Thursday 4 January 2007

The Rights Of Parents

RIGHTS

Allah is our Creator and it was through our parents that Allah created us. This is the reason why Allah has given so many rights to the parents. It is stated, “Allah has ordered that do not worship anyone but Him and be dutiful towards your parents.”


OBEDIENCE

Abdullah ibn Abbas RA narrates from the Prophet Muhammad SAW that a person whose parents are alive and he obeys them, listens to and respects them, then Allah will open two doors of Paradise for him. But if one of his parents is not happy with him, then Allah will not be happy with him either. Then someone asked the Prophet (SAW), “Even if they are oppressors?” The Prophet (SAW) replied, “Yes, even if they are oppressors.”


DISRESPECT

It is said, a person who disobeys his parents, or disrespects them and does not listen to them, Allah will open two doors of Hell for him / her. And if he disrespects only one of them, then Allah will open one door of Hell for him / her.


VIRTUES

Helping our parents is better then performing Jihad. Abdullah ibn Umar RA narrates that a person came to the Prophet and said, “I have intentions of going on Jihad.” The Prophet (SAW) asked him, ‘Are any of your parents alive?’ He replied, ‘Yes.’ The Prophet (SAW) said, ‘Do Jihad by helping your parents.’ From this we can gather how important parents really are.


A STORY

A man came to the Prophet Muhammad SAW and asked him, ‘My mother is very old. I feed her with my hands and I help her do ablution and I sit her down on my shoulders. Have I done enough to repay her for the things she has done for me?’ The Prophet (SAW) said, ‘No. You have not even repaid her a bit. But Allah will give you a small amount of deeds for what you have done.’ Such is the value and status of a mother and this is because nothing can compensate for the chores she has born for her child since pregnancy to his /her upbringing.


STATUS

Bahys ibn Hakim RA said that he heard from his grandfather, that he had asked the Prophet SAW, ‘Who should I do a good turn?’ The Prophet replied, ‘Your mother.’ His grandfather once more asked the Prophet , ‘Who shall I do a good turn?’ The Prophet said, ‘Your mother.’ His grandfather repeated the question a third time. The Prophet said, ‘Your mother.’ After repeating the question for the fourth time, the Prophet replied, ‘Then your father and then in order, your relatives.’

IMPORTANCE

Abdullah ibn Abbas RA said:

"At the time of the Prophet , there was a young man named Alkamah. He used to work very hard and give his earnings to charity. One day he became very ill. His wife sent a message to the Prophet (SAW) . The Prophet (SAW) sent Bilal (RA), Ali (RA), Sulaiman (RA) and Amar (RA) with these words, ‘See how he is.’ They went and found that he was indeed very ill and close to death. They spent some time trying to make him read the Kalimah, but something was holding him back. Bilal (RA) returned to tell the Prophet (SAW) about his condition. The Prophet (SAW) asked, ‘Are his parents alive?’ Bilal (RA) replied, ‘His father has passed away, but his mother is still alive.’ The Prophet (SAW) told Bilal (RA) to call his mother and if she couldn't come then the Prophet (SAW) would come to her. As soon as Alkamah’s mother heard, she grabbed her walking stick and came right away. She did Salaam and the Prophet (SAW) returned it and asked, ‘Tell me truthfully, if you don't, then I will learn by revelation. What sort of deeds did your son do?’ She told the Prophet (SAW) that he was a very pious man, that he used to read prayers consistently, fast constantly and give alms abundantly. The Prophet (SAW) asked her how he was with her. She said, ‘I am upset with him. Instead of me, he gives preference to his wife. He used to disobey me and listened to his wife. The Prophet (SAW) said to her, ‘Your displeasure has stopped Alkamah from reciting the Kalimah.’ The Prophet (SAW) then ordered his Companions to gather some wood and to burn him. The mother asked whether they were really going to burn her son in front of her? The Prophet (SAW) told her, ‘Allah's punishment is much greater. If you want Allah to forgive Alkamah, you must first forgive him yourself. His praying, fasting and alms-giving will do him no good.’ His mother raised her hands and said, ‘I have forgiven him.’ The Prophet (SAW) sent Bilal to check on Alkamah. He was reading the Kalimah. Alkamah died that very day. The Prophet (SAW) arranged his funeral and led his Janazah. After that he stood up and addressed the people. ‘The person who prefers his wife rather then his mother, Allah’s curse be upon him. His faraaidh and nawafil will not be accepted.’ "

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