Parents are one of the biggest blessings of ALLAH (SWT). Every person in the world must love and respect their parents. Islam is the only religion that has given the parents so much importance. Islam has given rights to the parents and every Muslim child is obliged to fulfill these rights. As Muslims, we should always be grateful to our parents. Parents at many stages of life have compromised many things even their happiness for the well-being of their children. Therefore we must love and cherish our parents. And give them all the respect they deserve. There is no way of neglecting the rights of the parents. Those who do it will be accountable to the ALLAH (SWT) on the day of Judgements. Also, they will face the consequences of it in this life and hereafter. ALLAH (SWT) at many events has emphasized the rights of the parents. The kindness to parents has been mentioned several times in the Holy Quran. “Worship God and join none with Him (in worship), and do good to parents…” (Quran 4:36)

LOVE YOUR PARENTS

Parents are the ones who have taught us everything about life. They have taught us about the good and bad. They guided us about the right and wrong. Parents always show care and concern for their children before anyone else. They love their children unconditionally. In return, it is our duty and responsibility to treat our parents the same way. We must show them affection through our words and actions. They did the same with us, especially in our childhood. Ibn Abbas (radi Allahu anhu) narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said “The pious offspring who casts a single look of affection at his parents receives a reward from Allah equal to the reward of an accepted Hajj.” The people enquired: “O Prophet of Allah (PBUH), if someone casts a hundred such glances of love and affection at his parents, what then?” The Prophet (PBUH) said: “Yes, indeed, even if one does so a hundred times a day, he will get a hundredfold reward. Allah is far greater than you imagine and is completely free from petty narrow-mindedness.” [Sahih Muslim]

SHOW KINDNESS TO YOUR PARENTS

Islam teaches us to be kind to every person. However, parents are at the top of the list who deserve kindness from their children. Kindness with parents can be a source of pleasing ALLAH (SWT) . The children have to deal with their parents with kindness especially when they reach old age. It is said to treat your parents in old age the same way they treated you in your childhood. When we were kids our parents used kind nature and soft tongue with us. They patiently dealt with our tantrums and our uncountable questions. That’s how we are expected to behave with our parents when they reach old age. We are obliged to talk to them nicely and not to degrade them or disrespect them. There is a verse in the Holy Quran which says “And lower unto them the wing of submission and humility through mercy, and say: ‘My Lord! Bestow on them Your Mercy as they did bring me up when I was small.’” (Quran 17:24)

STATUS OF FATHER

Fathers are the breadwinners of the family. They spent their life working hard for the sake of their children. Fathers spent their day and night just worrying about the future of their children. Most of the time children especially teenagers don’t understand the worth of their fathers. They don’t value the hard work and struggle and underestimate the role of the father in raising them. Islam has taught us the importance of the father and how he should be treated. ʿAbd Allāh (may God be pleased with him) said, “A man’s insulting his father is one of the major wrong actions in the sight of God, the Almighty.” – (Al-Adab Al-Mufrad Lī Al-Bukhārī) “The father is the best door to Paradise [through service and honour of him].” – (Tirmidhī) Above mentioned sayings are enough to understand the status of the father. A person can directly enter the Pradise on the day of judgment by being obedient towards his fathers. Similarly, the person who has no respect for his father and has not fulfilled will be sent to Hell Fire on the day of Judgement.

STATUS OF MOTHER

ALLAH has sent us to this world through our mothers. Mothers carry their children in their wombs for nine months. In these nine months, she goes through severe changes in her life and body. She goes through a horrifying pain just to bring the child into the world. This pain can only be borne by a mother. ALLAH has given this much strength only to a mother. This is the reason that Islam has taught us to treat our mothers like Queens. They must be treated with love care and respect. Children must love their mothers in every possible way. They should make efforts to cherish their mothers. A person is lucky if he has got the chance to spend time with his mother. Children must serve their mothers in the best possible ways. A man came to the Prophet (PBUH) asking, ‘Who among the people is the most worthy of my good companionship? The Prophet said, your mother. The man said, ‘Then who?’ The Prophet said, then your mother. The man further asked, ‘Then who?’ The Prophet said, then your mother. The man asked again, ‘Then who?’ The Prophet replied, then your father.” (Bukhari and Muslim). Moreover, Children are responsible for providing financial support to their parents if they are in need. Fulfilling the financial needs of parents is a duty, especially when they are elderly or unable to support themselves. Also, children must make dua for their parents. They should pray for them regularly. Whether the parents are alive or dead the children should not stop praying for their parents. If the parents die it is the responsibility of the children to pray for their magfirah and do such deeds which can be sadaqah jariya for their parents. FINAL WORDS Islam being the complete religion has taught us in detail about the rights of the parents. Now we have to fulfill the rights of our parents so that we can please them and ALLAH (SWT) also