Importance of Parents

Abdullah ibn Umar, a leading scholar among the Prophet’s (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) companions once saw a man from Yemen carrying his mother on his back and going around the Kaaba in his tawaf. Rather than show any sign of complaint, the man was happy, repeating a line of poetry in which he likened himself to a camel his mother was mounting. The only difference is that a camel may be scared by something and go out of control. He would never go out of her control.

He looked at Abdullah ibn Umar and asked him whether by so doing he discharged his debt to his mother. Ibn Umar said: “No. You have not even paid back one twinge of her labour pain when she gave birth to you.”

Abdullah Bin Umar RadhiAllahu ‘anhu narrates that, I asked the Prophet Sallallahu alaihi wasallam, “Which deed is the dearest to Allah?” He replied, “To offer the prayers at their fixed times.” I asked, “What is next?” He replied, “To be good and dutiful to your parents.” I again asked, “What is the next?” He replied, “To strive in the path of Allah.” [Bukhari]

Rasulallah Sallallahu alaihi wasallam was asked about the major sins, Rasulallah Sallallahu alaihi wasallam said, they are:-

“To join others in worship with Allah, (to commit shirk)
To be undutiful to one’s parents, (disobedience to parents)
To kill a person un justly (Muslim or Non-Muslim which Allah has forbidden to kill)
And to give a false witness.” [Bukhari]

Once while the Sahabah RadhiAllahu ‘anhum were with the Prophet Sallallahu alaihi wasallam, a man from the Banu Salmah came to Him and said:

“Oh Allah’s Messenger Sallallahu alaihi wasallam, is there any kindness left that I can do to my parents after their death?” Rasulullah Sallallahu alaihi wasallam replied: “Yes, you can invoke blessings on them, ask forgiveness for them, carry out their final instructions after their death, join ties of relationship which are dependent on them, and honour their friends.” [Abu Dawood]

Haywah bin Shurih used to sit teaching the people, his mother would sometimes say to him: “O Haywah! Feed the chickens some barley,” he would leave the audience, obey his mother, and then resume the lecture.

Mujahid said: “If the parents grow old and end up urinating and answering the call of nature on themselves, do not feel disgusted or say ‘Uff’ to them. Rather, remove the urine and feces from them, just as they used to do when you were young without feeling disgust in doing that for you.”

Ibn al-Jawzi reported that al-Hasan said: “It is better for you to eat dinner with your mother, so that her heart is comforted, than to perform a voluntary Hajj.” [Abdul Malik al-Qasim – Kindness to Parents]