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https://notebooklm.google.com/notebook/0a9b68cf-9eeb-4d67-840f-7ce3e7bdab3e/audio
Here are key Quranic verses highlighting parental care and the importance of honoring parents, with their core messages:
- Surah Al-Isra (17:23-24) – The Foundational Command:
- “And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much as], ‘uff,’ and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word. And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy and say, ‘My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small.'”
- Message: This is the cornerstone verse. Allah commands worship of Him alone immediately followed by the command to treat parents with the utmost kindness, respect, and patience, especially in their old age. It forbids even the slightest expression of annoyance (“uff”) and instructs humility, mercy, and prayers for them, acknowledging their care during childhood.
- Surah Luqman (31:14) – Gratitude to Allah and Parents:
- “And We have enjoined upon man [care] for his parents. His mother carried him, [increasing her] in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years. Be grateful to Me and to your parents; to Me is the [final] destination.”
- Message: Allah explicitly links gratitude towards Him with gratitude towards parents. It highlights the mother’s immense physical sacrifice during pregnancy and weaning, emphasizing the profound debt of gratitude owed to parents, especially mothers.
- Surah Al-Ahqaf (46:15) – Parental Sacrifice & Righteous Prayer:
- “And We have enjoined upon man, to his parents, good treatment. His mother carried him with hardship and gave birth to him with hardship, and his gestation and weaning [period] is thirty months. [He grows] until, when he reaches maturity and reaches [the age of] forty years, he says, ‘My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents and to work righteousness of which You will approve and make righteous for me my offspring. Indeed, I have repented to You, and indeed, I am of the Muslims.'”
- Message: Reiterates the command for good treatment, detailing the mother’s prolonged hardship (pregnancy, birth, weaning). It presents the ideal response of a righteous adult: deep gratitude to Allah for His favors and for the parents, and a prayer for righteousness for themselves and their own children, acknowledging the parents’ role.
- Surah Al-Baqarah (2:83) – Part of the Covenant:
- “And [recall] when We took the covenant from the Children of Israel, [enjoining upon them], ‘Do not worship except Allah; and to parents do good…'”
- Message: Treating parents well is presented as part of a fundamental covenant with previous communities (Children of Israel), showing its universal importance across divine messages, alongside the core tenet of worshipping Allah alone.
- Surah An-Nisa (4:36) – Among Primary Social Responsibilities:
- “Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him, and to parents do good…”
- Message: In a verse listing core social responsibilities (kindness to relatives, orphans, the poor, neighbors, companions, travelers), doing good to parents is mentioned immediately after the command to worship Allah alone, signifying its paramount importance in Islamic ethics.
Key Themes from these Verses:
- Divine Command: Kindness to parents is not merely cultural advice; it’s a direct command from Allah, often paired with the command to worship Him alone.
- Highest Priority: After duties to Allah, duties to parents are given the highest priority among human relationships.
- Respect & Patience: This involves profound respect, gentle speech, humility, and immense patience, especially as parents age and become dependent.
- Gratitude: Recognizing and being grateful for the immense sacrifices parents make, particularly mothers during pregnancy, childbirth, and early childcare, is central.
- Mother’s Special Sacrifice: The physical toll and hardship borne by mothers are explicitly highlighted multiple times.
- Dua (Supplication): Praying for Allah’s mercy and forgiveness for parents is encouraged as an act of ongoing kindness.
These verses paint a powerful picture of parental care as a sacred trust and foundational element of a righteous life in Islam. They emphasize the profound debt owed to parents and the high standard of treatment they deserve.
Here is a concise summary of Chapter 40: Kind Treatment Towards Parents and Establishment of Ties of Kinship from Riyad us-Saliheen by Imam An-Nawawi, based on authentic Quranic verses and Hadiths:
📖 Key Themes:
- Divine Commands:
- Worship Allah alone and show kindness to parents, relatives, orphans, and neighbors (Quran 4:36) .
- Allah decrees dutifulness to parents, forbidding disrespect, harsh speech, or even a sigh of annoyance toward them (Quran 17:23–24) .
- Severing kinship ties is condemned as a major sin (Quran 47:22–23) .
- Priority of Parents:
- The Prophet ﷺ emphasized a mother’s right three times before mentioning the father (Hadith 316) .
- Disobeying parents, especially mothers, is among the gravest sins alongside polytheism (Hadith 336) .
- Maintaining Kinship Ties:
- True piety involves kindness even if relatives sever ties (Hadith 322) .
- Allah rewards those who uphold kinship and severs ties with those who abandon them (Hadith 315, 323) .
- Spiritual Consequences:
- Disrespect to aging parents leads to divine disgrace and exclusion from Paradise (Hadith 317) .
- Severing kinship invites curses, misfortune, and blindness of the heart (Quran 13:25, Hadith 318) .
- Practical Implications:
- Serving parents takes precedence over voluntary acts like jihad (Hadith 321) .
- Upholding kinship ensures prolonged life, abundant provision (Hadith 319), and Allah’s mercy (Hadith 323) .
💎 Key Hadiths:
- Hadith 312: After prayer, kindness to parents is the most beloved deed to Allah .
- Hadith 313: A child can never fully repay a parent’s kindness except by freeing them if enslaved .
- Hadith 318: Persisting in kindness toward abusive relatives is like “feeding them hot ashes,” yet Allah supports the patient .
This chapter underscores that honoring parents and kinship is both a spiritual obligation and a means to divine grace, social harmony, and personal blessings. For deeper study, refer to the full text in Riyad us-Saliheen .
Chapter 40 of Riyad as-Saliheen, titled “Kind Treatment towards Parents and Establishment of the Ties of Blood Relationship,” emphasizes the Islamic virtues of dutifulness to parents and maintaining family ties. It includes hadiths that highlight the importance of treating parents and relatives with kindness and respect, as these actions are highly rewarding in Islam. Key points include:
- Dutifulness to Parents: Several hadiths stress the significance of honoring and obeying parents, as this is pleasing to Allah. For instance, a hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah states that the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) emphasized kindness to parents as a means to attain Paradise, while disobedience is a major sin.
- Maintaining Family Ties: The chapter underscores the importance of upholding relationships with relatives, even if they are distant or difficult. A hadith narrated by Anas bin Malik mentions that maintaining family ties prolongs life and increases sustenance.
- Prohibition of Disobedience and Severance: Disobeying parents or severing family ties is strongly condemned. A hadith from Al-Bukhari and Muslim, referenced in the chapter, warns against cutting off relations with kin, as it leads to divine displeasure.
- Practical Guidance: The chapter encourages acts of kindness, such as visiting relatives, helping them in times of need, and being patient with their shortcomings, as these actions strengthen familial bonds and earn spiritual rewards.
The commentary in sources like gowister.com and islamicstudies.info explains that these teachings aim to foster compassion, unity, and social harmony within families, aligning with Islamic principles of righteousness.