Islam teaches us to be grateful and respectful to our parents, as they are the means of our existence and the source of our guidance and upbringing.

The Quranic Commandment

Allah says in the Quran:

And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much as], “uff,” and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word. And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy and say, “My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small.” (Quran 17:23-24)

This verse shows us the high status and rights of parents in Islam, and the obligation of children to treat them with kindness and respect.

The Rights of Parents in Islam

The rights of parents in Islam are immense and cannot be fully enumerated. However, some of the most important rights are:

To Obey Them in What is Lawful and Pleasing to Allah

Children should obey their parents in what is in accordance with the Quran and the Sunnah, and what does not involve any sin or disobedience to Allah. They should also seek their parents’ consent and approval for major decisions, such as marriage, education, and career.

To Serve Them and Take Care of Their Needs

Children should serve their parents and take care of their physical, emotional, and financial needs, especially when they are old, sick, or in need. They should also visit them regularly and keep in touch with them.

To Respect Their Opinions and Preferences

Children should respect their parents’ opinions and preferences, and avoid arguing or disagreeing with them rudely or harshly. They should also consult them and seek their advice in their affairs.

To Honor Their Reputation and Dignity

Children should honor their parents’ reputation and dignity, and avoid saying or doing anything that would harm or disgrace them. They should also defend them from any harm or injustice.

To Pray for Their Forgiveness and Well-Being

Children should pray for their parents’ forgiveness and well-being, both in this world and the hereafter. They should also ask Allah to have mercy on them and grant them Paradise.

To Maintain Ties with Them and Their Relatives

Children should maintain ties with their parents and their relatives, and avoid cutting off or severing the relations. They should also show kindness and generosity to them, and visit them on occasion.

To Be Kind and Gentle to Them in Speech and Action

Children should be kind and gentle to their parents in speech and action, and avoid hurting or displeasing them in any way. They should also speak to them with honor and humility, and address them with polite and respectful terms.

To Avoid Hurting or Displeasing Them in Any Way

Children should avoid hurting or displeasing their parents in any way, such as by disobeying them, lying to them, hiding things from them, or being rude or ungrateful to them. They should also avoid making them angry or sad, or causing them any grief or distress.

The Role of Father and Mother in Islam

The role of father and mother in Islam is also very significant and noble. They are the first teachers and role models for their children, and they are responsible for their moral and spiritual development.

To Teach Them the Basics of Islam

Parents should teach their children the basics of Islam, such as the pillars of faith and worship, the articles of belief, the acts of worship, the halal and haram, and the rights and duties of Muslims. They should also teach them how to read and recite the Quran, and how to understand and implement its teachings.

To Instill in Them the Love of Allah and His Messenger

Parents should instill in their children the love of Allah and His Messenger, and the love of Islam and its values. They should also inspire them with the stories and examples of the prophets and the righteous, and the rewards and blessings of Allah.

To Educate Them About the Quran and the Sunnah

Parents should educate their children about the Quran and the Sunnah, and the sources and evidences of Islamic knowledge. They should also encourage them to learn and memorize the Quran and the Hadith, and to seek knowledge from authentic and reliable scholars and teachers.

To Nurture Their Talents and Abilities

Parents should nurture their children’s talents and abilities, and help them discover and develop their potential and skills. They should also support them in their lawful pursuits and aspirations, and guide them to choose the best and most beneficial paths for them.

To Discipline Them with Wisdom and Justice

Parents should discipline their children with wisdom and justice, and correct them with kindness and mercy. They should also set clear and reasonable rules and boundaries for them, and enforce them with fairness and consistency.

To Provide Them with a Healthy and Halal Environment

Parents should provide their children with a healthy and halal environment, and protect them from any harmful or haram influences. They should also provide them with the necessary and lawful means of living, such as food, clothing, shelter, education, and health care.

To Support Them in Their Lawful Pursuits and Aspirations

Parents should support their children in their lawful pursuits and aspirations, and help them achieve their goals and dreams. They should also encourage them to excel and succeed in their endeavors and celebrate their achievements and accomplishments.

To Advise Them and Guide Them in Their Affairs

Parents should advise their children and guide them in their affairs, and share with them their wisdom and experience. They should also listen to their concerns and problems, and offer them solutions and suggestions.

To Protect Them from Evil and Harm

Parents should protect their children from evil and harm, and warn them of the dangers and pitfalls of this world. They should also pray for their safety and security, and seek Allah’s protection and assistance for them.

The Quran and the Parents

The Quran is full of verses that highlight the importance and value of parents in Islam. One of the most relevant surahs for this topic is Surah Luqman, which contains the advice of Luqman, a wise man, to his son.

The Advice of Luqman to His Son

Allah says in the Quran:

And [mention, O Muhammad], when Luqman said to his son while he was instructing him, “O my son, do not associate [anything] with Allah. Indeed, association [with him] is great injustice.” And We have enjoined upon man [care] for his parents. His mother carried him, [increasing her] in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years. Be grateful to Me and to your parents; to Me is the [final] destination. But if they endeavor to make you associate with Me that of which you have no knowledge, do not obey them but accompany them in [this] world with appropriate kindness and follow the way of those who turn back to Me [in repentance]. Then to Me will be your return, and I will inform you about what you used to do. (Quran 31:13-15)

This verse shows us the advice of Luqman to his son, which covers the most important aspects of the Islamic faith and morality. He warns him of the greatest sin of shirk or associating partners with Allah, and he reminds him of the great favor and right of his parents, especially his mother. He also teaches him to be grateful to Allah and his parents, and to be kind and respectful to them, even if they try to make him commit shirk. He also urges him to follow the way of those who repent and return to Allah, and to be aware of the accountability and justice of Allah.

The Stories of the Prophets and Their Fathers

The Quran also mentions the stories of some of the prophets and their fathers, such as Ibrahim and his father Azar, Ismail and his father Ibrahim, and Yusuf and his son Ya’qub. These stories show us how the prophets dealt with their parents with respect, patience, and compassion, even when they faced difficulties and challenges.

Ibrahim and His Father Azar

Allah says in the Quran:

And mention in the Book, Ibrahim. Indeed, he was a man of truth and a prophet. [Mention] when he said to his father, “O my father, why do you worship that which does not hear and does not see and will not benefit you at all? O my father, indeed there has come to me of knowledge that which has not come to you, so follow me; I will guide you to an even path. O my father, do not worship Satan. Indeed Satan has ever been, to the Most Merciful, disobedient. O my father, indeed I fear that there will touch you a punishment from the Most Merciful so you would be to Satan a companion [in Hellfire].” [His father] said, “Have you no desire for my gods, O Ibrahim? If you do not desist, I will surely stone you, so avoid me a prolonged time.” [Ibrahim] said, “Peace will be upon you. I will ask forgiveness for you of my Lord. Indeed, He is ever gracious to me. And I will leave you and that which you invoke other than Allah and will invoke my Lord. I expect that I will not be in invocation to my Lord unhappy.” (Quran 19:41-48)