Rights of Parents
Islam has given a very honorable status to the parents. As there are basic rights of children in Islam, similarly there are certain rights of parents in Islam. A person who is obedient to his parents will be highly rewarded by Allah Almighty on the Day of Judgment.
In this article we are going to discuss the rights of parents in the light of the Quran and Sunnah. We will know the status of parents in Islam and what Islam teaches about how to treat your parents.
When a baby is born he is weak and feeble. He cannot fulfill his needs by himself. As he starts growing up he doesn’t know about his right or wrong doing. In this phase there are always parents who manage to give you the best things they can provide. They are always vigilant to tell you what is good for you and what can harm you.
It is the guidance of your parents that can make you successful in this world and hereafter. We get millions of blessings from Allah Almighty and cannot thank Him as He deserves. In the same way we are never done with the rights of parents for what they have been doing for us.
Let us know how Allah SWT teaches us to be thankful to our parents in the Quran.
Rights of Parents According to Quran
To show love and respect is the basic right of your parents. Regarding the obedience and loyalty towards your parents, there are many ayahs in the holy book of Quran. Allah SWT instructed strictly to the Muslims to never mistreat your parents.
Allah says in Surah Luqman of Holy Quran,
وَوَصَّيْنَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ بِوَٰلِدَيْهِ حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُۥ وَهْنًا عَلَىٰ وَهْنٍۢ وَفِصَـٰلُهُۥ فِى عَامَيْنِ أَنِ ٱشْكُرْ لِى وَلِوَٰلِدَيْكَ إِلَىَّ ٱلْمَصِيرُ ١٤
Translation
“And we have commanded people to “honor” their parents. Their mothers bore them through hardship upon hardship, and their weaning takes two years. So be grateful to Me and your parents. To Me is the final return”.
Quran 31: 14
Showing love, respect and gratitude to the parents is obligatory to every Muslim. In Quran there are almost eleven places where respect for parents is signposted.
In Surah Al-Isra Allah SWT says,
۞ وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ وَبِٱلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ إِحْسَـٰنًا ۚ إِمَّا يَبْلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ ٱلْكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَآ أَوْ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَآ أُفٍّۢ وَلَا تَنْهَرْهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوْلًۭا كَرِيمًۭا ٢٣
Translation
“For your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And honor your parents. If one or both of them reach old age in your care, never say to them ˹even˺ ‘ugh,’ nor yell at them. Rather, address them respectfully”
To pray for your parents is also mentioned in Quran. If any of your parent passes away, do Astaghfar for him. It will make their journey easier in the world hereafter.
As your parents spend their whole life to attain respect for you, to provide you best needs of your life, similarly you should also become a source of respect for them in society.
Rights of Parents According to Sunnah
Holy Prophet Muhammad SAWW always instructed to respect your elders. Especially regarding parents he SAWW educated strictly to treat them nicely.
Someone asked Prophet Muhammad SAWW,
“What rights parents have over their children?
Muhammad PBUH replied,
“They are your heaven and hell”
Means if you treat your parents with respect and honor, your parents can be a source to lead you to the way of Jannah. And if you treat them in a disrespectful way, then the punishment is hell fire.
The responsibilities of parents are not only till the life of your parents. Rather a pious person has more duties after the death of his parents. And it is the right of your parent to do charity and Astaghfar for them. Be kind to the persons who were dear to them.
Prophet Muhammad PBUH said,
“The best act of morality is that a man should continue good relation with his father’s loved ones”.
(Muslim)
Is mentioned in hadith that kindness and respect towards your parents is the best act May Allah SWT make us eligible to follow the teachings of Quran and hadith. May He SWT accept our good deeds and keep us away from the things prohibited in Islam. Ameen