Islam places great importance on the relationship we have with our parents, and the respect we are obliged to afford them. Below are 20 wise Islamic sayings about parents.
1. The Greatest Obligatory Act
Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib 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 relations 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 cognisance 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 Judgement.”
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
20. Meaning of Good Conduct
Abu Wallad al-Hannat narrates that he once asked Imam as-Sadiq (peace be upon him) about the meaning of the words of Allah (in the Qur’an): (And be good to parents.”) The Imam (peace be upon him) replied:
“Being good to them means to accompany them in a good manner and never to wait for them to ask you for what they need.”
Biharul Anwar, Volume 74, Page 79
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