Honoring parents
Around the world, many days are designated to honor and appreciate special people. Among those days are Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, Memorial Day and Labor Day. In Islam, however, respecting, honoring and appreciating parents are not just for a single day of the year, but rather for each and every day of the year.
Dutifulness to parents, respecting them, and recognizing their care, love and concern are mentioned in the Quran eleven times. The following verse is one of the instances in which Allah enjoins us to honor, respect, and be dutiful to our parents in the best possible manner. Allah says, “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. (Al-Isra, 17:23) Dutifulness to parents is among the most meritorious acts of worship: Abdullah Bin Masoud (Prophet’s companion) narrated, “I asked Allah’s Messenger (PBUH), ‘What is the most beloved deed to Allah Almighty? He replied, ‘Prayers performed on time.’ I then asked, ‘What next?’ He replied, ‘Dutifulness to parents.’ ...” (Collected by Imam Al-Bukhari in Al-Fat’h 10/5970 and Muslim # 85)
Abdullah bin Abbaas (Prophet Muhammad’s Companion) said, “I do not know of any act of worship that would draw a believer closer to Allah (to Whom belongs all might and majesty) more than any other good deed, than dutifulness to one’s parents.” (See Al-Adab Al-Mufrad by Al-Bukhari, volume 3.) Your parents will always love you in whatever situation you are. Others may claim to love you; you may think that your friends do, but they may fake the love for their own vested interests.
The love of your parents is the best thing in the world. They always pray for you and wish you well in what you do. Therefore, I would strongly advise you to respect their love because you are lucky to have them. Think about those who do not have parents, and consider yourself as the luckiest person to have them in your life. Moreover, treating them well is a means to accrue Allah’s rewards and a cause to enter one of the gates of Paradise.
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