Father and mother are two precious beings.  Everyone knows their value and looks upon them with respect.  Islam has repeated verses about the duties of the children and has ordered the children that they should not disrespect their parents even for one moment.

In the holy Qur’an, obedience to parents has been mentioned at many places along with obedience to Allah and it has been revealed as the first advice to the children of Adam (AS).  At one place, the Qur’an says, “Your Lord has ordered that you should not worship anyone but Him and to do good to your father and mother.  If one or both of them grow old while you are still alive, do not tell them that you have got become old and do not speak rudely with them and speak softly with them.  Be kind and observe humility before them and say, ‘O Lord! Bless them in the same manner in which they trained me during my childhood.’” Sura Bani Isreal: 23-24

And at another place, it says, “We enjoined man to show kindness to his parents, for with much pain his mother takes care of him/her and he/she is not weaned before he/she is two years of age.  We said, “Give thanks to Me and to your parents.  To Me shall all things return.”  Surah Luqman: 14

The holy Prophet says, “Goodness and kindness towards father and mother is greater to Prayers, Fasting, Hajj, Umra and Jihad and carries a greater reward.”  Al-Jame al-Sa’adat, Vol. II, pp.259

“Two doors of Paradise are opened for a person whose day begins when his parents are happy with him.”Al-Jame al-Sa’adat, Vol. II, pp.259

The following hadith quoted from Imam Al-Sadiq(AS) confirms that the reward for showing good to parents is better than of Jihad:
 
“A man came in the presence of the holy Prophet (SAW) and said, “I like to perform Jihad in the cause of Allah, but my mother is not at all inclined towards my doing so.’  The holy Prophet replied, ‘Go back and remain with you mother.  I swear by the Lord who has sent me on a true mission that to remain with one’s mother for one night (and serving her and doing good to
her) is better than performing Jihad in the cause of Allah for a year.’ Al-Jame al-Sa’adat, Vol. II, pp.260

In another place, he said, “Return and stay with your mother, because the Paradise is controlled by others.” Al-Jame al-Sa’adat, Vol. II, pp.260

Islam considers kindness to parents to be the standard of excellence and virtue.  Imam Al-Sadiq(AS) tells us:

“One day the holy Prophet (SAW) was sitting in the company of some persons, when his foster-sister came.  The holy Prophet (SAW) gave her due respect.  He was very much pleased to see her.  He spread a piece of cloth for her to sit and then began speaking with her.  The girl left and some time later her brother (who was the foster-brother of the holy Prophet (SAWA) came.  The holy Prophet (SAW) did not, however, give similar respect to him.  Someone asked the Holy Prophet, “O Prophet of Allah! What was the reason for the different treatment when this person happens to be a man?  The holy Prophet (SAW) replied, “The reason is this that the
girl is more respectful to her parents.”  Al-Jame al-Sa’adat, Vol. II, pp.260

Islam considers the right of parents to be the greatest of rights and prefers it to everything else.  Once a man came to Imam Al-Sadiq(AS) said “ My parents are Sunnis.”  The holy Imam (AS) replied, “Do good to them in the same manner in which you are under obligation to do good to those who believe in our wilayatship.” Al-Jame al-Sa’adat, Vol. II, pp.260

And one who neglects to perform this duty or becomes the object of the wrath of his parents is really unfortunate.  The holy Prophet (SAW) has said, “Two doors fo Hell are opened towards a person who is the object of the wrath of his parents.” Al-Jame al-Sa’adat, Vol. II, pp.257

“Be afraid of being disobedient to your parents or becoming object of their wrath, because the fragrance of Paradise covers five hundred years’ distance and reaches the nostrils of man, but it does not reach those with whom their parents are angry.” Al-Jame al-Sa’adat, Vol. II, pp.257

And as we learn from the verse of the holy Qur’an as written before, the lowest degree of such disobedience its that one should display weariness before them.  Imam al-Sadiq (AS) “If the Lord had considered anything to be lower than ‘uf’ (word of disgust), he would have prohibited it.  One of the stages of disobedience is that one should cast a fierce eye on his parents.”  Al-Jame al-Sa’adat, Vol. II, pp.258
 

This fact should also be kept in view that the Prophet (SAW) says, “The right of an elder brother over his younger brother is similar to the right of a father over his child.” Al-Jame al-Sa’adat, Vol. II, pp.262

Notes| By Moulana Syed Asghar Mehdi Zaidi
Imam-e-Jamat & Resident Alim of Montreal

Courtesy By:
Islamic Occasions - http://www.ezsoftech.com/islamic/index.html