Knowledge International University

Midterm Assignment 2

Course Name: Adaab 1

Course Code: AD 1

Instructor: Shaykh Sajid Umar & Shaykh Ahsan Hanif

Student Details

Name: Hassan Basarally

Student ID: 1120020

Batch:

Assignment Question

Write an essay about the status of parents in Islam with evidence from the Qur’an and Sunnah.

Also discuss the current rise of bad etiquette in our (Muslim) societies with regards to one’s

parents the reasons for this and its remedies. The remedies should be discussed using the

Qur’an and the Sunnah.

Answer:

Islam places much emphasis on the family as a foundation for a developed society. As such, it

also ensures that the parents who are integral in the upbringing of a new generation of

Muslims are afforded the rights and respect owed to them. Islam maintains the status of

parents by commanding children to be dutiful, respectful, and constantly seek their parents’

pleasure. Despite this, many Muslims are negligent of the status of parents. This can be

addressed by the parents rectifying themselves and ensuring the children are given an Islamic

education and upbringing.

The Muslim is supposed to be obedient and helpful to his parents. This is a means to repaying

them for the care and upbringing as a child. In Surah Isra (23) Allah mentions

obedience to the Himself first and then follows it by mentioning the obedience to parents.

ان�ا س� إ�ح� ال�د�ي�ن� ب�ال�و� و� �ي�اه� إ إ�ال� ت�ع�ب�د�وا ال�أ� ب�ك� ر� �ى و�ق�ض�

And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to

your parents.

This shows the level that Allah has given to them and that obedience is given to

them in worldly matters. However if they command the disobedience of their Lord they are

not to be obeys by kindness is still owed to them. Abu Hurairah narrates that the

Prophet said: "May he be disgraced and humiliated, may he be disgraced and

humiliated, may he be disgraced and humiliated." They said, "Who O Messenger of Allah?" He

said, "The one whose parents attain old age, or one of them, and he enters Hellfire (by

not serving them)." 1

This Hadith is evidence that the one who is not supportive of parents,

especially in old age when they need the most help is committing a major sin. It is a major sin

because Allah threatens those negligent in this duty with Hellfire.

From the mannerisms towards parents is to never verbally abuse them or speak harshly towards

them. Indeed, the tongue can cause much emotional harm, especially to parents who have a natural

disposition of love and tenderness to a child. Ali was asked, “did the Prophet favour you

with something that he did not favour for the rest of the people?' He said, “The Prophet did not

favour anything for us that he did not favour for the people, except for what is in the hilt of my

sword.” Then he removed a piece of paper and written on it was, “Allah curses the one who

slaughters for the sake of other than Allah. Allah curses the one who steals the boundary posts

of the land (in order to make his plot of land bigger). Allah curses the one who curses his

parents. Allah curses the one who aids an innovator.”2

The benefits of this Hadith are many

regarding the status of parents. Firstly cursing ones parents is mentioned with major sins and acts of

1 Saheeh, at-Ta'leeq ar-Ragheeb (3/215)

2 Saheeh, al-Mishkaat (4070)

disbelief which shows its severity. Also, the Messenger saw this matter as so

important that he had it written to be preserved after this death.

The welfare, both physical and emotional of parents is of paramount importance. The child is

commanded to ensure that his actions cause his parents joy and satisfaction, as long as the

actions are within the Shariah. Abdullah bin Umru said, "A man came to the Prophet

to give him the Bay'ah for Hijrah, and he left his parents crying. So the Prophet said, 'Return to

your parents and make them laugh as you have made them cry'"3

From this Hadith the

pleasing of parents is given the greatest status. The man did a great act wanting to migrate for

Allah , yet Allah’s Messenger commanded him to go back and

comfort his parents.

When Muslims neglect duty, obedience, respect and making ones parents happy, many ills

befall the community. Due to these virtues being forgotten by children, the Muslim community

today has too many instances of children being harsh and disrespectful to parents and going to

the extreme to abandoning them. Children are a trial and effort must be taken to rectify them.

Allah says in Surah Taghaabun (15):

ت�ن�ة! ف� د�ك�م� و�ال�أ� و� ال�ك�م� و� م�

أ� ا �ن�م� إ

Your wealth and your children are only a trial.

So since children are a trial, the Muslims embrace them as trials develop the Islamic character.

In addition, in several places in the Quran Allah mentions children with wealth, for example

Surah Kahf (46) and Surah Munafiqoon (9). Therefore children are a form of wealth. With

wealth one can increase it and benefit of lose it and be harmed. So how we manage children

can be profitable or disastrous in this world and the next.

The first step to rectifying the disrespect towards parent s is for the parents themselves to

exhibit righteous conduct. Ibn Abbas narrates that the Prophet said

“Shall I not inform you of the best treasure that a man gathers- a righteous wife.”4

Abu

Hurairah narrates that the Prophet said “If someone should come

3 Saheeh, at-Ta'leeq ar-Ragheeb (3/213)

4 Al Haakim, 2/363, Number 3281

to you whose religion and character you are pleased with, marry (your daughter) off to

him. If you do not do so there will be mischief in the land and widespread corruption.”5

From these Ahadeeth it is evident that if the parents themselves are sinful there will be no

proper foundation for the children hence there will be mischief and corruption. This is

because children observe parents very well and imitate their behaviour. Therefore, no matter

what a parent would tell a child, the action is what the child hold on to.

Another important thing that is needed to develop the legislated respect for parents is a

proper Islamic education and upbringing. This can be achieved by being mindful of children’s

friends and fostering in them a love for the Scholars and leaders. The Prophet

said “The example of a righteous companion and an evil companion is like that of a

seller of musk and a blacksmith.”6

Good friends will encourage good behaviour, exhibit it

and deter bad habits. Allah says in Surah Nisaa (59):

نك�م� م� ر� م�� األ� أ�ول�ي و� ول� س� ط�يع�والر�

أ� و� ه� اللـ� ط�يع�واأ� ن�وا آم� ال�ذ�ين� ا ي�ه�

� أ ي�ا

O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger (Muhammad), and those of you

(Muslims) who are in authority.

Our young people need role models, so they will not love musicians, footballers and models. A love

for the people of Knowledge is important to maintain that love for Islam hat will be a cushion

against the peer pressure from a non-Muslim society.

Islam ensures the status of parents through the command to be dutiful, respectful, and constantly

seek their pleasure. However, many have left this traits in Muslim communities. The only way to

solve this problem is for the parents to be righteous and ensure a proper upbringing for children

through good friends and love for the People of Knowledge.

5 Hassan Ghareeb, At Tirmidhee, Number 1085

6 Bukharee, Number 5534