Islam teaches us not only the rights Allah has over us but also the rights of fellow human beings. It includes various groups of people, such as orphans, the elderly, the poor and needy, our neighbors, etc. Among the most emphasized rights of humans in Islam are the rights of parents. Making dua for parents is, hence, amongst the most beneficial things a Muslim can do.
Showing kindness and obedience to our parents is one of the primary obligations in Islam. Allah repeatedly orders us to show respect to our parents in the Quran. The importance of mothers in Islam is particularly notable, as Allah has granted them exceptionally high status. Muslims must make abundant dua for parents and for protection, which they learn from Quranic teachings.
Be dutiful and respectful to parents
In Surah Al-Isra, we learn that Allah ordered us to worship Him alone and be obedient to our parents. If either or both of one’s parents reach old age during his life, he must not utter a word of disrespect to them or yell at them. Rather, he should use honorable terms to speak to them.
Allah often mentioned being good to parents alongside worshipping Him alone without associating partners. Indeed, worshipping Allah without committing Shirk (associating partners with Allah) is the foremost obligation in Islam. Islam thus prescribes obedience to parents alongside its most fundamental principle. This is a powerful indicator of how highly Muslims should prioritize the honorable treatment of their parents.
We have to show obedience to our parents in all circumstances, provided they don’t ask us to disobey Allah. Moreover, we must always be respectful in how we talk and behave with them, regardless of how much patience it may require. It is their right upon us to be spoken to politely in every situation. We are not even permitted to say so much as an “Uff” to them.
Make Dua for parents’ forgiveness and look after them when they are old
Allah tells us in Surah Al-Isra to show our parents submission and humility through mercy, and ask Allah to be merciful to them for our upbringing when we were little.
We should always be grateful to our parents. When we were small, weak, and powerless, they loved and cared for us. They gave us all the care we needed, provided all the things we needed during childhood, from food to clothes and education.
We must keep these pertinent facts in mind throughout our lives, as they shape our conduct with our parents. This matter is especially crucial as they grow old and need our care and support. As they age, we must repay their favors upon us, (which is hardly possible) to the best of our ability. We have to treat them kindly, gently, and in a devoted manner, always. We should always make dua for our beloved parents’ happiness.
Taking care of elderly parents may be testing and require immense patience on their children’s part. One’s parents may require a lot of attention and looking after, needing many sacrifices from their children. However, any difficulties one encounters in such a scenario still pale in comparison to all that they bore for us.
In addition to serving and supporting parents in their old age, believers ought to make dua for aging parents. Muslims should make dua for their parents’ health and dua for their parents to be blessed with long life. It is vital to make dua for our parents’ forgiveness and for Allah’s mercy to embrace them. A great dua from the Quran for parents is: “Rabbirhamhuma kama rabbayanee sagheera” (Asking Allah to grant them His Mercy for bringing one up as a child).
The special status of mothers in Islam
The Prophet (PBUH) said that Paradise is below a mother’s feet, as recorded in Sunan an Nasa’i. According to a hadeeth in Al-Bukhari and Muslim, the Prophet (PBUH) was asked by a man regarding who deserves his good treatment most. The first three times, the Prophet (PBUH) replied stating that it’s his mother and after that, he said it’s his father.
In Surah Luqman, Allah orders us to care for our parents, along with the fact that giving birth involves much hardship and weakness for the mother.
These Hadiths and Quranic verses vividly convey the remarkably esteemed position of mothers in our religion. The Quran reminds us of the difficulties that mothers experience while pregnant with their children. They undergo severe pain and have to endure this state for an extended period of time, culminating in birth.
The upbringing of children is largely in their mothers’ hands. Fathers are generally less closely involved in the raising of their children due to being the breadwinners. Mothers, meanwhile, tend to devote their time and energy to looking after the household. Mothers nurture children, take care of them when they are unwell, and instill religious values, righteousness, and good manners in them as they grow up.
Allah instructs us to obey both our parents, so the special status of mothers does not mean we disregard our fathers. Rather, that we should go above and beyond in exhibiting exemplary conduct in our treatment of our mothers.
How to benefit parents after they die
In Sunan Abu Dawud, we learn that someone asked the Prophet (PBUH) if he can obey his parents in any way after their passing. The Prophet’s (PBUH) answer was that he should pray for his parents, make dua for them to be forgiven, uphold their promises following their death, maintain ties of kinship which cannot be upheld through other than them, and respect their friends.
There are a number of ways for Muslims to benefit their late parents. These include the payment of their worldly debts, as well as religious ones. Consequently, one can perform Hajj or make up fasts on one’s late parents’ behalf. Furthermore, Muslims can benefit their parents after their death by giving charity on their behalf.
Additionally, one should uphold the ties of kinship and friendship. In fact, the Prophet (PBUH) said, as recorded in Sahih Muslim, that the ultimate kind deed is for sons to maintain ties of friendship with whomever their father had befriended.
Make dua for parents after death
In Sahih Muslim, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) stated that the deceased man’s deeds come to a halt apart from three things. These are: Sadaqah Jariyah (unstopping charity), beneficial knowledge, and a righteous descendant who prays for him.
Sadaqah Jariyah is a continuous source of reward for the dead. It is a form of charity whose rewards don’t cease to exist upon one’s passing. The same principle applies to beneficial knowledge, which is another source of ceaseless reward for the deceased.
It is hugely beneficial to make dua for parents who have passed away. One should seek Allah’s forgiveness for them and pray for Allah to have mercy on them. Verily, one should strive to be a pious Muslim and make dua for his late parents.
The aforementioned Quranic dua can be recited in this instance, which is: “Rabbirhamhuma kama rabbayanee sagheera” (Calling on Allah to have mercy on one’s parents as they brought him up when he was just a child).
Another dua that Muslims can recite for their late parents is: “Rabbana ighfir lee waliwalidayya walilmumineena yawma yaqoomu alhisab” (Asking Allah to forgive one as well as his parents and the believers on the Day of Reckoning).
Wrapping Up
In Islam, honoring and making dua for parents is a sacred duty. Allah emphasizes this through the Quran and the Prophet’s teachings. Our parents’ love, care, and sacrifices deserve our utmost respect, even after their passing. Making dua for our late parents and upholding their promises is a way to continue to benefit them, as their good deeds live on.
