Rights of Parents
The rights of parents hold great significance in the Islamic faith. Parents are those who are instrumental in bringing their children into the world and invest considerable effort in their upbringing. Therefore, Islam commands respect for parents and good treatment towards them. The Qur'an and authentic hadiths frequently emphasize the importance of obedience to parents and treating them well. Our Prophet (peace be upon him) indicated that treating parents well is part of servitude to Allah and provided various recommendations to his community regarding this matter. The rights of parents encompass not only treating them well but also earning their approval and receiving their blessings. Thus, for Muslims, the rights of parents represent an important responsibility that should not be neglected.
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، مَنْ أَحَقُّ النَّاسِ بِحُسْنِ صَحَابَتِي؟ قَالَ: أُمُّكَ. قَالَ: ثُمَّ مَنْ؟ قَالَ: أُمُّكَ. قَالَ: ثُمَّ مَنْ؟ قَالَ: أُمُّكَ. قَالَ: ثُمَّ مَنْ؟ قَالَ: أَبُوكَ.
"It is narrated from Abu Huraira that a man came to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and asked, 'O Messenger of Allah, who is most deserving of my good companionship?' He said, 'Your mother.' The man asked, 'Then who?' He said, 'Your mother.' The man asked again, 'Then who?' The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, 'Your mother.' The man asked once more, 'Then who?' He said, 'Your father.'"
This hadith emphasizes the significant status of mothers in Islam and the importance of treating them well.
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: رِضَا الرَّبِّ فِي رِضَا الْوَالِدِ، وَسَخَطُ الرَّبِّ فِي سَخَطِ الْوَالِدِ.
"It is narrated from Abdullah bin Amr that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: 'The pleasure of the Lord is in the pleasure of the parent, and the displeasure of the Lord is in the displeasure of the parent.'"
This hadith indicates that earning the pleasure of parents is equivalent to earning the pleasure of Allah.
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ: لَا يَجْزِي وَلَدٌ وَالِدَهُ إِلَّا أَنْ يَجِدَهُ مَمْلُوكًا فَيَشْتَرِيَهُ فَيُعْتِقَهُ.
"It is narrated from Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: 'A child cannot repay his father’s rights unless he finds him as a slave and buys him to free him.'"
This hadith expresses the immense rights parents have over their children and the difficulty of repaying those rights.
عَنْ أَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ: الْوَالِدُ أَوْسَطُ أَبْوَابِ الْجَنَّةِ، فَإِنْ شِئْتَ فَأَضِعْ ذَلِكَ الْبَابَ أَوِ احْفَظْهُ.
"It is narrated from Abu Darda that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: 'The father is the middle gate of Paradise. If you wish, then lose that gate, or preserve it.'"
This hadith indicates that treating one’s father well is an important gateway on the path to Paradise.
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُوصِيكُمْ بِأُمَّهَاتِكُمْ، ثُمَّ يُوصِيكُمْ بِأُمَّهَاتِكُمْ، ثُمَّ يُوصِيكُمْ بِآبَائِكُمْ، ثُمَّ يُوصِيكُمْ بِالْأَقْرَبِ فَالْأَقْرَبِ.
"It is narrated from Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: 'Allah advises you to be good to your mothers, then to your mothers again, then to your fathers, and then to your closest relatives.'"
This hadith emphasizes that treating parents and close relatives well is an advice from Allah.