by Gulrukh Tausif

Created on: March 08, 2008   Last Updated: January 15, 2011

Rights of parents in Islam

"And remember We took a covenant from the Children of Israel (to this effect): Worship none but Allah; treat with kindness your parents." The Quran (2:83)

Islam enjoins mankind to be kind and compassionate towards their parents. In fact Islam lays so much stress on the rights of parents that among all the human deeds, obedience and respect towards parents is secondary only to worship of one Allah.

"Thy Lord hath decreed that ye worship none but Him, and that ye be kind to parents. Whether one or both of them attain old age in thy life, say not to them a word of contempt, nor repel them, but address them in terms of honor" (17: 23)

The rights of parents are mentioned several times in the Quran and there are numerous traditions and hadiths of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) regarding our duty towards our parents.

~Status of Mother in Islam~

The Quran enjoins upon every person to acknowledge the difficulties and suffering that his mother has to bear during pregnancy, at childbirth, during breastfeeding and in the upbringing of the children.

The rights of mothers are therefore three times more than the rights of a father. It is reported that a person asked the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)

"Who has the greatest claim on me with regard to service and kind treatment?

He asked this question three times and every time Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) answered "Your mother." When asked for the fourth time, he answered, "After her is the claim of your father."

~Status of Father in Islam~

The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) has said "In the good pleasure of the father lies the good pleasure of the Creator and in his displeasure, lies the displeasure of the Creator (Allah)."
(Tirmidhi.)

Islam instructs the children to show respect for their father by not walking in front of him, not taking his name but addressing him with a courteous word and not sitting before him if he has no place to sit.

We must always strive to keep our parents happy and obey them in all matters. If we offend them by ignoring their wishes or cause them grief by our manners, then Allah is also displeased with us.

~Gratitude and gentleness~

Gratitude to our parents entails recognizing and accepting their presence in our life as a blessing from Allah. Our parents are like shady trees in the scorching sun, our haven in the stormy seas of life. No matter how old or young we are, we always look upon our parents to guide us, advise us and come to our rescue either physically, emotionally or financially.
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