah’s Apostle !  who is more entitled to be treated with the best companionship (Service) by me? » The prophet said: Your mother. The man said. who is next?

The Prophet said: Your mother. The man further said:  who is next?"

The Prophet said: Your mother. The man asked for the fourth time: who is next? The Prophet said: Your father[2].

the mother deserves much concern according to previous hadith  when the prophet used to emphasize three times on  mother .

Allah’s Messenger  assigned the mother with a three-fold portion of the right of companionship. The father, in comparison, receives only one share. This is due to the fact that mothers suffer more hardships during pregnancy and during the delivery and care of their children[3] . Allah says in the Glorious Qur'an:

(And we have enjoined on man kindness to his parents: in pain did his mother bear him, and in pain did she give him birth.)  (46:15)

Secondly, the right to be obedient to parents , look at this beautiful example:  "A man came and sought permission for Jihad (in the way o f Allah).

The prophet (peace be upon him ) asked him: Are your parents living? The man said: yes, Sir. He said: then carry on Jihad in service to your parents as this is as good as Jihad[4].

As a matter of fact, Disobedience to parents is one of the  Major Sins and it is  the gravest one according to prophetic hadith  Narrated Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him): Allah’s Apostle (peace be upon him) said:  Shall I inform you of the biggest of the great sins? They said: Yes, O Allah’s Apostle ! He said: «To join partners in worship with Allah, and to be undutiful to one’s parents. »[5]

thirdly, Praying for Them is one the rights of parents.

As Muslims, we have a compact faith in Allah`s help as the ultimate source of assistance, and when parents get older, they start to carry different kinds of diseases, pains and mental worries, so it is our responsibility to ask The Most Merciful to give them strength and health to cope with such troubles .Narrated by Abu Hurrairah –May Allah be pleased with him- on behalf of  the prophet-peace be upon him- said: “When a man (or a woman) dies, all his/her good deeds come to an end, except three:  Ongoing charity done by the deceased (Sadaqa-e-Jaariya)  or Beneficial knowledge of the deceased that will keep on helping the others...and third ) or  Righteous son/daughter who will pray for him/her (the deceased)[6].

The above mentioned Hadith signifies the power of praying for parents in a way that one should ask for its parents` clemency from Allah Almighty, so their souls could be comforted with God`s mercy.

The forth right is to take care of them after death in terms of holding Muslim parents funeral prayers and complete the burial per Shariah method , whereas for non- Muslim parents funeral prayer is not offered also, you have to Ask Forgiveness of Allah to pardon your parents and The child must pay debts of parents or fulfill any promises or oaths they made to anyone in their life , moreover , The child must observe Ramdhan fast the unfasted days of her dead mother

In addition to perform Hajj if her dead mother vowed for Hajj and To pay due regards to bonds of relationship from their side[7]

Finally, parents should be given priority in terms of kindness, sympathy, good feelings, love, supplication  and affection if we really want to entre paradise in hereafter.