Looking at parents with love and affection is highly rewarding in Islam. From birth, we understand that parents should always be treated with love and honor. We must be kind and never raise our voices in front of them. And while we do it to show respect to our parents, it is a gratifying deed in Islam.
Even according to the Holy Quran and the Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) Sunnah, affection towards parents is highly rewarding. Muslims who take good care of and cherish their parents are rewarded in the hereafter as well as in this world. The numerous advantages of treating parents with love and respect in Islam are the subject of this article.
Understanding the Importance of Parents in Islam
In Islam, parents are considered one of the greatest blessings of Allah. The Holy Quran mentions the importance of parents in several places, emphasizing the importance of obedience, respect, and kindness towards them. Allah Almighty says in the Quran:
وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ وَبِٱلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ إِحْسَـٰنًا ۚ إِمَّا يَبْلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ ٱلْكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَآ أَوْ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَآ أُفٍّۢ وَلَا تَنْهَرْهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوْلًۭا كَرِيمًۭا 0 وَٱخْفِضْ لَهُمَا جَنَاحَ ٱلذُّلِّ مِنَ ٱلرَّحْمَةِ وَقُل رَّبِّ ٱرْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِى صَغِيرًۭا
“For your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And honor your parents. If one or both of them reach old age in your care, never tell them ˹even˺ ‘ugh,’ nor yell at them. Rather, address them respectfully. And be humble with them out of mercy, and pray, “My Lord! Be merciful to them as they raised me when I was young.” [1]
We learn from this verse that showing parents kindness and respect is an act of worship that pleases Allah. As per Islamic education, our folks are worth the most profound love and regard since they were the ones who supported us, dealt with us, and made the most unbelievable sacrifices for us. Ibn Mas’ud (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
I asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ): “Which act is the best?” He (ﷺ) said, “As-Salat at their fixed times.” I asked, “What next?” He (ﷺ) said, “Being dutiful to parents.” I asked, “What next?” He (ﷺ) said, “Striving (Jihad) in the way of Allah.” [2]
The Rewards of Looking at Parents with Love and Affection
Looking at parents with love and affection is an act that brings immense rewards in this life and the hereafter. The following are some tips one can attain by treating their parents with love and affection.
The Pleasure of Allah
Treating parents with love and affection is an act that pleases Allah. Allah showers us with blessings and mercy when we follow His commands. In Islam, looking for Allah’s pleasure is a definitive objective of every believer. Aiming for Allah’s pleasure means lovingly treating parents. Abdullah bin Amr narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said:
“The Lord’s pleasure is in the parent’s pleasure, and the Lord’s anger is in the parent’s anger.” (Hasan). [3]
The verse clarifies that by showing kindness and affection towards our parents, we please Allah and earn His mercy and blessings. It is a crucial aspect of our faith, bringing immense benefits and rewards in this life and the hereafter.
Protection from Hellfire
Abu Ayyub al-Ansari told him that a bedouin came to the Prophet (May Allah bless him and grant him peace) while he was traveling. He asked: “Tell me what will bring me near to the Garden and keep me far from the Fire.” He replied, “Worship Allah and do not associate anything with Him; perform the prayer, pay zakat, and maintain ties of kinship.” [4]
By treating our parents with love and affection, we maintain kinship ties, an act highly valued in Islam. Maintaining ties of kinship protects us from being cut off in the Hereafter and earns us protection from Hellfire.
Increased Blessings in this Life
Treating parents with love and affection brings immense blessings in this life. Mu’adh said:
“Bliss belongs to someone who is dutiful towards his parents. Allah Almighty will prolong his life.” [5]
Treating our parents with kindness and respect create a positive cycle of love and affection within the family, bringing immense blessings and happiness.
Forgiveness of Sins
Treating parents with love and affection can also lead to forgiving sins. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “May he be disgraced! May he be disgraced! May he be disgraced, whose parents, one or both, attain old age during his lifetime, and he does not enter Jannah (by rendering being dutiful to them)”. [6]
This hadith emphasizes that being kind and affectionate towards our parents is crucial to enter Paradise. It is a way to ask Allah to forgive us for our faults and gain His favor and benefits.
Practical Ways of Looking at Parents with Love and Affection
Looking at parents with love and affection is not just a theoretical concept in Islam. It is a practical way of life that requires effort and dedication. The following are helpful ways of looking at parents with love and affection.
Respect and Honor
Allah says in the Quran:
وَوَصَّيْنَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ بِوَٰلِدَيْهِ حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُۥ وَهْنًا عَلَىٰ وَهْنٍۢ وَفِصَـٰلُهُۥ فِى عَامَيْنِ أَنِ ٱشْكُرْ لِى وَلِوَٰلِدَيْكَ إِلَىَّ ٱلْمَصِيرُ
“And We have commanded people to ˹honour˺ their parents. Their mothers bore them through hardship upon hardship, and their weaning takes two years. So be grateful to Me and your parents. To Me is the final return.” [7]
We must submit to our parents, treat them with respect, and honor them in order to love and cherish them. Kulayb ibn Manfa’a reported that:
His grandfather asked, “Messenger of Allah, towards whom should I be dutiful?” He replied, “Your mother, your father, your sister, and your brother. Then your mawla (client) has the next right against you and then your relatives who are connected.” [8]
Spending Time
Investing energy in your folks is one way to show them you care about them. You can do so through simple acts such as visiting them or sending sweet voicemails, speaking to them about their day, or cooking them a hearty meal. In short, spending time in their service is an act of devotion towards parents, ergo, invoking Allah’s pleasure. Narrated `Abdullah bin `Amr:
A man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) asking his permission to take part in Jihad. The Prophet (ﷺ) asked him, “Are your parents alive?” He replied in the affirmative. The Prophet (ﷺ) said to him, “Then exert yourself in their service.” [9]
Helping Out
Helping parents with their daily tasks is another practical way to show love and affection for them. It may be as straightforward as getting things done, assisting with shopping for food, or helping with family errands. By volunteering, we show our gratitude to our parents for their efforts and sacrifices. It is reported on the authority of ‘Abdullah that the Messenger of Allah observed:
“The best of’ the deeds or deed is the (observance of) prayer at its proper time and kindness to the parents.” [10]
Making Supplication
Finally, one of the most practical ways of looking at parents with love and affection is by making supplications for them. It could be asking Allah to bless them with good health, long life, and happiness. By supplicating our parents, we seek Allah’s mercy and blessings for them, which brings immense rewards and benefits. The Holy Quran has given us the supplication we can do every day for our parents:
رَبَّنَا ٱغْفِرْ لِى وَلِوَٰلِدَىَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ ٱلْحِسَاب
“Our Lord! Forgive me, my parents, and the believers on the day when the judgment will come to pass.” [11]
Conclusion
In Islam, showing love and affection to parents is a rewarding activity that brings immense blessings and benefits both in this life and the afterlife. Islam provides practical methods and emphasizes the significance of treating parents with love, respect, and kindness. We thank Allah, beg His forgiveness for our sins, and gain His mercy and blessings by loving and devotedly serving our parents. Let’s strive to supplicate for our parents to have a great life and afterlife. Ameen.
Looking At Parents with Love and Affection is Rewarding. It is a part of an amazing series of content. For more, you are very much encouraged to follow our whole series Time to Revive where we discuss the forgotten sunnah or Prophet Muhammad Peace be Upon Him and try to revive them by considering most of the perspectives of the modern world. Reading them and making them a habit is now your choice.
By Joweria Shahid
References
- Al-Quran( Surah Al-Isra, 17:23, 24)
- Riyad as-Salihin 1074: Book 8, Hadith 84
- Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1899: Book 27, Hadith 3
- Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 49: Book 2, Hadith 3
- Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 22: Book 1, Hadith 22
- Riyad as-Salihin 317: Introduction, Hadith 317
- Al-Quran (Surah Luqman, 31:14)
- Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 47: Book 2, Hadith 1
- Sahih al-Bukhari 3004: Book 56, Hadith 213
- Sahih Muslim 85e: Book 1, Hadith 162
- Al-Quran (Surah Ibrahim, 14:41)
