Islam is a complete way of life. It helps and guides us in our daily life. It teaches the Ummah everything that has goodness and blessings for them in it. It tells us about every act which can provide us with success and victory. It stops us from acts that are harmful to oneself and others. Allah Almighty has ordered His slaves to do good and behave well with our relatives, neighbours and everyone around us irrespective of caste, color or creed. Among the very important lessons that Islam teaches us is Husn Akhlaq, i.e. good behavior toward parents. The Qur' an clearly states, “Worship Allâh and join none with Him (in worship); and do good to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, Al-Masâkîn (the poor), the neighbor who is near of kin, the neighbor who is a stranger, the companion by your side, the wayfarer (you meet), and those (slaves) whom your right hands possess. Verily, Allâh does not like such as are proud and boastful. (Qur'an, 4:36) In many places the Holy Qur'an states the respect for and obedience of parents alongside the worship of Allah. It is the first and foremost duty of a Muslim to worship Allah alone without associating any partners with Him, and then to treat one's parents in the best possible way described by the Qur'an and the Sunnah. Abdur-Rahman Bin Abu Bakr narrated that his father said: We were with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and he said, “Shall I not tell you about the biggest enormities (major sins)? They are three: Associating partners with Allah, disobedience to parents, and false witness (lies).” The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was reclining, and then he sat up and continued saying it until we wished he would stop. (Sahih Muslim) Another beautiful verse precisely sketches the behavior of a child with his parents. “And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout at them but address them in terms of honor.” (Qur'an, 17:23) This verse clearly describes the way one should behave with one's parents as the Creator has mentioned the rights (Huqooq) of the parents. One should speak politely and softly, and always be kind to them. They must not even utter an ‘uff' (a slight word of disrespect to them in their old age because they are weak in health and spirit. The Qur'an commands its followers to take special care of them in old age by not only giving them physical help, but also providing them with emotional support and keeping their morale high by being by their side, and speaking words of love, encouragement and hope. It was those hands that fed him and took care of him when he needed them the most. It is indeed remarkable how parents become restless on the slightest pain of their child, and how a mother selflessly wakes up innumerable times at night to feed her baby and make him comfortable in every possible way. Verily, the Qur'an truly brings out the true essence of parental care. We must try our best to inculcate these values in ourselves and in our children who will do it with their children and so on; the right treatment and the right behavior toward parents. Abu Huraira reported: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “May he be humbled! Again, may he be humbled! Again, may he be humbled!” It was said: “O Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), who?” The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “The one who sees his parents grow old, one or both of them, and he does not enter Paradise.” (Sahih Muslim) May Allah guide us and elevate us among those who are kind to our parents so that we become the dwellers of paradise. __
