PARENTS RIGHTS IN ISLAM ACCORDING TO QURAN

AND IN LIGHT OF AUTHENTIC HADITH

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ. الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ وَالْعَاقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ وَصَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ خَاتَمِ النَّبِيِّينَ وَعَلَى جَمِيعِ الأَنْبِيَاءِ وَالْمُرْسَلِينَ.

All Praise is due to Allah, we praise Him and we seek help from Him. We ask forgiveness from Him. We repent to Him; and we seek refuge in Him from our own evils and our own bad deeds. Anyone who is guided by Allah, he is indeed guided; and anyone who has been left astray, will find no one to guide him. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, the Only One without any partner; and I bear witness that Muhammad, peace and blessings on him, is His servant, and His messenger.

Dear Brothers and Sisters …

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

Parents rights in Islam, is mentioned in various places of the Quran.

Surah Isra  (Quran 17:23)

وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ وَبِٱلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ إِحْسَـٰنًا ۚ إِمَّا يَبْلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ ٱلْكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَآ أَوْ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَآ أُفٍّ وَلَا تَنْهَرْهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوْلًا كَرِيمًا

And your Lord has decreed that you worship not 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. — Saheeh International

Also in Surah Al Nisa(Quran 4:36):

۞ وَٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَلَا تُشْرِكُوا۟ بِهِۦ شَيْـًٔا ۖ وَبِٱلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ إِحْسَـٰنًا وَبِذِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَٱلْيَتَـٰمَىٰ وَٱلْمَسَـٰكِينِ وَٱلْجَارِ ذِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَٱلْجَارِ ٱلْجُنُبِ وَٱلصَّاحِبِ بِٱلْجَنۢبِ وَٱبْنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ وَمَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَـٰنُكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ مَن كَانَ مُخْتَالًا فَخُورًا

Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him, and to parents do good, and to relatives, orphans, the needy, the near neighbor, the neighbor farther away, the companion at your side, the traveler, and those whom your right hands possess. Indeed, Allah does not like those who are self-deluding and boastful, — Saheeh International

In Surah Luqman (Quran 31:14)

وَوَصَّيْنَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ بِوَٰلِدَيْهِ حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُۥ وَهْنًا عَلَىٰ وَهْنٍ وَفِصَـٰلُهُۥ فِى عَامَيْنِ أَنِ ٱشْكُرْ لِى وَلِوَٰلِدَيْكَ إِلَىَّ ٱلْمَصِيرُ

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. — Saheeh International

Now let’s look into the Authentic Hadith.

HADITH 1

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو حَفْصٍ، عَمْرُو بْنُ عَلِيٍّ حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدُ بْنُ الْحَارِثِ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ يَعْلَى بْنِ عَطَاءٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ “‏ رِضَا الرَّبِّ فِي رِضَا الْوَالِدِ وَسَخَطُ الرَّبِّ فِي سَخَطِ الْوَالِدِ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

Abdullah bin Amr narrated that: the Prophet said: “The Lord’s pleasure is in the parent’s pleasure, and the Lord’s anger is in the parent’s anger.”(Hasan). Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1899

https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi:1899

HADITH 2

حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جَمِيلِ بْنِ طَرِيفٍ الثَّقَفِيُّ، وَزُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ عُمَارَةَ بْنِ الْقَعْقَاعِ، عَنْ أَبِي زُرْعَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ مَنْ أَحَقُّ النَّاسِ بِحُسْنِ صَحَابَتِي قَالَ ‏”‏ أُمُّكَ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ ثُمَّ مَنْ قَالَ ‏”‏ ثُمَّ أُمُّكَ ‏”‏قَالَ ثُمَّ مَنْ قَالَ ‏”‏ ثُمَّ أُمُّكَ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ ثُمَّ مَنْ قَالَ ‏”‏ ثُمَّ أَبُوكَ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ وَفِي حَدِيثِ قُتَيْبَةَ مَنْ أَحَقُّ بِحُسْنِ صَحَابَتِي وَلَمْ يَذْكُرِ النَّاسَ ‏.‏

Abu Huraira reported that a person came to Allah, ‘s Messenger (ﷺ) and said: Who among the people is most deserving of a fine treatment from my hand? He said: Your mother. He again said: Then who (is the next one)? He said: Again it is your mother (who deserves the best treatment from you). He said: Then who (is the next one)? He (the Holy Prophet) said: Again, it is your mother. He (again) said: Then who? Thereupon he said: Then it is your father. In the hadith transmitted on the authority of Qutaba, there is no mention of the word” the people”. Sahih Muslim 2548a

https://sunnah.com/muslim:2548a

HADITH 3

حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي عَمْرُو بْنُ الْحَارِثِ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ أَبِي حَبِيبٍ، أَنَّ نَاعِمًا، مَوْلَى أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ حَدَّثَهُ أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ قَالَ أَقْبَلَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ أُبَايِعُكَ عَلَى الْهِجْرَةِ وَالْجِهَادِ أَبْتَغِي الأَجْرَ مِنَ اللَّهِ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏”‏ فَهَلْ مِنْ وَالِدَيْكَ أَحَدٌ حَىٌّ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ نَعَمْ بَلْ كِلاَهُمَا ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏”‏ فَتَبْتَغِي الأَجْرَ مِنَ اللَّهِ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ نَعَمْ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏”‏ فَارْجِعْ إِلَى وَالِدَيْكَ فَأَحْسِنْ صُحْبَتَهُمَا ‏”‏ ‏.‏

Yazid b. Abu Habib reported that Na’im, the freed slave of Umm Salama, reported to him that ‘Abdullah b. ‘Amr b. ‘As said: There came to Allah’s Apostle (ﷺ) a person and said: I owe allegiance to you for migration and Jihad seeking reward only from Allah. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Is one from amongst your parents living? He said: Yes, of course, both are living. He further asked: Do you want to seek reward from Allah? He said: Yes. Thereupon Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said: Go back to your parents and accord them benevolent treatment. Sahih Muslim 2549d. https://sunnah.com/muslim:2549d

HADITH 4

أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَهَّابِ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْحَكَمِ الْوَرَّاقُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا حَجَّاجٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ جُرَيْجٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ طَلْحَةَ، – وَهُوَ ابْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ – عَنْ أَبِيهِ، طَلْحَةَ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ جَاهِمَةَ السُّلَمِيِّ، أَنَّ جَاهِمَةَ، جَاءَ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَرَدْتُ أَنْ أَغْزُوَ وَقَدْ جِئْتُ أَسْتَشِيرُكَ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ ‏”‏ هَلْ لَكَ مِنْ أُمٍّ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ نَعَمْ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏”‏ فَالْزَمْهَا فَإِنَّ الْجَنَّةَ تَحْتَ رِجْلَيْهَا ‏”‏ ‏.‏

It was narrated from Mu’awiyah bin Jahimah As-Sulami, that Jahimah came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: “O Messenger of Allah! I want to go out and fight (in Jihad) and I have come to ask your advice.” He said: “Do you have a mother?” He said: “Yes.” He said: “Then stay with her, for Paradise is beneath her feet.” Sunan an-Nasa’i 3104.

https://sunnah.com/nasai:3104

HADITH 5

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ سُهَيْلٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ ‏ “‏ لاَ يَجْزِي وَلَدٌ وَالِدَهُ إِلاَّ أَنْ يَجِدَهُ مَمْلُوكًا فَيَشْتَرِيَهُ فَيُعْتِقَهُ ‏”‏ ‏‏

Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with them, narrated that: Allah’s Messenger said: “No child can compensate his father unless he finds a slave, and buys him and sets him free.” Sunan Ibn Majah 3659

https://sunnah.com/ibnmajah:3659

HADITH 6

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الصَّبَّاحِ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، عَنْ عَطَاءٍ، عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ أَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ، سَمِعَ النَّبِيَّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ يَقُولُ ‏ “‏ الْوَالِدُ أَوْسَطُ أَبْوَابِ الْجَنَّةِ فَأَضِعْ ذَلِكَ الْبَابَ أَوِ احْفَظْهُ ‏” ‏.

Abu Darda’ heard the Prophet (ﷺ) say that: “The father is the middle door of Paradise (i.e. the best way to Paradise), so it is up to you whether you take advantage of it or not.” Sunan Ibn Majah 3663.

https://sunnah.com/ibnmajah:3663

HADITH 7

أَخْبَرَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ زُرَيْعٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، عَنْ سَالِمِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ “‏ ثَلاَثَةٌ لاَ يَنْظُرُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِلَيْهِمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ الْعَاقُّ لِوَالِدَيْهِ وَالْمَرْأَةُ الْمُتَرَجِّلَةُ وَالدَّيُّوثُ وَثَلاَثَةٌ لاَ يَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ الْعَاقُّ لِوَالِدَيْهِ وَالْمُدْمِنُ عَلَى الْخَمْرِ وَالْمَنَّانُ بِمَا أَعْطَى ‏

It was narrated from Salim bin ‘Abdullah that his father said: “The Messenger of Allah said: “There are three at whom Allah will not look on the Day of Resurrection: The one who disobeys his parents, the woman who imitates men in her outward appearance, and the cuckold. And there are three who will not enter Paradise: The one who disobeys his parents, the drunkard, and the one who reminds people of what he has given them.”‘ Sunan an-Nasa’i 2562.

https://sunnah.com/nasai:2562

HADITH 8

حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ عُمَارَةَ بْنِ الْقَعْقَاعِ بْنِ شُبْرُمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي زُرْعَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَنْ أَحَقُّ بِحُسْنِ صَحَابَتِي قَالَ ‏”‏ أُمُّكَ ‏”‏‏.‏ قَالَ ثُمَّ مَنْ قَالَ ‏”‏ أُمُّكَ ‏”‏‏.‏ قَالَ ثُمَّ مَنْ قَالَ ‏”‏ أُمُّكَ ‏”‏‏.‏ قَالَ ثُمَّ مَنْ قَالَ ‏”‏ ثُمَّ أَبُوكَ ‏”‏‏.‏ وَقَالَ ابْنُ شُبْرُمَةَ وَيَحْيَى بْنُ أَيُّوبَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو زُرْعَةَ مِثْلَهُ‏.‏

Narrated Abu Huraira: A man came to Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) and said, “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! Who is more entitled to be treated with the best companionship by me?” The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Your mother.” The man said. “Who is next?” The Prophet said, “Your mother.” The man further said, “Who is next?” The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Your mother.” The man asked for the fourth time, “Who is next?” The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Your father. ” Sahih al-Bukhari 5971.

https://sunnah.com/bukhari:5971

HADITH 9

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ يُونُسَ، حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ حُمَيْدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏”‏ إِنَّ مِنْ أَكْبَرِ الْكَبَائِرِ أَنْ يَلْعَنَ الرَّجُلُ وَالِدَيْهِ ‏”‏‏.‏ قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَكَيْفَ يَلْعَنُ الرَّجُلُ وَالِدَيْهِ قَالَ ‏”‏ يَسُبُّ الرَّجُلُ أَبَا الرَّجُلِ، فَيَسُبُّ أَبَاهُ، وَيَسُبُّ أَمَّهُ ‏”‏‏.‏

Narrated `Abdullah bin `Amr: Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said. “It is one of the greatest sins that a man should curse his parents.” It was asked (by the people), “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! How does a man curse his parents?” The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “‘The man abuses the father of another man and the latter abuses the father of the former and abuses his mother.” Sahih al-Bukhari 5973.

https://sunnah.com/bukhari:5973

HADITH 10

حَدَّثَنَا سَعْدُ بْنُ حَفْصٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شَيْبَانُ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ، عَنْ وَرَّادٍ، عَنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ “‏ إِنَّ اللَّهَ حَرَّمَ عَلَيْكُمْ عُقُوقَ الأُمَّهَاتِ، وَمَنْعَ وَهَاتِ، وَوَأْدَ الْبَنَاتِ، وَكَرِهَ لَكُمْ قِيلَ وَقَالَ، وَكَثْرَةَ السُّؤَالِ، وَإِضَاعَةَ الْمَالِ ‏”‏‏.‏

Narrated Al-Mughira: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Allah has forbidden you ( 1 ) to be undutiful to your mothers (2) to withhold (what you should give) or (3) demand (what you do not deserve), and (4) to bury your daughters alive. And Allah has disliked that (A) you talk too much about others (B), ask too many questions (in religion), or (C) waste your property. Sahih al-Bukhari 5975.

https://sunnah.com/bukhari:5975

HADITH 11

Kaab Bin Ujra relates Allah’s Messenger commanded his companions to arrange the pulpit. When the companions arranged the pulpit. Allah’s Messenger while ascending the first step recited “amin. Similarly, when he ascended the second step, he recited “Amin”. When he ascended the third step, he recited Amin. Then Allah’s Messengers descended from the pulpit.

We enquired, “O Messenger of Allah, today we heard something from you that we never been heard before. The Prophet (ṣ) said:

Verily, Gabriel came to me and he said: Whoever reaches the month of Ramadan and he is not forgiven, May he suffer doom (then he will enter Hellfire and Allah will cast him far away). I said amin. When I climb the second step Gabriel said, may the person suffered doom (then he will enter Hellfire and Allah will cast him far away) when your name recited before him, who does not send blessings upon you, in answer I said Amin. When I climbed the third step, Gabriel said may the person suffered doom (then he will enter Hellfire and Allah will cast him far away) when he finds both or either of his old parents and does not earn paradise by serving them in reply I stated Amin. then he will enter Hellfire and Allah will cast him far away.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Targheeb al bani 1333 vol 1, 985, Grade: Sahih

HADITH 12

حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ عَمَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عِيسَى بْنُ يُونُسَ، حَدَّثَنَا يُوسُفُ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْمُنْكَدِرِ، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، أَنَّ رَجُلاً، قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ لِي مَالاً وَوَلَدًا وَإِنَّ أَبِي يُرِيدُ أَنْ يَجْتَاحَ مَالِي فَقَالَ ‏ “‏ أَنْتَ وَمَالُكَ لأَبِيكَ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

It was narrated from Jabir bin ‘Abdullah that a man said: “O Messenger of Allah, I have wealth and a son, and my father wants to take all my wealth.” He said: “You and your wealth belong to your father.”

There was a young man who came to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) complaining about his father saying:

“O messenger of Allah, my father takes my money, he always asks me for money.”

The Prophet said: “Well call your father.” He went to call his father. Angel Gabriel (peace be upon him) came to the Prophet in that time and said to him:

“O messenger of Allah, when the father comes to you ask him, “what were you saying in secret on your way here?” The father was muttering something which his son couldn’t hear.

So when the father approached, the Prophet asked him:

“Is it true what your son is saying?”

The father said: “O messenger of Allah, if you only knew what I’m using his money for… anyway, I’m using it to look after his poor aunt. She’s left without anybody. Where else am I putting it? Only in place I have to. Using it towards his family.”

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

“Look! I want to ask you a question. Tell me about what you were saying in secret when you were coming towards me here.”

The father looked at the Prophet (peace be upon him) and said: “I made some verses of poetry.” The Prophet said:

“Please say them to me.”

He said: O son I nourished you when you were a baby

And I looked after you in care as you grew up until you became an adolescent

You lived upon what I worked for and strove

And you sacrificed in my body and time and wealth, So that you may live healthy

Whenever a night passed you, when you were sick or ill or coughed

I was the first to be up, carrying you and looking upon you with my heart

Afraid if an atom or a little breeze would harm you in anyway

I couldn’t sleep whilst seeing you sick, until you slept and then I slept

And so my eyes would always overwhelm with tears, But you never knew

And when you finally reached the adulthood, which all my life I was anticipating

And looking forward to seeing you become that.

Until you reached the day when I have all my life anticipated in my heart to see you reach and rejoice

You gave me reward, And your reward was harshness! And frowning and mistreatment

As if I’m the one who owes you, And you owe me nothing

The way you treated me is like what a neighbour would treat his neighbours, I wish that you even gave me that.

Prophet Muhammad looked up at the father and the father looked at him. The Prophet’s beard was soaked with tears. From his emotion, the Prophet grabbed the boy from his chest, shook him and said:

You and everything you own belongs to your father.

Today, we see children taking their own parents to court because they took their house or property. Allahu Akbar. Sunan Ibn Majah 2291.

 https://sunnah.com/ibnmajah:2291

HADITH 13. ( Reward of Hajj Mabroor)

 It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbas (May Allah be well pleased with them) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  Whichever obedient son (or daughter) looks at his parents with love, then Allah Most High grants the reward of 1 accepted Hajj in lieu of every glance.  The Companions asked:  If he does so 100 times in a single day, will he be given the reward of 100 accepted Hajj?  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  Allah is great and benevolent beyond all bounds.  Shua’bul Iman, Hadith No. 7611

In another hadith Allah may Forgive all the sins of a person before death but he must give punishment before death in this Dunay to the person who is disobedient of their parents

I conclude with this and send prayers of blessings and peace upon your Prophet as your Lord commanded:

Al Ahzaab (33) 56: Indeed, Allah confers blessing upon the Prophet, and His angels [ask Him to do so]. O you who have believed, ask [ Allah to confer] blessing upon him and ask [ Allah to grant him] peace.

Allahumma Sallai Al’a Muahmmad’n wa’aila Muhammad

Remember Allah, the Great – He will remember you. Thank Him for His favours – He will increase you therein.  And seek forgiveness from Him – He will forgive you. And be conscious of Him – He will provide you a way out of difficult matters. And, establish the prayer.

 

BY IMAM MCCIRLAM MAHBOOB RASOOL