122- The Holy Qur’an on Mannerism-5 : Respect for Parents and Elderly People (Series: Inviting Reflections).

Respect for the Parents:

The Holy Qur’an aims at evolving a society which is comprised of individuals who are spiritually minded and morally struggling ---- where neither the individual nor the society exploits each other.

The axis, on which a caring society can be raised, is a “family” where parents are entrusted with a noble duty to educate their children to shape them as law abiding and useful citizens; and the children take care of their old-age parents as their parents have been looking after them in their childhood and infancy. In Islamic culture a sound family structure is the foundation of a healthy society.

At many places, the Holy Qur’an, just after reminding the human beings that they should not commit “Shirk” (to make partner with Allah) has mentioned “Parents”. For example in the following verse the believers are commanded:

"???????? ??????? ?????? ???????????? ??????? ???????? ?????????????????? ?????????? ? ?????? ??????????? ??????? ????????? ???????????? ???? ?????????? ????? ????? ????????? ????? ????? ????????????? ????? ???????? ??????? ????????"

(Your Lord (Allah) has commanded that you worship none but Him, and that you be good to your parents. If either of them or both of them reach old age with you, do not say to them a word of disrespect, nor scold them, but say to them kind words). Surah: 17, Verse: 23.

We are ordained by Almighty Allah:

."???????????? ??????????? ????????????? ??????? ? "

(We have advised the human being to be good to his parents). Surah: 29, Verse: 8.

We are further ordained by Allah to be caring and polite with the parents. A Qur’anic verse reads:

."????????? ??????? ??????? ???????? ???? ??????????? ????? ?????? ???????????? ????? ??????????? ????????"

(And lower to them the wing of humility, out of mercy, and say, "My Lord, have mercy on them, as they raised me when I was a child"). Surah: 17, Verse: 24.

We have also been ordained to take care of the relatives, poor and the needy in the society. Another verse of the same Surah reads:

."??????? ??? ??????????? ???????? ?????????????? ??????? ?????????? ????? ????????? ??????????"

(And give the relative his rights, and the poor, and the wayfarer, and do not squander wastefully). Surah: 17, Verse: 26.

The importance of taking care of the parents, particularly when they are in their old age, can be understood when we look into the teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah that the most heinous crime, in eyes of Allah, is to commit “Shirk: ???”. But, if “Kafir” (non-believer) parents force their children to commit Shirk and make partner with Allah, Allah ordains the (Muslim) believers in Him to be polite and kind with the non-believer and pagan parents. A verse of the Qur’an reads:

"????? ?????????? ??????? ??? ???????? ??? ??? ?????? ???? ????? ?????? ????? ??????????? ? ?????????????? ??? ?????????? ?????????? ? ?????????? ??????? ???? ??????? ??????? ? ????? ??????? ???????????? ?????????????? ????? ??????? ???????????"

(But [even] if they [your pagan parents] strive you [to commit Shirk: ???] to make partner or associate with Me (Allah) something of which you have no knowledge, do not obey them. And give them company in this world kindly, and follow the path of him who turns to Me. Then to Me is your return; and I will inform you of what you used to do). Surah: 31, Verse: 15.

The history has witnessed that only the Last Message of Allah: al-Qur’an al-Karim expounds the philosophy of building a caring and loving society. We should remember that one of the great sins, in the eyes of Allah and His Prophet, peace be upon him, is to disobey one’s parents.

Respect for the Elderly and Senior Citizens:

As reported by Al-Tirmidhi, the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, has warned the believers by saying:

  ."?????? ?????? ???? ???? ???????? ??????????? ?? ????????? ???????????"

(Who is not kind towards our youngsters and infants, and does not respect our elderly and senior  people, he is not from among us). Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Hadith # 1919.

On the authority of Abu Musa Ash‘ari RA, it is reported that the Prophet, peace be upon him, has said:

."???? ???? ???????? ?? ???????? ???? ?????????? ???????????? ?? ??????? ??????????....?? ???????? ???? ??????????? ???????????"

(It is part of showing sublimity and exaltedness towards Allah Almighty to respect the gray hair Muslims, scholars of al-Qur’an al-Karim and the just and righteous rulers). Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith # 24843. The same has been reiterated by the Prophet, peace be upon him, in a statement as reported by Anas RA:

."???? ???? ????????? ?????????? ???????????? ???? ???????"

(To pay respect and facilitations to the elderly people of my Ummah is to pay respect and honour to me). Kanz al-‘Ummal, Hadith # 6013. The old age people, in a family or a society, have been regarded as “Source of Grace” (al-Barakah) by the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. On the authority of Abu Umamah RA, the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, is reported to have said:"?????????? ??? ???????????"  (The grace and goodness is because of our elderly people), Al-Mu‘jam al-Kabir by Tabarani, Hadith # 27895. The same has been reported by ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbas RA that the Prophet, peace be upon him, while addressing someone, said: "?????????? ??? ????????????" (The grace (and bounties of Allah) are because your elderly people). Sahih Ibn Hibban, Hadith # 2559.

In another hadith, on authority of Anas RA, it is reported that the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, conveyed a promise of Allah Almighty for those who fecilitate the elderly and the aged people:

."??? ??????? ????? ??????? ????????? ???? ??????? ??? ???? ???? ?????????? ?????? ???????"                

(If a young will pay respect to a person for his old age, Allah will appoint a person who would facilitate him in his old days). Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi, Hadith # 22022.

Thanks to Allah, still in Islamic lands, in accordance with the teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah, the ageing parents and the senior citizens enjoy respect and they are being taken care of by their children as compared to many other cultures and societies.