Although our existence is from Allah (Glory and Greatness be to Him), it is our parents who are the means of giving us life. We are an offshoot of their existence and a fruit of the garden of their unparalleled affection, training, love and sentiments.
When the forgetful human being grows up to become big and strong and comes to acquire a certain credibility (in life), he forgets the period wherein he was weak and lacking in strength. He disregards the exhaustive efforts of his parents; what ingratitude could be worse than this?
Humanity and ethics demand that we safeguard these two jewels (our mother and father) – by exhibiting goodness towards them while they are alive, and by means of charity and goodly remembrance after their death.
Our lives are an extension of our parent’s lives while our children’s lives are a continuation of ours. Our good behavior towards our parents and our exhibition of kindness towards them shall cause our children to grow up as grateful and righteous individuals. They shall behave with us just as we have behaved with our own parents.
Just as it is beyond our means to fulfill the rights of Allah (Glory and Greatness be to Him) and to thank Him for all His bounties in their entirety, similarly we can never thank our parents sufficiently for their efforts. The only thing that we can do is to acknowledge our inability and submit ourselves, in humility and reverence, before these two angels. However, comprehension of their status in the eyes of Allah (Glory and Greatness be to Him) paves the way to fulfill some of their numerous rights.
The traditions that we shall read in this collection of forty traditions shall serve to make us aware of some of our responsibilities towards our parents.
May Allah (Glory and Greatness be to Him) grant us the Divine success that we may come be regarded amongst those who have been good towards their parents.
“O’ Allah! Make us such that we may be grateful for the efforts of our parents.”
“O’ Allah! Make us successful in bringing forth a generation of pure-hearted, believing, grateful and righteous individuals.”
Treatment of Parents according to the Noble Qur’an
“And your Lord has commanded that you shall not serve (any) but Him, and that you shall show goodness to your parents. If either or both of them reach old age with you, say not to them (so much as) “Ugh” nor chide them, and speak to them a generous word.”
Noble Qur’an, Surat Bani Isra’il (17) Verse 23
1 – The Greatest Obligatory Act
The Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) has said: “Goodness towards (one’s) parents is the greatest obligatory act.”
Mizanul Hikmah, Volume 10, Page 709
2 – The Best of Deeds
Imam as-Sadiq (peace be upon him) has said: “The best deeds are: Salat in its stipulated hour, goodness towards parents and Jihad in the way of Allah.”
Biharul Anwar, Volume 74, Page 85
3 – Attachment to Parents
[A person once approached the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) and said: “I have an old father and mother, who due to their attachment towards me, are not keen for me to go to Jihad.”]
[Hearing this], the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) said: “(If such is the case then) Stay with your parents for, by the One in whose control lies my soul, their attachment of one day and one night to you is better than one year of Jihad.”
Biharul Anwar, Volume 74, Page 82
4 – The Most Beloved Deed
[Ibne `Abbas states:] “I questioned the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family): Which deed is the most beloved in the eyes of Allah, the Mighty, the Glorious?” He (peace be upon him and his family) replied: “(Offering) prayers at their stipulated times.” I then asked: “Which is the next most beloved deed?” He (peace be upon him and his family) answered: “Goodness towards (one’s) parents.” I asked him again: “After this which is the most beloved act?” He (peace be upon him and his family) said: “Jihad in the way of Allah.”
Biharul Anwar, Volume 74, Page 70
5 – Looking at Parents
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) said: “Every righteous child who casts a look of mercy and affection upon his parents shall be granted, for every look of his, rewards equivalent to that of an accepted Hajj.” Those around the Prophet questioned: “O’ Prophet of Allah! Even if he were to look at them a hundred times a day?” The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) replied: “Indeed! Allah is the Greatest and Most Kind.”
Biharul Anwar, Volume 74, Page 73
6 – The Great Rank of Parents
Imam al-Ridha (peace be upon him) has said: “Allah, the Mighty, the Glorious, has commanded three things with which he has associated three other things. He associated payment of zakat along with prayers such that one who offers prayers, but desists from offering zakat, his prayers are rejected. He associated gratitude to Him with gratitude towards parents such that one who is grateful to Allah, but ungrateful to his parents, will be deemed as ungrateful to Allah. He associated righteousness with bonds of kinship such that one who is righteous, but has severed elations with his kin, will be deemed as not being righteous.”
Biharul Anwar, Volume 74, Page 77
7 – Kindness to Parents
Imam as-Sadiq (peace be upon him) has said: “Goodness towards the parents is an indication of a person’s excellent cognizance of Allah. This is because there is no worship that can take a person towards the happiness of Allah faster than exhibiting respect towards his Muslim parents for the sake of Allah.”
Biharul Anwar, Volume 74, pg.77
8 – Obedience Towards One’s Parents
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) said: “One, who follows the orders of Allah with regards to obeying parents, shall have two doors of Paradise opened up for him. And if there happens to be only one parent, one door of Paradise shall open up for him.”
Kanzul `Ummal, Volume 16, Page 67
9 – The Most Exalted Station
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) has stated: “One who is obedient towards his parents and his Lord shall be accommodated in the most exalted of places on the Day of Judgment.”
Kanzul `Ummal, Volume 16, Page 467
10 – Repayment Of Debts
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) has said: “One who performs Hajj on behalf of his parents and repays their debts shall be raised by Allah on the Day of Judgement amongst the righteous ones.”
Kanzul `Ummal, Volume 16, Page 468
11 – Pleasing Parents
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) said: “One who pleases his parents has verily pleased Allah, and one who has angered his parents has verily angered Allah.”
Kanzul `Ummal, Volume 16, Page 470
12 – Sheltered by the ‘Arsh (Throne) of Allah
Imam as-Sadiq (peace be upon him) related: “Once when Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) was engaged in a conversation with his Lord, The Mighty, The Glorious, he observed a person beneath the `Arsh (Throne) of Allah, whereupon he (peace be upon him) asked: O’ My Lord! Who is this person, who is being sheltered by Your `Arsh?” Allah replied: “This person had been kind and good towards his parents and never indulged in slandering (them).”
Biharul Anwar, Volume 74, Page 65
13 – Travel and be Good!
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) said: “Travel even for two years to do good to your parents. Journey (even) for one year to establish bonds of kinship (with your relatives).”
Biharul Anwar, Volume 74, Page 83
14 – Increase in Life and Livelihood
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) said: “One who desires a long life and an increase in livelihood should exhibit goodness towards his parents and establish bonds of kinship (with his relatives).”
Kanzul `Ummal, Volume 16, Page 475
15 – Benefits of Kindness to Parents
[Hanan Ibn Sudair narrates: “We were in the presence of Imam as-Sadiq (peace be upon him) and amidst us was Muyassir. During the discussion, the topic of silah rahim (establishing bonds of kinship with one’s relatives) came to the fore, whereupon] the Imam (peace be upon him), [addressing Muyassir], said: ‘O’ Muyassir! On several occasions, your end had drawn near, but on each occasion, Allah delayed your death due to your acts of silah rahim with your relatives. If you desire to have your life-span increased, exhibit goodness and kindness towards your parents.’”
Biharul Anwar, Volume 74, Page 84
16 – First and Foremost – be Good to your Mother
Imam as-Sadiq (peace be upon him) relates that once a person approached the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) and asked: “O’ Prophet of Allah! Towards whom should I exhibit goodness and kindness?” The Noble Prophet replied: “Towards your mother.” The man then asked: “And after that towards whom?” The Noble Prophet again said: “Your Mother.” He asked again: “And then?” Once again, he replied: “Your mother.” For the fourth time the man asked: “And then?” This time he said: “(Then towards) Your father.”
Biharul Anwar, Volume 74, Page 49
17 – As You Sow so Shall You Reap!
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) has said: “Be good towards your parents and your children will be good towards you. (And) Look upon the womenfolk of others with purity (in conduct and intention) and your womenfolk will be looked upon with purity.”
Kanzul `Ummal, Volume 16, Page 466
18 – The Rights of the Father
Imam ar-Ridha (peace be upon him) narrates that a person once asked the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family): “What are the rights of the father upon the son?” The Noble Prophet replied: “He should not call his father by name, he should not walk ahead of him, he should not sit until his father has seated himself and he should not do such acts as a result of which people abuse his father.”
Biharul Anwar, Volume 74, Page 45
19 – Worship in Looking
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) has said: “The look of a child towards his parents out of love for them is an act of worship.”
Biharul Anwar, Volume 74, Page 80