The Blessing of Our Parents

There are many blessings given to us that we overlook, whether it is food, education, friends, or shelter. However, the most overlooked is the blessing of our parents, the very beings who are our guideposts throughout life and who help mold us into the person we are today. Unfortunately, many of us fail to recognize the effort they put into making us the best we can be, spending endless nights in prostration praying for our good fortune and being our rock to lean on. God emphasizes the importance of respecting parents in the Holy Quran when He says,

“The Lord has decreed that you worship none save Him alone, and behave beneficently towards parents. If either or both of them should attain old age while you are alive, say not ‘ugh’ to them, nor chide them, and speak kindly to them. Lower to them the wing of humility out of tenderness and pray: Lord have mercy upon them as they brought me up when I was little. (17:24-25)”

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), has taught us that there are three major sins, out of which the second most looked down upon is disobedience to parents. Yet, we still fail to hold our tongues and treat them as if they weren’t the two most important people who brought us into this world and showered us with their love and worked overtime for our well-being. As members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, it’s our responsibility to spread Islamic teachings in order to ensure the kind treatment of parents, especially the elderly. A healthy relationship between children and their mother and father will not only be beneficial for them, but for the future generations that they’ll raise. As they grow old and weak, it’s essential that their children be there to care for them, otherwise what example will this set for the youth? The treatment of the elderly by adults will lay down the blueprint for their offspring and contribute to a harmonious bond between each other. Teaching children to respect their parents will lead to better communication and create a peaceful environment in the home. In turn, they’ll know to teach their future children to show respect and kindness to parents and instill responsibility and courtesy in them.

Regarding the superior status of parents in Islam Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said:

"Poorly is the person, poorly is the person, again, poorly is the person, the one who lives long enough to witness the old age of his parents, yet fails to earn Paradise (by serving them)."

“The pleasure of God is in the pleasure of parents and His displeasure in their displeasure.”

These two sayings demonstrate that the manner in which we treat our mother and father is one of the key components in determining our entrance into the gates of Heaven, teaching us that through them we can be in the grasp of paradise. Mother’s Day has passed, Father’s Day is today and Parents Day is in July. This is the time to appreciate our parents and everything they have done for us, not only on these designated days but for the rest of our lives as well. Hopefully, we can keep the teachings of Islam in mind and may we always hold the greatest respect and honor for them in our hearts.